Variety,, The spice of life. 4x4's you've owned over the years.

Hello everyone,
I had to go all the way back to my very first post, Feb. 22, 20.
Obviously just as Covid was gaining traction in the States.
Who'd a thunk it .
Well,, 15 fucked up months later, I hope everyone came through relatively unscathed .
As we move into the next phase of this pandemic ( reopening ),
I Ask a simple favor, of everyone reading this thread.
Please get the Covid vaccine ASAP! Both shots!
And use common sense when and where to utilize a mask.
This virus is not finished yet.
India is a sad example of the virus's resilience and will no doubt mutate further. That said,
Be safe, smart and considerate.
And keep the
thread 4×wheelin along. Thanks for your Additions and replies.
Cheers ,, G.

There’s a common thread here....

Past vehicles...


My current rides...


Mr Toyota has a well deserved reputation for reliability.

We never got these in the states. If we had, there would be one in my driveway now.

2.8 diesel
live axles front and rear
5 speed manual
awesome low range
just does the job...
know how you feel....

I just don't fit in Toyota's, seats low on the floor, got to have a full size.

On Diesel Ram #4 now.

My mom owned one in Botswana: leaf sprung both ends, rode like a buckboard, rock reliable.

Well, I didn't know that. Toyota dropped the solid axle in the trucks in '86.USA models.
I am aware of how the early leaf sprung trucks drove. I had three of them.

Solid front axle leaf sprung Hilux models continued in Aus / NZ up to 1997 - real shame when they were discontinued.

Some recent shots of the four Land Rovers in the driveway now - The 1967 Series IIA 88" is undergoing a nut & bolt restoration - about to start some paint and bodywork.

This was 1990, so it may have been an ‘86 for all I know. I do remember it was built in South Africa, and was simply terrifying on washboard dirt roads.

I don’t doubt that...
The later models (to 1997) would not be pleasant on washboard roads either.
With some weight in the back they do a lot better...
Check this video series out...
If you can put up with the obnoxious presenter and the wanton destruction of a decent truck, it shows the toughness of the little truck...

Oh, it had a LOT of weight in the back: a large steel long-range gas tank under a stout steel topper covering all the gear needed for 2-4 week trips around Southern Africa.

One bit of trivia I remember about it was the 4Y engine sitting where I expected to find a 22R(E). Never seen a 4Y before or since.

one of these???...
https://www.incars.com.na/1993-Toyota-4Y-Toyota-Hilux-2.2-D-cab-for-sale-used-1400673487

No— too new, with faincy metallic paint.

I've pissed away more money than I can account for, but my list is as follows : 1981 Bronco ll , 1985 Bronco ll, 1993 GMC 1/2 ton ext. cab. V-6, 2001 Chevy 1/2 ton ext. cab, 2006 Ram 2500, 2012 Ram 2500 , 2012 Ram 3500 srw, 2016 Ram 2500 Mega cab, 4 ea. Suburbans, 2 Jeep wranglers, 4ea. Land Rover Disco's, 2ea. MB ML-550's, many different company provided vehicles, including Blazers, pick ups and Jeeps, and have 2 new ones on order---a 2022 Z71 Suburban and a 2022 Ram 2500 Mega cab gasser. I'm one sick SOB.

That's a lot. Was it the salt on the roads that made all the changes?

Salt wasn't an issue. Most of these vehicles were bought for my company, which served the oilfield in and around the Illinois Basin. Tax laws allowed you to deduct vehicles with a GVRW of 6000lbs. or more . So, I was always searching for the next best rig.

My need/want for a 4wd is traveling the American west in the winter chasing snow. So no cool rock crawling pics.

First was a 1988 Jeep Cherokee. Bought with 135k sold with 200k totally reliable. No pics.

Second was a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. Bought with 85k sold with 282k again totally reliable until the day it broke a piston skirt. I keep driving it until I was too embarrassed by the looks I got from the racket coming from the engine.
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Then came a 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 12v Cummins 5spd, I can't remember how many miles I put on this one. But it was less reliable than the Jeeps and far more expensive to own.
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The Dodge was replaced with a GMC Savana AWD which I always intended to put a true 4wd transfer case into but the AWD just works so darn good on snowy roads I haven't felt the need. Bought with 70k as a bare cargo van currently edging towards 190k also completely reliable and I have slightly modified it

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My wife developed a 4runner fetish a couple of years ago and we got this.

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She loves it. I'm not a fan of the seating position and can't get comfortable in it no matter where I move the seat to. I removed the stupid hydraulically linked suspension and installed a dobinsons kit.

And just for a fun run around last spring I picked up a 1998 TJ Wrangler with a 4.0 and 5spd.

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Somewhere through this I got into VAG cars and had a Quantum synchro wagon followed by a Turbo Audi 200 wagon. Not technically 4wd but they they had electronic locking diffs and would go through any amount of snow I ever found.