I have started to take in interest in trail wheeling and I have been looking at building a rig and can't decide on what to start with. I was thinking of an old toyota 4x4 pickup (mid 80's-ish) cheap, dependable, will go forever and simple. Bronco II/Ranger(it's a ford) but not as cheap to get into, more expensive to lift, I would be partial to it and not want to tear it up, its a ford, more complex to work on(certain items) or an XJ jeep, I hate jeeps, but my buddy is building his up, and it seems like a good platform, be able to share common parts(wheelin buddy) The jeeps are about in the middle price-wise, for a 2-dr, 4.0 would be about in the middle of the road. Cheap lifts for them as well, but I am in no way familiar with jeep/gm crap. I am leaning towards the toyota, but the ranger/bronco II is a great wheeler, I have a bronco II but don't want to hack it up, it was my grandfathers last vehicle and I guess I am really partial to it. Any input or experience about any of the above vehicles would be appreciated. also: When I saw wheeling, moderate trails, not full-blown, full-cage trailers, or extreme rock-crawling. Just good-ol boys havin fun in the mountains. Thanks guys-Aaron.

 

The Toyota won't be that cheap. A 4.0 Ranger would be a great way to go.
8.8 rear: lower gears very plentiful. Same with 35 front.
4.0: if it runs good when you buy it your probably good to go.
5 sp: same as above
Lift is dependant on how high you want to go. 3.5" lift will alow for 33s and if you go with a standard cab, short bed like the splash, with some sort of lockers, look out XJs and Yotas and the likes.

 

Hey!

For my $0.02, I've built two XJ Cherokees for rocks & trails. If your buddy has a built one, then you know a bit about what they can do, but I'd check out Rusty's Off Road to at least get an idea about how far they can be built.
Try: http://www.rustysoffroad.com/ - and look at the pics for 6.5" and 8" long-arm suspension for XJs.

I never went anywhere near that wild but I've spent a fair bit of time at Paragon and have been able to run some of the black trails (Rattler!) with my mix & match 4" lift, 31" Swampers, front & rear Lock-Rights, home-made skid plates & rock rails. Pretty mild, compared to almost any of the built rigs you might see up there, but it really does the job!

The 4.0 engine can run for a very long time. I've known guys getting 300K out of them, with proper care. Between Rusty's, Rubicon Express, RockyRoad Outfitters & others, there is an AWESOME aftermarket of hardcore parts for XJs now - and some guys are building them to run NEUROCK and such.

The engine is good, the automatic transmission is really pretty bulletproof, T-cases work well and simply, and have a good low range. You might want to get a slip-yoke-eliminator kit if you go with a real big lift. The bodies are compact yet roomy inside. And, best of all, TWO SOLID AXLES! You get a real 5-link solid axle front without having to do complicated/expensive axle swaps like you'd have to do with a Ranger to do much serious 'froading. I know that sounds like an over-rated problem, but if you go places like Paragon, where there are lots of different vehicle types and a graduated system of trail difficulty rating, you will see quickly what I mean. IFS trucks have a pretty difficult time handling rock-crawling because of the flexibility issues. Their suspension's ability to handle crossed-up terrain is limited to how far their rear axle can flex, 'cause the front isn't going far. I have ridden with one IFS rig on a black trail - a really built Jeep Liberty - and they basically sledded it accross the entire trail on it's skid plates with the winch. Painful to watch - and their lift probably cost more than my whole rig!

There is a huge XJ mailling list over on off-road.com that can answer absolutely any question ever about the rigs - and give volumious advice about solving the little problems that are common to any rig.

Good luck!

-Sam

 

The toyota seemed like a great idea, they were available cheap around here, people bought them in the 70'80's and run them and just parked them because they were worth jack when trading in. Ive found several older mid 80's toyotas that run and drove for 3-400 bucks. Should have bought them. I was thinking mid-late 80's ranger bronco, they are tons cheaper than the 93-whenever bodystyle. I still don't like working on a jeep. My grandmother bought one new for when the roads were bad and it has been the biggest POS, it is a grand wagoneer(the little one) with a 2.8, and it is the most anemic *******ized thing I've ever seen. It has 30k miles on it now since she can't drive and my parents have it now and I am not impressed with it, but most jeep people are die-hard.

 

I worked at a Jeep dealer in service and parts, so I know a bit about them. XJs have some issues, like any other make, and I would not look at them as better then a BII. I would avoid 1980s and 2.8s. The late model 4.0 is nice.

The BII is actually more beefier in the front end department. XJs have more interior room and four doors if you need to carry people, though the back seat is pretty cramped for adults, especially for off-road use.

I used my 1987 BII, with the back seat down, to haul firewood out of a wooded/swamp area, so even stock they can stand a fair amount of abuse. I would not make anyone ride back seat on a long off-road trip.

If wheeling was the main objective, I would get a 1997 and under 4.0 Ranger with 5 spd, shortbed. Dana 35 front, 8.8 rear. Your front end is the same rear end used in the newer Jeeps The 8.8 is what the Jeepers upgrade to besides the 9 inch. I found my 1997 Ranger (last year TTB) reg. cab small enough to take down ATV trails so you will fit where ever a wider Jeep can go and the 4.0 has enough HP and torque with the 4.0 for booting around town and shaming Hondas.

Even with stock tires, I have gotten my Ranger up and down small hills where the only thing holding me in the seat was the belt because the incline was so great. Suspension kits from James Duff are pretty cheap.

Last of all, real trucks do not have unibodies! Which is my main beef against a XJ.

If I am going to sink money into something, it will be something with a ladder frame and body. One of the reasons the early Jeeps had window leaks that would not go away, imo, is the flex from the unibody destroyed the seals around the quarter glass. Compare that with the sturdy rear quarter glass in a BII.

If I was going to build a Jeep, I would go a Wrangler. it will always have resale value. The Sahara edition, to me, always seemed to be a bit classy.

 

I can't really add, but here are some bII's
http://motors.listings.ebay.com/Ford...timeZ1QQsotrZ1
and James Duff can help with the lift.

I like the Wrangler too, but I also like the old Bronco's, and old Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, but the old Broncos and TLC's are expensive. I have a FSJ (1964 Jeep J200 Gladiator-its just a pickup truck), that I will use off road. It was supposed to be a relatively inexpensive project, but...............................

 

BII
http://www.cardomain.com/id/84bronco2xlt

 

Thanks, It will probably be a bronco eleven There are tons around here just waiting to be hacked.

 

Look into a 1984-86 used military chevy K-5 blazer, C-20 pickup, or a 1 1/4 ton pickup. They all come with camo paint, a bulletproof drivetrain, front and rear lockers, I believe a GM 12 bolt front axle and a Corporate 14 bolt rear, 6.2L diesel (which gets around 25mpg), I think a 400TH turbo transmission, brush guard, and like 4 different sets of tow hooks. These things are beasts and you can find them fairly cheap too. Try here:
http://www.govliquidation.com and type in 'chev' for your search.

 

wow thats amazing how little miles these vehichles have on them too.... i want one, i wish i was out of college rite now, i have the feeling id have alot more money...

 

That would be a good deal, but I bleed ford blue, I have never, and will never own a chebby. No matter if ford goes out of businiess. Thanks for the link though

 

I used to own a heavy mod rig jeep wrangler 2000 4.0L 5 spds w/ Dana 300 flip kit 4-1 low gears and front High pinion 44, ARB locker and rear Dana 44 std OX locker 4.56s w/ 35" MTR 6 points cage blah blah!
i love it but i sold it (its hobby jeep) and bought me F150 but hey i ll be back in jeep.

I think Jeep aftermarket is far more aviable than all!

The small rig is better cuz of weight, easy to drive tight, narrow trails etc

Any question e mail me..

YOMAN!

 

BII had the light front and rear axels along with 2.9 being the bigest V6 avaliable. That is the reason I would go with a 90 to 92 4.0 Ranger.

 

why not get a 78-79 FSB, it already has the parts that the jeep guys use to "buildup" there jeeps. and 33s fit stock, 35s with a little triming.
C6 or NP435 tranny
NP205 or NP203 T case
D44/9"