Need help choosing 4x4 Baja beater

I've been looking for a Jeep CJ5 or 7 in decent shape for a few years and haven't found one around here that hasn't been eaten up by road salt. Imho ya can't find a better toy for shitty conditions. They are simple to work on, easy to mod, parts are everywhere. Where you are they shouldn't be a problem to find. Heck with a tow bar you can haul it around behind the truck. I'm thinking of one again for running around town in Fl.

Roy

I think I'd look around for a used Cherokee. You can find them for under $5000 with air. They are dependable and common, and you won't have to wait on a slow boat from Japan if you need parts for it. Samurais are cheap and disposable. If something major breaks you could probably get another Samurai for less $ than the repair but do you want that hassle?

And keep it under 5k? Realistic?? Why heck yeah! How about a '06 2500, QC, 4WD, Laramie (keep Nan cool, comfy, and on leather) and to keep it under

FMB (duckin)

something like an older S10, Cherokee, Ranger/mazda sounds in order, all readily avail and repairs shouldn't cost an arm and leg.

see them all the time round here.

That was my 1st thought, but my experience with jeeps in the Army was pulling them out of the mud with a deuce and a half.. *g*

Also thinking about a wagoneer or toyota land cruiser, but know even less about them..

Mac

That's slowly heading up the list... the older ones (before they became SUV's) seem pretty sturdy...

I drove a friends Samurai a few times and was unimpressed... even with bigger, wider that stock tires, it seemed sort of unstable...

OTOH, my wife thinks that they, and the other import ones like it, are "cute"

Being married 3 times, I've grown to hate 2 words: Cute and Sale... Mac

Great idea... if I could buy one for 5k and sell it for 30k, my 4x4 budget would be bigger!

OTOH, it would be sort on redundant since our 99 Ram is a laramie with AC and leather.. it just doesn't burn oil yet.. Mac

Ya have to use decent tires.

Bro, the deal with the cj is parts availability is real good There are a ton of parts catalogs for them as well. You can run them forever with a 1/2" & 9/16 wrench and some duct tape. Sure they ain't too pretty but they are functional.

Roy

Old CJs are really tough. I'd also suggest, if you find one, a 60s through 80s International Scout. Those were even tougher than Jeeps, and parts are available through any truck parts dealer.

The scouts were tough. Haven't seen any around here in a long time. I would think that body parts are tough to find though.

Roy

Might be a possibility, but they're kind of hard to run AC unless you have a hard top...

Seems like there's tons of wagoneers and cherokees down there, though..

Mac

wow.. flashback time.... I drove those on guard duty at Fort Ord in the 60's.. lol

Mac