Almost sold truck twice. But couldn't do it.

I tried to trade twice. Both times was not happy with the deal.
Ended up keeping the truck and I am now shopping for a cheap 4x4 I can use for my off-road trips. Anyone got recommendations for a used cheap 4x4 that is reliable?
No brand loyalty here. Any suggestions are valid.
Sub $10000

 

Most of the guys I know who like smaller trucks really like older Tacoma's and Frontier's. In my personal experience the late 90's Ford Ranger was very reliable and could take anything we threw at it, 4.0L and a 4 speed auto.

 

Good luck with your search.

 

If you're willing to go up a bit:

https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/2000-toyota-land-cruiser-—-modest-build-in-sc.214698/

 

Look for a decent 1990+ Cherokee with the hi output inline 6. Killer motor and lots of folks here trick them out cheaply and becomes a great 4X4.

 

The old Suzuki Samurai’s were awesome but good luck finding one.

 

90s Bronco.

 

I second the vote for a Cherokee XJ. In my early 20s I had a 2000 Sport with the 4.0L I6. I bought it with 87k, abused the hell out of it for over 100k more, and did minimal maintenance on it. Couldn't kill it. The only thing I ever had to do to it was replace the distributor cap. Thing was a tank.

 

A Bronco like the one I bought new in 76 with the 302 V-8. Cut the fenders , install flares and throw on some Hooker headers, C bombs, and back then, Tru Trac flotation tires. Went anywhere without all these over priced/over kill shocks that will never see dirt....at least not what they were designed for....(not talking about the hi speed desert folks here)

 

The motor was notorious for leaking oil a bit , but big deal....

 

It's all about them Whoop Scissors. You had a straight axle though. Better for the crawlin.

 

I still prefer a floating axle up front, a manual transmission, and manual transfer case with PTO. I'm old school but IMHO, much better than the bs that we have to deal with the new trucks.

 

That's quite old school.

 

There wasn't much off road accessories back then and we went the same places that folks are spending a small fortune in upgrades to go to nowadays and bragging about it. Geez lou eze....

 

It's all about that flex, bout that flex, no budget.

 

Most off road goodies were fab'd up back then. Lots of folks were running smaller tractor tires for the sand dunes in Oregon. Quite funky but you had to do with what was available.

 

My previous vehicles that I 4x4 in.
1996 Suzuki Sidekick 4wd. Never ever got stuck. Not once.
2003 Toyota Tacoma 4wd PreRunner trd. Should have never sold that thing. Had a locker on it as well.
2005 Nissan Xterra SE 4wd another great vehicle I should have kept. Also had a locker.

I was considering and old
v8 gx460 by Lexus,
v8 4runner
Jeep Cherokee from late 90s and early 2000s is on the list as well.
Frontier
Tacoma

Land Cruiser is a bit much. I already got a big truck.

 

Are you hauling kids and gear?
Early 1st gen sequoia might work for you.
My future off-road/hunting rig plans include my wife's 04 sequoia , when she upgrades in a couple years.

 

Haha!

 

I love my 2002 Tundra for fun off-road!

 

Had an 83 f150 single cab SWB 4x4, 300 I6, granny 4 speed. Thing was a tank and a torque monster. You could put it in 1st gear and crank it without clutching it. Low range was stupid low and topped out at about 25 in 4th. Great for crawling and hitting the trails. I'm gonna be getting another similar to it in the next couple years as a project. And you cant kill those engines or transmissions.

 

Fourwheeler mag recently did a great article on that venerable Ford 300 I-6 setup. That's why I miss a manual transmission and transfercase. Made it easy to crawl over stuff back then before there was rockcrawling.

 

My vote goes towards an older XJ (careful in cold areas because they're known to rust through the bodies from salt) or a first gen Tacoma. Or if you could find a hard body Nissan in good shape, that would be pretty solid too.

 

When I got my ‘95 F150 I was looking for the I6. I found and bought one with a 351W which is another bulletproof one. Just read an article where it didn’t blow up till it was over 1000hp from a motor pulled out of a junkyard truck.
They are so hard to find now in 4x4. I had one in my first truck. I still think it was the best truck on the beach. If you can find a bronco or short bed 150 in the OBS style it would fit your needs

big fan of the land cruisers too.

 

Curious about the 2003 Prerunner, I thought the prerunner was 2wd only?

 

Personally I’d look at an older big three ( something ) over a Toyota simply because the money you would save up front gives you more in your pocket for modifying . Jeeps have a lot of after market parts available , as well as Fords and Chevy’s .

 

^^this

 

Well I have 1 kid. Just became a teen now. Most of the time is just me and 1 other person in the vehicle.
I don't do groups in the truck.

 

Perhaps mine was not a prerunner.

 

88-96 Bronco I had a 90 and 94 both in OJ White. Both had the 351W. The motors were solid along with the transmissions.

I just finished a 2 year search. I was staying with Toyota or Lexus, I ended up with a 460. There are deals out there, it just depends on your wants vs needs.