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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6039
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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I bought another Isuzu Trooper Baja rig!
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]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18518
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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in the 90s I owned an '86 trooper.  it was fun.
[Edited on 8-28-2023 by mtgoat666]
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10794
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Online
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Photos?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64888
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Good for you, AK!
Yes, let's see the photos, please.
As goat shows, 'Joe Isuzu' would be happy!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6039
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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Photos?
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.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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No problem....what could possibly happen?.....
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
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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. 
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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I loved my Trooper and wish I still had it...it was a bit narrower so nice on the highway here.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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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! 
¡Buena suerte!
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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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.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Mulege Canuck
Nomad
Posts: 387
Registered: 11-27-2016
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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.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6039
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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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.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6039
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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| 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. 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!
¡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? 
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6039
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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Son of a gun...it passed CA smog!
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.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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bajatrailrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 2435
Registered: 1-24-2015
Location: Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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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
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6039
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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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.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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weebray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1094
Registered: 7-19-2010
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: lleno
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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.
Every beautiful beach in the world needs a few condo towers - NOT.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6039
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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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.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6039
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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Lo siento....no Baja for this old trooper!
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!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 418
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
Member Is Offline
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| 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.
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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]
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