Is this possible? (truck question)

A used 4wd truck/suv, that can be built to be reasonably capable off-road, and still safely/easily tow 5000lbs?

I realize one of my previous vehicles fit that bill pretty well, but it's gone and not to return. Is there something used that could fit bill without breaking the bank?

No specific timeline or budget, more just spit balling. As the days pass, the idea of an Exocet grows on me based on my local track (Hallett) since even quick cars will struggle to break 100mph anywhere on track and almost all corners, even a Miata on R-Comps, are in the ~50mph range, so aero not quite as important.

A vehicle like that, however, really needs a tow vehicle.

Expedition with 5.4, rated at 7000lbs, gets 17 mpg

Yeah, but a vehicle like that is really light.

I pull my whole race effort - A Radical Prosport on a 14' open steel trailer w/ a rack and 2 extra sets of wheels plus a tool box, 2 big bigs of spares, nitrogen tank, jacks, stands, canopy, chairs, Go-Ped, gear bags, myself and my wife/crewchief...

With an '01 Tacoma Prerunner/SR5 2WD 3.4 V6.

But it presumes a light trailer. If you want a big box, preferably w/ AC, I'd go for a diesel Expedition or GMC Suburban.

Suburban is the cheap choice. Mid-90s 2500s are easily available for $5K or less. People bought them when gas was cheap and it was trendy to have an SUV instead of a minivan, so you can find ones that have never gone offroad and the fuel economy has killed the resale value.

My '95 F150 with the factory tow package?

Define reasonably competent offroad?

Dirt two track road, mud bog, or rock crawling? How much tire do you want to run?

Usually offroad stuff has softer suspensions and there for not so good with towing, but your goals would be helpful.

i can't find the video right now, but there was a rather convincing test of a late 80's Suburban vs an 80's full size Bronco vs something else (i'm thinking International Scout, but don't hold me to it..) where the Suburban was the best all around off road truck...

Grand Cherokee. WJ's with the 4.7 H.O. or ZJ's with a 5.9. My stock WJ on camaro tires and 18's embarassed the E36 M3 out of a lifted a/t'd 4Runner in some rocks on a trail in Colorado. The quadradrive system in those things are no joke.

It had heated seats, power everything, leather, great stereo, got 22+mpg on the freeway if I kept my foot out of it, and went like a scalded cat after the intake/exhaust/shiftkit/tune. Decently light, really fun to drive.

I'd suggest 2nd-gen Isuzu Trooper. Rated at 5,000 pounds and stupid capable off-road.

Stock travel:

Another Trooper vote from someone who owns one and regularly tows with it. Just be aware the M/T version is rated at 3500 pounds, the A/T at 5000. The same generation Rodeo would be a good choice too but the interiors aren't as nice.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Define reasonably competent offroad? Dirt two track road, mud bog, or rock crawling? How much tire do you want to run? Usually offroad stuff has softer suspensions and there for not so good with towing, but your goals would be helpful.

This.

Some fat sway-bars with quick-release end links may mitigate the soft springs somewhat.

novaderrik wrote: i can't find the video right now, but there was a rather convincing test of a late 80's Suburban vs an 80's full size Bronco vs something else (i'm thinking International Scout, but don't hold me to it..) where the Suburban was the best all around off road truck...

My dad had a 78 Suburban with an 8000 lb Warn winch on it. He got called out one night to help a bunch of guys from Hamilton that buried their Jeep CJ's in a swamp.

When dad showed up they started laughing and started a pool to see how quickly he would get stuck. After he pulled all 12 out, without getting stuck a single time, they weren't laughing anymore. In order to pull them all out he had to maneuver around in the swamp.

The size of the Sub helped. Many times where the CJ had all 4 wheels in the mud, my dad would have two in and two on dry ground.

Tom Suddard wrote: I'd suggest 2nd-gen Isuzu Trooper. Rated at 5,000 pounds and stupid capable off-road. Stock travel:

That thing would be an absolute dog towing a trailer.

Need moar V8. V8 WJ's with 3.73's can tow 6500 lbs. I towed a small trailer loaded up with probably 3000lbs worth of carpet cleaning equipment with mine through the Colorado mountains(Denver to Vail) a few times and it didn't even break a sweat. http://www.wjjeeps.com/trailer.htm

A 4.7L grand cherokee is a uniquely fun to drive 4x4 because of the motor and the relatively small size of the vehicle. If i didnt plan to haul ass in it i'd prefer the 2g Trooper but i cannot deny that Grand Cherokee acceleration lets you have more fun on the street.

My 95 F150 was half that, capable of hauling a dirt bike while handling some dirt & mud trails, and it tows 7k without a problem.

N Sperlo wrote: My 95 F150 was half that, capable of hauling a dirt bike while handling some dirt & mud trails, and it tows 7k without a problem.

Ill second that exactly!

2002-current Toyota 4runner. V8, rated for over 5000lbs, reliable as gravity, great offroad and a huge aftermarket for even more offroad awesomeness. Heck, I towed a lot of cars with a 3rd gen V6 and it did just fine.

Bad news (and good news i guess if you own one) is that the resale value on toyota trucks stays very high for a very long time.

Once again, I offer up the Humble 3rd Gen Ford Explorer. Get a 4wd V8 with factory tow package and it will tow 6k lbs. With just a little work they can be made pretty capable off-road , short of deep mud or rock crawling if you plan on towing. You can pick up used ones all day long for 3k and the 302 is one of the most bulletproof engines ever built. Added bonus, they're dirt cheap to maintain.

The problem is that the design goals of towing and offroading are at odds with each other. Plenty of trucks can do both but you can only go so far while safely towing 5klbs...mind you, that's pretty far still.

Simple solution, set truck up for offroading, add airbags for when you need to tow. Admittingly enough, to get the necessary articulation, the bags may limit that, simple solution is to install the bags in such a way that they are easy to remove. I know after initial installation, I can remove the bags on my truck in about 15 minutes with hand tools.

Vigo wrote: A 4.7L grand cherokee is a uniquely fun to drive 4x4 because of the motor and the relatively small size of it. If i didnt plan to haul ass in it i'd prefer the 2g Trooper but i cannot deny that Grand Cherokee acceleration lets you have more fun on the street.

My 4.7 Grand launched like a beast. After I cut out the clogged cat, sucker screamed to 80mph. Sounded sweet, too. Add a 2" budget boost and decent tires, and I don't see how you could go wrong... as long as you buy a maintained example. Even with ill maintenance, they're tough as nails. 5.9 ZJ's are pretty gnarly dudes, too. Both have decently strong solid axles front and rear. 4.7's get decent enough gas mileage(better gas mileage than 4.0's), but a 5.9 will make you beg for a Honda.

I don't like the Explorer option just because even with a 5.0, they're still pretty weak, and not much quicker than the 4.0 SOHC Explorers. Not to mention the front suspension kinda sucks and the interiors are garbage. 4.0 SOHC Explorers can manage good mileage, too.

I like the V8 4Runners, but they're pricey and there isn't a ton of them out there. Not nearly in the numbers of a Grand Cherokee or Explorer. Junkyard diving is just too much fun.

V8 Grand Cherokee is the droid you're looking for here.

My 4.7 Grand launched like a beast. After I cut out the clogged cat, sucker screamed to 80mph. Sounded sweet, too. Add a 2" budget boost and decent tires, and I don't see how you could go wrong... as long as you buy a maintained example. Even with ill maintenance, they're tough as nails. 5.9 ZJ's are pretty gnarly dudes, too. Both have decently strong solid axles front and rear. 4.7's get decent enough gas mileage(better gas mileage than 4.0's), but a 5.9 will make you beg for a Honda. I don't like the Explorer option just because even with a 5.0, they're still pretty weak, and not much quicker than the 4.0 SOHC Explorers. Not to mention the front suspension kinda sucks and the interiors are garbage. 4.0 SOHC Explorers can manage good mileage, too.

I agree with your opinion of explorers. I would also avoid 5.2/5.9 grand cherokees unless you are willing to pay the gas. The only reason i would recommend the 4.7 over the 4.0 is for sweet power and sweet noises. If you never floor your SUV anyway, id just get the 4.0. I floor every single thing i own, though.. all the time.

My 2002 KJ with tow package did both just fine. A long as the off road didn't get too extreme.