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#1
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Recomendation on reliable company truck (off-road)
The small non-profit I work for is trying to get some funding for a company
work vehicle. We work all over the state of Nevada in remote/offroad conditions so one of the most important things is high clearance and off-road handling. Not so much mud/snow as just bad/no roads and uneven/steep terrain. Here is our desired specs. High-clearance 4x4 Low/cheap maintenance (company truck so will be all mechanic repairs) Reliable (this is a large state and we will be criss-crossing it ... LOTS of miles) Decent gas milage (with gas heading to $2, I'd sacrifice some power for mpg) Doubt we will need towing Truck preferred but will consider SUV suggestions $15,000 has been put into the budget for a slightly used model Large enough to carry equipment/dogs around with us. My boss thinks that only a full-size truck like a F-150 will do. I'm thinking a small truck would work just as well as long as we aren't towing anything. Something like a Tacoma or similar. I doubt a F-150 has any higher clearance than a Tacoma with same sized tires but I haven't looked it up. I own a Geo Tracker personally and I've never been on a road that a full sized truck could handle and I couldn't....the Tracker just keeps on chugging through the worst off-road areas. Anyway, suggestions welcome. |
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#2
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DH wrote:
> > The small non-profit I work for is trying to get some funding for a company > work vehicle. We work all over the state of Nevada in remote/offroad > conditions so one of the most important things is high clearance and > off-road handling. Not so much mud/snow as just bad/no roads and > uneven/steep terrain. Here is our desired specs. > > High-clearance > 4x4 > Low/cheap maintenance (company truck so will be all mechanic repairs) > Reliable (this is a large state and we will be criss-crossing it ... LOTS of > miles) > Decent gas milage (with gas heading to $2, I'd sacrifice some power for mpg) > Doubt we will need towing > Truck preferred but will consider SUV suggestions > $15,000 has been put into the budget for a slightly used model > Large enough to carry equipment/dogs around with us. > > My boss thinks that only a full-size truck like a F-150 will do. I'm > thinking a small truck would work just as well as long as we aren't towing > anything. Something like a Tacoma or similar. I doubt a F-150 has any higher > clearance than a Tacoma with same sized tires but I haven't looked it up. I > own a Geo Tracker personally and I've never been on a road that a full sized > truck could handle and I couldn't....the Tracker just keeps on chugging > through the worst off-road areas. > > Anyway, suggestions welcome. Toyota Tacoma, Tundra even an early '90s 4WD pickup would be a good choice. A few months ago we took some stock and nearly stock Toyotas over the Echo Canyon trail from Death Valley NP out to Beatty NV, they did fine, a few pictures below: http://c-24-7-120-215.client.comcast...lley11/22.html You can run ~31" tires stock and 33s without too much work on those type of trucks: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...it.shtml#FAQ10 -- Roger |
#3
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DH wrote:
> > The small non-profit I work for is trying to get some funding for a company > work vehicle. We work all over the state of Nevada in remote/offroad > conditions so one of the most important things is high clearance and > off-road handling. Not so much mud/snow as just bad/no roads and > uneven/steep terrain. Here is our desired specs. > > High-clearance > 4x4 > Low/cheap maintenance (company truck so will be all mechanic repairs) > Reliable (this is a large state and we will be criss-crossing it ... LOTS of > miles) > Decent gas milage (with gas heading to $2, I'd sacrifice some power for mpg) > Doubt we will need towing > Truck preferred but will consider SUV suggestions > $15,000 has been put into the budget for a slightly used model > Large enough to carry equipment/dogs around with us. > > My boss thinks that only a full-size truck like a F-150 will do. I'm > thinking a small truck would work just as well as long as we aren't towing > anything. Something like a Tacoma or similar. I doubt a F-150 has any higher > clearance than a Tacoma with same sized tires but I haven't looked it up. I > own a Geo Tracker personally and I've never been on a road that a full sized > truck could handle and I couldn't....the Tracker just keeps on chugging > through the worst off-road areas. > > Anyway, suggestions welcome. Toyota Tacoma, Tundra even an early '90s 4WD pickup would be a good choice. A few months ago we took some stock and nearly stock Toyotas over the Echo Canyon trail from Death Valley NP out to Beatty NV, they did fine, a few pictures below: http://c-24-7-120-215.client.comcast...lley11/22.html You can run ~31" tires stock and 33s without too much work on those type of trucks: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...it.shtml#FAQ10 -- Roger |
#4
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PINZGAUER!!!!or a UNIMOG both under 10K
The Dirt Weasel "JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner" |
#5
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PINZGAUER!!!!or a UNIMOG both under 10K
The Dirt Weasel "JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner" |
#6
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"DH" > wrote in message ... > The small non-profit I work for is trying to get some funding for a company > work vehicle. We work all over the state of Nevada in remote/offroad > conditions so one of the most important things is high clearance and > off-road handling. Not so much mud/snow as just bad/no roads and > uneven/steep terrain. Here is our desired specs. > > High-clearance > 4x4 > Low/cheap maintenance (company truck so will be all mechanic repairs) > Reliable (this is a large state and we will be criss-crossing it ... LOTS of > miles) > Decent gas milage (with gas heading to $2, I'd sacrifice some power for mpg) > Doubt we will need towing > Truck preferred but will consider SUV suggestions > $15,000 has been put into the budget for a slightly used model > Large enough to carry equipment/dogs around with us. > > My boss thinks that only a full-size truck like a F-150 will do. I'm > thinking a small truck would work just as well as long as we aren't towing > anything. Something like a Tacoma or similar. I doubt a F-150 has any higher > clearance than a Tacoma with same sized tires but I haven't looked it up. I > own a Geo Tracker personally and I've never been on a road that a full sized > truck could handle and I couldn't....the Tracker just keeps on chugging > through the worst off-road areas. > > Anyway, suggestions welcome. > I drive all over the southwest desert and while I opt for the sealed comfort of an SUV I had a Chevy Z71 pickup for two years that was absolutely wonderful. The 5.3L V8 and Z71 suspension will haul a lot of stuff and will handle everything short of extreme rock climbing. There is plenty of clearance for even the worst roads and you can probably pick one up around 3 or 4 years old with 50, 000 miles for around $15,000.00. There should even be part of the warranty left at that point. Mine got 14.5 mpg combined hwy/city, 16 mpg in the desert fully loaded with about 800 lbs of gear plus a several hundred lb. camper shell and as high as 18 mpg on the hwy alone. It will be difficult to get a late model Toyota in decent shape for under $15,000.00 and parts will kill you if you're on a budget. Bob Walker www.walker-entertainment.com |
#7
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"DH" > wrote in message ... > The small non-profit I work for is trying to get some funding for a company > work vehicle. We work all over the state of Nevada in remote/offroad > conditions so one of the most important things is high clearance and > off-road handling. Not so much mud/snow as just bad/no roads and > uneven/steep terrain. Here is our desired specs. > > High-clearance > 4x4 > Low/cheap maintenance (company truck so will be all mechanic repairs) > Reliable (this is a large state and we will be criss-crossing it ... LOTS of > miles) > Decent gas milage (with gas heading to $2, I'd sacrifice some power for mpg) > Doubt we will need towing > Truck preferred but will consider SUV suggestions > $15,000 has been put into the budget for a slightly used model > Large enough to carry equipment/dogs around with us. > > My boss thinks that only a full-size truck like a F-150 will do. I'm > thinking a small truck would work just as well as long as we aren't towing > anything. Something like a Tacoma or similar. I doubt a F-150 has any higher > clearance than a Tacoma with same sized tires but I haven't looked it up. I > own a Geo Tracker personally and I've never been on a road that a full sized > truck could handle and I couldn't....the Tracker just keeps on chugging > through the worst off-road areas. > > Anyway, suggestions welcome. > I drive all over the southwest desert and while I opt for the sealed comfort of an SUV I had a Chevy Z71 pickup for two years that was absolutely wonderful. The 5.3L V8 and Z71 suspension will haul a lot of stuff and will handle everything short of extreme rock climbing. There is plenty of clearance for even the worst roads and you can probably pick one up around 3 or 4 years old with 50, 000 miles for around $15,000.00. There should even be part of the warranty left at that point. Mine got 14.5 mpg combined hwy/city, 16 mpg in the desert fully loaded with about 800 lbs of gear plus a several hundred lb. camper shell and as high as 18 mpg on the hwy alone. It will be difficult to get a late model Toyota in decent shape for under $15,000.00 and parts will kill you if you're on a budget. Bob Walker www.walker-entertainment.com |
#8
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"R. Walker" > wrote in message news:d6Obc.70244$1I5.31200@fed1read01... > > I drive all over the southwest desert and while I opt for the sealed comfort > of an SUV I had a Chevy Z71 pickup for two years that was absolutely > wonderful. The 5.3L V8 and Z71 suspension will haul a lot of stuff and will > handle everything short of extreme rock climbing. There is plenty of > clearance for even the worst roads and you can probably pick one up around 3 > or 4 years old with 50, 000 miles for around $15,000.00. There should even > be part of the warranty left at that point. > > Mine got 14.5 mpg combined hwy/city, 16 mpg in the desert fully loaded with > about 800 lbs of gear plus a several hundred lb. camper shell and as high as > 18 mpg on the hwy alone. > > It will be difficult to get a late model Toyota in decent shape for under > $15,000.00 and parts will kill you if you're on a budget. > > Bob Walker > > www.walker-entertainment.com Thanks for the suggestions. Money is definately tight so a low, cheap, maintenance vehicle would be the choice even if it didn't meet other requirements. I didn't realize that Toyotas have such high maintenance costs. The Z71 might be more vehicle than we really need as we will probably never tow anything or haul heavy loads. Most of our work will just be carrying people. |
#9
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"R. Walker" > wrote in message news:d6Obc.70244$1I5.31200@fed1read01... > > I drive all over the southwest desert and while I opt for the sealed comfort > of an SUV I had a Chevy Z71 pickup for two years that was absolutely > wonderful. The 5.3L V8 and Z71 suspension will haul a lot of stuff and will > handle everything short of extreme rock climbing. There is plenty of > clearance for even the worst roads and you can probably pick one up around 3 > or 4 years old with 50, 000 miles for around $15,000.00. There should even > be part of the warranty left at that point. > > Mine got 14.5 mpg combined hwy/city, 16 mpg in the desert fully loaded with > about 800 lbs of gear plus a several hundred lb. camper shell and as high as > 18 mpg on the hwy alone. > > It will be difficult to get a late model Toyota in decent shape for under > $15,000.00 and parts will kill you if you're on a budget. > > Bob Walker > > www.walker-entertainment.com Thanks for the suggestions. Money is definately tight so a low, cheap, maintenance vehicle would be the choice even if it didn't meet other requirements. I didn't realize that Toyotas have such high maintenance costs. The Z71 might be more vehicle than we really need as we will probably never tow anything or haul heavy loads. Most of our work will just be carrying people. |
#10
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"DH" > wrote in message ... > > "R. Walker" > wrote in message > news:d6Obc.70244$1I5.31200@fed1read01... > > > > I drive all over the southwest desert and while I opt for the sealed > comfort > > of an SUV I had a Chevy Z71 pickup for two years that was absolutely > > wonderful. The 5.3L V8 and Z71 suspension will haul a lot of stuff and > will > > handle everything short of extreme rock climbing. There is plenty of > > clearance for even the worst roads and you can probably pick one up around > 3 > > or 4 years old with 50, 000 miles for around $15,000.00. There should even > > be part of the warranty left at that point. > > > > Mine got 14.5 mpg combined hwy/city, 16 mpg in the desert fully loaded > with > > about 800 lbs of gear plus a several hundred lb. camper shell and as high > as > > 18 mpg on the hwy alone. > > > > It will be difficult to get a late model Toyota in decent shape for under > > $15,000.00 and parts will kill you if you're on a budget. > > > > Bob Walker > > > > www.walker-entertainment.com > > Thanks for the suggestions. Money is definately tight so a low, cheap, > maintenance vehicle would be the choice even if it didn't meet other > requirements. I didn't realize that Toyotas have such high maintenance > costs. > > The Z71 might be more vehicle than we really need as we will probably never > tow anything or haul heavy loads. Most of our work will just be carrying > people. Larger trucks are far more durable, I laugh when I read the four wheel drive magazines and I see all the reports of broken u-joints, cracked frames, busted steering boxes and the like, because I've never seen failures like those with my 3/4 ton GMC. The only negative to large trucks are in places such as ledges or narrow gaps, and even tight turns where they simply can't navigate due to size. For open terrain though they will outlast any small vehicle in hard use, the main componenets are so massive they will take punishment unheard of by the Toyotas and Jeeps. If you don't want the large truck I'd recommend a Cherokee, good passenger room, very dependable and quite capable offroad. |
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