I am kinda stumped on this one. We have the big 4x4 base covered a little too well, with a 'Burb and a quad cab Ram. Have a Samurai for a trail rig, but I would really like something that I can use to get the family out on the trail. That means the wife and three growing kids.

Anyone that has BTDT, please let me know what is working for you. Doesn't need to do the Hammers, just the Rubicon. Thinking that means a 4runner or a Cherokee to start, didn't really enjoy that kind of thing in a fullsize. A buggy is not out of the question, if the design made sense.

Thanks

Brian

Cherokees are fun.

Depending on how big your kids are/will get, 3 across the back seat of a 4 Runner doesn't sound to good to me--but then, my 2 brothers and I are all 6'+, and one is 6'5/280. I've had 3 across the back of my Blazer plenty of times, I'm sure the same could prolly be said for a Bronco or Ramcharcher, but it sounds like you don't want to go that wide.

Pete

may not be what you're looking for but Dan Johnson is selling an AWESOME unimog that has been converted to a 4 door. you may have seen it on ESPN after he won the competition in the RockMog he took out the family truck. Check it out here: Rhino Mog (http://www.angelfire.com/ak4/johnson/RedMogPage.html)

-Steve

well It's pretty apparent that you need one of these:D :D :D

actually why not a landcruiser fj-60
bobbed with big running gear?
or maybe just buy a scrapped trooper and build it?
or what about an older landrover?
how about a scrambler with 2 rows of back seats?
4x4 van?
flexyvan:D
willy's wagon?
does it need 4 doors?
ramcharger?
get a crewcab pickup
shorten the frame so there is just room for a cooler behind the cab. You'll most likely get 1 ton running gear
chop the top add tubing and stir
even better if you can find a bigblock, and it comes in almost any american make.

Sounds like APV time to me.

http://membres.tripod.fr/France40/photos/cougar1.jpg

Naw, you may have to go fullsize. On the mid-size cherokee's, they're great
2-seaters, 3 is okay, 4 works for a short ride, but 5, even with 3 little ones,
doesn't sound like fun to me - unless you do some custom work to convert
everything behind the front seats into a buckle-down playground.

Get a ZJ.

They are coming down in price for the early 90's models. You can get them with a V8 already installed (although I like the 4.0)

The 242 transfer is a nice option. They Mod out pretty nice and if you don't care about looks 4 inches of lift will fit you a 35. Plus they are PLUSH as hell to ride in.

Three across the back will not be loads of fun but is very doable, if they are not fullsize kids. I run two adults, two kids with one is a carseat (takes up a assload of room) and one-three pitbulls, depending.

I have done the Rubi in my Heep and it did it fine. Just one word of advise swap out the rearend FAST.

Here is the trimming needed to fit a 35
that is a 32
http://www.clan-phoenix.com/jeeps/flare1.jpg

60 series Land Cruiser, baby! Easily modified, relatively cheap to buy, pretty decent aftermarket support. Not as nimble as a Cherokee, but roomier, and tough, built for punishment! 1985-1987 are the best years, if you have any questions, PM me, I'll be glad to help.

Those are 37's, BTW, no trimming needed, but a little tweaking of the spring mounts and a spring-over conversion.

gunracer1's 60 series

or if you really want something big, do like me and get a 118" wheelbase Traveler

my buddy Darren's Cherokee, all three of these rigs hang with the short wheelbase crowd, and have been known to spank them from time to time, as long as the driver doesn't mind a little body damage...............which we don't.

I'm kinda partial to these things. Lots of room for passengers and cargo, lots of potential and the price of them is coming way down.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=292587

Don't rule out a fullsize.I wheel a '73 blazer and have no problem fitting on the trails around CO.You won't fit in really tight trails without body damage,but you said it doesn't need to be able to.Put a truck bench in the front and stock rear seat.This will seat 6 people.But 3 in the back is kind of squished.Can be found cheap and parts are everywhere.Blazin:rasta:

That's what I built my K5 blazer for. You've got width for 5 easily and 6 if you add a front bench. And wheelbase of a good trail rig. Plenty of available cheap parts, stout drivetrain bolts right in, and the cool factor. See my sig for my pics. Mine's built pretty good and still retains the back seat.

Insane I like your rig.Was thinking of bobbing mine now.Since it is only for wheeling now.What did you do for a tank?I am thinking about putting a jeep rear seat in and tubbing the wheel wells into the frame.I rub in wells now.Don't know what to do for a gastank though.Blazin:rasta:

93-95 Range Rover County LWB

Huge room in the back seat. Lift it, hack the fenders and run 35s in luxury

Ron

Great input, gents. Lots of good ideas. Went out tonight and bought a truck trader, FCFred's idea about a flatbed crew cab sound pretty wild. I can see that for more open trails, gotta see if there is a shortbed crewcab out there for cheap. Going to look at some K5 Blazers this week.

Anyone run the Rubicon in a fullsize? I keep thinking about the V-rock on Cadillac hill, and how much pucker I would be generating in something that big.

Thanks again

And yes, the APV would be nice, particularly if I ever have to drive in the bay area again.

Brian

Explorer... of course:smokin:

http://www.explorer4x4.com/rick_rearrock.jpg

My vote is for a jeep, but i'd say a 93 ZJ, many parts coming out for them now, good wheelbase, its a jeep, and spacious in the rear seats. I'd say an XJ, but the back seat is just too cramped for 3 people. So i'd say ZJ.

Found a great deal! Check this out:

Blazzzzer (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1806029471&r=0&t=0)

Jeeezzzzuuzzzz. Sorry for taking this too close to chit-chat, but damn....

what size kids do you have??

what shape are they?? hehe

I would honestly (this hurts) say get a explorer. I like jeeps but the uni body - which may be ok for you if your kids are not gonna be with you to long before they get their own stuff

if they are little kids
what about just taking hte rear seat out of say a cherokee and putting 3 buckets back there (center one offset to rear a tad)

or 3 car seats tied into floor/frame/seatbrakets (make sure you know what your doing there though..

I like the JC whitney type buggy seats (plastic with cover)

I can fit eight in my FZJ80 Land Cruiser with the third row seats in place. Put all the stuff on a big-ass roof rack.

That's my plan.

Morgan

If your looking for something cheaper with a little ummph, look into an old Cherokee or wagoneer (m early to mid eighties), you can still find them for a decent price, and they come with the 360 power plant for the extra git up, have plenty 'o room and you won't mid bangin it up a little if you pay less for it,,,

kerryp

Divorce????
That's the easiest way I see it:flipoff2:

In the last Peterson's, the reader's rides section, there was a guy that had taken a standard-cab Dodge pickup and grafted the back half of a crewcab onto it. Back of the cab came to just in front of the rear wheels, sorta looked like a big version of those new 4-door Nissan jobs. That'll give you room for 6, plus stuff in the back - all the room of a fullsize crewcab with a standard-pickup wheelbase. I think it would've been better as a flatbed, personally.

Originally posted by blazin
Insane I like your rig.Was thinking of bobbing mine now.Since it is only for wheeling now.What did you do for a tank?I am thinking about putting a jeep rear seat in and tubbing the wheel wells into the frame.I rub in wells now.Don't know what to do for a gastank though.Blazin:rasta:

Dude, I used an RCI aluminum fuel cell. It's 20 gallon and fit perfect with the bob. The cell cost me $200 and the fittings and line was around $60 more.

www.rciracing.com

The amarillo trip was my first outing since the bob, and I loved it on the trails. My buddy with an '84 stepside dragged on everything but I never did....:blender: :rasta:

Originally posted by yurtle
Great input, gents. Lots of good ideas. Went out tonight and bought a truck trader, FCFred's idea about a flatbed crew cab sound pretty wild. I can see that for more open trails, gotta see if there is a shortbed crewcab out there for cheap. Going to look at some K5 Blazers this week.

Anyone run the Rubicon in a fullsize? I keep thinking about the V-rock on Cadillac hill, and how much pucker I would be generating in something that big.

Thanks again

And yes, the APV would be nice, particularly if I ever have to drive in the bay area again.

Brian
Yeah I like that idea. We been tossing around ideals like that on another site. Mine was a 73-91 Suburban frame with a Crew cab body and flat bed. The spacing would be about right so you can run the crew cab without modification. All but 2 cab mounts will line up. Just have to Fabricate the rear cab mounts so a easy set up. Go to a fuel cell behind the cab and whack the frame behind the rear hangers. That would loose an easy 4ft off the back of the truck.

A 79 Cherokee...
http://ijc.8m.com/images/pic10.jpg

http://media.bigstep.com/shop/8/35/10687358/upload/1012701516480.jpg


mine only seats 2, but you could keep the back seat for more passengers.

narrow truck with tons of interior space. only like 60" wide body and a 104 wheel base.

good luck :beer:

I like the idea of building an old waggy or chero. There is a guy in the Atomic City club in TN who stretched his YJ for 3 rows of seats. Carries the whole family wheeling. I think it also sports 1 ton running gear.

Robert

FJ60 wagon. I have beaten the hell out of mine for 10 years and she still comes up :D Lots of room and I keep up with the fj40s that I run with just fine (more or less). Of course, I am locked ft and rr, have a 4" SR lift and 35"s, but it is still stock on the inside:flipoff2: FJ60s look huge, but you would be suprized where you can put them. ANd as said above, pretty good aftermarket support. Of course the more bodies you stick in them, the heavier it gets (duh), but you dont feel it too much.

Ricko.

Originally posted by StupidTrooper
http://media.bigstep.com/shop/8/35/10687358/upload/1012701516480.jpg


mine only seats 2, but you could keep the back seat for more passengers.

narrow truck with tons of interior space. only like 60" wide body and a 104 wheel base.

good luck :beer:

I gotta add, my hunting buddy has one of these, and I went up sheep hunting with him and his family; there was myself (5'7", +/-200), and his 8 and 12 year old sons (5', +/- 110, and 5'4", +/- 120) in the back, and we were fine. Plenty of room. Plus my buddy is 6'1" and a good 230 or so, big frame. Also had 5 (BIG) packs, 3 rifles, and some other shit in the back.

It was a stock rig, but I do think these have a fawkload of potential.

I run a '92 xj with two teenage kids and it is no fun to sit in the back. I suggest getting something that has an open top so the back seat passengers don't feel so enclosed and trapped! I think an old blazer with the removable top might be a good candidate although it is pretty wide. The other idea is a buggy designed with extra seats or a buggy made from something else like a blazer or scout which is long enough for rear seat passengers. Actually, don't some Scouts have a removable top? Whatever you do, put yourself in the back and see how nice or not it is. :) Jeff

FULLSIZE CHEROKEE!!! Not actually "Full size" which means it will fit on the trail, but its also got big comfy seats. Also if you find one with a manual transmission you will have a drivetrain that most jeepers will drool over (360/t-18/D-20 and dual 44's) All you need is a spring over front shackle flip rear and longer shackles and shock mounts all around, thow in a couple of lockrights and a set of 33's and go eat up the con!!! Can you say cheap, quick, and easy?

Originally posted by Jeff 92xj WI
The other idea is a buggy designed with extra seats or a buggy made from something else like a blazer or scout which is long enough for rear seat passengers.
Actually, this is pretty close to what I have in mind for the end destination of my K30. Basically, cut the frame down to around 110" (little bigger than a Blazer) and build a pseudo-Blazer body, or, more likely a tube body eventually. In the back, I want a removable bench with belts for 3. The front will have a bench with belts for 3. So, seating for 3 (me and my 2 kids mostly) and lots of gear with the seat removed. Or, on the odd occasion where my wife wants to go, or we have company from "out of town", or whatever where I need more seating. Pop the back seat in and carry 6 with about the same cargo room as a Blazer. If I can ever pick up the pace of progress on this rig, I think it will be sweet when it's done. Probably around 2010 at this pace... :smokin:

We've had 9 in the Blazer. Was fairly comfortable--of course I had my own seat. We did 8 in a Grand Cherokee once, but that left a bit to be desired. Pretty good Designated Driver to Designatd Drunk ratio, though. :D

Pete

Go for a Toyota 4Runner! After '90 with 4 Doors, or 84-85 with a strait axle and removeable top. I gotta support the Toy mini crowd! But nothing wrong witha cruiser either.

havn't tried the con yet, but its done most all of the 4+ trails in moab in this form, including lower heldorado, lower proving grounds, and pritchet.
http://www.jeepinjunkie.com/behing_the_rocks/whitenuckle2.jpg

and I plan on trying upper heldorado and possibly upper proving grounds in this form. I've also got the termenator, predator, hammers, and a couple more in az on the schedule for this year.
http://www.jeepinjunkie.com/remodel/r5.JPG

How bout a CJ-6... put in two back seats... walla it'll hold 5 passengers no problem... I have seen pics on the web with CJ-6s set up that way... seem to work pretty well.

-Matt

Here...how about one of these...can't go wrong with a yota....seats 4 with a back seat....and just make the 5th guy spot and take pictures:D

Joseph A.

I second getting a zj. They are cheap and very capable. Plus I've have a built one for you.:D on the con (http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/scottsbent70/lst?.dir=/Rubicon+7-2-01&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/scottsbent70/lst%3f.dir=/Rubicon%2b7-2-01%26.src=ph%26.view=t)

Go with a Bronco. I have 3 kids and a wife and I still have room for one more

get this!

How about an FJ55 I would love to build one of those

The trooper idea sounds cool. I know a guy that has one of those that is SAS'd, and it pretty fun. ZJ sounds good. Maybe a 2nd gen 4runner? Those are my votes

Originally posted by yurtle
I am kinda stumped on this one. We have the big 4x4 base covered a little too well, with a 'Burb and a quad cab Ram. Have a Samurai for a trail rig, but I would really like something that I can use to get the family out on the trail. That means the wife and three growing kids.

Anyone that has BTDT, please let me know what is working for you. Doesn't need to do the Hammers, just the Rubicon. Thinking that means a 4runner or a Cherokee to start, didn't really enjoy that kind of thing in a fullsize. A buggy is not out of the question, if the design made sense.

Thanks

Brian My trail rig has room for 5 people thats including the driver. Check it out on the binder board. Abba

go for an 84-89 4runner
early bronco 66-77
69-72 blazer. those are my choices in that order:smokin:

Hey Stupid Trooper why use all the same pics from the last year? Where are the pics from moab?!?!?!?!

Whats goin on matt?!?! Hows the trooper runnin these days? Have ya given any more thought to dual toy cases? Anyway we need to get up and go wheelin when ure back down near richmond. THe trooper is still here anyway isnt it? Talk atcha later man.

-j-rOd:beer: :D :beer:

Here's what you need!

Defender 110. 4" lift will clear 35" easily and 37s with a little trimming. Salisbury rear stronger than Dana 60, 35 spline shaft kits available. Bolt-in replacements for the front equal to a Dana 44.

Mine is configured to seat 7, can seat 10 if necessary. 5 is comfy with loads of gear space in the back.

http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/mvc-016s.jpg

-John


Oh yeah, and it's RHD with a 2.5L turbodiesel!!!! :D :D

Check this out: sweet deal (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43559) Show up with the dough and your wheelin this weekend;) :D oh and you might need some :beer: for the trip

I agree that you need a fullsize Waggie or Cherokee. We did some comparison measuring between a lifted Waggie on 35's and a lifted toy FJ60 on 35's. The Waggie had better approach and departure. Sat lower and had more interior room without being much wider.

FSJ Rule

Erin

Originally posted by yurtle
A buggy is not out of the question, if the design made sense.

Thanks

Brian

I dont know what your looking to spend, but I got a buddy with a buggy on ebay right now. The deal is smokin, incredibly smokin.

go to ebay and search for sand dune, rock crawler, long travel jeep.

this is a deal of a life time, worth 2.5-3 times what he's asking.
(YELLOW)
ericfilar@fatcity

why limit yourself to only 5. :flipoff2:

Originally posted by camo
why limit yourself to only 5. :flipoff2:

What's the status on that mother trucker??

I say get the one fat city is talking about!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1836369970


:smokin: :smokin: :smokin:

Avalanche Engineering is now offering a 5 seater chassis/buggy. Contact Mike @970-884-7716. Why look like everyone else? Custom creations is the only way to go!

Mine seats 5 :D

Just get one of THESE (http://sleeoffroad.com/pictures/reader_brian.htm) with the optional 3rd row seat

TRAVELALL