opinions on family wheelers

[swynx]

Might possibly be looking into a rig with more seats.

What does every one think the best base platform is?

When family is involved reliability is number one. I was thinking 37 to 40s. So obvisouly 1 tons and a pushrod engine. Probably v8.

 

[Kayakcrazy]

What kind of wheeling an how many seats?

The bigger you get the more limited your wheeling. At least in tight spots. Excursions are cool fixed up. Plenty of room but probably not the best on woods trails. Beach or mud pits they could be fun.

Midsize SUVs maybe. And switch out stronger axles and such for the larger tires.

I know this is probably gonna stir up things on this site but 4runners are great platforms. Coils in the rear already decent room. 4 doors. If I didn't just love Broncos probably would have been my choice.

Expeditions are nice modified. Or just 4 door truck. Bob it and roll.
Lot of choices I guess. Finding the best fit is what's hard

 

[RonD]

Full size Bronco, had 92" wheel base and could have rear seat, so 4 or 5 passenger, needed lift of about 6" to fit 40", but a 2-door

Explorer had a 113" wheel base, 4-door and had 3rd rear seat option for more seating, 6+, 37"/38" would probably be the limit in tire height with 6/7" lift

Either had option of fuel injected 302 V8's but Bronco also had 351 V8 as option.

Obviously shorter wheelbase is the better choice for off road but if you can't get all the family in then..........longer is needed

 

[adsm08]

Aerostar.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Aerostar.

Seriously ?

 

[RonD]

It would be a unique pick.

Pictures in this thread, not bad looking: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49458

 

[Kayakcrazy]

Aerostar.

There was an all wheel drive version

Nothing like it on the trail for sure. I always kinda dug the full size, four wheel drive van expedition vehicles. Just looked cool

 

[swynx]

Well it will be following/leading an extended cab mazda b4000 most the time. Needs to be low as possible. Itll mostly be mud and snow. But I do hit tight wooded trails. Not afraid to scratch it up.

Most of its territory is northwest idaho and the wooded parts of washington and oregon.

If I need to sit more than 5 going offroad then ive got problems.

My girlfriend wants her own rig to follow me around. Ive constantly got people trying to ride with me and ill have kids some day so im just trying to get ahead of the game. Im thinking a bronco myself as I do want about a 40 and I just saw a post where a guy fit 38s with no lift.

 

[adsm08]

There was a build thread on here a few years ago, guy was building an Aerostar for a family trail rig, 38" swampers, big lift, it was pretty BA.

I think a lot of times people forget that the Aerostat is kinda the red-headed step child of the RBV family. It used the same engines, transmissions, axles, had 4x4 options, and the grills can be swapped.

 

[swynx]

yeah, i remember looking at that build. was pretty cool.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

It would be a unique pick.

Pictures in this thread, not bad looking: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49458

Good Lord , who thought up the paint job

 

[racsan]

think the guy's name on that areostar was "rulebreaker". one thing i can say if a S-10 blazer is used for a off-road family ride, be carefull rocking it between forward and reverse if you stick it in the mud.....easy to lunch out reverse. had a parts S-blazer i was playing out in the feild with, needless to say, the transmission is no longer a useable part to take out if the wife's vehicle needs a trans. id personally like a full-size 4wd van. saw a fed-ex 4x4 ford van a few weks ago. brand new....that would be my family wheeler of choice.

 

[swynx]

while were here not why not a short bus?!

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

^^

 

[RonD]

Buses can be a little high and top heavy, but it has been done and a diesel 4x4 does get the job done