Yikes!
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1990 Alpine 325iC. -
14,000 is a bunch of money to spend on a car that will get pretty worked.
However I really need it to be reliable, and capable for light duty off road use.
Safety is important to me .
And finally It needs to be somewhat comfortable, which is why I was considering a Scandinavian car. They have the best interiors for living out of.
I will most likely buy a 2000ish Toyota 4runner SR5. ( i think the limited is a little bit yuppied out. I like the way the Sr5 sits, its not trying to be something else)
So , I feel a smart move would be to buy the car well before the big Alaska trip, and make a few road trips in it to see how it holds up.Comment
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Like I said before the 4runner is going to be your best option you have come up with. That said you dont want to tap out your budget with just the base SUV, for what your wanting to do with it. You will need to save some money to set it up for off the beaten path travel. Good AT M/S rated tires at minimum, mild lift, maybe update the front and rear bumpers to something a bit more durable and give you better clearance. A full size rear spare tire carrier, More and better Skid plates, a decent roof rack, and auxiliary lighting, maybe even a 9500lb winch. Along with other associated recovery and back country emergency gear. The most important thing of all is to get it to a 100% maintenance. If it looks warn replace it, if its a wear item replace it, if its driping or clunking fix it etc......Originally posted by M Dialed View Post
You dont need to go all out with all that. Hell there is a story over on the Expedition portal where a young couple drove a mostly stock (although brand new) 70 series diesel FJ all over the African and Eurasian continents including though the Congo, for couple of years. That said, you still should consider minor upgrades and kitting it to better serve your needs and adventurers. The back country is no place to get your self stuck or broken down badly alone, especially in Alaska, even with back country experience.
Yes you should get what ever your going to get well ahead of time and take some shorter over night or long weekend trips someplace as similar in terrain and conditions as where you want to to. You can then figure out the best way to pack you rig, for the most efficient use of space and still keep what you want close at hand, you can figure out what upgrades you might want to make before the big trip. You would be surprised how useful a good roof rack and a few pelican cases can be to keep some of your stuff. Dont forget the Cable and locks though.......
You might be better off getting something a little older in the 2000-2002ish range and not worry too much about the mileage, I knwo this sounds kinda scary but since you will be going though updating and fixing anything that needs or might need it....... Why not save the money on the premium of something newish and save it for mods and things to make it a bit more useful for what you want to do with it and not be so concerned about the rock or tree thats knocking the paint off the passenger side rocker panels
Something like this. 100k on the clock good shape other wise and 1/2 the cost of your budget that leaves a pile of room for maintenance and mods an still have a little left over for some new glass for the trip
Last edited by mrsleeve; 12-04-2012, 02:29 AM.The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money. -Alexis de TocquevilleOriginally posted by Fusion
The Desire to Save Humanity is Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule it- H. L. Mencken
Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants.
William Pitt-Comment
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What he said.
+ make sure that the car you are going to buy has lockable diffs. All of them I mean. Not just the rear one. Although if you go the route that mrsleeve recommends - you can add them later.Comment
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4runner would be a great choice. I sold my e30 2 years ago to get a 2003 tacoma and it has never failed me. The 1 thing to watch out for is the timing belt, it's about 800-1000 to have it replaced because of how deep it is in the engine bay, and also all of the while you're there items, but if you can find one that has had it done, it's a great vehicle. They're supposed to be done at 90k for what it's worth. Also, mine has a set of wheels on it that are a bit lower offset, and also are all season tires. I haven't had any issues with it out on logging roads, and even some roads more remote than that. I would highly recommend one, but i agree with sleeve, account for maintenance in the budget for the piece of mind knowing that the truck won't fail you while in the wilderness.Comment
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Sounds good, I will be looking for a lower mileage 4runner.Comment
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