Best Bang for Buck Overland Rig

What is the Best Budget Overland Rig? (Feel free to suggest others for addition to the poll)

  • Jeep Cherokee

    Votes: 22 37.9%

  • Toyota Land Cruiser

    Votes: 5 8.6%

  • Land Rover Disco

    Votes: 2 3.4%

  • Isuzu Trooper

    Votes: 2 3.4%

  • Suzuki Samurai

    Votes: 2 3.4%

  • Toyota 4Runner

    Votes: 18 31.0%

  • Toyota Tacoma

    Votes: 4 6.9%

  • Jeep Grand Cherokee

    Votes: 3 5.2%
  • Total voters
    58
Best for what is the real question. Do you need a lot of storage? Do you need it to be a daily driver ? Fo you need good gas mileage? How capable offroad do you need it ad in how technical are the routes you are thinking of? Do you need people space? Everyone here could throw out a ton of options but without more specifics it's pretty tough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Luis Merlo
The $5000 price limit is very ahhh, limiting. At that price you are pretty much out of the decent Toyota. You can pick up a lot of Land Rovers but be care full because they tend to have heat issues and warp the heads after a 100,000 miles if not meticulously maintained. Jeeps and GM products have a lot of aftermarket support and you can get parts at about every corner. Ford is almost as good but they went to IRS early so you can run into problems there. Early Dodge vehicle are hard to get parts for, TRUST ME, later ones are on par with Ford in my opinion.

Now if I was staring over at that price range I would look for a decent Land Rover or Jeep Grand Cherokee. They have nice rides on the way to the wilderness and driving around town and plenty of aftermarket support. The down side is they are loaded with fancy bits and pieces and technology that break but if you stay on top of them they aren't too bad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeepney
My 2001 gmc pick up went 215k with only repair, a blown coolant hose. Sadly what finally did go was the axle and it was half the values of the truck to replace. Besides that it was just oil changes brakes and tires. It'll be interesting to see if my Toyota can do the same.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Luis Merlo
In regards to the question on cruiser, runner, or pick-up, they all have advantages! A bed is irreplaceable, but then so is weatherproof interior space! Cruisers are most immediately capable with stock lockers, straight axles, etc., but when budget is an issue the 13mpg of the cruiser is bad compared to the 20+mpg I get in my 22re 4runner.

There is another thread on here called something like "best starter overland rig" and it is basically the same question... what's the best rig for under 5k?

The consensus there seemed to be a Cherokee.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using OB Talk mobile app
 
raundhaus said:
In regards to the question on cruiser, runner, or pick-up, they all have advantages! A bed is irreplaceable, but then so is weatherproof interior space! Cruisers are most immediately capable with stock lockers, straight axles, etc., but when budget is an issue the 13mpg of the cruiser is bad compared to the 20+mpg I get in my 22re 4runner.

There is another thread on here called something like "best starter overland rig" and it is basically the same question... what's the best rig for under 5k?

The consensus there seemed to be a Cherokee.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using OB Talk mobile app
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response. Here in Northern Nevada Jeep Cherokee are easy to come so I'm leaning that way. Will search for that thread.

Sent from my SM-G530T using OB Talk mobile app
 
Having owned an XJ series Cherokee, I would not trust one for overlanding. This is just my experience, but mine was an absolute dog and horribly unreliable. It was in the shop more in three years than my Toyota or Nissan were in their whole lives. Some XJs seem to be bomb proof, but for every one of them there are 10 that are lemons. The problem with Chrysler is that of consistency, you never know if your vehicle will be one of the good ones or the rolling pit you throw money into.

For $5,000 I don't think you will find any Land Cruiser worth owning, they just have too much residual value and are desirable project cars. The only ones I see for that kind of money have more holes in the body than a colander.

Trucks are great because they are modular, but you can run into problems with dust getting in - even with a camper shell. My next vehicle will likely be a crew cab pickup.

The 4Runner is a solid vehicle, but for $5,000 you are going to be looking at a fairly old vehicle with higher miles. This is the problem with Toyota, everyone knows they are reliable and well built so they have a higher buy-in than other brands. Some of that price is deserved, some of it is just the badge.

When I was faced with this choice, I found Nissan to be the best bang for the buck. I was able to get a newer, lower miles vehicle for the same money. My XTerra has been very reliable, it turns 11 this year and I have loved owning it. The VQ motor is just as reliable as anything Toyota has built and has gone in everything from Z-cars to luxury sedans, to pickup trucks (granted with different cam and crank profiles). You should be able to find an early Gen2 XTerra for about that price if you look around and are not too picky about a few rough spots. A clean late Gen1 is certainly within the range.

Another option would be tracking down a Suzuki Equator. This was just a Nissan Frontier with a Suzuki badge stuck to the grill, but because it is from a dead brand (at least in North America) they often go for thousands less than the Nissan Frontier. Literally the only difference is the badge, it was even built in the same factory on the same line, by the same workers who built the Frontier.
 
  • Like
Reactions: shoredreamer, BCBrian and VDawg1115
I'll second Nissan as an excellent option. I had a 1990 Pathfinder and it was a great vehicle. It's still running today as it has been passed on to my cousin. Only bad thing about it was the stupid factory alarm system that liked to drain batteries. I went back to that Pathfinder after I was driving a 2000 4Runner for a year. Didn't get rid of it until I got my 2005 GMC Sierra.

But the best overland rig is the one you love. Try out different rigs in your price range
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alfonso Rojas and KD7WCD
I'll toss 2001-2002 Isuzu Trooper into the mix. They are great cars if maintained and tend to be very cheap. They have dual speed gear boxes, under body armor, full time 4*4 and cab shiftable 4*4 low. The power train is essentially GM and very easy to work on. Me personally, I'd rather have a very clean Trooper for $4k than a ragged out anything else for $5k+. Gives a little room for the old man emu suspension and tires. [emoji106]
 
  • Like
Reactions: Young Satchel and VDawg1115
I love my xj jeep cherokee but like one person said they are a hit and miss the 4.0 is bullet proof and run forever if it has been maintained but parts are also readily available and easy to work on just check anything over well

Sent from my A571VL using OB Talk mobile app
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Pettit
Xterra or a high millage Land Cruiser FJ80. If you can find an Xterra Off - Road model (comes with rear electric locker) even better. 1992 - 1997 FJ80 are excellent or get lucky with LX450 just keep in mind mods are expensive.
 
I love my '07 Xterra Off Road and it has gotten us in and out of places we shouldn't have been. It has seen trails from the Mexico boarder all tbe way up through the Rockis to Canada.

One of the thing I have liked about the couple of Nissans I have owend has been how easy it is to work on my self. I like to turn a wrench when I can and it seems most modern cars don't lend them selves to the shade tree mechanics any more. I figure the more I can do my self the more likely I'll know how to fix it on the trail if it breaks.

I would like to get better range out of it. But let's face it, in the USA even out West you have to work hard at finding a route that is more than 250 miles with out a convenient refueling stop along the way. And if you are going to be on a rout with out fuel you probably have already done planning for the trip and have packed accordingly.

The Xterra has gotten smaller now with my little girl along but I am going to squeeze every mile I can out of it I can before getting something else.

The point is not that the Xterra is any better or worse than any other vehicle. As VDawg1115 said "the best overland rig is the one you love". Don't buy into anyone's hype. Decided for your self what works best for you and your wallet.

Sent from my GT-N8013 using OB Talk mobile app
 
  • Like
Reactions: drrobinson and MBroenkow
There was a poll on this awhile back, i think @stringtwelve started it but I can't seem to find the thread. I believe the Jeep XJ (Cherokee 84-2001) and the 4-Runners were on top. I have a 2001 XJ, LOVE it and it has been very reliable, parts are cheap and an absolute ass load of aftermarket support. The 4-runners are also VERY reliable, and I even have looked at buying one before but decided not to buy due to the aftermarket support, or lack there of and the parts are way more expensive. Both are great rigs and can't go wrong either way IMHO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ManWithJeep
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom