Hey !

My friends and I are looking for a "summer beater". A car/truck that can sit 5, haul a lot of camping gear and can carry a few kayaks.

We want something not too expensive but reliable. Ideal price would be under 3000 CND. 4x4 automatic would be nice. Towing capability is a plus.

Any suggestions of model/year to look for ? Anything to avoid ?

As always, thanks !

I've always liked 4+4 vans though there a bit hard to come by.

an older F150?

Something foreign NOT a land rover.

I'm biased. But either a 91-95 jeep Cherokee or if you want to be classy a grand wagoneer.

I'd say a 90's Cherokee (old style) with the 4.0 and manual transfer case, or (don't laugh too hard) a 4 door Tracker/Sidekick/Vitara. They're cheap, they're really not that horrible, and they're pretty damned capable off road, although towing capacity isn't huge... or a Toyota 4Runner, but watch for rust.

Avoid Blazers... the electronics for the 4x4 stuff are prone to failure and wicked expensive, although I admittedly like the way the 90s ones drive.

Going from personal experience... avoid the Dodge Durango. Yes, it seats 7 comfortably, yes, it'll go anywhere but 12 mpg sucks. And EVERYTHING will break, and the truck will rust, and more things will break. And the mileage will get worse.

ive seen some of the wreckers up here selling used cherokees cheep, as for 4runners most have been crusher feed long ago.

I suggest a Cherokee! I'm not just a fan but a owner!

Posted by bandi I'd say a 90's Cherokee (old style) with the 4.0 and manual transfer case, or (don't laugh too hard) a 4 door Tracker/Sidekick/Vitara. They're cheap, they're really not that horrible, and they're pretty damned capable off road, although towing capacity isn't huge... or a Toyota 4Runner, but watch for rust. Avoid Blazers... the electronics for the 4x4 stuff are prone to failure and wicked expensive, although I admittedly like the way the 90s ones drive. Going from personal experience... avoid the Dodge Durango. Yes, it seats 7 comfortably, yes, it'll go anywhere but 12 mpg sucks. And EVERYTHING will break, and the truck will rust, and more things will break. And the mileage will get worse.

Not just the Blazers, but the Ford Explorer as well... they're fragile.
If you can find one, a Bronco II with the 2.9L 5speed/manual transfer case are really great off-road.
And they're not really that bad on gas. DO NOT buy one with an Automatic transmission or the auto-locking hubs.

Posted by Samurai Not just the Blazers, but the Ford Explorer as well... they're fragile.

LOL... I forgot Explorers existed because there are none left here. Ditto with Bronco IIs.

Posted by bandi LOL... I forgot Explorers existed because there are none left here. Ditto with Bronco IIs.

bronco II's, really? My dad's winter beater (not a beater at all in my book) is a 120k mile 97 explorer, I actually like it. Its a bit sluggish but not too bad on gas, and it drives good. yeah they have there problems but everything does. As for blazers, my boss and his son only drive blazers, they have had tons... and after working on there fleet of them for the last 5 years there actually quite good. His 00 had 240k on it before his youngest wrecked it, and they have a 95 that's got almost 250k and its had the living shit beat out of it its whole life and finally shit out 3rd gear. Other than ball joints, brakes and idler arms every few years theve been great.

Posted by Samurai And they're not really that bad on gas. DO NOT buy one with an Automatic transmission or the auto-locking hubs.

Ah, the "I'll shift when I damned well fucking please" auto trans and those wonderful "Lock? You fucking lock motherfucker" auto locking hubs on the Bronco II. I remember these.

Posted by bandi LOL... I forgot Explorers existed because there are none left here. Ditto with Bronco IIs.

funny we are higher up the canadian rustbelt and i have to say i see bronco II's daily.

Explorers rotted so bad here. My dad and his wife have had 4 or 5 of these things and each one rotted out badly, no matter what rust-slowing method he chose. Also, the automatic transmissions in those things suck the ballbag.

Posted by Samurai Explorers rotted so bad here. My dad and his wife have had 4 or 5 of these things and each one rotted out badly, no matter what rust-slowing method he chose. Also, the automatic transmissions in those things suck the ballbag.

I just junked a 97 with about 10 inch diameter rust hole above the gas door.

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! funny we are higher up the canadian rustbelt and i have to say i see bronco II's daily.

We use more salt. And... We've had e-testing for 10 years now. That killed off a lot of old shitters.

Posted by sleeperspirit I just junked a 97 with about 10 inch diameter rust hole above the gas door.

that last one dad junked was the 96 beater he paidn $200 for. Each quarter panel was gone. Rocker panes were gone, spring shackles had rotted off and broken, rocker covers had rotted! brake and fuel lines had to be bypassed... oh it was a glorious piece of shit. The 'nice' one, the 1998 he was going to fix, but pulled the little factory running boards off and found the rockers gone, the area around the fuel door is tender, the rear hatch is getting rusty... Explorers are like Pontiac Grand Prix's... once they start to rust, they rust out fast!

Posted by bandi We use more salt. And... We've had e-testing for 10 years now. That killed off a lot of old shitters.

yeah the e testing would do it, the salt, i doubt you guys use less salt than us, salt white is a color here in quebec.

What's the liquid shit that they Spray on the road? It's slippery as shit before it soaks in.

Posted by sleeperspirit What's the liquid shit that they Spray on the road? It's slippery as shit before it soaks in.

brine depending on where you live.