Unless you’re in the South, Texas or the Southwest, you are quickly getting to the point where the fast street toy is just about done for the year. Northern guys are putting away their prized possessions and are breaking out the winter beaters. Elsewhere, the fun one is parked because between the rain, mud, slush, and general nastiness of the roads, bringing out the street machine doesn’t look tempting…and nobody wants to wash the car when it’s 41 degrees out. But there is always the four-by-four that can make this part of the year less painful. Is it dirty? It’s supposed to be! Is it fun? Hell yes! And is it useful? Yes. We’re taking a look at some of our favorite ‘wheelers…ok, my favorite wheelers…in no particular order. Like my choices? Did I miss one? Let me know below!
11. Second Generation Dodge Ram
If you’ve read my writing about trucks, then you are familiar with my bitching about how trucks have gotten stupidly big. The BR-generation Dodge Ram, to me, signifies the newest reasonably-sized pickup design that was a capable do-anything rig. With a wide array of engines available, from the why-bother 3.9L V6 to the almighty Cummins and the 8.0L V-10, looks that are handsome and an interior that is a pretty decent place to be, plus stout axles and suspensions, you could do far worse.
10. Subaru Outback
If you are the type that is concerned about image, or bothered about having a huge honking SUV or truck in your driveway, here’s your answer. Subaru’s reputation is banked on two cornerstones: safety and four driven wheels. While the Impreza, WRX and STi might have all the glory, it’s the Outback versions that are worth running the trails with. Stay older for better results…the newer Outbacks have an ass that would make a Kardashian jealous.
9. Jeep SJ
Creature comforts? Hey, you’re out of the rain. Quit bitching. One of the longest-running automotive platforms to date, the full-size Jeeps are brutal, stout and badass. Take your pick….M715, J-truck, Cherokee, Wagoneer…how the hell do you lose out? Rust is the only problem to be genuinely concerned about with an FSJ, unless you try to off-road the well-decorated Grand Wagoneers of the last few years of the run.
8. Suzuki/GEO
Only recently have I started to actually appreciate how good the Suzuki Samurai, GEO Tracker, and Suzuki Sidekick/Vitara really are. Yes, they are the size of my right shoe, but they are light and have enough power to keep them out of trouble. Short wheelbases work in their favor, and parts are cheap. Think of it as an alternative to a higher-end UTV and it’ll make a lot more sense.
7. First-gen Ford Explorer
Now that they have hit the absolute bottom of their market value, a first-gen Explorer should be on your shopping list. The pushbutton transfer case isn’t ideal, but when properly lifted and powered by the 4.0L six, fun will be had. One of two four-by-fours I had, this 1992 example was unbelievably capable. Last I knew, in this condition, it sold for $600. Should have kept it.
6. Jeep ZJ
One of the best all-arounders you can get for the money, which is currently in very reasonable territory, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is an awesome unit that can take punishment like no other. Don’t believe that? Look up some recent Tough Truck videos on YouTube…these are currently THE truck to beat on. Good enough for us, though we’d rather have this flexy beauty here.
5. Dodge Ramcharger
Blunt-force simple, old-school V8s, room for days inside…Dodge Ramchargers might not be as popular as K5 Blazers or Broncos but that shouldn’t dismiss them in the least. With a model range that spans nineteen years and an engine bay that will swallow up just about anything, why wouldn’t you take a look at one? This is the second four-by I’ve owned, a 360-powered ’84, and if I regretted selling the Explorer, I kick myself constantly for unloading this gem.
4. HMMWV
I’ve made my opinions on the HMMWV and H1 Hummer known: they are huge, underpowered and generally stupid for day-to-day use. But put one on the trails and suddenly you completely understand why people love them. High clearance, no axle pumpkins to deal with, low centers of gravity, and while the GM diesels aren’t that powerful, they are torque-monsters. Drop one in 4-low and see how off-kilter you can get. You’ll be amazed at what that big sonofabitch can do.
3. TRAR!
Because why the hell not. It’s not that the everyday driver is bad, it’s just that once the snow starts coming down in earnest, the daily beater becomes a useless pile of fail, stuck in half-inch deep ruts in the snow. So why not slam it on top of a frame and get to work? Look at this Intrepid! We’d rock this all day long with no shame whatsoever.
2. AMC Eagle SX/4
Like the idea of a TRAR but lack the ability to do the frame swap? AMC had the answer years ago. The Eagle lineup offered up an easy-to-use 4wd system that was functional, and the designs managed to (mostly) ditch the weirdness that came with such products as the Gremlin and Pacer. The Eagle wagon might appeal to most, but it’s the off-roading muscle car-looking Eagle SX/4 that gets our nod here. A hot 304 or AMC 360 coupled with off-road ability? Yes, please.
1. Chevrolet/GMC Suburban
Ok, why did I pick Big Bertha? It isn’t the fuel economy, not really the power, and it’s freaking huge for a truck, something that isn’t exactly desirable out on the trails. You have to look at it differently: this is the smallest vehicle I could see anyone actually using as an RV. Ditch the second and third-row seating, shove a mattress between the fender wells, modify the center console to be a cooler and bring along a camp stove and you’re set. Happy trails to you!
swap out the NP249 Tcase on the crap o key to the cheaper/better NP232 case.
your trail buddies will thank you!
and if you want to wheel one of these “pop cans” (no frame) PLEASE, PLEASE put tow hooks on it!!
You know this is coming – no tow hooks = mall rated. Seriously, if you don’t go out and get stuck, then you’re just on a country drive – and what’s the point of that?
I’m curious as to your criteria. Your list is a list – but without criteria it makes little sense.
What, No Nissan Patrol/Safari(Ford Mavrick) or Toyota Landcruiser or Toyota Hilux ???
These are the staple diet of Fourbie drivers Down-Under and for good reason.
So good in fact even the United Nation’s 4WD inventory is consisted of these 3 vehicles.
Oh, and be careful if deciding to hit the trails in a Subaru Outback. They suffer from oil surge/ pick-up problems in extreme trail situations.
A HMMWV… for those of us who like shattered diffs and busted #8 cylinders that are near impossible to fix…
If you have to work outside in the snow, in the mountains, like I’ve found myself doing quite a bit throughout my career, the first thing you realize is that (if you have half a frigging brain) all of these vehicles MIGHT get you to the base of where I’ve had to go in the winter. I end up having to visit a number of remote radio sites in the winter time, anywhere between 8000′-10000’+ ASL. If it doesn’t have tracks, it WILL get you laughed at and possibly killed, and even with tracks, you better pay close attention and be off the “hill” before 2:30 pm. Bad, bad shit happens after 2:30 pm on winter mountain access roads. Think avalanches. A good, tracked side-by-side, a properly built snow machine, or even a snow cat (There’s some interesting specimens out there that are actually tons of fun to drive. I’m trying to remember the name of the articulated, narrow model snow car I drove during one of my winter survival training sessions. 35-40 mos, turns on a dime, and blst through deep, deep powder like a hot knife through butter. Much more fun than the Tucker XL2000 the last company I worked for had. Towing that SOB to the base was a nightmare in itself. So was getting it on and off the damn trailer.) I miss the 70’s Thiokol IMP that I drove a decade or so ago. 4 cylinder with a glass pack echaust stack right next to your head, hydrostatic nothing, gears out the ass – slow, but it floated well and turned well enough to get myself, another tech, and up to 500 lbs of radio gear (on top of the 100 or so lbs of oh shit equipment already onboard.) up to the tightest of access roads..