- This topic has 9 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 3 months ago by
.
-
Topic
-
Hi all I’m look to a new or used SUV or truck and it has to be a 4×4 what would u all recommend i have a 04 caviler and a 91 explore my explorer i have now is my play toy and i need a new one for the occasionally off road but mostly to work and for trips what would u all get let me know thanks a lot
-
Replies
-
Well if your looking for a 4×4, id recommend a XJ Cherokee Sport with the inline 6 motor around 94 to 98.
My recommendation would depend upon what you plan on using it for? Are you going to be using it to go off-road a lot? In that case, I’d look at a Wrangler, or somthing similar. Is this SUV going to be used for towing something like a boat on vacations with the family? If that’s the case, I’d look for a Ford Excursion with the 7.3 diesel engine. If you’re going to be using it for daily driving in bad weather, you might want to consider a Subaru Legacy wagon. I need more information before I can recommend something to you, as I can’t think of any vehicle that is perfectly suited to every condition you may be driving though.
no i would like a 4×4 truck not a suv and i would use the tuck for a little bit of 4x4ing and a little bit of towing but a lot for work and for vacations.
You said truck or suv.
Quoted From raceking1324:
no i would like a 4×4 truck not a suv and i would use the tuck for a little bit of 4x4ing and a little bit of towing but a lot for work and for vacations.
Im partial to the Chevys/GMCs. which they make good 4x4s. Id get one with the 350 its a very common motor and to me would suit what you need to do and does have decent towing capability. Im not sure how a 454 handles towing. I think those were geared more for speed than towing. Correct me if Im wrong tho guys. I havnt been around the diesels from the 90s and 00s enough to give a good opinion on them tho spec wise they do very well for towing.
Here’s what I’d go with, I’m presuming that you’ve got a spouse and a kid or two. Find yourself a Ford F-250 or -350 with the 7.3L turbo diesel, four doors and an 8 foot bed. Those engines will return roughly 20 mpg, as well as make enough torque to pull a house down. Maybe I’m biased a bit, but I’ll choose a diesel engine over a gas engine in a heartbeat if one is available. For towing, nothing beats a diesel engine. The only downside is that not all gas stations sell diesel, and it’s comparable in price to premium gasoline. It will give better fuel economy though, so it’s a wash regardless.
If you’re looking at Ford diesels, the 7.3s are bulletproof and will run forever. The 6.0s are delicate in stock form, but can be made bulletproof, although it will no longer be “emissions legal”, since you’ll be disabling the EGR system. This will prevent you from having to replace head gaskets though, which on the trucks with the 6.0 require that the cab comes off the truck. The 6.4 and the 6.7 diesels are about as delicate as the 6.0, and with all the emissions control stuff on them, will give you, at best, 8 mpg. This is largely in part to the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and it’s regenerative process. The DPF is designed to catch all the soot that would normally come out of the tailpipe. That’s all well and good, but eventually that will get full and will have to be regenerated. This occurrs in a similar manner to the way a self-cleaning oven cleans itself. These engines will fire the rear two injectors on the exhaust stroke, dumping raw diesel into the exhaust stream, which is basically throwing fire at the hot side of the turbo, and then down the exhaust to the DPF.
On a different note, I don’t have many complaint about the GM trucks, although replacing the idler and Pitman arms all the time will get old and tedious very quickly. They also seem to have problems with the guage clusters not working correctly for no readily apparent reason. That said, the LS series of engines are absolutely amazing. They’re easy to work on and from what I’ve read can be built up to make insane amounts of horsepower for cheap. I don’t have much experience with the Duramax diesels though, so I can’t really comment on them beyond saying that changing the injectors out is a real bear. I’ve never done such a job myself, but I’ve read comments from people that I trust about them that say the injectors are a nightmare when they go bad.
TL, DR: Buy a Ford F-250 or F-350 with a crew cab, a stick shift and a 7.3L turbo diesel.
I agree with 3sheets on everything but the stick shift part. An auto trans provides torque multiplication through the torque converter, and if it’s a daily driver, will be less of a tiresome drive. Don’t get me wrong, I love driving a stick when it’s along the lines of a project or weekend warrior vehicle, but when it comes to towing, my instructor has told me you are better off with an auto trans. His advice was to drop in down to the ‘D’ range instead of the overdrive range when towing, so you don’t put extra strain on the trans because it’s constantly shifting out of overdrive. Yes, your MPG’s will suffer, but he also said that the Cummins diesels in the Rams are actually detuned because they don’t need to work as hard to pump out the same result. If I’m wrong though, feel free to correct me. I’m a Ford truck guy anyway, but I have yet to get my hands on the ’92ish F250 (newer rounded body style) with the 7.3 auto that is my dream truck. I currently have a ’91 F150 with the 302 auto, and it’s been nothing but good to me.
Ive got a 95 jeep Grand cherokee I’ll sell ya. Only 175,000 miles and you can’t turn right after about 10 miles!!! Inline 6. I have actively been trying to kill it, and it won’t die!! Oil is 4 years old, oil filter is older 🙂 My point is, it seems that the chrysler inline 6 can take A LOT of abuse. Trust me.
I’ll go +1 on 3Sheet’s recommendation on the 7.3l Fords. Tough hard working truck. I have owned one for a few years I bought used. The more I use and work on that engine the more respect I have for it.
Added bonus, there is a ton of repair/maintenance information on the web to do most work yourself. Only note of caution on the 4×4 front wheel hubs. Do the mods to get lube into the hub assembly. They are “no maintenance” and usually are good for about 20k miles. At $600 a side, that is a lot of maintenance money roughly once a year. With a bit of work one can lube the hub and get double the life out of the bearings.
He is right about the mileage as well. I was amazed to get 19mpg out a truck that size. Previous owner put a performance chip in the computer, so I don’t get 20; but like the extra ‘gitty-up’, especially when pulling down houses… V-)
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.