Diesel SUV in my future

I really love Tiff, sometimes more than others. Today we were talking and the subject came up of a mountain ZAV type vehicle. A few months ago I missed out on getting a CUCV that she actually began to really like.

Anyway today we were talking about eventually getting a dedicated "mountain" rig, basically a ZAV that we can use for hunting and the like around here. Anyway I asked her if a truck or SUV type rig would be her preference and she said a full size SUV like the CUCV or a Bronco. However she says that she thinks that we should use a diesel motor for it, gotta love her. After a bit more talking she wants to go all out full skid plates underneath, heavy duty suspension and drive train, snorkel, beefed up bumpers the whole nine yards. I asked her when can I do this. She says I can start looking as soon as I get a new job so I can start once the Olds is done. Did I mention I have another interview tomorrow

So now comes trying to decide what rig to get for building this beast off of. So we have either the Blazer/CUCV with a 6.2 or 6.5 Turbo, a Ramcharger with a Cummins or a Bronco with I don't know what...Nice thing is all of these rigs are easy to find around here (accept for the CUCV) starting at around $500 not running, which is fine if it has a solid body and frame and I plan on swapping in the diesel anyway.

Anyone have any ideas on the direction I should go? Any other little "extras" I should look into adding or heck even just some kick butt pictures of some to give me inspiration.

7.3 Excursion. Go big or go home.

mndsm wrote: 7.3 Excursion. Go big or go home.

I came in here to say exactly that....

Ok as cool as that beast looks...and I am drooling at the moment I would prefer to keep things a bit more simplistic (no computers preferably) and a bit less expensive on the initial rig.

Now that being said a similar rig build off a full size Suburban...

Something like this?

Had a co-worker with a 6.2 R2500. That thing was a tank. Slow as molasses though...

Something like that could work. My only issue is going to be moving something that size in the woods. Something like the full size Blazer would work better for that but you do of course lose hauling capacity. As for speed that is not going to be a huge concern considering it is destined to be the mountain rig not a highway cruiser.

Just a question.... Why a diesel?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59raJbw8TaQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COSiM4xngto

6Bt powered Ramcharger gets my vote.

Quite frankly, I'm just going to change my vote to 6BT into whatever you can find for cheap.

mndsm wrote: 7.3 Excursion. Go big or go home.

Why stop there?

Samaurai with a VW conversion

Yesssssss.

I've really been enjoying my 6.2 Suburban.

It does this very well:

And it seats nine. Fuel econ doesn't seem bad, but I honestly don't know yet since I've only filled it once since I bought it over a month ago.

Whatever someone said about slow as molasses is 100% accurate. It feels a fair amount slower than my last full-size, a 305-powered R1500 Sierra.

Wally wrote:

mndsm wrote: 7.3 Excursion. Go big or go home.

Why stop there?

I was thinking SUV's, though that is certainly big enough. makes me wonder if the owner has an "innie". You know with the rumors about compensation and all....

The local Craigslist recently had what I think is a bit of a Unicorn, a diesel Tahoe 2-Door. To me, that's the ideal mix of enough size without being too big, and enough ooomph to pull a boat.

This is not the one, but would be a great ZAV.

If you go a bit older, you can get these too:

After a nuclear war, the surviving cockroaches will be driving these.

If you using it to go hunting and just spend time in the mountains, why not look for a Quigley Van or even a Safari AWD lifted? Not quite as good offroad, but can haul more stuff and is more comfortable to sleep in.

Diesel Wrangler swap?

Diesel Sammy swap?

Some sort of Frankenstein diesel van with half cab half bed?

Maybe use an Isuzu/NPR think and make a DIY Unimog?

I drove a couple of trucks and a Suburban with the 6.5 TD and while they won't set the world on fire, I thought they weren't underpowered either.

B430 wrote: Just a question.... Why a diesel?

Easy to use biofuels/alternate fuels, especially with the older mechanically injected diesels.

pinchvalve wrote: If you go a bit older, you can get these too: After a nuclear war, the surviving cockroaches will be driving these.

That would be the exact rig we missed out on that has started this whole quest. I actually know who the current owner is so I am keeping tabs on the rig.

Carkid you have a sick mind and i like it. I would love to do a Unimog style rig but I would never get that one approved by SWMBO.

It is to bad they dont sell surplus HMMVs anymore she would go for one of those.

rebelgtp wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: If you go a bit older, you can get these too: After a nuclear war, the surviving cockroaches will be driving these.

That would be the exact rig we missed out on that has started this whole quest. I actually know who the current owner is so I am keeping tabs on the rig. Carkid you have a sick mind and i like it. I would love to do a Unimog style rig but I would never get that one approved by SWMBO. It is to bad they dont sell surplus HMMVs anymore she would go for one of those.

If you end up with one of those be sure to change out the locks.

stanger_missle wrote: Something like this? Had a co-worker with a 6.2 R2500. That thing was a tank. Slow as molasses though...

That, with a D-max/Allison swap. Best. Vehicle. Ever.

In reply to Bobzilla:

That would be interesting. In fact there is one up the road with the front clip removed. Looks like they yanked the motor to put in another rig and I think I saw a for sale sign...