BajaNomad - I bought another Isuzu Trooper Baja rig!

I bought another Isuzu Trooper Baja rig!

AKgringo - 8-28-2023 at 09:51 AM

I bought my first Trooper four years ago (a 1999 model) and after a lifetime of driving back roads and off road, it became my favorite ride. While all SUVs have to balance the needs of highway vs off road performance, I think that the Trooper did the best job, at least in the age and price range I can afford.

As much as I love that rig, if the automatic transmission needs repair or servicing, parts are not available, so I bought one with a 5-speed manual tranny!

It's a little older (1994) but it only has 297,700 miles on it. I am thinking that a veteran Trooper deserves to celebrate 30 years and 300K on a Baja run! What do you think?

[Edited on 8-28-2023 by AKgringo]

mtgoat666 - 8-28-2023 at 09:59 AM

in the 90s I owned an '86 trooper. :thumbup:

it was fun.

[Edited on 8-28-2023 by mtgoat666]

JZ - 8-28-2023 at 10:38 AM

Photos?

David K - 8-28-2023 at 11:07 AM

Good for you, AK!
Yes, let's see the photos, please.
As goat shows, 'Joe Isuzu' would be happy!

Photos?

AKgringo - 8-28-2023 at 11:47 AM

It is an absolutely stock 1994 Trooper, kind of silverish color, Google it! It has a few minor blemishes, but nothing like I have done to my other Trooper (yet).

I was just thinking of the adventure aspect of driving a $600, high milage vehicle to a remote part of Baja.

Phil C - 8-28-2023 at 12:01 PM

No problem....what could possibly happen?.....

SFandH - 8-28-2023 at 01:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

It's a little older (1994) but it only has 297,700 miles on it. I am thinking that a veteran Trooper deserves to celebrate 30 years and 300K on a Baja run! What do you think?

[Edited on 8-28-2023 by AKgringo]

Swing by Autozone and get a tow strap.

shari - 8-28-2023 at 02:56 PM

I loved my Trooper and wish I still had it...it was a bit narrower so nice on the highway here.

Maderita - 8-28-2023 at 06:16 PM

I suppose that you are mechanically inclined or will have it thoroughly checked out before the trip.

I'd suggest that the cooling system is critical. :!:

A friend went through two warped heads/blown head gaskets on a Trooper.
Don't let it overheat! Replace all hoses and belts. Definitely replace the thermostat w/ best quality parts. Flush radiator if needed. Replace the coolant with fresh. Pressure check the cooling system for leaks.

At 300k miles, you might consider bringing a case of motor oil! :biggrin:

¡Buena suerte!

Russ - 8-28-2023 at 10:16 PM

I had an '86 Trooper and loved it off road and did really well in the sand. It was a 4 cyc they really had valve problems. I liked it so much I had the engine rebuilt twice. Then bought a bare bones '92 Explore that shocked me how well it did in the sand. Launched my panga without any troubles and pulled stuck riggs out more than a few times. Sold it and the panga to a local Nomad. I've had 3 Explores since and none played well in the sand.

Mulege Canuck - 8-29-2023 at 07:55 AM

Having a little 4x4 down there should be fun.

I bought a 1999 Chevy Tracker. I am putting a new timing chain kit in it before the run to Baja in November. Seems like there is a lot of those things in Mexico.

We love to head to the mountains when the northern winds start ripping and beach camping is not fun. If you see a silver tracker with BC plates broke down on Mex 5, it will be me.

AKgringo - 8-29-2023 at 08:14 AM

I made quite a few trips in my older Kia Sportage, which is very similar to your Tracker except the Kia uses a Mazda engine instead of the Suzuki motor that is in your Chevy. The Trooper is more mid-size, with heavier duty parts and drive train.

I still have a 4x4 Sportage 2 door soft top that is a lot of fun to drive. There are a lot of metrics used to compare vehicles, but the one that impresses me with the little Kia is "smiles per dollar".

I wouldn't mind taking it south again. At least your Tracker was sold and serviced in Mexico, the older Kias were not, so you have a better chance of finding parts and service.

AKgringo - 8-29-2023 at 09:44 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Maderita

I suppose that you are mechanically inclined or will have it thoroughly checked out before the trip.

I'd suggest that the cooling system is critical. :!:

¡Buena suerte!

Mechanically inclined is not a good description of my skills. I'm more of a Youtuber with an assortment of tools (when I can find them).

Agreed on the cooling system service, and I already bought most of the new stuff. I also intend to change out all the gear oil in the drive train.

A case of motor oil is a bit extreme....maybe just a bottle of STP?

Son of a gun...it passed CA smog!

AKgringo - 8-29-2023 at 11:48 AM

The Trooper had been sitting for eight months with an almost empty tank, and a severely corroded set of battery posts and cable ends.

I cleaned things up, changed the oil and filter, air filter, topped off the old gasoline + chemical cleaners, then drove it around for a day. It passed on the first try, so I think I will buy it a new windshield.

That should bring me close to $1000 into a fairly capable 4x4.

bajatrailrider - 9-1-2023 at 07:57 AM

Good idea AK on manual trans as you know I like moving gears 3 of my 4 trucks Manual . All old 92 toy off road 96 ram 4x4 diesel 2014 Nissan 4x4 diesel. Manual less likely to fail cheap to fix. all my old rigs on factory Clutch . hope to see you again

AKgringo - 9-1-2023 at 08:17 AM

I have always enjoyed shifting for myself, but after a lifetime of clutching (sometimes double clutching) my left hip is degraded and takes the fun out of driving in city traffic or off road.

This is the second time I have had identical vehicles at the same time with standard, and automatic transmissions. With the Sportage, and the Troopers, I have found that the automatics perform better off road!

Make that three times, the same was true with my 3/4-ton Suburban's in Alaska.

weebray - 9-1-2023 at 01:48 PM

As a mechanic, I would say that they are the Audi of Japanese vehicles. Parts are not as easily available as the big three Japanese vehicles, they are hard to work on, and not as intuitive. I would stick to Subaru Toyota or Honda.

AKgringo - 9-1-2023 at 02:09 PM

I agree with your assessment from a mechanics point of view. When I bought my first one, it was half the price with half the miles of comparable SUVs. For what it is worth, the engine in my 1999 is the same one used in the Honda Passport.

Lo siento....no Baja for this old trooper!

AKgringo - 9-4-2023 at 02:35 PM

I was looking forward to Baja pin striping the old Trooper, but an extended family member is in critical need of a work truck and this rig will serve his needs far better than anything else he can afford right now.

It is probably for the best anyway for several reasons. The engine and drive train would probably be fine, but the suspension feels loose all around. Four wheel drive (hi and low range) seem trouble free, but the crawling ability is not nearly as good as my "99" which has "torque on demand" that does a great job of maximizing traction.

The five speed manual would probably take a toll on my degenerating left hip anyway. I think I will service the automatic in my "99" well ahead of schedule and hope that it makes another round trip!

Doug/Vamonos - 9-10-2023 at 06:15 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Mulege Canuck

Having a little 4x4 down there should be fun.

I bought a 1999 Chevy Tracker. I am putting a new timing chain kit in it before the run to Baja in November. Seems like there is a lot of those things in Mexico.

We love to head to the mountains when the northern winds start ripping and beach camping is not fun. If you see a silver tracker with BC plates broke down on Mex 5, it will be me.

I have a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara at LA Bay. Tracker is essentially the same built by Suzuki for Chevrolet. Great little car. Surprising amount of room in front. I'm 6'5" and have plenty of head and leg room. Which is pretty amazing. A real truck ladder type frame, 2-speed transfer case, V-6. Put on some larger mud-terrains and a 2 1/2" inch lift with good shocks. Awesome little 4 wheeler.

[Edited on 9-11-2023 by Doug/Vamonos]

DannyRT - 9-14-2023 at 01:07 AM

My uncle used to have a reliable 1994 Trooper back in the days. Very capable on beaten and narrow roads. Too bad he had to let it go due to replacement parts not being easily available. I'm coming over tomorrow to him mount the new rotors and xd wheels onto his Ram. I'll see if he still has photos of the Trooper.

AKgringo - 9-14-2023 at 07:42 AM

It is a shame that Isuzu has chosen to abandon parts support for older vehicles. I have a 1999 Trooper with 132k miles on it that does everything I want it to do, but it needs transmission work and no shop will touch it!

chippy - 9-14-2023 at 09:36 AM

Hey AK what about something like this? https://www.qualityusedtransmissions.com/transmissionquote2....

AKgringo - 9-14-2023 at 05:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

Hey AK what about something like this? https://www.qualityusedtransmissions.com/transmissionquote2....

Well that is a little scary! They say they have one with 85k miles on it for $1230 dollars, but it would be a bit of a gamble to pay some one to do the swap and hope it has some life left.

I think I will try to find someone that could do the swap and see what that would cost.