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Reliable manual 4x4, diesel?

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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
Yet another help me pick a vehicle thread. NS i need help choosing a vehicle to replace my 07 Dakota 4x4 quad cab, the thing just isn't right for me.

Some considerations I want to keep in mind are reliability, fuel economy, off road capability and cargo space. Now finding a vehicle that meets this criteria may be difficult, I'm open to either a van, truck or SUV, import or domestic, they all have pros and cons.

I'm also open to building up a vehicle and spending a considerable amount of money (and time) in the process, as I intend to keep this vehicle for quite some time. Id like this to be my multi-use, over land expedition vehicle; logging road mountain bike shuttling, creak crossing, fly fishing spot finding, winter driving machine.

Iv though a 01-04 Tacoma 4 door with a cap would be perfect, minus the fact that they aren't very fuel efficient, not available with a diesel, and are damn near impossible to find in a manual (desirable for off roading)
-can import a Hilux from overseas and Mexican market, diesel, manual, 4x4, but large shipping costs, a lot of paper work and inspections, as well as age restrictions.
-also possible to import just a front clip, but difficult and time consuming to swap over

Other considerations are as follows, in descending order of desirability

JDM diesel Landcruiser, decent on fuel, diesel, legendary reliability and off road capability, I'm just not too keen on right hand drive

3rd gen 4runner swapped with an imported diesel JDM Hilux Surf front clip, popular swap, lots of online documentation and huge supporting community.

Dodge Sprinter (Travelling Circus anyone??) has the reliability, fuel economy, diesel, and ample cargo space, but no 4x4

Chevy Astro/GMC safari, moderate cargo space, AWD (easily converted to 4x4) but poor fuel economy

Ford E350 would be great, but costly with a factory diesel and rare with 4x4, but can be converted, also costly

Jeep wrangler unlimited, well, iv had enough with Dodge.


Any other suggestions??


sparknotes: Tacoma, landcruiser, 4runner, Dodge sprinter, Astro/Safari, ford E350 or jeep wrangler unlimited?

Sep 5 2012 1:36AM
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tronned
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 790
get a lexus or JDM landcruiser. case closed.

friend owns a small army of JDM landcruisers, fairly bulletproof and trustworthy. Not the greatest on fuel but better than the rest of the field none the less.

landcruisers in decent shape are not cheap.
Sep 5 2012 2:00AM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
not one you suggested but the mid to late nineties F series trucks are reliable, available in standard transmission, 4x4, beasts offroad, and they get like 20-25 mpg depending on the setup and how you drive it
Sep 5 2012 2:21AM
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Skiing.Nz
Posts: 279 - Karma: 49
Hilux surfs are very reliable, or just a normal hilux ( i think the american version of a hilux is a trundra?) but anyway toyota's are very reliable, just keep on chugging away, plus they are pretty good on diesel too.
Sep 5 2012 4:51AM
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t-rent
Posts: 3038 - Karma: 63
if you want fuel economy get a diesel, end of story, the 7.3 powerstrokes that ford offered in 94-2003 were good engines, some mods can easily get 25 on highway with the right configurations. i would say the new body style from 99-2003. old dodges with cummins are plenty out there, little more pricey, but better engine, duramaxs are expensive, go on dieselpowermag.com they have so much shit about trucks, suv's, van's, check it out
Sep 5 2012 12:43PM
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cubber
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 638
Any chipped diesel will perform, imo, I'm biased towards '00-05 Cummins or so but then again, I'm not the smartest. And as t-rent said, the diesel power mag is great for all kinds of this info, I wish I knew more though
Sep 5 2012 1:59PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
how mechanically inclined are you? A few companies sell kits to swap in a om617 mercedes turbo diesel (possibly the best small diesel out there) in to toyota 4runners, complete with everything you need for around $1000. its a farely straight forward swap and you get anywhere form 25 to 30 mpg with a stock 4runner in return
Sep 5 2012 4:55PM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
Iv been putting a lot more thought and research into this predicament, and I think an 01 to 04 Tacoma 4 door is best suited for what I want. And iv also scrapped the idea of a diesel swap, although om617 swaps look promising.

There is just so many good things to say about these Tacomas, and a lot of after markets available and forum support like non other. They, like many other Toyotas have a cult like following.

Sep 11 2012 12:58AM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
and fucking ridiculous value, I've been looking for the same truck, and an 01-04 with 200k and a manual still runs 10 to 15 thousand dollars around here.
Sep 11 2012 1:52AM
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Corin
Posts: 1665 - Karma: 524
Maybe Hilux or Navara/King Cab? I you want/need a pickup those are probably the cheapest and most reliable, and if you get one, with a small cab, they have pretty decent bed-space too.

My family has a 96 Pajero 2800 Turbo, and it's a beast! Not sure if it's the most reliable thing in the world, since we've had to replace the clutch two times in the 12 years we've had it. But it goes anywhere! 2wd for dry summer roads, 4wd for winter, hi/low-gears, lockable diffs, all that. And pretty good milage.
Sep 11 2012 4:52AM
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montanan
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 1,346
the 01-04, 4 door tacomas are not hard to find in a manual transmission, seeing as how the 4 door was not available with the manual... sure a conversion can be done, if you want a pain in the ass, but the 4 door 01 -04 tacos never were available from factory with manual here in the states. good luck budy, sad to hear your done with dodge, ..... heres my project. i have a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4 5 spd , club cab, with the 318 v8 with 90 k ( owned by an old man and never seen dirt, odd as i live in montana, guess the guy just liked indoors lol every 90 k was logged in a mileage book, so i scored ) . the 318 is a great gasoline engine. i had a durango with the same engine that i took up to 230,000 miles all original, problem free, and i sold it and i see it driving every day, stilll runing perfect at 245k.... that being sad, i like the 318 and mods and aftermarket parts are acceseble and pretty cheap , because the engine has been in use for nearly 4 decades. BUT. gas trucks, big or small, no matter what mods you do , are not going to give you great mileage... period. unless in a 4 banger 2 wheel drive gutless POS. and diesels are great for off road fun, and great for mileage when all said and done. not to mention durability, diesels are just guna be that much tuffer.
any way , my project like i said is , well, im droping a 4 bt cummins in my 99 dakota . custom engine mounts are going to have to be made, but other than that , after the mounts are in right place it will fit. i got the engine out of a old delivery vehicle that had 55k ! score again. esp for a diesel! im taking out the nv3500 5 spd and swapping in a built nv 4500 5 spd and looking at some front / rear lockers from pdm performance.. , it will have a 2 inch body lift and 3 inch skyjacker suspension lift. as well as all the other goodies needed for a good off road / daily driver/ anything vehicle etc. have a huge list of parts , but ya, you know what up.
basically good luck dude !!! i really wish here in the states they made a small / compact pickup with a diesel , they would sell like hot cakes haha, i know id buy one ! until then tho, ima build up my dakota dieslel and ill post some pics of finsished truck when i done. best of luck . message me if you want any pics of the build. take care, peace.......
Sep 11 2012 9:48AM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
mid 90s cummins/powerstroke...don't know why you'd fuck around with engine swaps/car import
Sep 11 2012 9:54AM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 237
12 valve cummins. Best engine ever made.
Sep 11 2012 10:02AM
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montanan
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 1,346
i wouldent mess around with getting an import either... that said tho there are plenty of people whos pastime is working and messing with their cars/trucks and are stoked to do an engine swap. some like skiing, some like cars. i like both . i also like pizza but cant have it cause it makes me sick :(
Sep 11 2012 7:50PM
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clive_bixby
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 499
96 powerstroke.
Sep 11 2012 8:58PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324

does that year dakota have a solid axle? if not, you should swap in some d44s or d60s.and will that frame take that heavy of an engine? a 4bt is like 900lbs, i was looking to swap one into a toyota but the om617 mercedes diesel is a much more feasible option

Sep 11 2012 9:02PM
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pomme-de-terre
Posts: 3915 - Karma: 703
CUMMINS DIESEL.
Sep 11 2012 10:08PM
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montanan
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 1,346
no this dakotas did not come with solid axels, as you said i will need some d44s or d60s dependending on what i find, price, etc. u know the drill. as far as the frame being able to handle it , it can, i know i can, ive seen the swap in person , and if you go on youtube you can find a few dakota 4 bt swaps and check out their setup. you can also find plenty of info online as far as parts lists etc of peoples 4bt swaps in dakotas , dakota-durango forum etc. But yes you are correct. if you are looking to swap a diesel in a toyota , the om 617 would be the way to go. great engine, reliability comparable to cummins for sure( parts just may be a tad more spendy, but damn great engine ) and there is information a plenty on that swap as well. good luck man, send pic of project if ya do it , i always like seeing diesel swaps into smaller pickups, so many advantages etc. good luck
Sep 12 2012 12:28AM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
montanan that sounds like a pretty sick project and some good scores indeed. the gen 2 dakotas are a lot better then the 3s, lot more after markets available.

and to whoever said the value of tacomas is high, i agree, around my area they are selling more around the 15k range with over 200km
Sep 13 2012 5:19PM
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