Well, even a blind man could've see where this thread is headed.

XJ!!

 

If you watch the gov auctions you can catch a cucv truck cheap.Really the cheapest 4x4s worth buying are the xjs and the fsj.Both have a good aftermarket and your wallet is the limit on what you can do to one.

 

Full size rigs are great unless you wheel tight trails, then they just suck. The greatest axles, transfer cases, and engines in the world don't help if you can't fit down the trail. Just sayin'

 

Full size rigs work fine when you dovetail and dovenose them. Doesn't really matter if the cab is a little bigger when you're on full widths and 40's

 

http://www.fourwheeler.com/events/14...p-safari-2014/ http://www.fourwheeler.com/events/13...to-gallery/#12

 

Eh I had something more like this in mind. But this isn't exactly your run of the mill daily driver / trail rig. I still like XJ's the best. Just the right amount of body and drivetrain without being a bulky underpowered yota or tiny wrangler.

 

Exactly. I'm the same width as a full size truck axle and tire wise and some trails suck because of it but the added stability makes up for it.

 

Well, with full widths and 40's I doubt the cab is going to be the limiting factor lol but coming from yotas, they might be a bit gutless but they make it up in gearing, aftermarket and (in my case and most others) stupid reliable and easy to work on. (Removable 3rd member makes R&P changes and lockers easy) Only prob with them now is owners think their junk made of gold with over 200k miles haha
Back on topic tho, I was looking at a K20 before I got my xj, only reason I didn't get it was the mpg difference and I found a xj with a 5speed and minimal rust haha

 

I've only seen 1 or 2 decent yotas. they're all either over-lifted with tiny tires or they're moderately built and they still suck on the trails (deep gearing doesn't help when you need a good HP revved up bump). and unless you buy longfields, you're gonna break a birf. all those guys seem to think you can just run 38's and be fine lol. I've seen 2 really nice tacomas built up on coilovers, but 4 runners IMHO are crap

I love and respect and good build or good driver, but I'm starting to notice a "pattern" among all the Toyotas

 

I've seen a lot of great trail rigs of all makes over the years, and a lot that were crap.
I think the XJ with a little modification is one of the best trail rigs there is, but as I stated in an earlier post if you plan on using it as a trail only rig, and doing serious trails most, if not all the time, with 37s or larger, it will take a lot of modifications. ( If you want it to Last that is )
Some of you can do it all yourself, but most can't, that is why something with a body off frame would be better.
As for the one ton running gear, I bought a rusted out GMC and pulled the T400 trans, 205 transfer case, and the D/60 and the 14bff axles for my Blazer for $1500.
I think if I ever do it again I would go with an early Scout, 100 inch wheelbase, and easy to setup suspension.

 

Around me a scout is like a early bronco 5k for a rust bucket that should be scraped or 10k for something that drives.

 

Wow i have gotten alot of great feedback from this post. I was leaning to a xj and doin some minor mods to start and see where it goes from there. We all kno it always go way past where we think it will. I think i wanna also keep it kinda street friendly so i can also do the occasional beach trip to just hang out. And yea i kno its a xj forum but i know many people have had multiple rides and may have great advice on what NOT to do and why they r now in their xj......

 

The xj is like the civic of the 4x4 world.Its small cheap but can be built up to anything you want it to be.Only limit to one is your wallet really.A lot of members are like me they love and respect a lot of other 4x4s besides the xj or even jeeps.

 

^very true

 

If I could wheel anything it would be an LJ Rubicon. TJs are kinda crappy to wheel (didnt think this till I owned one). But an LJ seems perfect.

Would kill to have one.