Anything to look out for or are they rugged as they look?
We might need a dog friendly vehicle very quickly, and I'm seeing these for not too much money. Ideally I'd hold out for a 4Runner or the right Subaru, but I might not have enough time. Also looking at other options, but wanted to know about these.
Oh, assume the only requirement is automatic.
I seem to remember those had some oiling issues. If maintained well, they should give good and long service. Oil system flush with Marvel Mystery Oil can clean them out.
Tom to the white courtesy phone...Tom Suddard to the white courtesy phone.
Wall-e wrote: Tom to the white courtesy phone...Tom Suddard to the white courtesy phone.
He's into the troopers, which are too big. Not sure about how related they are though...
In reply to mtn:
I'm pretty sure they share a fair amount of drivetrain bits but I haven't looked into them in a while.
The transmission was a bastard GM unit that was touchy. A stick would be preferable.
Tom is into Troopers, but he just spent some time with a Rodeo, too... mostly as a flip, but I know he played with it a bit. Just pinged him again.
Magie
No personal experience but the two people I've known that have had them have hated them. Both had transmission problems with lower miles.
One replaced it with a Kia Sportage and bragged about how much more reliable and better made it was than the passport 
i had a 98 rodeo a few years ago. nice truck for driving, the biggest issues i had was standad issues with anything that old. the biggest issues would be to really look under it at the frame for rust. my body was in great shape, the frame rotted out in the 2 years i owned it. the rear control arm broke the box off the frame.
My rodeo was a 91 so not sure thats the gen your looking at. Factory xlt truck with the gm 3.1/5 speed 4x4. Mine was great but it was used as a winter daily and a summer trail truck. Cleared 31x10.50s stock, added a front locker and abused it for 2 years. Sold it too a friend who used it as a pure trail rig for another 3 years with no issues.
according to youtube rodeos are good for taking on massive jumps that you'd expect only to see trophy trucks or ken block attempt
https://youtu.be/7mE-jCpZmOg
My 96 automatic was weird. Under 100k miles but the transmission slipped to no end, and while trying to get out of a snow bank, the vacuum actuator for the 4x4 committed suicide making for a fun day in the snow.
It wasn't bad overall, but really didn't like taking a tow hitch to the radiator. And also, not that you'd have this problem because you aren't 19 year old me, but 3 10"s and 2 12"subs drawing 2000 watts was far more than the alternator liked to handle.
Not hearing a lot of good things overall....
Going to look at a 4Runner tonight anyways.
I know a guy that bought one stupid cheap to use as a pizza delivery vehicle which he did part time while he was in college. It lasted through college then he made so much money delivering pizza that he was still using it doing the same thing five years later. I think he said he had $1300 or so in it at that time.
Ooh ooh pick me!
Rodeos of that generation are basically second-gen Troopers with a little shorter wheelbase. They share the same basic design and running gear.
Things to watch out for: Isuzu didn't drill enough/big enough oil drain back holes in the pistons, so they clog with sludge and most of the 3.2s burn oil. It's an easy DIY fix (with the pistons out), or you can use a heavy solvent to dissolve the sludge, or just keep adding oil. They'll run forever if you keep oil in them, and that's a very modern feeling and driving engine. Good power, too.
The front axle is the same as a Trooper IIRC, so 10-bolt corporate Isuzu. The rear is a Dana 30? Or maybe 44. Troopers all use 12-bolts except the very early ones, so I don't know much about Rodeo rear axles. But all that stuff holds up well. If you take it off road, bring extra tie-rods or make your own heavy duty versions with the planet isuzoo tutorial. They are longer than a Trooper's and like to snap. Compared to a modern SUV, though, they are way stronger and way more capable off road than is now required.
The interiors hold up quite well, and they're modern, practical designs.
A Rodeo's biggest weakness is the transmissions. 5-speed versions last forever, but automatics are a GM 4l30e, which will drive horribly all the time. Fortunately, that won't be long—they fail early and often. Get a 5-speed if you get one at all. Transfer cases on either version aren't a big deal.
Overall, I like these, and they're a great compromise for a rugged daily. Isuzu built the Rodeo because its Trooper was too truck like for sophisticated western SUV buyers, and the result nicely splits the different between fragile little trucks like the Explorer or and heavy stuff like a Trooper or Suburban. Underneath, you'll think you're looking at a tiny half-ton pickup truck rather than a RAV4 competitor. They're rated to tow 4700? Pounds, too.
Automatic is a must, unfortunately--it will be used as a dog vehicle which means the wife will be driving it a significant portion of the time.
A guy I used to work with (he retired about 10 years ago) would buy a new Rodeo about every 3 years. Always the same spec, but a different color. Always the 6 cylinder manual trans. He would drive the new one about a year as is, which would put about 30k on the odometer, and then he'd disconnect the speedo cable, and drive the next two years essentially putting no miles on it. He had a chart on the sun visor telling him his speed based on rpm, and gear. Pretty shady, but that was what he did. I guess he liked the Rodeo as they were very simple, and he could get away with that unlike in other vehicle that used a computer to keep track of miles. I guess these still used old fashioned odometers. I think I saw him with 3 or 4 over the time we worked together.
My wife had a 95.5 model year Rodeo. She decided that she wanted an SUV. It was all we could afford as we both wanted a Grand Cherokee or 4Runner, but couldn't swing it. The Rodeo mostly sucked, and she couldn't wait to get rid of it. I think we had it around a year, and that was probably too long.
Here is The Crumudeon's Isuzu Buyers guide. Such great knowledge. Such a loss since his passing.
mtn wrote: Not hearing a lot of good things overall....
What do you mean? What else can you fly for less than a grand. The dogs would love it.
Had a 1997 3.2/auto 4x4. Rusty frame, perfect body. I used Eastwood frame paint to coat the inside, POR-15 on the outside. Vacuum switching valves are mounted on front axle and get gummed up. Later models moved these to the firewall.
Planetisuzoo is a great resource.
captdownshift wrote:mtn wrote: Not hearing a lot of good things overall....What do you mean? What else can you fly for less than a grand. The dogs would love it.
And everyone is saying the autos suck. However, we made a discovery last night! Apparently, a Mazda5 is NOT a minivan. Our search has taken a dramatic turn!
I'm pretty sure the Rodeo is the only Japanese truck to appear in a country song so it could be a good choice of you're going to be spending much time drinking on a corn field.
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