With the recent Wrangler-killer thread about GMC's no-go SUV and the thread about the new Dakota I'm back thinking what I have been thinking for a LONG time. Who else besides me wants a true small truck (not mid-size) that is built well. My dream would be something along the lines of 4cyl(+ for TD option), 5or6spd manual available, vinyl seats and rubber floors, manual windows would be fine with me, Hi-Lo transfer case. utilizing common diffs for easy tailoring of gears/lockers would be awesome! To really top it off give us a steering box(not rack and pinion) and reasonably strong drive line. Basically I'm asking for a 80's-90's truck to still be available with more modern engine controls and efficiency .
Anybody else want a small USEABLE 4X4?
- Thread starter 6gun
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AbleGuy
Officious Intermeddler
What do you think about this non-street legal “Jeep” clone?
Should be enough pics to satisfy the idly curious... http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1809-we-test-drive-the-mahindra-roxor-in-the-rockies/ Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
www.expeditionportal.com
Todd780
OverCamper
That Roxor "jeep" is not a truck nor street legal.
I don't think what you want is coming back anytime soon. What I have noticed is there is more talk about leather heated and cooled seats, fancy plastic dash layout and the biggest, ugliest grille than there is talk about wheel bearing size, axle strength, ball joint size, etc.
I don't think what you want is coming back anytime soon. What I have noticed is there is more talk about leather heated and cooled seats, fancy plastic dash layout and the biggest, ugliest grille than there is talk about wheel bearing size, axle strength, ball joint size, etc.
85_Ranger4x4
Well-known member
Not a truck as in a pickup truck but I aspire to build a first gen Explorer.
2" bodylift, 4" suspension lift, 35's with a GM 4.8/5.3. Stuff for the D35 and 8.8 axles grow on trees as does everything for a GM powertrain. Vehicle carcass is cheap, durable, easy to work on and comfortable to live with plus it has room for the family.
2" bodylift, 4" suspension lift, 35's with a GM 4.8/5.3. Stuff for the D35 and 8.8 axles grow on trees as does everything for a GM powertrain. Vehicle carcass is cheap, durable, easy to work on and comfortable to live with plus it has room for the family.
Make it street legal and stay near the current price point I'll put a deposit down today.
Probably gonna do that but with a 2nd-3rd gen Ranger. Only problem is you still have 20-30yo stuff to deal with. Plastic bits being brittle etc....
I love your Ranger and have read every post, here and TRS on it but putting a gm motor in one of God's chosen vehicles is just wrong!!!! For the love of all Things Ford please reconsider!
roving1
Well-known member
Yes. But nothing is stopping me lol. By the way I am trying to get the newly installed suspension to settle to its static height and figure out if I want to keep the extra leaf I have. There is at least 1000lbs in the bed of this thing now and it still drives and brakes great. No speed demon obviously but I feel like if you put that much in the back of a modern 1/2 ton you would be lucky to drive over a speed bump lol.
vintageracer
To Infinity and Beyond!
85_Ranger4x4
Well-known member
I love your Ranger and have read every post, here and TRS on it but putting a gm motor in one of God's chosen vehicles is just wrong!!!! For the love of all Things Ford please reconsider!
It burns me too don’t get me wrong.
I would love a coyote or even a 4.6/5.4 but if it don’t fit it don’t fit... I like steering and heater/a-c.
A modern V6 out of a base ‘150 would take a lot of work as it isn’t a common swap... and it’s still gonna sound like a V6. Being dohc they are not really tiny either.
Which leaves the ol pushrod 5.0... newest one is 16 years old, most are well north of 200k and old SUVs generally don’t get the best care. For something to load the family in and take off for Colorado etc I would want to go thru the engine and trans, more work and more $$ for a 200hp V8. I live a long ways from anywhere for off-roading. I have done the swap, it isn’t bad... just bang per buck I dunno for something like this.
Or something else late model that fits nice that isn’t the size of a WWII tank engine if ya know what I mean.
The whole thing is just a dream right now, maybe by the time I get around to it ford will scale the new 7.3 down to a 5.0...
Kmrtnsn
Explorer
Jeep showed a two-door version of the Gladiator at Easter Jeep Safari. Like it or not, if made available that's as close as anyone is going to get. Personally, I think there is a large market for a "white" work version with 2WD as a replacement for all of the dying small pickups out there.
shade
Well-known member
Yep. OP's best bet is to figure out what fits the bill from the Before Times, and spend some time searching for an unmolested one in the Southwest. Those vehicles are becoming rare, but with the exception of a modern engine, they're still out there.