not common but i see 'yota landcruisers in that price range from time to time. dead reliable and very capable at stock hight with meaty 33's.
not common but i see 'yota landcruisers in that price range from time to time. dead reliable and very capable at stock hight with meaty 33's.
ProDarwin wrote:Toyman01 wrote: This will give you an idea of how capable a stock Outback can be. I will say I'm glad this one isn't mine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMlKVWUrR8YHow capable is one you can find for $2015 ? I'm not sure I've seen any in that price range that didn't have major rust or a major mechanical problem. Plus, the ones in that price range are going to have more trouble due to running much much smaller tires. The 2015 rides on tires 1" taller than a stock XJ.
They are out there. Clem Sparks grabbed one for much much MUCH less than challenge price that needed a power steering pump. He has been DDing if for a couple years. With the extra change, he could easily lift it, add MT tires, and rig out the back end for expedition travel.
As long as you are talking FS roads and not rock crawling, check out 2nd gen ('95-01) Ford Explorers in 4wd format. I'd go with the 302 V8 for torque and reliability over the 6, but either is fine. They are reasonably capable in dirt/sketch and can be modified for more extremes as the budget allows. I'm 6'1" and have slept in the back of my '97 a couple times. If you run the psg front seat all the way forward it's a good fit but not a ton of extra room. They're livable for a daily driver if they're in decent shape, not too big, mileage is not horrible. And they are available CHEAP most places, along with dirt cheap replacement parts. Not a huge aftermarket, but there are some dedicated, hardcore fans out there.
From stock to wild:
How about a pickup truck with a nice cap on it? You could deck it out and just sleep back there...it is called a bed after all. 
Not going to happen for less than 2015 bucks. The only way possible I can think of is by tent and geo tracker.
You may be able to find a ford econoline and convert it to 4wd, but you will end up over 2k even if you start off with a 500 dollar beater.
for under $2015, I'll second the explorer - friend just picked up a manual, 4.0L (not the V8 unfortunately, but still not bad) explorer for 2k. Since he doesn't seem to care too much about it, it goes surprising places with a little head start.
I paid 2750 for my Mitsubishi Montero and built a bed in the back, but i haven't seen many of those around the 2015 price range.
XJs are awesome but theyre a bit cramped to sleep in if you are tall...
well, searching the Flagstaff CL....
https://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/4987967281.html - nice XJ
https://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/5002779610.html - Bronco 2. Can't sleep in it but for $800 you have money left for a roof top tent setup.
https://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/4967921928.html - sketchy F150
https://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/4982253570.html - $1300 Explorer needs timing chain guide work
https://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/5000538601.html - 02 Suburban...no exterior photos...?
So...you haz choices, I suspect. That's based on a search with 2250 max price of by-owner vehicles.
About that $1300 Explorer. Depending on which engine, some of them have a front and rear timing chain. To get to the back one...
yeah, I've heard about that....and I'd bet that's why they're selling it. Still....if you're more ambitious than I am and you can talk them down, it might be worth the work. Just not to me.....
Any 4wd pickup and a topper, with a shelf in the bed over the top of the fenders for a futon mattress. Stuff goes under the shelf, you sleep on top. If you need more stuff than travel with it on top of the shelf and toss it in the cab or a tent when you want to go to sleep.
Aluminum toppers, while less attractive, are much lighter and easier to modify than fiberglass.
I paid $2150 for my Trooper II. Yes, it needed work, but I drove it as-is for a few month. Mine has pretty great original paint, 0 rust, and hasn't been butchered. I'm sure with some compromise you could find a reliable one for challenge money.
Back seat folds into a comfy bed from the factory if you find one optioned correctly. And yes, it's great for stealth camping. I've slept in mine everywhere from The Swamp's parking garage to the Amelia island concours. Heck, I just spent 4 nights camping in it at the Mitty.
Fwiw, I'm right at 6' tall
FYI my curiosity got the best of me, so I tracked down what one of those fold-out tent/hardtops would cost for a Jeep(keeping in mind I don't even own a Jeep. 
). $9800. For the basic one.
Wait. Trooper has bed in back from factory? MUST HAVE.
Yeah. I've been trying to get all you Cherokee peeps to convert for years now.
The split rear seat Troopers (pretty much any except the cheapest trim) have a neat back seat that can fold forward like the Cherokee, or fold all the way back between the wheel wells to make a bed. The sides or the seat where the wheel wells go then pop off and fill in the area between the front seats and the bed. It's comfy for 2 people.
Honestly, it would probably fit in a Cherokee and they are easy to find in junkyards. Let me know if you want measurements.
Jeep Cherokee XJ... you knew what my answer would be. I've slept in the back of mine and I'm 6' tall.
Over the budget, but worth considering.
NMNA:
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5038472935.html
Another later model within budget:
http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/4999474314.html
I would just buy an awd grand caravan and tires and be done with it. For sleeping comfort and ease of carrying tons of stuff there will be no comparison with anything else in this thread.
In reply to Vigo:
I believe the last year of awd was 2004 so I'll bet the budget is ok.
Btw, the awd seems easy enough to retrofit if you got a crazy deal on a non-awd one.
Well if you are in AZ there is a possibility you could find one of these
I know the Volvo 740 has plenty of room to sleep in when the rear is folded, and it's a completely flat surface. Not much ground clearance unless you modify the front struts and add taller rear springs. Build thread
I have bought 5 Subaru's in my life and not one of them has cost me more than $900. Two of them were running and driving, the others were projects.
I bought a 97 Outback for $500 that would be perfect for what you're describing. It needed the gas tank filled (that cleared the CEL!), and a set of tires. Just keep looking and have cash ready to go.
Only a tad over budget. http://www.outsideonline.com/1923476/earthroamer-xv-lt-most-ridiculous-rv-ever-made
Add bed cap and a raised platform for an air mattress. Store things under the platform.
I loved my rodeo. factory xlt truck the only changes made were ditching the stock all terrains for tsl's in the stock 31 10.50 size and adding a rear locker. could easily sleep in the back with the seats folded down (im 5'11" though) it was a 91 with the gm 3.1 and a 5 speed. averaged low 20's mpg wise and took years of beatings at haspen acres.
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