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joel
Nomad
Posts: 361
Registered: 2-2-2007
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Better Baja Beach Car: Trooper or 4-Runner
I'm looking to buy a car to leave in Baja that will only be driven around town and on the beach -- 4 wheel drive and four door are requirements.
The other requirement is cheap and easy to fix in a remote town in Baja.
I'm leaning towards an Isuzu Trooper or a 4-door Toyota 4-runner (post 92). Both have good 4-wheel drive and are light for beach running.
I see almost as many Troopers here as I do 4-runners, but thought I'd ask if anyone has experience they would share before I buy and bring one down.
I'm looking to spend $2-$3k and may have to spend more for a 4-runner based upon preliminary research.
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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I love my 4Runner, but, if you are looking for cheap...........It's not it! Trooper is much lighter, cheaper, and if you are going to leave it down
there, I would suggest getting a Blazer or Bronco (cheap. easier to get parts, the older the better)
I'd like to ask you? Were are you that you see alot of 4Runners? (4 sale, or do you mean on the road?) I looked for 3 yrs. be for I could find one
to buy.......
Mean people suck!
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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I love my Bronco ! But I think it is too heavy for a beach
rider.
- CaboRon
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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My brother had an 89' Trooper with a 5 speed. That thing hated sand, the clutch would smoke even when the tires were aired down a lot. For that reason
when it was trade in time for the Old Trooper, I passed on it and went with a Toyota 4x4 pick-up for a full timer in Baja.
Toyota is a good rig, they cost more because they're worth it.
At least I've had good luck with them.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
I love my Bronco ! But I think it is too heavy for a beach
rider.
- CaboRon |
Air down!
My Super Duty crew cab 4x4 loves sand even in 2wd when it's aired down to 15 to 20 psi.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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bajadogs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1066
Registered: 8-28-2006
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A very serious desert-rat friend of mine has proven his Trooper. Throw big tires on her and you'll float over the softest sand.
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Bajalero
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Posts: 316
Registered: 11-24-2003
Location: todos santos/ rcho san diego
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Post 92' 4runner ?
Look to spend $5K minimum for something halfway in good shape. Reliability comes with a Toyota and is worth the extra dough
Don't waste your time with a Trooper , you'll be sorry
Troopers are cheap for a reason.
See if you can find a 96' or better 4runner with the 2.7l , manual transmission .
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joel
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Posts: 361
Registered: 2-2-2007
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Debra,
In reference to 4-runners, when I mean "see" a lot of them, I mean that I see other people driving them. I'll have to wait until I get back to the
states to look for them for sale, though I did a cursory look on cars.com and it seems the 4-runners run $2-$3k more.
Joel
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joel
Nomad
Posts: 361
Registered: 2-2-2007
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I owned a new Trooper from 90 to 98 and loved it. I did well in the sand -- at least for an SUV since it was so light.
I've never owned a Toyota though, and they seem to have a much better reputation for reliability. I was also wondering about people's experience with
repairing them away from the big towns.
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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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We have had 2 Troopers and they are the bomb here, cheap, excellent on sand (if ya know how to drive) and great on washboard...they last and take the
bumps and hang in there....we use ours to pull the boat in and out of the water....my trooper made hundreds of trips to Asuncion and was
awesome...only problem was there is a weakness in the flecha? ON both our troopers we had the mechanic rig it up better and if ya keep it greased
up...parts are getting easier to get but are more expensive although Ford parts work on it too. You can get a Trooper 4 door 4x4 in Ensenada for
$1,500 easy. Asuncion looks like Trooperlandia.
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
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Location: Punta Chivato
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The older style Trooper is a good rig but I had a lot of troubles with the 4 cyc model. The 6 was more reliable. But I'd still say go with the Toyota.
I now have an '92 Explorer (don't laugh) with big tires and low psi and it is fantastic. I know, "NO WAY" but it does launch the boat over the sand. I
also have a '98 and it's a pig. Only for the road. Oh, the '92 has locking hubs & no power anything. You definitely want all 4 turning.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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Whatever you do, get an auto tranny if you plan on spending lots of time in sand. They resist digging ditches without all the hassles of applying the
clutch just right for the given situation. Auto trannys now outlast clutches, t/o bearing and pressure plates by plenty.
I would go 4-runner and pay the premium over the Trooper. Troopers, over the last 15 years, have had good years and bad years; I'm not familiar enough
with them to know which ones. But 4 -runners havent really had any bad years, even through some redesigns.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Toyota?????
Thanks...but No thanks...I will keep my Jeep with a auto trans
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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Lots of Troopers out here on the East Cape. Everyone seems happy with them. Great in the sand and they hold lots of stuff and people with the boxy
shape. Easy and relatively chap to get repaired if needed.
Toyotas are the gold standard, but cost a lot. For a beater that I was to leave down here I would opt for the cheaper Trooper.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: |
I've never owned a Toyota though, and they seem to have a much better reputation for reliability. I was also wondering about people's experience with
repairing them away from the big towns. |
I have an 88' Toyota 4x4 that has been in Baja for over 12 years now.
I'll let you know how it goes if it ever breaks down!
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Bedman
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 9-4-2002
Location: Orange County, CA.
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My two cents,
Have you looked into a Suzuki Sidekick? in your price range, walks over sand like a lizard, 4 door with a little extra cargo space, 4x4 with high and
low range, front and rear lockers available, lift kits, racks, bumpers etc, etc, Look here for parts and accessories. http://www.izook.com/links.htm
Bedman
[Edited on 8-7-2007 by Bedman]
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joel
Nomad
Posts: 361
Registered: 2-2-2007
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The Sidekick is a good suggestion. I'll look at that a bit, as well. Thanks Bedman.
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Bedman
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 9-4-2002
Location: Orange County, CA.
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Joel,
I have had 2 of them. The first was a 2 door soft top with front lockers and was fantastic.
The second (current one) is a 4 door hard top with A/C !! Yahoo!! A/C!!
I have taken them both places that only a quad would venture into. One place was soo narrow the door handles were going to get shaved off. Then it had
to slide down a short rock face (about 6 foot) to a sand bottom and make a 90 degree left hand turn. Couldn't turn the wheel that tight , so the 3
guys on quads I was following grabbed hold of the rockers, lifted and turned it!!
I also tow it behind my motorhome. 4 wheels on the ground and you dont have to have the drive shaft disconnected. Just hook it up and go.
Good luck with your search!
Bedman
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Bedman is right but we have a 1986 Suzuki Samuari...
runs like a top still...
light...4x4...easy on gas...you can park it in town ...
and...
you can hose it out!!!
it's pretty dusty down here
convertible...but no a/c...we're tough
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craiggers
Junior Nomad
Posts: 42
Registered: 3-2-2007
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Before you go off buying somthing new try out what you already have. Its mostly going to come down to having the right tires at the right air pressure
and enough engine torque to turn them smoothly. Even a sand rail will dig in with the wrong tires.
[Edited on 8-9-2007 by craiggers]
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