what would your next offroad rig be?

[RockRanger]

Here is what I am looking for and a couple ideas of options.

Cituation I am in

House and ranger (and all my spare parts which was about another 80% of another ranger) burned up in fire a few weeks back so lost my ranger and all my metal working tools jacks etc.. Probably wont be getting much if any insurance money to replace it so it is being built out of savings

What I am looking for:

Something that can take on some of the hardest trails in the southwest ie hammers rubicon Arizonia trails and stuff like that.
For the next year or two it will need to stay somewhat streetable to be driven to and from the trail but not to much daily driving unless the car is broke down.

What I have to build it:

200 some piece craftsman tool kit air tools and a high lift jack
Can probably afford around 3000 up front and then a few bucks here and there to keep building it.

What I am thinking of so far for options:

solid axle toyota pickup
old jeep cj7 or maybe an efi YJ
suzuki samuri

what options can you guys think of and opinions.

Matt

 

[GaSouthern1]

I would love to have a Sami, they can be built go to anywhere for almost nothing.

 

[RangerX]

Hey Matt!

I would either go with the pre 86 Yota, or get a Sammy and basically copy tdavis's Sammy, but extend the frame/wheelbase somewhat.

Did you drag the Ranger up and out yet???

 

[jasonb]

i like the pre 85 yotas. chop the bed off and add a cage... heck yeah!!!

 

[JoshC]

Matt, this is a little bit off topic, but i'm truly sorry to hear about the loss in the fire. That's horrible news.

On the other hand, i'm with Jason. I really like the old yotas with the cage in the back.

 

[ALLOUTWAR13]

Id go with the a jeep. This is becaue of the huge amount of parts at low prices especially if money is tight. Also jeeps are so easy to work on because unlike my explorer my jeep doesnt have everything crammed into a really tight space and i can actually get my hands on things. The jeep also comes with sturdy dana axles and a great engine.

 

[canada74]

how about a bronco

 

[jasonb]

Originally posted by ALLOUTWAR13
The jeep also comes with sturdy dana axles

that could be debated... but yeah parts are abundant. they have to be since they break a lot. you can get old zuks and pickups a lot cheaper than you can the same age jeeps i'm guessing. and those dang yotas engines just keep going..

 

[ALLOUTWAR13]

This decision is so tough because all of the vehicles mentioned is awesome and has at least one standout trait from the others. And indeed those 'yota engines never stop. What about a jeep with a yota engine? so many options so little money.

 

[RFR2212]

After wheelin on and off for a good couple years, and alot of web wheelin... I'm tossed around ideas of somethin that's solid, when I've got a real job someday and can afford it.

Here's what I'm thinkin:
90's Jeep YJ Wrangler
5.0 motor
Trans (strong one)
Atlas II

Most likely D60's(shaved)
37s-39s
hummer style beadlocks
full cage
not sure on suspension (coils, coilovers or leafs)
willys style fenders
hack the rear fenders straight (typically seen on crawlers)
winch (possibly front and rear)
dual batts
crawler lights around

I want something strong and simple. Don't need anything fancy, just strength...

So that's my thoughts as to what would be strong...

I'd say it could be tough to go huge tho Rockranger, w/ CA laws as strict as they are, and hearing the cops love giving wheelers hard time, I'd assume it'd be best to stick to 35-37s and stay low, just to avoid troubles... But I'm sure you know better as to how they are

 

[410Fortune]

Matt,

OUt of your list above I say the YJ or the Yota.

PERSONALLY I think you should start with another Ranger

4.0L, C4 or 5 speed, BW1354, build a doubler, D44 the front coils or leafs, 8.8 disc in rear, keep the CG low, build some skidplates, sliders, bumpers and some roll bar/cage.

bob the bed like you had before and keep it light weight as possible.
Also get something EFI or covert it. I personally think the 4.0L is a great engine for wheeling with its dependability, longevity and plenty of torque for a mid size truck.

What didnt you like about your Ranger? weight? wheelbase?

Whats your preffered wheelbase for the type of rock bashing you like to do? hahaha!!

 

[JDraper]

My zuk is great for wheeling, parts are easy to get and cheap, and they are very easy to work on/modify. The two drawbacks are a short wheelbase and low power. Both can be rectified fairly inexpensively. Kits are available to extend the wheelbase, and there are several kits for dropping in more power. The 1.6 zuk motor in a Sammy does wonders, and there are kits for VW diesels, vortec 4.3's and even chevy 350's, which is suicidal in my book

FWIW, I have a grand total of about $2700 in my Zuk including purchase price. Check my links to see what has been done to it.

 

[410Fortune]

JD, drop a 2.9L or even a OHV 4.0L in there....

Zthe chevy 4.3L would be a BEAST in a Zuk too...

What about cargo space?

I figure if you got a zuk you would probably tow it to the trailhead anyways for long trips...so maybe its not that bad....getting all the gear in there for a wheeling trip

 

[Stic-o]

We're drop'n a 94 3.0 in my dads Zuk.

Me I don't probally a old Bronco or a early ranger maybe. or maybe a first gen Ex. The zuk is pretty bad ass though.

 

[RockRanger]

damn you jamie now you got me thinking ranger again.

What I didnt like about my ranger was the lack of gearing. Plain and simple. there is that doubler out and atlas but that is way to pricy. Another thing that kind of bugged me was how low the dana 35 pumpkin hung down with 33"s aired down to 10lbs. I would always hit that diff and believe I bent the beams lift brackets and caused a perment front diff leak because of this. I could have gone bigger if I had more gearing but never could justify the cost of going from 4.10 to 4.56 ad might have gone 5.13 but would have been concerned with strength.


I liked the wheelbase of my ranger but if i had a toyota id go a little shorter cause they dont turn as sharp. If I went jeep or sammi the wheel base would be strethed.

Here is my break down of advantages of the ones listed above and Ill toss a few more in.

Toyota:

Cheap to buy, decent motor, axles can be upgraded cheaply, gearing down is cheap if i ever wanted to do competitive wheeling I could build a formula toy.

Jeep:

Anypart is available to build them The 4.0 has decentpower, Tons of tranny swap possibilitys. body is easy to protect from rockrash

Sammi:

dirt cheap to buy. Can get as low as 8 to 1 gears for the t case. add toyota axles PS cage and t cases gears and it is ready to wheel hard

Bronco:
Coolest looking rig of the bunch. dana 44 and 9" and v8 what more could you want.

another ranger:

Know a bunch of people that have them know how to work on them and know how to build it right the first time. kind f cool to be different.

 

[410Fortune]

Rangers are bombproof.
Ditch the TTB for rocks
Easy to do a coil sprung SAS

You can build your own doubler from a spare BW1350

Call up Bill, when do we get started?

hahaha $3000 will go a long way on a Ranger.....I think its probably the cheapest of the bunch to build, the sami may be cheaper....

Lets face it they can all be set up awesome, but I personally cant get away from the Fords strength, frame and drivetrain wise...

 

[RangerX]

Originally posted by 410Fortune
You can build your own doubler from a spare BW1350

Build one for me, please...

 

[VBVA]

Pre 85 Yotas had solid 8 inch axles (the same one in the rear up til the Tacoma) and the 22R carbed engine is solid and puts out good amounts of torque for its small size. Gearing is no problem. If you happen to get a Yota later than an 85 with IFS, swap it out for a D44, pretty easy swap. Parts are VERY cheap and VERY availible... so get the YOTA!

 

[Ken Cooke]

Originally posted by 410Fortune
hahaha $3000 will go a long way on a Ranger.....

No joke. I just sold mine for $2,500.00
-ken

 

[RockRanger]

i am leaning more and more towards a yota pickup. If i get one I may actually get an 86 up one. Yes one with IFS up front. It comes with the wider rear axle then earlier models and it also has the correct steering box for cross over steering on a solid axle. I figure with a IFS all I have to buy is a front axle on a solid axle one I would need to get a steering box and wider rear axle. That is 4-600 bucks right there vs 2-350 for just a front axle. I would also use a toy front and not a 44 because alloy shafts and joints are cheaper for a toy then a 44 and it can easily handle 37"s

Matt