Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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?

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

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a reliable car, get RAV4 or CRV used.

I those are AWD not 4x4?

?? And that matters to you? If so, why?

DP
AWD and 4WD are NOT the same things.

4WD systems have a locking transfer case with high and low range gearing. AWD systems don’t operate like this. AWD can be fantastic in snow, but in off-road situations requiring low speed crawling, deep mud, or terrain that causes wheels to come off the ground from suspension flex, AWD systems cannot cope with this.

I have NEVER had an issue with my AWD in DMV. Do you live in mountains OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a reliable car, get RAV4 or CRV used.

I those are AWD not 4x4?

?? And that matters to you? If so, why?

DP
AWD and 4WD are NOT the same things.

4WD systems have a locking transfer case with high and low range gearing. AWD systems don’t operate like this. AWD can be fantastic in snow, but in off-road situations requiring low speed crawling, deep mud, or terrain that causes wheels to come off the ground from suspension flex, AWD systems cannot cope with this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a reliable car, get RAV4 or CRV used.

I those are AWD not 4x4?

?? And that matters to you? If so, why?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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?

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

Anonymous wrote:If you want a reliable car, get RAV4 or CRV used.

I those are AWD not 4x4?

Keep wrangler TJ

Anonymous wrote: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.

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?

If you want a reliable car, get RAV4 or CRV used.

If you just want a beater, you live with some unreliability with the trade off being that parts are readily available and repairs are relatively simple. See if you can find a CJ/YJ/TJ Wrangler or XJ Cherokee without too much rust. Paint if needed. You'll have a ton of fun beating it on the trail and any neighbors who don't like seeing it in your driveway aren't worth associating with in any event.

Anonymous wrote:Get an older used Jeep if you need 4x4 - Cherokee, Renegade, etc.

Which years are the best? I heard jeeps were unreliable

Get an older used Jeep if you need 4x4 - Cherokee, Renegade, etc.

Anonymous wrote:What a weird post.

Haha this is my post. Why is it weird? I don't want to buy new because it's going to get all scratched up.

What a weird post.

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.