Cee-Jay
Sasquatch
Good day all.
I'm agonizing between a 1994 Montero SR and a 1998 Trooper Limited. Please help me decide! Either way, I'll be outfitting my choice with 33" tires and some basic trail armor for use on easy to moderate trails (very occasionally on more difficult trails) as a backcountry adventure vehicle in support of overland trips, camping, hunting and general family fun.
Here's how I'm seeing it so far:
Montero Advantages
Tougher transmission
Factory Air Locker (yes, I know you can get an ARB for the Trooper)
Better re-gearing available - Running 33"s I can stay pretty close to factory ratios using 4.90s
More aftermarket body armor options - A few front bumpers and even a rear bumper
Somewhat more rugged IFS - Bigger ring gear and beefier set-up.
Excellent Alternator Placement - up high and away from the water
North American Dealer Network
Third row seating
Factory 12 volt outlet in rear (not a big deal of course, but nice to not have to do it myself)
Trooper Advantages
Over 1" better ground clearance
Better front suspension articulation
More suspension lift options - More options should I wish to go beyond a simple OME + torsion crank style lift.
Barn doors
More rugged factory skid plates
Better app/dep angles - Montero has exceptional approach angle but departure is horrid... the Trooper is more balanced
IFS design more out of harms way - Perhaps handles less power, but it is less likely to get banged up by rocks and such
Somewhat more rugged rear end - Not very important given I'm only running 33"s.
Better fuel economy
Less expensive
Very good information online (Expeditionportal, PlanetIsuzoo, 4x4Wire, etc.)
Push (More or less equal)
Weight
Wheel Base
Length
Turning circle
Width
Horsepower and Torque
Towing capacity
Comfort
Thoughts? What am I missing? Where am I wrong?
I'm slightly leaning toward the Trooper but I've got a very nice Montero SR available for sale down the street from me. Maybe these are both perfectly capable for what I'm using them for and that, therefore, it really doesn't matter which I choose. Maybe I should just buy whichever I find the better deal on?
Related Threads:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/21210-Montero-vs-Trooper
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/49697-LC-vs-Trooper-vs-Montero
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/56751-Montero-Suspension-Travel
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77882-Trooper-question
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77907-Tell-me-more-about-these-Monteros
I'm agonizing between a 1994 Montero SR and a 1998 Trooper Limited. Please help me decide! Either way, I'll be outfitting my choice with 33" tires and some basic trail armor for use on easy to moderate trails (very occasionally on more difficult trails) as a backcountry adventure vehicle in support of overland trips, camping, hunting and general family fun.
Here's how I'm seeing it so far:
Montero Advantages
Tougher transmission
Factory Air Locker (yes, I know you can get an ARB for the Trooper)
Better re-gearing available - Running 33"s I can stay pretty close to factory ratios using 4.90s
More aftermarket body armor options - A few front bumpers and even a rear bumper
Somewhat more rugged IFS - Bigger ring gear and beefier set-up.
Excellent Alternator Placement - up high and away from the water
North American Dealer Network
Third row seating
Factory 12 volt outlet in rear (not a big deal of course, but nice to not have to do it myself)
Trooper Advantages
Over 1" better ground clearance
Better front suspension articulation
More suspension lift options - More options should I wish to go beyond a simple OME + torsion crank style lift.
Barn doors
More rugged factory skid plates
Better app/dep angles - Montero has exceptional approach angle but departure is horrid... the Trooper is more balanced
IFS design more out of harms way - Perhaps handles less power, but it is less likely to get banged up by rocks and such
Somewhat more rugged rear end - Not very important given I'm only running 33"s.
Better fuel economy
Less expensive
Very good information online (Expeditionportal, PlanetIsuzoo, 4x4Wire, etc.)
Push (More or less equal)
Weight
Wheel Base
Length
Turning circle
Width
Horsepower and Torque
Towing capacity
Comfort
Thoughts? What am I missing? Where am I wrong?
I'm slightly leaning toward the Trooper but I've got a very nice Montero SR available for sale down the street from me. Maybe these are both perfectly capable for what I'm using them for and that, therefore, it really doesn't matter which I choose. Maybe I should just buy whichever I find the better deal on?
Related Threads:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/21210-Montero-vs-Trooper
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/49697-LC-vs-Trooper-vs-Montero
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/56751-Montero-Suspension-Travel
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77882-Trooper-question
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77907-Tell-me-more-about-these-Monteros
Last edited: