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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't want a truck bc it's too long but I need a beater 4x4 for driving around in the woods. But it can't look too tragic because I have to park it in my driveway in town.[/quote]

Need further information/elaboration on what exactly “driving around in the woods” means before I can recommend at vehicle.

Are we talking gravel or dirt roads or driveways out in rural areas? Or forest service fire/logging roads in national forest land? Or did you mean actual hard-core off-road Jeep trails (Potts Mountain, Flagpole Knob, etc)? Need to know the type of off-road driving you’ll be doing, because they are not all equal.

County and state gravel roads generally do not require 4wd. Virtually any car will suffice.

Forest Service roads (Peters Mill, etc) require some kind of basic, stock 4wd/AWD. Subaru, most other SUV’s, Jeep Cherokee, Liberty, Grand Cherokee, etc.

Off-road trails (Potts Mountain, Flagpole Knob, etc) require either a Jeep Wrangler or aftermarket modified SUV or compact pick up of some kind (4Runner, Defender, Tacoma, etc).  You will not be able to drive many of these trails in anything other than a Jeep (and ideally a modified one, at that) without destroying the vehicle. Modified 4Runners, Defenders, Xterra’s can also handle these these trails as well as a Wrangler can, but ONLY if they’re modified.

Also, what’s your budget? [/quote]

These woods are 3 hours away from DC, so low mountains like Appalachian will be the worst of it I think.
Private gravel and dirt roads, plus off road unmaintained trails. We have a RAV4, and I don't trust it on gravel roads in the winter. A big plus is if the vehicle can ford a small creek under 2 feet deep.

Budget is under 35k[/quote]

The water fording thing is gonna be problematic for virtually everything except a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco on larger size tires (32”-35”). 24” is a LOT of water.  Yikes.

It’s not that other vehicles can’t technically ford that deep in an emergency, it’s just that their interiors and electrical systems aren’t set up to get wet like a Wrangler or Bronco interior. And if spend more than a moment in water that deep, regardless of vehicle type, you’re going to get water flooding inside to some degree. The Jeep and Bronco (I think?) have drain holes in the body tub to get water out and their electrical components are water resistant. Other SUVs aren’t built with that in mind. Even Land Rover advises no water fording deeper than 15” on the new Defender.

At your price point and your fording requirements, you’re pretty much limited to Jeep Wranglers prior to about 2018.

I’d look for a 2014-2017 Rubicon at the top end of your budget, and for a 2000-2006 TJ Wrangler in decent shape (ideally lightly modified) for something further under your budget.

A 4Runner or 70/80 series Landcruiser would be good too, IF it weren’t for the water fording depth.

I drive a LOT off-road, and I try and avoid water that deep. Two feet is a LOT of water.  Yikes. Make sure your breather lines for your differentials are water tight and extended. Same for t-case breather line if it has one. [/quote]

My rubicon on standard tires can ford almost 3 feet (33 inches). As for the Land Rover - given their electronics issues, I wouldn't advise even drinking water in one. [/quote]

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