Help me pick a trail rig that isn't a jeep lol

[ScaleLifeNewbie]

I have been learning to weld in my Automotive class, it's not that hard. We are doing MIG welding as well, it's honestly pretty simple as long as you sort of know what you are doing/have common sense.

[SurlyBurly]

Originally Posted by ScaleLifeNewbie

You couldn't pay me to wheel that, it's too clean!

Looks like a ten footer to me. One that somebody cared about for sure, but its hardly cherry. Perfect for a wheeler if you ask me.

[SurlyBurly]

Y'know the more I look at that Montero I linked, at that price you could probably swing an LS Swap AND get it through the Ref. A street legal V8 Montero could be pretty baller.

[ferp420]

if your looking at the montero you should look at the trooper too there the same rig if im remembering corectly
the only down side is the lack of aftermarket suport not that your realy gona need much outside of a basic lift and some tires but again they dont have a big back seat but probay alittle more room than the other compact rigs

[Phildirt]

Originally Posted by SurlyBurly

Y'know the more I look at that Montero I linked, at that price you could probably swing an LS Swap AND get it through the Ref. A street legal V8 Montero could be pretty baller.

Agreed. Looks like that posting was deleted though...not surprised at that price.

[Shinchu]

I found TONS of monteros under 5k.
Even a couple gx470.

This is good stuff guys! I need to look up weight though... I don't think a gx470 will be light enough to haul behind a 32 foot class C.

[SurlyBurly]

Montero would be a little over 4k lbs, GX would be damn near 6k lbs.

[SurlyBurly]

Couple more odd ones

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...280883080.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...285979659.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...287964866.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...276088263.html

[TheLetterJ]

What's the towing capacity of the motorhome? Are you planning to flat tow (tow bar), use a dolly, or a car trailer? I personally feel that offroad vehicles and/or race cars should always be hauled on a flatbed so you can still drag their carcass home in case things go south. In that case, you need to factor in 2500lbs +/- 500lbs for the trailer. If it's just a run around vehicle that's not getting the piss wheeled out of it, a towbar would be fine (with a braking system) and might keep your vehicle options open due to weight.

[Shinchu]

Yeah a tow bar setup is what I would do for a flat tow.
I barely have room at my house for my current trailer that would be replaced with a class C, and squeeze Ina toy next to it. No way could I fit an open trailer too.
So I want to keep it light.

I'm actually starting to consider xj now.
I mean... that many people can't be wrong?
Parts like crazy. Just gotta find one that works for my budget.

[JDM74]

I would go K5 Blazer. Solid axle, one tons bolt in, and should be big enough for a family of 5. Take a look at off road designs website for badass squarebody off road parts. Here is my GMC short bed on 1 tons that I built and am still building:

Untitled by JASON MCKIMMEY, on Flickr

[ScaleLifeNewbie]

Originally Posted by JDM74

I would go K5 Blazer. Solid axle, one tons bolt in, and should be big enough for a family of 5. Take a look at off road designs website for badass oquarebody off road parts. Here is my GMC short bed on 1 tons that I built and am still Building

That right there is badass




_________________
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TRXWalker

[SurlyBurly]

Originally Posted by JDM74

I would go K5 Blazer..... Here is my GMC short bed on 1 tons that I built and am still building

Beautiful rig man, can I ask what year is it and how much are you into it for?

[JDM74]

It is an ‘86. I haven’t kept track of how much so far but I would guess close to 10k with the truck purchase. Truck was bone stock and I paid 3500 for it and drove it home. It has good bit done to it but doesn’t really look like it. I fabricated a removeable Winch mount that isn’t in the pic:


So that adds some cost...

There is a build thread in this section if you want to check it out.


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[SurlyBurly]

While any sane individual would love a beefy rig like that, they can be a bitch to keep smog legal in California, and the Pre-Smog era K5 and kin fetch quite a premium because of that fact. I can't imagine anyone would be unhappy with a rig like that, but it does come with some extra challenges here in Cali.

[JDM74]

Originally Posted by SurlyBurly

While any sane individual would love a beefy rig like that, they can be a bitch to keep smog legal in California, and the Pre-Smog era K5 and kin fetch quite a premium because of that fact. I can't imagine anyone would be unhappy with a rig like that, but it does come with some extra challenges here in Cali.

Yeah, I wasn’t sure what you guys’ rules were with smog. Here, we don’t have it. It’s a shame because I’m sure rust free squares are a lot more common in southern Cali than they are here in the mid Atlantic.


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[Shinchu]

Yep K5 blazer pre 75 would be cool... if they weren't like $20k for one that runs and drives.
I considered one but price and weight are detractors.

In other news, there is an xj near me for $4700.
Mostly stock, 92 with a hair over 200k on the odo.
Not sure if there was anything to look out for on the 92s.

From what I have read, 92 is pretty great because pre obd2 and no airbags going off in your face on a trail.

[SurlyBurly]

Originally Posted by Shinchu

Yep K5 blazer pre 75 would be cool... if they weren't like $20k for one that runs and drives.
I considered one but price and weight are detractors.

In other news, there is an xj near me for $4700.
Mostly stock, 92 with a hair over 200k on the odo.
Not sure if there was anything to look out for on the 92s.

From what I have read, 92 is pretty great because pre obd2 and no airbags going off in your face on a trail.

I'm not aware of anything '92 specific, I loved my '92 right up until I rolled it. I will say any Jeep with 200k on it that hasn't been lovingly sustained is not long for this world and 4700 bones, good lord that is a mark for a relatively unremarkable truck. Is it a stocker or half built or what?

[Phildirt]

Not sure I'd want a unibody for a dedicated off road/trail rig/crawler. Thinking long term fatigue and what not. Body on frame is simpler/easier to fix/yada yada, pretty sure that's a known factor but would weigh pretty heavily in my decision.

[SurlyBurly]

"weigh pretty heavily" is an apt choice of words for body on frame. Begs the question is the priority towability or trailability.