Best 4x4 camping vehicle with reasonable price

BillyBobJoeBobWilly · Mar 27, 2009

I own an 83 Jeep Scrambler 4x4, made for wheeling.

However, I would find this impractical to drive across country and use it to take me to remote camping locations as well.

Does anyone have recommendations on a vehicle they like for such activities?

I was thinking of a VW Westfalia Syncro 4x4 van... However, they are not easy to find and are on the expensive side.

What's your ideas?

Bob W · Mar 27, 2009

A pickup. :thumbup:

JRB · Mar 27, 2009

I'd go with a Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Suzuki Grand Vitara (newest generation) or Nissan Xterra (newest generation). I used to own an Isuzu VehiCROSS and loved it. It was awesome on the highway and awesome offroad. Unfortunately, they stopped being built in 2001.

vret · Mar 27, 2009

I always loved the VehiCross, it was a shame to see them go. I wanted to get one and do something like this:

BillyBobJoeBobWilly · Mar 27, 2009

well, what I meant was, self contained 4 wheel drive camping vehicle.

Requirements:

1. Not too big, needs to fit through tight spots in the wilderness.
2. Not a gas hog.
3. Robust enough to travel 3 states over, camp, enjoy, and drive back.

Biginboca · Mar 27, 2009

you need to go here and ask:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/

Then prepare for a much more expensive and time consuming hobby than knives. On second thought, don't go to that link... lol!

De4thStr1ke · Mar 27, 2009

I've got a 95 Cherokee Sport 4X4 that works great, at least in my opinion. I haven't done anything wild to it, so it's still good on the road, it's got a 2.5" lift with 31X10X50 tires. Does everything I need and more. And with the 4.0L HO engine it does really good offroad, while still getting decent gas mileage. I'm planning on adding a cold air kit soon to boost mileage, as well as power output.

T.K.C. · Mar 27, 2009

I drove my Toyota Tundra to AK. from MA. in the Winter time. It did awesome. I have a hard tonneau on mine, which is where I kept my gear.

ADD · Mar 27, 2009

De4thStr1ke said:
I've got a 95 Cherokee Sport 4X4 that works great, at least in my opinion. I haven't done anything wild to it, so it's still good on the road, it's got a 2.5" lift with 31X10X50 tires. Does everything I need and more. And with the 4.0L HO engine it does really good offroad, while still getting decent gas mileage. I'm planning on adding a cold air kit soon to boost mileage, as well as power output.

...huh?

gadgetgeek · Mar 27, 2009

the Mitsubishi Delica vans are very similar to the VW, but with higher suspension, 2.5Lturbo diesel, and lots of cool features. unfortunately they are all right hand drive, which may be a problem, but they are fairly cheap to import and typically are very low millage.

rthawker · Mar 28, 2009

www.sportsmobile.com nuff said.

Darren

the lone gunman · Mar 28, 2009

My old ford ranger 4+4 does it all for me, good in the woods, cheap on the highway , and I sleep in it.

ilten · Mar 28, 2009

I know these are out of the price range for mere mortals, but they are nice to look at anyway.
http://www.actionmobil.at/index.html
And one can always dream about that lottery win, right?
ilten

ronsec · Mar 28, 2009

BillyBobJoeBobWilly said:
well, what I meant was, self contained 4 wheel drive camping vehicle.

Requirements:

1. Not too big, needs to fit through tight spots in the wilderness.
2. Not a gas hog.
3. Robust enough to travel 3 states over, camp, enjoy, and drive back.

You're leaving out one big requirement: what do you want to spend? That could make a big difference in what is recommended to you!

BillyBobJoeBobWilly · Mar 28, 2009

ronsec said:
You're leaving out one big requirement: what do you want to spend? That could make a big difference in what is recommended to you!

You're right, I thought I mentioned that in my first post but I guess I didn't..

Price should be as low as possible while maintaining quality and reliability. I'm a fan of taking a vehicle that comes cheap and convert it to something like I'm looking for. So, a cheap doner vehicle would be cool.

I know the Jeep Unibody types like 95 Cherokee Sport 4X4 that was mentioned before is beginning to sound like the best canidate so far. I've seen these for sale for as little as 2000.00 plus or minus.

ChadHahn · Mar 28, 2009

A half ton pickup with a cab over camper might be good but clearance wouldn't be the greatest.

Chad

De4thStr1ke · Mar 28, 2009

ADD said:
...huh?

Hey, I said decent, not great!

I get better mileage than some of the pickups out there, that's for sure.

BillyBobJoeBobWilly said:
You're right, I thought I mentioned that in my first post but I guess I didn't..

Price should be as low as possible while maintaining quality and reliability. I'm a fan of taking a vehicle that comes cheap and convert it to something like I'm looking for. So, a cheap doner vehicle would be cool.

I know the Jeep Unibody types like 95 Cherokee Sport 4X4 that was mentioned before is beginning to sound like the best canidate so far. I've seen these for sale for as little as 2000.00 plus or minus.

Yeah, I'd highly recommend looking at them. Fairly cheap to get your hands on, pretty reasonably priced mods out there for lifts and such, and with a little bit of TLC and maintenance they'll last for a good long while. But I may be a little biased....

Clead · Mar 29, 2009

Move to Canada eh? We can import 15 years old vehicles, while you guys have a 25-year age minimum to deal with. I imported this a couple years ago from Japan with 94,000km on the clock: a 1992 Mitsubishi Pajero (Montero) with a diesel 4-banger and a Lexus-like option load. Including the roof rack of course.

It's got decent ground clearance, and a great modern 4wd system with shift-on-the-fly up to 100 km/h. Sorry, edited to add a price, under $8000 Cdn all-in.