Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Alternative 4x4 hunting rig

Looking for opinions. I have a 20 Ram Classic 1500 crew 4x4. Kinda my retirement and traveling truck. I also have a 2004 Dakota crew. 180,000 miles. Owned it 8 years and been out west 8 or 9 times. Never abused but definitely been used. Really showing the hard use. Also gas mileage is 15 mph at best.

Really like a smaller truck for getting around tight trails and like the idea of a "beater" vehicle that's still capable of long trips and getting off road if necessary. Some trips out west don't have to be a truck. So, is there a smaller, body on frame, real 4 wheel drive suv worth a damn as a hunting or trapping vehicle that would carry gear for two guys.

If not a Tacoma then an older 4runner would be my pic, built tuff and just keep going.....and going.

Tacoma of some sort

My wife had one of those, very close to that year. The heater and a/c quit blowing air. I found a mouse nest inside the blower housing. After some poking around, I had to take it to a shop to get the nest removed. It cost me $700 in labor because they had to dismantle everything under the dash.

We took a Dakota Crew to Canada on a fishing trip and not only was is one cramped ride, but the thing used gas like it had a hole in the tank. We'd have been money ahead if we had taken my full size F150. Given that experience, I sure wouldn't have coddled a Dakota for 180,000 miles. Consumer Reports never gives the 4Runner glowing reports, but it is about the only smaller SUV with a full frame instead of uni-body construction.

If you can find a NICE one, Jeep YJ.

I picked up a 1998 Isuzu Trooper manual 4-5 months ago on a trade.

It is an absolute monster.

Best 4x4 I have ever owned (and I have owned a bunch... including Land Cruisers.).

$3k or $3,400 I forget.

Manual is always superior for rough work IMHO.

pre Tacoma

late 80's early 90's 4 banger & manual transmission/short bed

That would be my vote, or a 4runner of the same era. Just avoid the 3.0 v6. The (later) 3.4 is a good one too, not a powerhouse, but a solid motor.

Good score, Cash. I keep an eye out for something like that for a beater but ain't nothing priced like a beater anymore.

She will get an exoskeleton... roof winch etc.

TOUGH RIGS!

Toyota wheels interface... so my 1986 Taco and Izzy can share...



Disregard the logo on the door... young man that did my tube work got carried away with red paint and a logo. Final finish will be a flat black rubber (3M 5200).

That or a 4 runner would be my pick

My 87 Toyota shortbed 4 x4 has been a great truck since I purchased it about 15 years ago.
22R four cylinder and a five speed.
Really tough trucks that are easy to work on.

Ranger a six foot man can fit in one.......

General FYI if anyone is interested... just popped up in Hampton VA on Fakebook MP

2001 Trooper manual @ $3k final price...

Looks clean and well kept. 190k



Drop me a PM if you need the link.

I will probably buy as a spare... if still around next week.

Great truck, but an 86 isn’t a Taco. The Tacoma’s came out in 95.5 as a mid year replacement for the pickups. I’ve had both and absolutely love Toyota’s.

Thanks... Did not know that... just assumed all were Tacos (as a generic frame of reference). The Campfire grows knowledge and that is great stuff.

The trooper that cash suggested is a great option, only issues is the auto trans isn’t the strongest. Other than that they’re pretty solid. Another good option is the mitsubishi montero.

Just use what you got.

We bought a beater Honda CR-V for our mountain place (2005 @ $2,700)... The auto will NOT hold up... lesson learned... sell the CR-V and buy another Trooper (manual)... I am doing just that now.

We have a fair bit of land... Extremely harsh... Never hurts to have two... spare rig or parts down the road kinda thing. Especially if they are cheap enough.