Budget overland vehicle advice

[SkiingClimber]

Anyone have an opinion on a T100? I’ve seen some 8ft bed vehicles with somewhat decent mileage in my area.

 

[zelseman]

Anyone have an opinion on a T100? I’ve seen some 8ft bed vehicles with somewhat decent mileage in my area.

Same as the rest of your options. Underpowered for the mileage and is still an old truck. I’m in the domestic camp on this one too. The Toyota tax is real and you can get a lot of truck for your budget in a US make. Chevy 6.0 gas trucks are going for nothing right now and tick all of your boxes.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Anyone have an opinion on a T100? I’ve seen some 8ft bed vehicles with somewhat decent mileage in my area.

I think the T100 is the step child, still old school torsion rod Hi-Trac IFS that shared several components with the 86-95 trucks but larger with a 3.4L V6.

I like them but haven't seen many nice ones left since there weren't many to start. The couple I could see buying were automatic transmissions and that's a non-starter with me, personal preference.

The 8 foot bed was only available on a regular cab AFAIK.

Now that I've owned a 2nd gen Tacoma for a couple of years I'd say my desire for a T100 is somewhat lower. It's roughly the same size and the 4.0L is better. I'd go back to a regular mini truck (79-95) if the opportunity came up though. My Taco replaced a 1991 XtraCab that I miss still sometimes.

 

[bkg]

I think the T100 is the step child, still old school torsion rod Hi-Trac IFS that shared several components with the 86-95 trucks but larger with a 3.4L V6.

I like them but haven't seen many nice ones left since there weren't many to start. The couple I could see buying were automatic transmissions and that's a non-starter with me, personal preference.

The 8 foot bed was only available on a regular cab AFAIK.

Now that I've owned a 2nd gen Tacoma for a couple of years I'd say my desire for a T100 is somewhat lower. It's roughly the same size and the 4.0L is better. I'd go back to a regular mini truck (79-95) if the opportunity came up though. My Taco replaced a 1991 XtraCab that I miss still sometimes.

I had a 96 T100 for a while. I honestly liked it. But it's definitely under-powered and not well supported in the aftermarket. Always wanted to build a SAS'd T100 w/ a V8 and stretched wheelbase for a tow-vehicle.

Sometimes I question my sanity.

 

[bkg]

I could be wrong but it doesn't seem like any of the mid-size trucks come with both 6' beds and crew cabs. It's all a question of compromises, which are you willing to make?

The first gen Sequoias are big but a bit smaller than full size pickups, and you could probably sleep inside one.

Tacoma and Frontier have had options for 6' beds in crews.

 

[MOguy]

I had a 2004 4Runner (V6 4.0) that had head issues at about 170K. Seems somewhat common on the 04s and some 05s. Not trying to steer you away from Toyota just those years.

For overlanding I would prefer an SUV vs a pick up. Easier to secure your stuff, better protected from the element. To me having a larger passenger area (even without a lot of passengers) is more comfortable and useable than a bed with a shell on it, but I am not as tall as you.

 

[highwest]

Tacoma and Frontier have had options for 6' beds in crews.

This is true. The 2nd and 3rd gen Tacoma long bed is 74”. A 4Runner with the seats down is even longer... likely the same for Nissan.

The Toyota Tax is real. I love my Tacoma, but I also loved my Ford Ranger. It did everything we asked it to. There are good domestic options out there.

 

[jadmt]

buddy bought an 04 Lexus 470gx for $6900 and it was clean as could be and solid. put like $1500 of suspension upgrades and it has done awesome. we were in Moab last week and it did great. even made a TFL video. It has one 200,000 miles but is so clean and rust free underneath. I could not believe it when we put the lift on how clean and solid it was. thing will do 400,000 miles no doubt. We drove to and from Moab at 80mph most of the way and we got almost the same mpg (I have a jkur). we camped and slept in our rigs and he said he was comfortable.

about 3:30 into video.

 

[SkiingClimber]

Same as the rest of your options. Underpowered for the mileage and is still an old truck. I’m in the domestic camp on this one too. The Toyota tax is real and you can get a lot of truck for your budget in a US make. Chevy 6.0 gas trucks are going for nothing right now and tick all of your boxes.

I’m seeing some domestics going for just as much as Toyota’s with similar mileage on Denver CL. I’ve definitely seen a few that look like a deal but idk. Before I had the tundra I had a ‘99 Chevy blazer and it was easily the worst vehicle I’ve ever owned (not that I’ve owned many and it may have just been that vehicle). How reliable are some of the Chevy’s? What models would people recommend? How off-road capable are they? Someone mentioned looking at Tahoe’s. I realize that I’m a Toyota fanboy but I would be willing to consider a domestic.

 

[SkiingClimber]

This is true. The 2nd and 3rd gen Tacoma long bed is 74”. A 4Runner with the seats down is even longer... likely the same for Nissan.

The Toyota Tax is real. I love my Tacoma, but I also loved my Ford Ranger. It did everything we asked it to. There are good domestic options out there.

I’m confused are you saying a 4Runner has more space than a Tacoma? An SUV could definitely be a better buy because it is more secure and waterproof. But mostly because I wouldn’t have to budget for a topper or find a truck that already has one. Some SUVs come with roof racks installed already too.

 

[MOguy]

I’m seeing some domestics going for just as much as Toyota’s with similar mileage on Denver CL. I’ve definitely seen a few that look like a deal but idk. Before I had the tundra I had a ‘99 Chevy blazer and it was easily the worst vehicle I’ve ever owned (not that I’ve owned many and it may have just been that vehicle). How reliable are some of the Chevy’s? What models would people recommend? How off-road capable are they? Someone mentioned looking at Tahoe’s. I realize that I’m a Toyota fanboy but I would be willing to consider a domestic.

I know a few with 90s and 2000s Chevy pickups, suburabns and Tahoe's They are fine, they come in 4 wheel drive but if you truly want a vehicle designed for off road there are many many many many better choices, infact not sure if I could think of a worse choice. I am not saying there is anything wrong with them as a truck or people move, just they suck off road. If the wind blows from the wrong direction there 4WD stops working. They have absolutely no articulation. And even with the best tires GM has found a way to make a vehicle not get traction. Unless you find an older K5 blazer.

Initially you said you had an 4-8K range. Personally I would consider a 3rd gen 4Runner or a think about a Jeep Cherokee XJ. But you didn't have Jeep on your list. You should have a decent amount left from you 4-8K budget to really goes though either one of these vehicles and get them running really nice. If they are too short for sleeping think about a tent.

 

[MOguy]

In a way, yes, a 4Runner is more spacious than a Tacoma, even with four doors. The total amount of stuff you can carry with a pickup is more but the cargo space is in the bed and even with a shell it's different. If you're not carrying people a wagon can in some cases carry things better than a truck. The advantage of a truck is awkward things or stuff that needs to be outside, bikes, bales of straw, whatever. It's easier to get a bed clean than to vacuum a carpeted interior.

Honestly, the reason I stick with a truck is a do carry muddy and wet junk and my camper shell works well with one. If I had to go to a roof top tent where the advantage of being able to stand up inside the camper was lost I'd go to a 4Runner + trailer most likely.

I was only thinking about a shell with a pick up. There campers that pop up allowing a low profile when you travel but when stopped open into more room. I would think they could be out of OP budget but this changes my opinion on SUV vs pickup. I would not want a roof top tent though.

something like this could be nice:

 

[SkiingClimber]

Yea I’m really not interested in a RTT. While foggy windows aren’t exactly stealthy roof top tents would limit where we could sleep without drawing attention. Also I plan on skiing both backcountry and resort out of whatever I buy I think a RTT would be pretty cold especially if I ever make it up to Canada. Not to mention the ones that setup fast are more expensive. I’m looking more for a park and sleep option as we frequently arrive wherever we’re going too late to mess with setting up anything.

 

[SkiingClimber]

I know a few with 90s and 2000s Chevy pickups, suburabns and Tahoe's They are fine, they come in 4 wheel drive but if you truly want a vehicle designed for off road there are many many many many better choices, infact not sure if I could think of a worse choice. I am not saying there is anything wrong with them as a truck or people move, just they suck off road. If the wind blows from the wrong direction there 4WD stops working. They have absolutely no articulation. And even with the best tires GM has found a way to make a vehicle not get traction. Unless you find an older K5 blazer.

Initially you said you had an 4-8K range. Personally I would consider a 3rd gen 4Runner or a think about a Jeep Cherokee XJ. But you didn't have Jeep on your list. You should have a decent amount left from you 4-8K budget to really goes though either one of these vehicles and get them running really nice. If they are too short for sleeping think about a tent.

Yea that was my biggest problem with the ‘99 blazer I had was the 4wd stopped working or would go into 4wd sometimes and not others. Also we got stuck in snow in our driveway once when the 4wd wouldn’t work and in my opinion we shouldn’t have been stuck. I’m pretty sure my Toyota Corolla got out of the driveway but the blazer couldn’t.

 

[reaver]

Yea that was my biggest problem with the ‘99 blazer I had was the 4wd stopped working or would go into 4wd sometimes and not others. Also we got stuck in snow in our driveway once when the 4wd wouldn’t work and in my opinion we shouldn’t have been stuck. I’m pretty sure my Toyota Corolla got out of the driveway but the blazer couldn’t.

This is due to gm thinking a vacuum actuated 4wd system was a good idea. There's a rather simple mod that a lot of people do, and replace the vacuum actuator with a cable.

I drove a 96 blazer for almost 15 years. I put 200k on that blazer before it finally died. And I did hardly any maintenance to it. I didn't wheel it, but it was honestly a great truck, for me at least.