Why don't you trust a Jeep?? That's one of the oldest and most proven
designs still in production. Sure, the brand new Wranglers are
different than a CJ2A, but the basic design elements are still there.
They're simple and functional. Jeep's 4.0L six-cylinder is a solid,
proven engine, and most will come with Dana axles.

I would personally get a used Jeep CJ-7, or an older SUV-type (I hate
the term SUV applied to the following TRUCKS, but...) such as a Chevy
Blazer, Dodge Ramcharger, or Ford Bronco. All of the above in their
earlier incarnations are fairly simple vehicles without complicated
electrical systems or computers. Each is capable of carrying plenty of
supplies for you and a few others for hiking trips.

With any off road vehicle, a good solid drivetrain is the most
important thing. If the engine, transmission and axles are all in
sound mechanical condition, then you have the makings of a good
reliable off-road vehicle. The cosmetics are of no importance off
road, and frankly, the worse, the better. Having a well-worn vehicle
is great on trails because you don't have to be concerned about
scratching a nice paint job. You will eventually scratch or dent
something off road...it's all part of the package. Finally, if you get
dirty, you won't have any regrets about hopping back into your older
vehicle with dirty, muddy, or wet clothing.

By the way, if you spend >$20,000 for a vehicle that'll be used only
occasionally just to get you further out into the desert, then you'll
have spent about $15,000+/- too much. My rust-free 1986 Chevy K5
Blazer cost me around $3800 back in 2002. It was a former Police
truck--low mileage (around 100k at the time, not bad for a then-16yr
old truck), solid body, and basic interior (vinyls seats, rubber floor)
that just screams "get me dirty". I can practically hose it out when
I'm done...

The only problem I ever had with *stock* component failure was an
alternator and a rear axle failure (it wasn't the axle itself, just the
stock locker...a known weak point). Any other problems were,
unfortunately, self-inflicted... :-(

Just my $.02, and good luck...

~jp

nightrider.36 wrote:
> Ed, where will you guys go camping out there? Leonids!! that sounds
> intense--it's a good light show, I've seen it a few times--once out in
> the Mojave.
>
> The thing with the justification is this--and granted, this may just be
> me being ignorant of the 4x4 lifestyle so give me some slack there...
>
> It seems like I'd be paying for two or three vehicles. My commuter
> vehicle, my wife's commuter and now a 4x4 (toy) vehicle. So wouldn't I
> be paying insurance on the 4x4? registration? and maybe more payments
> for a dependable off-road vehicle? I have a good job and not
> destitute, I can afford a new jeep or something similar. But it just
> seems like an unwise use of finances for something I'm not going to use
> daily. Or is it one of those things where that's the cost of having fun
> and I should just suck it up--I can. I just need to know if there are
> more frugal alternatives.
>
> All I want to do is more interesting hiking and not 4x4 rock crawling.
> Jeeps are more expensive (>$20,000) than I'd like to spend on this
> hobby and I don't trust a used Jeep--or should I?