What cheap 4x4 to buy?

[stealth131]

What vehicles do you guys recommend just for a cheap summer toy to take out to maclean and such?

I had a 96 blazer 4x4 i got for 500 bucks last year, wish i still had that thing.

[Unknown303]

Jeep.

not this;
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f237/Unknown303/Wheeling%20Aug22/IMG_6103---troll.png

[stealth131]

Yeah, I was looking at a few, which models do you recommend specifically?

[Unknown303]

Older YJ's and TJ's can be had for cheap with offroad accessories already added.

The 4cyl is decent for offroading but just painful to drive anywhere else. So if you want something decent everywhere shop around for the i6 4.0L engine in either a TJ or YJ.

[Kloubek]

For pure offroading, the Wrangler/TJ/YJ is your best bet. The XJ is fairly capable - as is the ZJ... though they are a bit bigger and heavier, so some deem it not as appropriate.

I might be willing to part with my offroad-ready 97 XJ for just over 2g. If you are interested, pm me.

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by Kloubek
For pure offroading, the Wrangler/TJ/YJ is your best bet. The XJ is fairly capable - as is the ZJ... though they are a bit bigger and heavier, so some deem it not as appropriate.

I might be willing to part with my offroad-ready 97 XJ for just over 2g. If you are interested, pm me.

Pics of said rig or I never want to hear from you again. :D

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Unknown303
Jeep.

not this;
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f237/Unknown303/Wheeling%20Aug22/IMG_6103---troll.png lol my blazer did not bad for 500 bucks

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by Unknown303
The 4cyl is decent for offroading but just painful to drive anywhere else. So if you want something decent everywhere shop around for the i6 4.0L engine in either a TJ or YJ.

Agreed. Except I didn't actually find the 2.5 that bad in town... it was just the highway where it was brutally underpowered. If I got another TJ, I vowed it would be a Sport model.

As far as my XJ goes - there is a pic of it somewhere in this offroading section - before I gave it a lift. I lied though - it still needs front recovery points to be truly offroad capable. This is why I haven't come out with you guys yet.... :)

[Mibz]

Originally posted by Kloubek
I might be willing to part with my offroad-ready 97 XJ for just over 2g. If you are interested, pm me. Fuck this guy. Buy my stock XJ for just over 2g and let me buy his :P

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by Kloubek


Agreed. Except I didn't actually find the 2.5 that bad in town... it was just the highway where it was brutally underpowered. If I got another TJ, I vowed it would be a Sport model.

As far as my XJ goes - there is a pic of it somewhere in this offroading section - before I gave it a lift. I lied though - it still needs front recovery points to be truly offroad capable. This is why I haven't come out with you guys yet.... :)

Yeah the 4cyl around town was still pretty good, but with larger tires it's just horrible on gas. But other then that it was going 90km/h on the highway because that as all I could do that drove me crazy, and that was on flat ground, up hill was so so painful.

[Kloubek]

Yeah - the mileage was no better with the 2.5 over the 4.0... especially since you are flooring it everywhere. I can just imagine what it would be like with bigger tires. No thanks!

My wife is buying a new car soon - she already agreed to buy one, but the person needs it for the next couple of weeks until she leaves the country. After that time, I'm going to put both my XJ and my stock WJ for sale, and I keep whichever doesn't sell first.

[soccernut]

First gen 4Runner. I got mine for $600. Reliable, easy to work on, parts are relatively cheap, removable top, easy to mod....the list goes on. Go for the 4cyl models, much tougher engines.

[stealth131]

how are the cherokee's with the v8?

[Kloubek]

Grand Cherokees right? Cherokees were never offered with V8. I wouldn't. They have good power, but the V8s have their issues and drink gas like crazy. You are better off with the 4.0 - which is pretty much bulletproof and has good torque for offroad use. Still not that efficient with the heavy GC body, but at least a bit better.

I'm actually surprised how efficient my 4.0 XJ is; better on gas than my WJ with the same engine. Which is weird, since it is only some 350 pounds lighter than the WJ.


Originally posted by FraserB
They are a bit of a pain to heavily modify for offroad but you can get a 2.25" kit put in that will let you run 31's for about $350 for all the best parts.

Exactly. Mild modifications are easy and inexpensive - it is just when you are looking for 3+ inches it starts getting pricey.

As far as the mileage goes - the 4.0 is rated at 15/20 mpg, the 5.2 at 14/18, and the 5.9 at 13/17.

[FraserB]

They are great. They come with the beefier axle if you get a 96+, good gears that are enough to run 33" muds. Gas mileage is the same as the grand cherokee with the 4.0L Room for 5 people, tow 5500lbs with the right set up, fast, tons of cargo room, rated to 1050lbs of internal cargo(includes weight of the passengers).

They are a bit of a pain to heavily modify for offroad but you can get a 2.25" kit put in that will let you run 31's for about $350 for all the best parts.

[stealth131]

so maybe avoid the 4 cyl? 130hp/tq doesn't seem like much when I need to pull out a stuck friend

[Kloubek]

The 4 cylinder is actually somewhat torquey down low, and while not exactly supreme for pulling someone out, might prove more adequate than you'd think.

The sport (4.0 6 cylinder models) are not much more expensive - so if you did get a Wrangler I would advise waiting until you found one in your price range with the 4.0. It's just a better engine. For an XJ, I'd *only* get the 4.0 due to the extra weight.

[FraserB]

The V8 GC will give you 225hp and 300lb/ft

If you get a 4.0L, make sure its not an 0331 head, they were prone to cracking

[stealth131]

Originally posted by FraserB
The V8 GC will give you 225hp and 300lb/ft

If you get a 4.0L, make sure its not an 0331 head, they were prone to cracking Is the gc decent for offroad? They seem to make good power which I like

[FraserB]

I like mine:D

A set of 31" MT or ATs and a 2" lift work great for a lot of the stuff around Calgary, many of them came with tow hooks on the front and skid plates.

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by Kloubek
The 4 cylinder is actually somewhat torquey down low, and while not exactly supreme for pulling someone out, might prove more adequate than you'd think.

The sport (4.0 6 cylinder models) are not much more expensive - so if you did get a Wrangler I would advise waiting until you found one in your price range with the 4.0. It's just a better engine. For an XJ, I'd *only* get the 4.0 due to the extra weight.

Yeah this. With my 4cyl I could do damn near anything offroad. Highways where bad but it give you time to enjoy the view:dunno: In the city it's definitely manageable but at the same time I wanted more out of the engine.

Price wise however you'll have a way better chance finding a really inexpensive 4cyl that you will tracking down a i6.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak
I agree with most of the XJ comments, they are a capable and inexpensive 4x4 out of the box. The 4.0L high output is a nice engine, I still found it underpowered on the highway though.

Another cheap one you can still find around for a dirt cheap is the Suzuki Sidekicks. Very light, reliable and damn near unstoppable. Lots of aftermarket support for them as well which is a nice bonus.

http://alberta.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1994-Suzuki-Sidekick-SUV-Repair-spares-W0QQAdIdZ262243388 that 4.0L looks like it makes similar power to my blazer, so it shouldn't be bad at all. I pulled out full size diesel truck with it fine.

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak
I agree with most of the XJ comments, they are a capable and inexpensive 4x4 out of the box. The 4.0L high output is a nice engine, I still found it underpowered on the highway though.

Another cheap one you can still find around for a dirt cheap is the Suzuki Sidekicks. Very light, reliable and damn near unstoppable. Lots of aftermarket support for them as well which is a nice bonus.


Really? I have no trouble at all at highway speeds with my XJ. I mean, it won't win many races... but I've never had difficulty maintaining 120 up hills.

You're right about the Sidekick though - they were surprisingly capable offroad, and not a lot of people realized it.

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Kloubek


Really? I have no trouble at all at highway speeds with my XJ. I mean, it won't win many races... but I've never had difficulty maintaining 120 up hills.

You're right about the Sidekick though - they were surprisingly capable offroad, and not a lot of people realized it. the sidekick looks very low to the ground? or is it just me?

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Unknown303]

Yeah those 4x4 sidekicks are legendary. Tonnes of suport for those. And perform really well with a SFA swap.

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by stealth131
the sidekick looks very low to the ground? or is it just me?

Not bad actually... about 7.5 - 8.0 inches I think. The short wheelbase helps too when negotiating rocks, etc.

...and you can get them *super* cheap now.

Just don't expect any reasonable power. I don't think the original models were even remotely close to 100 hp.

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Kloubek


Not bad actually... about 7.5 - 8.0 inches I think. The short wheelbase helps too when negotiating rocks, etc.

...and you can get them *super* cheap now.

Just don't expect any reasonable power. I don't think the original models were even remotely close to 100 hp. Looks like the 4 liter like what you're selling would be better, because I would want something to pull out a stuck friend, sidekick probably wouldn't cut it.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Kloubek]

I agree and disagree. Trying to pull out a Dodge 2500 or something with a Sidekick is just silly. I wouldn't even be keen on doing it with a Jeep; the unibody frame isn't really designed for that. But I do think that torque and traction are indeed two things you want when trying to pull someone out.

I think matching the class of vehicle is a good idea. (Though I had my wife pull out my WJ with a Corolla once. That was rather funny... until her engine started dying a few months later...)

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Kloubek
I agree and disagree. Trying to pull out a Dodge 2500 or something with a Sidekick is just silly. I wouldn't even be keen on doing it with a Jeep; the unibody frame isn't really designed for that. But I do think that torque and traction are indeed two things you want when trying to pull someone out.

I think matching the class of vehicle is a good idea. (Though I had my wife pull out my WJ with a Corolla once. That was rather funny... until her engine started dying a few months later...) I pulled out a long box extended cab 2500 cummins with my blazer with hardly pushing on the gas.

[Unknown303]

Or tell your friend not to get stuck? :dunno:


Originally posted by stealth131
I pulled out a long box extended cab 2500 cummins with my blazer with hardly pushing on the gas.

Honestly it probably wasn't stuck stuck then. I've had a fully locked Rubicon try to pull out my 2500HD duramax a few years ago and that hardly worked at all.

And Eric and I with my TJ and his JK pulled out a JKU and that was also a barely barely made it happen after some serious pulling.

[stealth131]

think the sidekick could pull out my blazer?

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/stealthy13/76264_454880687216_563077216_5897003_5660805_n.jpg

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by stealth131
think the sidekick could pull out my blazer?

IMG

A Sidekick with lockers and 4lo, definitely.

[stealth131]

wow look at this sidekick

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1990-Suzuki-Sidekick-Pickup-Truck-W0QQAdIdZ251762701

[Kloubek]

Any vehicle can tow any other vehicle out. It just depends how stuck they are. (My example of the Corolla vs my WJ being a case in point). But if the intent is to have a vehicle that can tow out a larger vehicle in *most* circumstances - you really need to have something more appropriate.

That sidekick looks bad-ass; I bet it would be a beast on the trail! (Though I would hate to use it as a daily driver!)

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Kloubek
Any vehicle can tow any other vehicle out. It just depends how stuck they are. (My example of the Corolla vs my WJ being a case in point). But if the intent is to have a vehicle that can tow out a larger vehicle in *most* circumstances - you really need to have something more appropriate.

That sidekick looks bad-ass; I bet it would be a beast on the trail! (Though I would hate to use it as a daily driver!) I don't need a daily driver, already have my talon for that. Just want something for fun :D

[FraserB]

What is your budget? It might be worth it just buy a ready built rig if you just want a toy.

[stealth131]

Originally posted by FraserB
What is your budget? It might be worth it just buy a ready built rig if you just want a toy. Depends on what it is, the cheaper the better because I want to buy a newer sports car as well.

[FraserB]

There is a TJ for sale; 3" lift, 31" Swampers for $5000, he will most likely go to 4 or 4.5k for it.

http://forum.calgaryjeep.com/index.php?topic=21432.0

[Sugarphreak]

....

[Kloubek]

^^ hahaha! That's insane!

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Kloubek
^^ hahaha! That's insane! Yes it is, but 18 grand!

[Kloubek]

Gotta pay to play, my friend!

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by Kloubek
Gotta pay to play, my friend!

Yeah a cheap 4x4 means it will blow apart quickly. If you start out with a cheap 4x4 you're going to have to treat it with care or else it will grenade on you.

And from the time I saw you wheeling you aren't one for being gentle on a rig.

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Unknown303


Yeah a cheap 4x4 means it will blow apart quickly. If you start out with a cheap 4x4 you're going to have to treat it with care or else it will grenade on you.

And from the time I saw you wheeling you aren't one for being gentle on a rig. Yeah should have taken it slower with a stock blazer, was just trying to keep up haha.

[stealth131]

How would a stock grand cherokee with the i6 do? (93-98)

[ercchry]

v8 or gtfo!

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1976-Jeep-CJ-W0QQAdIdZ252333075

[stealth131]

Originally posted by ercchry
v8 or gtfo!

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1976-Jeep-CJ-W0QQAdIdZ252333075 That's not running, and I would want something newer than that one.

[Unknown303]

Well stock with a decent set of tires it shouldn't be that bad.

[ercchry]

Originally posted by stealth131
That's not running, and I would want something newer than that one.

psh... details...

[stealth131]

Originally posted by ercchry


psh... details... not looking for a money pit, I wish I could afford a rubicon or something like yours but i'm a poor student :cry:

[ercchry]

all cars/trucks are money pits... but i think something as simple as an old wrangler with a carb'd v8 is the easiest to fix/find cheap parts... there is like 5 wires to get it running

[ercchry]

this looks pretty cool

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1991-Jeep-Cherokee-W0QQAdIdZ259661678

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by ercchry
all cars/trucks are money pits... but i think something as simple as an old wrangler with a carb'd v8 is the easiest to fix/find cheap parts... there is like 5 wires to get it running

Yeah if I had a garage I would be low balling that guy for the Jeep. Would make for a sick forest beater. New Jeeps you have to be kind to until you pay them off. :nut:

[stealth131]

Originally posted by ercchry
this looks pretty cool

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-1991-Jeep-Cherokee-W0QQAdIdZ259661678 Yes it would if i had the money. Working 1 day a week just doesn't cut it.

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by stealth131
Yes it would if i had the money. Working 1 day a week just doesn't cut it.

I have no idea how you plan on offroading at all if you can't afford that Cherokee. It's done and ready to go and really damn cheap. Beyond that you're really not going to get your hands on anything that will be as ready to go.

[stealth131]

Originally posted by Unknown303


I have no idea how you plan on offroading at all if you can't afford that Cherokee. It's done and ready to go and really damn cheap. Beyond that you're really not going to get your hands on anything that will be as ready to go. I don't have that much cash, I already spent 12 grand on my car, and 5 days a week school doesn't make much money.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Alak]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak


What's wrong with the $750 Suzuki I posted?

That thing would kill your Blazer off-road... plus it has fake bullet holes already on it! haha, I almost want to buy it!



Why did you post this? Now I want to buy it!

[4bier]

these are moutain goats calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-83-Suzuki-Sj-410-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ262859828

[Cos]

Dude 2800 and you cant afford it? Maybe you cant afford to be going offroad.

[stealth131]

The 750 Suzuki will not pass inspection to get insurance

[dimi]

How about not going off road, that sounds like the best solution as mentioned above.

[stealth131]

Originally posted by dimi
How about not going off road, that sounds like the best solution as mentioned above. How about I'm done school in April so I'll have money then... I just want a cheap toy to play with, most of my money goes to my cAr.

[ercchry]

best vehicle to dump money into right here!

awe-sum vehicle (http://www.tfsa.gc.ca/)

[FraserB]

I would make a list of all the expenses you think you might have related to upkeep and offroading (not including purchase price) before buying a toy and see if it is worth it. Breaking stuff on the trail can get expensive fast.

[stealth131]

Originally posted by FraserB
I would make a list of all the expenses you think you might have related to upkeep and offroading (not including purchase price) before buying a toy and see if it is worth it. Breaking stuff on the trail can get expensive fast. Yes but I'll be working full time next month so it won't be a problem.

[focusdriv3r]

1989 Isuzu Trooper II 4wd SUV $500
1993 Toyota 4Runner SUV $600

Which would you go for? Or even better yet can some one find me an offroader gem on Kijiji. Thanks.
Looking for mudding only type off roading.
Thanks

[focusdriv3r]

1987 Jeep Wrangler YJ Convertible with a 350 $2000?
1998 Jeep TJ sahara 4.0 $4500
1991 Chevrolet S-10 4x4 Pickup Truck $900
2000 Chevrolet Blazer 2 door 4x4 priced to sell FAST! $1600

Any suggestions would help

[focusdriv3r]

Help me choose i need a car for this weekend lol

[FraserB]

Originally posted by focusdriv3r
Help me choose i need a car for this weekend lol

Considering you won't be "mudding" anywhere this weekend its a non-issue.

As for your choices, you need to figure out what you want since the ones you posted are so different.

[focusdriv3r]

Why can't I mud? Is the mud frozen?

[FraserB]

1. Mostly everything is frozen
2. Mclean is closed, 99% of people will turn you in if they see you there
3. I doubt most of those rigs are properly set up
4. No one goes "mudding" anymore, it makes everyone look bad and gets our trails closed. It is harmful to the environment as well, no one is going to want to be out there with you if you are going solely to do that.

[focusdriv3r]

What kind of fines do you get if you off road, where your not supposed to?

[Troll-ol]

Originally posted by focusdriv3r
What kind of fines do you get if you off road, where your not supposed to? trespassing ?