let's talk about NEW vehicles

I like the 4Runners but not having real bumpers anymore sucks the cock.
and what happened to manuals being offered? It's pretty much down to the Wrangler Unlimiteds for a full-er size SUV now, huh?

For the $ you propose, you have several options.  

You are going to have to eat it on gas mileage though.  No decent off road truck is going to get great mileage.  None.  Just different degrees of sucky.  You will get 20 if you are lucky, 15 if you are typical, less the bigger the tires/lift.

1)  Last generation of ford bronco.  
Bigger inside than other SUV type trucks.  Might be too wide for some trails.  Available v-8.  Lots of aftermarket.  Easy to lift.  Solid axles.  Terrible mileage.

2)  Jeep wrangler.  
Small inside.  Jeep = just empty every pocket.  Great off-road.  Lots of aftermarket.  Better mileage than the bronco, but don't expect anything great, especially with bigger tires & lift.

3)  4runner.  
Mid-sized.  Comes with decently large tires/rims.  Needs a lift.  IFS = more expensive & complicated lift with less articulation than solid axles.  Toyota.  Research spydertrax.

4)  Land rover discovery.  Larger than 4runner, smaller than bronco.  small v-8.  Don't buy a 2003.  2004 is the best year.  Old man emu for lift.  Solid axles, lots of native articulation.  If you can work on cars, this one isn't bad.  If you can't work on cars, don't bother.  Mileage ~18 on the highway, 15 in town.  Heated leather seats.

Those would be what I'd go looking for off the top of my head.  Make sure you research the problems of each, as I am sure they all have their own web forum.  They all have a little nit-picky issue(s), just make sure you know what to look for when you are shopping.

IMHO, there aren't any decent offerings for SUV's anymore except the wrangler rubicon.  Everything else has been IFS'd to hell, and isn't body-on-frame like they should be.

They are built for use on-road, not off-road.  Most modern SUV's are just higher sitting station wagons for people who don't want to drive a station wagon.  It's been played out.

You could always look at Trucks+shell.

ok i will be the first to submit the diesel liberty. So bad ass little SUV's if you do it right. Not crazy expensive either.

I'm not going to say that would be the absolute worst terrain I'd try to tackle, just the average.

The way you suggested waterproofing and relocating everything is precisely what I'm going to be looking at doing. Thank you for the helpful tips!
The last thing I want is to get stranded because something shorted out and wasn't protected.

Yesterday coming back from wheeling I was getting 22mpg....

 

4Runner
Jeep Cherokee

or

Toyota Tacoma or Tundra

Mainly because there are lots of them.

First 3 votes.. yeahh

xterra is still offered with three pedals, FJ is probably the only toyota SUV available with a manual though.

WJ jeep. Big enough to haul all your gear,body on frame construction and solid front axle and lots of creature comforts. Dont get too crazy on the lift,remember that the majority of the time will be on pavement on the way to and from. A moderate lift with some tall and skinnys and a modicum of skill will get you damn near anywhere.

I second the older Ford Broncos and also 90's Tahoe or Yukon.

Looks like either a 4runner or a wrangler. I know the wrangler is going to end up costing a bit more than I want to spend though, and gear storage is on the small side.

Meh. Wrangler is too small to haul anything of size like coolers and tents etc. Cherokee is the way to go.
<--- 2003 Wrangler owner.

Can you please post some details?  Do you have a quadra lift?  I'm looking hard at a 2014 JGC diesel. I can't decide if I want the offroad II package with quadra lift or add a 3" suspension lift without the quadra lift.

The comedy of this is that whenever this question is asked, 4Runners float to the top of the 'stock' vehicle list. However, all but the first couple of Gen 1 years are IFS, and they all would qualify for antique plates (at least in VA).

IFS is fine for what the OP is planning.

Even small lifts can cause headaches.  My 2.5" lift in my Tacoma caused problems, and I went top of the line, not blocks or spacers.  I changed out leaf packs, shocks, struts, etc.  Dropped the differential too.  Now I'm f-ing around with axle shims of varying degrees, spacers for the carrier bearing, etc., and it still isn't quite right.  I'm in it over 3k for the lift and tires with me and a friend doing the labor.

Just FYI...

My 2" lift on my JK was free.   And installed in 30 minutes using two jacks, two Jack stands, a hammer, and a pry bar.  

Whatever you get I strongly suggest you do all the mods yourself.  Buy a gently used model from a girl or older people who kept the vehicle stock and well maintained.

You're nucking futs.

 

This thread needs more CUCV

P2210238 by plymouth1957, on Flickr" />

3rg Gen 4runner

See here for a list of just about everything you can do to it.  Iv got a K&N intake on mine and am throwing on some skid plates and front/rear bumpers when I get back
Every Possible Mod You Can Do To A 3rd Gen 4Runner

Honestly from what you describe, Im not even sure you need a lift.  Ive been able to get my stock 4runner through almost everything but the most advanced trails.  The only reason Im putting plates and bumpers on mine is because sooner or later Im going to come off a rock wrong and wreck the radiator or transfer case.  These things are amazingly well built.

Cherokee w/4.0L

 

Side-by-side ATV