Mudding/4X4 Truck Suggestion

Littleston101 · 04-08-2009, 01:09 AM

I currently drive a lifted Ext. Cab Chevy Silverado Z71 with a 5.3L V8, and it is in very good condition which is why i dont want to mud it hard or do hill climbs. But I want to buy a truck or jeep/suv to take offroading and mudding at my buddy's land. I currently could buy a 1993-95? (not sure of year but the body looks of that range) Dodge Ram V8 Single Cab for $500 and it needs new tires and a bunch of body work but it runs. Should i go for this and lift it up/put big tires on it, or should I go on craigslist and just find a truck on there that already is ready to go. I have $2000ish in cash. I'm open to any year and Gas/Diesel but I want either Dodge,Chevy,or Ford. Thanks in advance

gmctrucks · 04-08-2009, 03:39 AM

Welcome and Howdy from TEXAS. Look on craigslist.org might find a good one there.
Look what I found the other day I wish I lived closer to it I would have bought it. Do some research on Ebay might find one close to you.

eBay Motors: International Harvester : Scout (item 150335013226 end time Apr-05-09 10:07:25 PDT) I have always wanted one of these or a Tierra IH truck with a 345 engine.

batty1214 · 04-08-2009, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Littleston101

I currently drive a lifted Ext. Cab Chevy Silverado Z71 with a 5.3L V8, and it is in very good condition which is why i dont want to mud it hard or do hill climbs. But I want to buy a truck or jeep/suv to take offroading and mudding at my buddy's land. I currently could buy a 1993-95? (not sure of year but the body looks of that range) Dodge Ram V8 Single Cab for $500 and it needs new tires and a bunch of body work but it runs. Should i go for this and lift it up/put big tires on it, or should I go on craigslist and just find a truck on there that already is ready to go. I have $2000ish in cash. I'm open to any year and Gas/Diesel but I want either Dodge,Chevy,or Ford. Thanks in advance

okay, is this a 3/4 ton, or half? the perk to the dodge Is that it is already beat up. that way you already won't care about the apperance. It also should have solid axles front and rear, so lifts will be cheaper. as to shich way to go, It's all in what you can find already setup, and how much mud this truck is going to see.

bradrhale · 04-08-2009, 07:00 AM

i asked a fellow about something like this a while back ago. he advised me to take that money and go to one of these military auctions and buy one of these old 1 1/4 ton trucks. they avg around 3 grand, so says he. nice thing about it, they are already setup with the heavy axles and drive components. ready for the mud. might check into that first. might look terrible but remember this, your tuck becomes awesome the first time someone needs it to get pulled out because yours didnt get stuck.

Littleston101 · 04-08-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batty1214

okay, is this a 3/4 ton, or half? the perk to the dodge Is that it is already beat up. that way you already won't care about the apperance. It also should have solid axles front and rear, so lifts will be cheaper. as to shich way to go, It's all in what you can find already setup, and how much mud this truck is going to see.

its probably half ton. yeah, for $500 id love to buy it and work on it all this summer. overall the whole truck is roughed up, but mainly cosmetic reasons is to why he is selling it for so cheap. its probably going to see mud once or twice a month or so and its going to be pretty deep.

Littleston101 · 04-08-2009, 09:22 AM

im thinking something like these.all over craigslist they have forerunners,jeeps,and old chevy/fords for $1,000-$3000 the mud pit is showed below.

Rago · 04-09-2009, 12:12 PM

Well, I would stick to solid axle for cheapness. You say you want one of the big 3, but if it's trail only look into a 79-85 Toyota or possibly a Suzuki Samurai or Jeep. Sure, a fullsize truck will go through some mud, but with less lift & smaller tires one of these solid axle lightweights will skim over the same stuff. Not to mention cheaper on gas, access to tighter trails, & less breakage due to lighter weight.

If you absolutely want a fullsize, my favorite choices would be a 70's model Ford truck or a 73-87 Chevy Blazer. Both are solid axle, can be found dirt cheap & parts availability is great. The Dodge sounds like a deal & it is, but are you sure it's so cheap because of cosmetic reasons? Double check everything - it almost sounds like a ringer to me.

Coming from my personal experiance, 88-98 Chevys like the one pictured above the Jeep are comfortable daily drivers, but I don't care for their offroad ability compared to any of the others I listed. They also have IFS which are expensive to lift & break axles easier.

batty1214 · 04-09-2009, 05:39 PM

If your gonna hit mud once or twice a month, and have friends that go out with you(if not, buy a winch) then I would have to say buy the dodge for 500........ for about that you can buy a cheap(very stiff) lift for it, and clear 33's......... Or, find a 3/4 ton dodge, and kieff the axles out of it, gain some strength, and have lower gearing..... but, It might not be worth it if the drive train is in bad shape.

04-08-2009, 01:09 AM	#1
Littleston101 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3	Mudding/4X4 Truck Suggestion I currently drive a lifted Ext. Cab Chevy Silverado Z71 with a 5.3L V8, and it is in very good condition which is why i dont want to mud it hard or do hill climbs. But I want to buy a truck or jeep/suv to take offroading and mudding at my buddy's land. I currently could buy a 1993-95? (not sure of year but the body looks of that range) Dodge Ram V8 Single Cab for $500 and it needs new tires and a bunch of body work but it runs. Should i go for this and lift it up/put big tires on it, or should I go on craigslist and just find a truck on there that already is ready to go. I have $2000ish in cash. I'm open to any year and Gas/Diesel but I want either Dodge,Chevy,or Ford. Thanks in advance

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04-08-2009, 03:39 AM	#2
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	Welcome and Howdy from TEXAS. Look on craigslist.org might find a good one there. Look what I found the other day I wish I lived closer to it I would have bought it. Do some research on Ebay might find one close to you. eBay Motors: International Harvester : Scout (item 150335013226 end time Apr-05-09 10:07:25 PDT) I have always wanted one of these or a Tierra IH truck with a 345 engine.

04-08-2009, 07:00 AM	#4
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,025	i asked a fellow about something like this a while back ago. he advised me to take that money and go to one of these military auctions and buy one of these old 1 1/4 ton trucks. they avg around 3 grand, so says he. nice thing about it, they are already setup with the heavy axles and drive components. ready for the mud. might check into that first. might look terrible but remember this, your tuck becomes awesome the first time someone needs it to get pulled out because yours didnt get stuck.

04-08-2009, 09:22 AM	#6
Littleston101 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3	im thinking something like these.all over craigslist they have forerunners,jeeps,and old chevy/fords for $1,000-$3000 the mud pit is showed below.

04-09-2009, 12:12 PM	#7
Rago Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 76	Well, I would stick to solid axle for cheapness. You say you want one of the big 3, but if it's trail only look into a 79-85 Toyota or possibly a Suzuki Samurai or Jeep. Sure, a fullsize truck will go through some mud, but with less lift & smaller tires one of these solid axle lightweights will skim over the same stuff. Not to mention cheaper on gas, access to tighter trails, & less breakage due to lighter weight. If you absolutely want a fullsize, my favorite choices would be a 70's model Ford truck or a 73-87 Chevy Blazer. Both are solid axle, can be found dirt cheap & parts availability is great. The Dodge sounds like a deal & it is, but are you sure it's so cheap because of cosmetic reasons? Double check everything - it almost sounds like a ringer to me. Coming from my personal experiance, 88-98 Chevys like the one pictured above the Jeep are comfortable daily drivers, but I don't care for their offroad ability compared to any of the others I listed. They also have IFS which are expensive to lift & break axles easier.

04-09-2009, 05:39 PM	#8
batty1214 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Vernal Utah Posts: 1,135	If your gonna hit mud once or twice a month, and have friends that go out with you(if not, buy a winch) then I would have to say buy the dodge for 500........ for about that you can buy a cheap(very stiff) lift for it, and clear 33's......... Or, find a 3/4 ton dodge, and kieff the axles out of it, gain some strength, and have lower gearing..... but, It might not be worth it if the drive train is in bad shape.