What should I buy/build?

[DynamicBrad]

Sooo I’ve had a few different rigs over the years and currently dont have anything. So what should I buy? But before you answer here are my requirements/ wishes
Need rear seats. Have a wife, baby and a dog that I bring everywhere.
Streetable. Don’t want a trailer queen that sits in my driveway
Build it to race it one day. KOH 4600/4500 or jeepspeed or limited desert classes etc but only to say i did it. Not seriously compete.
desert friendly. Brother has a prerunner and other family has SXS
Rubicon capable. Good friends have rock crawlers and i live in NorCal soo more rocks closer.

Now you see my dilemma…

A few vehicles that come to mind are:
3rd gen 4runnner,
1st gen tacoma,
grand Cherokee ZJ or WJ,
Cherokee XJ,
OJ Bronco,
Tahoe 2 door or 4 door 90s or early 2000s

Soo here is what I’m thinking;
Grand Cherokee ZJ with rubicon axles and 35s. Long arms and good quality shocks with a goal of 14” of travel. 35s to keep fender trimming minimal and not hinder up travel. Frame stiffeners and cage kits are readily available. V8 power solid axle and links stock. Cheap entry point plenty of aftermarket support…would be good in the rocks and with bypasses and sway bars would be plenty of fun in the dirt.

Tahoe/ blazer/ Yukon with a 4x long travel kit and a three link rear or solid axle swap front. Doesn’t allow me to race KOH but I assume there are desert classes it would fit in that would still be fun. Absolutely love the gmt 400 2 door tahoes but am worried about accessing rear seats…4 doors start to get big but full sizes are running trails regularly now. Anyone run a JD fab kit Tahoe rock crawling? How does the front end handle it? Schumacher metal works offers the gmt 400 series trucks 4x long travel kits as well. Then if i want solid axle there are plenty of options there wfo etc

3rd gen 4runner/ 1st gen taco with long travel a arm kit and 35s. Plenty of builds out there that work but ill have to keep a set of CVs ha still could qualify for 4600 and other desert classes or get wild on a tacoma and run tons, links and coil overs and build with 4500 in mind one day

Don’t really want to build an XJ too many of them exist already

Bronco is sweet but they are too pricy to start and seem big and heavy for rock trails

What would you do?

 

[Kellyex1450]

On paper the ZJ makes a lot of sense, Jeeps in general make a lot of sense. The only issue I really have with Jeeps is the barrier to performance entry on them now is only $$$ and because of that the jeep culture is pretty lame. If you can look past the mall crawler jeep wave stuff then your probably best suited in a Jeep.

 

[DynamicBrad]

On paper the ZJ makes a lot of sense, Jeeps in general make a lot of sense. The only issue I really have with Jeeps is the barrier to performance entry on them now is only $$$ and because of that the jeep culture is pretty lame. If you can look past the mall crawler jeep wave stuff then your probably best suited in a Jeep.

I agree thats part of my dilemma too. Being a ZJ i feel there’s not as much of the Mall crawler stigma with ‘em though. The unibody does concern me but being in California rust isn’t as big of an issue and there are lots for sale, some being pretty clean and straight too. This is most likely the route ill chose but wanted some validation or suggestions other wise

 

[Brett_408]

Thread '4x4 "Family Size" Prerunner Platforms'

Aug 6, 2023

Lets get some opinions and discussion on what year, make and model vehicles make good Prerunner/prelander platforms with the following criteria.

Most important features

- 4x4 first and foremost
- 4 seats minimum "family sized"
- More go fast, no jeeps or donkey rock crawler
- capable of mild 4x4 trails so you can see more places then desert and sand.

Lets hear about pro's and con's of different vehicles. Aftermarket support, easy of building to maximize usage to garage down time ratio, can it use factory parts (hubs, steering, driveline,ect...) , barrier to entry as far as prices...

• Brett_408
• Replies: 45
• Forum: General Chat

• 

very similar thread with good info

 

[Nick619nc]

Gen 1 explorer or nothing

 

[Giant Geoff]

Cherokee is great for rocks and trail rides!

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Coming from someone with a LT 4WD 3rd gen 4Runner, this platform could be the right fit if you’re looking for something smaller for trails but short wheelbase and good aftermarket support. It’s just a matter of money getting it where you want it but the parts are out there. That being said, rear droop travel is limited due to longer than 12” shocks not fitting without going into the cargo area and depending on how much rear seat room/ sound and dust proof you want to keep are the main factors. The rear seat area is much roomier than a 1st gen Tacoma too but the rear end on DC Tacos are way easier for fabrication and shock packaging. A bit longer wheelbase than the 4Runner but for mild to moderate 4WD trails it’s still an excellent platform since they’re all 5ft short beds so ideal wheelbase length is somewhat subjective. It’s a give and take between those two models. The 4Runner frame is fully boxed so that’s gotta be worth something if you’re racing it down the line.

1st gen Explorer sounds like it would fit the bill too but they’re a little smaller inside and have a much narrower aftermarket, especially for rock crawling parts. Not really sure how TTB holds up in the rocks since most vehicles that have TTB tend to be go fast oriented.

 

[Doubleggregg]

3rd gen 4runner vote here. I have one with camburg long travel 4x4 and soon hopefully a lot of work will be getting done on it before next winter.

Id check out Opt-offroad.com and Freel good performance. Jason and Taylor have done some really cool shit for the 3rd gen 4runner. Alot of truly easily bolt on stuff and some great fabrication involved upgrades.

i actually have two 3rd gen 4runners. one is mine that will be a prelander type rig 4x4 LT and the other is a bolt on queen with Total chaos control arms and simple Freel good performance rear shock hoop with 12" 2.5 King smooth body shocks that is my 19 year old sons.

As far as axles, RCV makes axles if you're that worried or if you think itll be a problem because of how you drive. strongest on the market and i believe 100% life time warrantied. they make stock replacements and long travel axles.

3.4L engine is bullet proof, and if you want more power do a super charger, the 8" rear ends are great to. you could get a factory e locker or even do an eaton e locker in a stock 8" housing which i have been told is stronger than the factory e locker stuff.

I have thought about a double cab 1st gen tacoma though, all my buddies have broncos, mild to wild with OhCho / richerracing stuff on them and they are cool and dialed for the most part but they are huge and only 2 door, my 2nd choice would be a GMT800 Suburban / Tahoe but it wouldnt be a full kill vehicle it would be a 4x4 camping / overlanding family rig just cause they look cool, im a chevy fan boy and they tend to be pretty damn easy to work on and reliable.