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Modern Offroad Beater
- Thread starter ParadisePWoffrd
- Start date
Tech Tim
Your AD Here....
There are plenty of Wranglers under $10K, JKs even, if you stick with a 2dr.
Sterlingfire
ignant
I'm not sure why less than 20 years old is a prerequisite.... most vehicles (except jeeps and maybe toys) built in the last 20 years are not even close to this on 33's IMO
I paid 4500, put some fb 33's on and have been wheeling since. It's taken apart now for crossover, frame fixing(at the steering box) and a winch. I've been thinking about throwing a spartan in the front and seeing if i can keep the shafts alive on 37's
I've got a 12 bolt with 4.56 for the rear, another motor that purrs like a kitten and an nv4500 for future use.... also only cost anther 800 for those items in a beater truck.
I paid 4500, put some fb 33's on and have been wheeling since. It's taken apart now for crossover, frame fixing(at the steering box) and a winch. I've been thinking about throwing a spartan in the front and seeing if i can keep the shafts alive on 37's
I've got a 12 bolt with 4.56 for the rear, another motor that purrs like a kitten and an nv4500 for future use.... also only cost anther 800 for those items in a beater truck.
2big bronco
Og irate
I'm not sure why less than 20 years old is a prerequisite.... most vehicles (except jeeps and maybe toys) built in the last 20 years are not even close to this on 33's IMO
I paid 4500, put some fb 33's on and have been wheeling since. It's taken apart now for crossover, frame fixing(at the steering box) and a winch. I've been thinking about throwing a spartan in the front and seeing if i can keep the shafts alive on 37's
I've got a 12 bolt with 4.56 for the rear, another motor that purrs like a kitten and an nv4500 for future use.... also only cost anther 800 for those items in a beater truck.
Because everyone here knows what older beaters are the shit, hell the bassis of this forum was founded on them.
And if 33s are What we are talking a 90s tacoma with an elocker and 33s would out beater that thing anywhere
Beat95yj
Rolling 24/7
20 years because that is usually when they are close to cheapest. Too new to be classics, too old to be new with payments.
Oh and 33’s? lol. Shitbox Toyota trucks don’t count until they are on 37’s.
33’s May as well have white walls and be mounted on Daytons.
Oh and 33’s? lol. Shitbox Toyota trucks don’t count until they are on 37’s.
33’s May as well have white walls and be mounted on Daytons.
Sterlingfire
ignant
Not as expensive thoughBecause everyone here knows what older beaters are the shit, hell the bassis of this forum was founded on them.
And if 33s are What we are talking a 90s tacoma with an elocker and 33s would out beater that thing anywhere
And ready to bolt on a better axle 
Sterlingfire
ignant
Wow, weird flex, you guys pick me out for saying i actually HAVE 33's when bunches of posts for the last few pages have 33 and smaller tire sizes listed as what they would WANT on their "beater"
Good job fellas
Good job fellas
RunningProblem
Red Skull Member
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For $5,000 and under I found a 1996 k1500, 96 4Runner, 92 Cherokee (bastard year?), 1995 4Runner, 4 cylinder 95 cherokee, 1993 bronco, 99 K2500 suburban and a 1998 Grand Cherokee.
Older than 20 years old. They should still be reliable ‘beaters’ as much as calling a $5,000 car a ‘beater’ hurt me.
For another $5,000 in parts and time these could be really reliable off road.
Older than 20 years old. They should still be reliable ‘beaters’ as much as calling a $5,000 car a ‘beater’ hurt me.
For another $5,000 in parts and time these could be really reliable off road.
RunningProblem
Red Skull Member
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Daytons aren’t required if you have fiberglass fenders, and a back half chassis. Beat the fuck out of this thing and it will still be a shitbox toyota.
2001 Toyota Tacoma - Prerunner
2001 toyota tacoma 4x4 for sale by owner - Genoa, NV - craigslist
fawk to me a beater is a vehicle rims tires winch parts steel and everything for $5k or less
sounds like my (what i thought was nice) 4runner is a beater to alot of people
RunningProblem
Red Skull Member
- Joined
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‘Cash for clunkers ruined the used car market.’fawk to me a beater is a vehicle rims tires winch parts steel and everything for $5k or less
sounds like my (what i thought was nice) 4runner is a beater to alot of people
‘Due to inflation…’
This isn’t 2004 anymore. I think a $2,000 beat 4Runner is going to need $3,000 in work to get it running. If you could find one to begin with. I would hope for $5,000 you wouldn’t have to do engine or electrical repairs. Just start wheeling it like a ‘broke’ high school kid and bolt on stuff until you want one tons and fourtys.
Beater is in the eye of the beholder, all about perspective. I hang out with people who have several hundred thousand dollar race cars AND hundred thousand dollar trail rigs. My 1 ton LJ on 40’s is a beater in my circle
pinchegringo
Well-known member
Reminds me of a Subaru brat we put 29 inch sxs tires on and beat to death. My old lady flopped it three times but it eventually succumb to water damage. Most fun on $1800 ever.Don’t get too excited. It’s got 4.24:1 t-case gears. Spooled rear, locker in front. 30” SXS tires. Little, light, effective.
Build thread
Faux door
Faux 2, now version Faux door Going to try to start migrating my threads over here. Starting with my Zuk thread because it’s the first one I could find after the old place ruined everything. If you remember (or care) I had built an 04 grand vitara for my wife at the time and I called it...irate4x4.com
ParadisePWoffrd
Recovering Project Junkie
yup. beater in my eyes is $2500 or less, so Id say $5k all in.fawk to me a beater is a vehicle rims tires winch parts steel and everything for $5k or less
sounds like my (what i thought was nice) 4runner is a beater to alot of people
Wranglers here are in the $10k range. You can find them slightly below that, but not much, even a YJ.
You can still find ZJ & WJs for sub-2500, and occasionally an XJ, but they are typically more.
I am perfectly content finding old vehicles and working on them. There are tons of "newer" vehicles that are littering the yards, and most of the 20+ yr old ones are being scrapped, as the demand isnt as high. Mostly curious if there is some "hidden gem" out there, other than the standard stuff we always see.
Reminds me of a Subaru brat we put 29 inch sxs tires on and beat to death. My old lady flopped it three times but it eventually succumb to water damage. Most fun on $1800 ever.
You didn’t drag it out and stick another engine in it to keep beating on it?
pinchegringo
Well-known member
Yeah,and minimum wage hasn't changed for 15 years.
pinchegringo
Well-known member
I sold it to a mechanic and he rebuilt it to beat around his farm. I think he still has it.
Back when I was 15 I was at my cousins farm in Oregon and we bought this in Salem for 150 bucks. It was a ford escort I think.
It got spraypainted, muffler cut off, and we did everything from building ramps with a tractor to jump it and pretending to be rally car drivers on the fireroads around his house. We would usually end up putting it in a ditch and walk back to his house to get the tractor to pull it out. Best 150 bucks ever, don't have any current pics but last time I drove it it had no windows, none of the doors closed and it was missing some, the front fenders had been torn off at some point, and it overheated since the cooling system did not work.
I remember the first time we came back with a dent in it from hitting something his mom sat us down and made us read a website about fatality statistics from crashing into trees. Good times.
It got spraypainted, muffler cut off, and we did everything from building ramps with a tractor to jump it and pretending to be rally car drivers on the fireroads around his house. We would usually end up putting it in a ditch and walk back to his house to get the tractor to pull it out. Best 150 bucks ever, don't have any current pics but last time I drove it it had no windows, none of the doors closed and it was missing some, the front fenders had been torn off at some point, and it overheated since the cooling system did not work.
I remember the first time we came back with a dent in it from hitting something his mom sat us down and made us read a website about fatality statistics from crashing into trees. Good times.
Sterlingfire
ignant
Ok that's fair clarification on the age range. Makes sense.
I don't think there is a unicorn or hidden gem from y2k on except for super duties... but they are yuge!
I think the best you'll get is an in between with ifs and needing actual Fabrication to make strong enough for bigger tires in the future.
So pick your favorite body style and get some fb tires(where are we now guys, Is 37 the new 33
) get in the trails and see what breaks first, and so on and so forth.For me, i would consider a Colorado or canyon in crew cab style to start (if i was in my 20's again
) the engine is trash but 5.3 came in some so that isn't out of the question for a conversion if a v8 isn't cheap. Not that it's my favorite body style but for a gm product of the 2000 Era to use in trails it would work and can be found around me anywhere from a grand to five. some sort of body lift to clear 33 maybeThen rock out until it breaks
94toytruck
Eastcoast crawler
There's people wheeling CRVs and Subarus around here. A lot of the stuff mentioned in here is scarce in the rust belts. XJs for example I rarely see, even TJs kinda disappeared. S-10s and blazers another rarity. The small Zuki type stuff also pretty rare. Tacoma's aren't easy to find and hold value.
2big bronco
Og irate
What were the biggest tires offered factory in the 90s? 33s?
Now 37s come stock so I would say 37s are the new 33s
Now 37s come stock so I would say 37s are the new 33s
Beat95yj
Rolling 24/7
32’s? 35’s were huge on the 2003 H2. (Not counting H1 37’s)
My 98 TJ had the largest tire option 30’s.
AgitatedPancake
Frobot
I remember when the first TJ Rubicon got 33"s it was a pretty big deal. Or were those 32"s?
edit - Shit, am I misremembering? I just looked and see some references to 31"s...is that seriously what they came with? If so, yeah I take it back. Still makes 33"s impressive for 20 years ago lol
edit - Shit, am I misremembering? I just looked and see some references to 31"s...is that seriously what they came with? If so, yeah I take it back. Still makes 33"s impressive for 20 years ago lol
Sterlingfire
ignant
Well if 37 is the size you want to slap on your cheap beater, what stockish platform you gonna use to keep it cheap?
I mean, are we not talking about our 20 year old selves?
There aren't many vehicles made in the last 20 years that can be reliable with a 37 in stock form, let alone swing that big fucker without a lift or or having to take your sheet metal completely off. I don't know about you guys, but in my 20"s i had to be able to daily drive my beater because who could afford more than two vehicles back then? There were plenty of other priorities that needed attention.
But i guess if you want 37" tires on your cheap beater then a super duty is the only way. Plenty is strength for them, pretty close to clearing with stock suspension, and plenty of engine/ trans combos that can be slipped in.
I mean, are we not talking about our 20 year old selves?
There aren't many vehicles made in the last 20 years that can be reliable with a 37 in stock form, let alone swing that big fucker without a lift or or having to take your sheet metal completely off. I don't know about you guys, but in my 20"s i had to be able to daily drive my beater because who could afford more than two vehicles back then? There were plenty of other priorities that needed attention.
But i guess if you want 37" tires on your cheap beater then a super duty is the only way. Plenty is strength for them, pretty close to clearing with stock suspension, and plenty of engine/ trans combos that can be slipped in.
Beat95yj
Rolling 24/7
Our 20-year-old cell didn’t care about strength. Figure it out and carry spares.
2big bronco
Og irate
My highschool beater had half bald 42s
2big bronco
Og irate
A lot of vehicles could be bought and built with rcvs, 37s , and a sawzall for 10k.
Hell any cheap jeep, 05+ ford axles, and a welding machine
Skinny
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2023
- Member Number
- 6236
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- 479
Cash for Clunkers hit the delete key on thousands of average trucks and SUVs that average people didn't care about. They just wanted their government cheese. Not a conspiracy.
I also want to advocate that all the talk about beater trucks and tire size. Until you get into some real hairy shit most anything can be wheeled with skill.
Now exploding aluminum front diffs, not holding an alignment, and not making an inspection hole in the engine block...all different stories.
I also want to advocate that all the talk about beater trucks and tire size. Until you get into some real hairy shit most anything can be wheeled with skill.
Now exploding aluminum front diffs, not holding an alignment, and not making an inspection hole in the engine block...all different stories.
94toytruck
Eastcoast crawler
You know thinking about it Xterras and Pathfinders used to be everywhere and are about the 20year vintage. I don't really see those anymore either. CFC put a spin on the market for sure.
