I am wanting to buy a cheap 4x4 suv (small like a 4runner or jeep cherokee) to drive to the deer lease and back and also use it to drive around on the deer lease. I am also wanting to build some kind of varmint rack on top. I need suggestions on which vehicle would be the most reliable for my money? Something that won't just be a money pit. Also if you have any ideas for the varmint rack please share. Thanks

Not a jeep then.

How many miles back and forth to the lease?

Its about 140 miles there and back. and are jeeps money pits?

My jeep hasn't been a money pit; however I would prefer a small 4x4 truck, mainly out of convenience.

another questions, are you going to be hauling a group/family, gear, and bags of corn? RV? deer stands?

my son has been looking on craigslist. cars&trucks by owners, search: 4x4 and then about 500-1000 over your price max for haggling room.

if you find one. pick it over carefully. something highly modified might not be road worthy or fuel efferent and it is nice to make it home after the weekend.

The most people I would haul around would be four people and hunting equipment and probably the occasional sacks of deer corn. My brother and I have decided that we want a suv because we have a truck to haul big stuff with. We are wanting this vehicle for driving there and back and around the deer lease. Something that will get pretty good gas mileage and I won't have to worry about having to fix something every time we want to go to the lease.

I CAN TELL YOU THIS LITTLE BIT FROM
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. IF YOU'RE USING
THE VEHICLE YOU USE TO GET TO THE LEASE
AND THEN BACK HOME , YOU SURE DON'T WANT
TO BAJA THE THING AROUND IN THE ROUGH-A$$
BOONDOCKS AND HOPE SOMETHING DOESN'T BREAK
BEFORE 6:00 PM SUNDAY AND THEN SPEND
UNTIL 3:45 AM ON THE SHOULDER OF IH-20.
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN AN AFFORDABLE 4X4
THAT GOT GOOD MILEAGE. MY FULL SIZE BRONCO
GETS 12-15MPG. THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT
IS IT?

I think Maximum hit the nail on the head. It's gonna be hard to find something cheap that will get good mileage and not leave you stranded. I had a 97 Yukon that fit 4 had the cargo area, and cargo basket on the back. It got about 14 mpg maybe 15 and I replaced tires often. No mechanical problems just fuel and tires. You can find Toyota 4 runners which may fit the bill but generally they want 4-6000 for em.

By you a trailer and a side x side UTV. Lot less headaches and handy around the ranch. You can put a small high rack on it also. They hold their resale value fairly well also.

AND DON'T FORGET TO BUY A GENUINE
HI-LIFT JACK AND A QUALITY CHAIN.

I DROVE MY F-150 IN THE BUSH FOR
3 YEARS AND FINALLY HAD A FLAT AND
THE FACTORY JACK WOULDN'T GO HIGH
ENOUGH TO GET THE FLAT OFF.

I WAS IN ANOTHER TRUCK ON A TRAIL
THAT TURNED FROM ROCK TO SUGAR
SAND AND GOT STUCK AND HAD TO
WALK AN HOUR AND A HALF TO FIND
SOMEONE THAT HAD A CHAIN AND WOULD
PULL ME OUT.

Our deer lease isn't that bad and its not like I go through terrible stuff to try to tear up something. I am also wanting a small suv like a jeep cherokee not a full size like a bronco. I know some people that have an older toyota truck and an old jeep cherokee that are still going for them. I guess it is luck to find a good one haha

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO HAVE A ROCK
PUNCTURE A INSIDE SIDEWALL WHERE YOU
CAN'T SEE IT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
(THAT KIND OF STUFF HAPPENS TO ME )
I BELIEVE IF YOU ARE GONNA USE IT
FOR YOUR GET HOME TICKET, I'D STAY
OUT OF THE BUSH WITH IT AND WALK
UNLESS YOU TAG SOMETHING(I DO).
YOU'LL SEE MORE ANIMALS THAN IF YOU
DRIVE WILLY-NILLY ALL OVER THE PLACE.

GOOD LUCK FINDING SOMETHING.
REMEMBER , YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

What would be the most reliable jeep cherokee, 4runner, s10 blazer, or ford explorer?

The one that still has parts available for them in good supply. Older vehicles can be a money pit IME.

get a tacoma...will save money on gas and can get were ever you want

I am wanting a suv so 4runner in place of the tacoma?

Yeah an older 4runner would be good...jeeps are just gona be to heavy imo the cherroke wouldnt be bad but toyota is hard to beat. I got a tacoma with 255K on it and its a 4cyl. still runs great

What year is your tacoma and what kind of mileage does it get?

If your going to put a rack on it pay attention to the roof. There are some that can have the rack mounted to the roof and some that you will have to come from the frame. I know suburbans 91 and down have stout enough supports to to support a big rack with 4 people on it. The tahoes and suburbans 92 - 97 I think are strong enough for a rack. I don't know what year the style changed for sure.

I would get something that will have enough room for all you gear. I have a 87 suburban with a rack for my calling rig. It gets crowded between my brother and me with guns and gear when we go calling. For me a Cherokee or 4 runner would not even get close to holding gear. Don't know if you getting into calling or not but when we go we may anywhere from 2-4 hours from help if we need it and it's going to be in the middle of the night so I pack spare belts, parts and tools.

For me fuel mileage don't make up as much as having a tool that will do the job needed. So I get what I need and deal with what mpg I get. My suburban gets 10-12 mpg

A small four door suv would easily hold the guns and gear. I have been varmint hunting ever since I could shoot a gun but over the years my brother have become more and more into varmint hunting. The thing is that I would make the rack where I could just leave the floor on top but take the shooting rail and chairs off when I am just going deer hunting or driving around. Me and my brother go to the deer lease a lot so better gas mileage than my truck would be a lot better. If you have any pictures of the rack on your suburban could you send me some for ideas please (furdown)

Yea I understand the the gas mileage thing, I just sacrifice it. When we hunt contest and we got four people, gear, extra battery, ice chest it fills up quick. I was mainly meaning for that on space. I would love to have a 4 runner for better mileage but just too small for me. I like to have everything I might need in case something happens when we are out. One thing is smaller usually means shorter wheel base and better 4x4. I don't know how the strong the top is on a 4 runner to do the rack like mine is. It's bolted straight to the roof with a ladder bolted to it and the bumper. I have the shooting rails built onto the chairs and the swivel with the chairs. The spotlight attaches to the chair with a window mount spotting scope base. The chairs are bolted on so they can be removed and it looks like just a luggage rack. I'll see I'd I can find some pics

Here is a pic of how it is now



This was the first rack I had but it was too big and I lost access to a crane to mount it




I now have a crane again and am going to build another like this but make it to where the shooting rails bolt on and when they are off it looks like a safari rack that takes up most of the roof, and have the chairs bolt on so I can use the rails for when there is more than me and my brother we can use the shooting rails and when it's just two of use we use the chairs with the rails so we can both shoot.

That is awesome!! I love the idea of having the two seats then also being able to add the rail if you have more people. I have an extended cab gmc truck that we hunt out of and with three people we fit all the gear in the truck except the guns and ice chest the go in the back of the truck under the rack. So I am pretty sure we could fit plenty in a small suv. Your pictures make me want to find a vehicle faster so we can get started on the project! That is awesome! If I ever find a suv that will hold a rack I will have to get some more info from you about your rack. Thanks again! (furdown)

Its a 99 and gets around 25mpg good bit more on hwy