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Off-Road Capable Vehicle Recommendations

Posted on 4/28/21 at 10:37 am
Posted by LSUfan20005
Member since Sep 2012
8901 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 10:37 am
After a lengthy search, I'm the proud new owner of my own chunk of the Ozarks. First person in my family to own real "land" in several generations.

I went and explored the land last weekend after a decent rain, and while my older Honda Pilot performed ok, I see the need for another vehicle when it's really wet. Red dirt, steep hills, rocky terrain, and about 7 miles of remote roads to get to my land.

Any recommendations? Need to seat at least 4, open on price point but I'd prefer something older.

I suppose I could buy an additional vehicle, but it would also be a benefit to have it as my main ride.

Posted by simonizer
no
Member since Oct 2008
1668 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 10:39 am to
100 series toyota landcruiser
Posted by bayoudude
Member since Dec 2007
25286 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 10:40 am to
Wrangler rubicon with locking differentials will get you just about anywhere.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
67394 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 10:41 am to
Subaru outback. All of the Subaru vehicles are badass for normal off road use. My wife has one and I secretly love the damn thing. When she decides she wants a new car I'm keeping this one for me.
Posted by Barneyrb
NELA
Member since May 2016
5599 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 10:46 am to
Anything with a winch on it, you can thank me later.
Posted by Hermit Crab
Under the Sea
Member since Nov 2008
7256 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 11:03 am to
4runner
Posted by SkintBack
SoLo
Member since Nov 2015
1776 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 11:08 am to
Toyota Tacoma. Of course Jeeps, lifted trucks etc., but a stock off road Tacoma can go a lot of places and still be civilized.
Posted by ccard257
Fort Worth, TX
Member since Oct 2012
1344 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 11:10 am to
If you got a honda pilot to it then it's probably not so bad you need something crazy. So what do you want out of your main ride? similar to the pilot but more capable off-road? 4-runner.

Going to be doing a bunch of work on you new property and hauling tools and what not? time for something with a bed.

Whatever you get, make sure you get good tires. Several of the current AT types are very capable for occasional off-road while being quiet and behaving just fine for a main vehicle.
Posted by Saskwatch
Member since Feb 2016
17096 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 11:12 am to
Remote clay and rocks I would want something light and definitely a winch.

Toyota Tacoma/4Runner

Jeep Wrangler
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
40885 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 11:19 am to
quote:

Jeep Wrangler
Posted by LSUfan20005
Member since Sep 2012
8901 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 12:00 pm to
If I did a Wrangler, is the best option to haul a deer a hitch carrier?
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
12960 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 12:15 pm to
quote:

If I did a Wrangler, is the best option to haul a deer a hitch carrier?


Pretty much. The one Harbor Freight sells works just fine. I've hauled coolers and other bulky/heavy items on one when I had a Jeep. I love Jeeps, but for a daily driver that is also good offroad I'd get a truck. You'll inevitably need a truck bed a good bit and the hassle of dealing with a hitch carrier will get old.
Posted by SkintBack
SoLo
Member since Nov 2015
1776 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 12:23 pm to
Pakmule. I have one, its the last one you will ever need.
Posted by UpToPar
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
22282 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 12:42 pm to
If you're hauling shite just get a truck. Can go wrong with a taco IMO.
Posted by X123F45
Member since Apr 2015
28221 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 12:51 pm to
You will not find a better deal than a nissan xterra.

The jatco transmission is bulletproof. The vg40 is equally bulletproof.

The only issues they had were radiators leaking into the transmission and timing chain guides wearing. Both of those issues were fixed around 2011.

If you hunt, you can pick one up for around 10k with miles. Around 20k like new.

Fully boxed in frame. It's a half ton driveline under a small SUV.

My only complaint is the factory rear leaf springs are a little soft. DO NOT REPLACE WITH OLD MAN EMU.

With upgraded springs, I tow an 18ft trailer with a 4 seater side by side across country and up the pig tail in arkansas. 6k with gear. Will tow with cruise on at 70.

The only bad...fuel mileage. With armor, suspension, winch, and 285s... I average 15-16 not towing. 9 towing.
Posted by White Bear
Yonnygo
Member since Jul 2014
15291 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 1:06 pm to
quote:

Wrangler rubicon with locking differentials will get you just about anywhere.


But more importantly, will it get you back home?
Posted by Flats
Member since Jul 2019
23465 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 2:24 pm to
quote:

but it would also be a benefit to have it as my main ride


You sorta have to be a Jeep person to want a Jeep as your daily driver, so I'd second the 4runner/Tacoma recs. Depending on what you need it to do you might want to look at trailering a UTV up there and that way you get to keep a nice comfortable ride for your daily driver.
Posted by White Bear
Yonnygo
Member since Jul 2014
15291 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 2:47 pm to
I’m a Tacoma guy. Wish mine had a locking diff
Posted by wrongRob
Tampa FL
Member since Oct 2017
993 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 3:32 pm to
quote:

You will not find a better deal than a nissan xterra.

^^^ This!

FWIW. Buddy lives in the Bama foothills rolled one while off roading/rock climbing. The entire rear wheel assembly broke off lol practically everything broke. They flipped it over and it climbed back to the trail with only the front drive train. Good year wrangler dura track tires.
Posted by jchamil
Member since Nov 2009
17241 posts
Posted on 4/28/21 at 3:40 pm to
I've been driving 4Runners (2 of them) for the last 14 years, and I've always been able to get where I need to go doing a good bit of offroading. That being said, this is all in Northwest MS and the Alabama Black Belt, so no steep hills or rocky terrain
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