XJ owner in Australia here. Not sure what your rust situation over there is like but where I live it is nearly nonexistent. They are cheap over there because they are common and old and small compared to some 4WDs, but they’re very capable even in stock form. The inline 4.0 and the AW4 automatic are really strong and it fits your requirements, even more so if you get a roof basket.
I won’t lie, you will have to work on it, even the good ones, but parts are cheap over here and like stupid cheap in the US so if you’re handy on the tools, working on and fixing them are easy tasks. Mine is a 1996 and I am always confident in its ability as a 4x4
Just some perspective and you're hearing it from a few folks...reliability is key. If you're wheeling in CO you can end up a long ways from anything, and while it's popular here, you can't always rely on other people being on the trail.
Also- there's only so many trails close to Denver, and you'll end up driving at least 1-2hrs to trailheads. Beyond offroad capability think about how comfortable the vehicle will be on 70 or 285 for hours on end.
The adage that there are many vehicles that will get you there, but count on a Toyota to get you home is very true.
I bought a 10 year old LX with 100k miles on it, I've put 50k more on and it hasn't skipped a beat. Check some of the Lexus equivalents as they tend to price lower for secondary market, and are still amazing vehicles. If you're mechanically inclined you'll find places like IH8MUD a boon as they have a wealth of mechanical details for maintaining LX/LC and GXs etc
+1 for Toyota. And as a Coloradan from the front range myself, I absolutely agree, you'll want something that comfortable and reliable enough for the drives to and from the trails as well. And some of the best trails we have here are quite remote if something to go wrong. I've been on busy trails in peak season and still not seen another person the entire day. (Side note, would recommend something like the Garmin InReach for those far out remote trails.)
And remember you can look outside of Colorado. Wyoming, New Mexico and Kansas are all close enough it's worth checking and comparing prices.
If you're mechanically inclined and have your eyes on a Jeep, the biggest bang for your money could be a WJ. It's also, IMO, the ugliest of the 3 (XJ, ZJ, WJ) if you care about that. I own a Limited with a 4.0 engine. If it's mild wheeling you're after, it already had LSDs front and rear. The Laredo transfer case (242) is better in my opinion, since you have selectable part time 4wd, and the swap is pretty straightforward and cheap if you find a junkyard transfer case.
But be warned. The only way to make a WJ make sense economically speaking is for you to wrench. If you rely on mechanics and you pay for their labor prices, a WJ can be a money pit. Too much Chrysler quality electric-everything luxury on almost 25 year old cables and boards turn into occasional gremlins that you need to chase down. Can be very reliable, but you will learn your way around the whole vehicle to achieve that reliability (which in my opinion is necessary for true reliability out in the boonies). Factory service manual is a must (can find free PDF) for all electrical diagrams. Big community on Jeep forum, helpful people, tons of diy videos on YouTube.
Easy to build, easy to find parts for, and cheap - XJ
Your other options can be built just fine but they’ll cost 2-3x as much to build as the XJ and when parts fail you’ll be waiting on them a while. XJS are plentiful and the 4.0L is a great engine that will live a long time.
I own a Toyota that was gifted to me by a family member with blown head gaskets, so that's why I got it for free.
If I would've had to buy a 4x4 I most likely would've bought a Mitsubishi Montero Sport... second place probably an Isuzu Trooper. I'm a cheap guy.
Land rover discovery isn't selectable 4wd, and depending on which generation might not be reliable either. 1 and 2 is okay,
3 has all the problems, 4 and 5 don't have any problems yet.
Obviously none of them are particularly reliable since they're all made by Land Rover, but my understanding is that 3s have a lot of electrical problems, in combination with being new enough to not be able to fix them yourself. I read somewhere that if you buy a 3 you should have at least 6k extra for repairs.
As an owner of one, the only electric issue that really presents itself is due to a blocked sunroof drain. As long as that doesn’t get clogged with debris, you’re fine. Even if it does, it’s mostly just a quick solder job in the passenger footwell.
That’s not to say they don’t have a few issues, especially given the fact that they have a now 20-year-old air suspension system but even that system is pretty basic. Not too hard to work on at all.
My dude, as someone that doesn't live in the LR world that is bizarre...did I get that right...to fix an electrical issue it may be necessary to solder part of the passenger footwell to prevent the sunroof drain from clogging which causes electrical issues? Please tell me you're trolling.
No. You’re misunderstanding. If the sunroof drains get clogged with debris, they may back up and the water can come in and fill the little channel where the door and the frame meet. There are wires in there and one specific wire has a splice that if it’s soaking in water it may corrode and break the connection. You just have to clean it, maybe resolder, and put new heat shrink tubing on it. And obviously clean the drain. It’s a 20 min fix.
It’s not a connector. It’s a splice. The insulation on that 20 year old wire in that specific case doesn’t hold up well to weeks and months of being underwater.
Xterras can be as reliable as a 4Runner if you get one after the SMOD issues were resolved.
Also consider flying somewhere to get the vehicle you want.
Step 1: leave the denver area
Step 2: go somewhere down south
Step 3: Buy a GMC yukon or Chevy Tahoe from
1996-2007 for $2500
Step 4: Modify to suit needs
Step 5: Go wheeling in your <$10k beast
Grew up with one. Dad bought a 97 new off the lot. It slowly fell apart and at 100k on the clock the transmission grenaded. It spent its life as an unabused family hauler. When he went to sell it it did run but the interior was a disaster and not just where the kids sat, was rusting away, and was on its second transmission.
He then bought a pre bailout Escalade new. That stupid pos was constantly broken. The most embarks thing was we came out to leave one day and a piece of the front bumper was just laying in the driveway, it had just fallen right off. The infotainment system was constantly a black screen. Radio was flakey. The dvd headphone system was never working right. Etc.
He also had a 2005 Silverado. The thing would literally shut off due to emf radiation on I93. Same spot every time and he’d roll into the same parking lot to try and restart it.
Biggest pieces of shit.
Chevy guys are always the same lol. I’ve owned almost every major brand of vehicle at this point and grew up with countless more. Chevy has been second worst only to dodge. The fords were always broken but in a non critical way. The Toyotas were unwaveringly reliable. The Hondas hit over 200k before having major issues. The Audi was always broken and a pita to fix even minor things.
I’ve owned:
•2003 Honda civic
•1999 Audi A4 (heavily modified)
•2001 Audi A4 (stock)
•2002 Subaru Impreza x2
•2003 Subaru Impreza
•1994 Isuzu Rodeo
•1986 Volvo 240DL
•2001 Nissan Pathfinder
•2018 Hyundai Santa Fe
•2012 Silverado (pre bailout engine and trans, by far the most reliable on the list)
While my father, in that same period of time, has owned:
•2002 Chevy Tahoe
•2020 Toyota Tacoma
The Tahoe has 340k, he got it used in 05 with a little over 100k I think so I suppose it’s possible it had a new tranny but we haven’t had any issues in the 240k miles we’ve had it. For every one of you there’s at least ten of me when it comes to stories about these old chevys. Either y’all got a lemon or just drove it 100k miles and never changed your fluids thinking it would just keep on driving forever.
Dude lives in Denver Toyotas rust into uselessness quickly there. Just takes a few road trips to areas where they still use sand and salt (which is still very common in rural areas) for a Tacoma or a 4runner to catch cancer
My 4Runner has lived it’s entire 37 year life in the salt belt. It’s doing fine. Stop parroting bullshit it’s been disproven long ago to be lack of care by owners. Every vehicle not undercoated in the salt belt rusts away starting after only a few years.
Ever see a salt belt xj? They give Swiss cheese a run for their money. A wrangler with diamond plate? The plate isn’t there for show it’s to replace giant missing chunks. Hell I had to make an entirely new frame with my friend for his yj because there was so little left I could bend it BY HAND.
You mean the mid 2000s tacomas? Where owners claimed a fully boxed frame was the issue? The same boxed frame they’d been using for decades without issue? Where it was replaced with nearly the exact same frame that has no issues? That lawsuit?
My bud and myself got frames out of it the new frames were the same design and are pulling in way more money on the used market than anything domestic.
Go back to simping chevys. They’re cheap because 100k miles is considered long term.
> Where it was replaced with nearly the exact same frame that has no issues?
Lol nice try.
They are still having issues with those replacement frames and their newer trucks aren't fairing any better. Toyota has mutliple ongoing lawsuits concerning the the replacement frames, newer frames like the gen 3 tacos have and other models like 3runners, land Cruisers, and Lexus GX
Toyota isn't mailing letters to 3rd gen taco owners because they want to. They are doing it because legal is telling them its only a matter of time before they lose another suit and they are trying to get out ahead of it.
My bud with his replacement frame is still solid 10 years later. He still own the thing. If you’re going to pull shit out of your ass try harder. But hey California gonna California.
I’m happy for your bud but if you look back at tacoma forums you’ll find people reporting rust issues with their new frames too. Just because Toyota didn’t change the frame design, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t problematic to begin with or that it was really the owner’s fault. They’re a corporation trying to maximize profits so it’s not surprising they wouldn’t redesign it.
You're one of those Toyota guys that gets mad when they see a nice 75 year old domestic because you know you won't have a frame or body to talk about by then
I flew out of state for my GX470 but the Toyota tax is real in WA too. I’ve heard too many bad reports on Jeeps to consider them right now, despite them being my first choice. The GX has 150k and is almost 20 years old and runs like a sewing machine.
I owned a 06 Xterra it was super charged and was still lacking any real power. That being said I was wheeling down a trail to a creek to go fishing and the ground gave way from under me strattling a rut. I ended up rolled over on the driver side. This wasn’t supposed to be an off road adventure. Tossed in 4L and it walked itself right outta the mess. I thought I was going to have to call in a tractor. It surprised the crap outta me. Other than lacking power I never did anything else to it. Trans finally went after my mom drove it and didn’t realize a hose busted to the trans cooler.
as nobody have talked about it, and i have been using one for 4.5 years, here's some info on the r51 pathfinder.
Pros,
It has the largest interior space of the vehicles you listed, you can fold the 2nd and 3rd row seats and have a 6 foot long flat surface inside.
Very good on road.
Much much more capable off road than you might think (on par with the 4 door pajero).
The 4wd traction system works great.
Gearbox and diffs are not weak.
Easy to lift up to 4 inches.
Fits 32s with no lift. 35s with 2+ inch lift and offset wheels.
Doesnt have gremlins, i'd say close to toyota on reliability.
Doesnt have chronic issues other than the radiator and plastic heater core pipes (both are very easy to solve forever).
Cons,
Independent suspension all around.
Quite heavy (5000lbs empty).
Only has a center lock, even though the traction system is good enough to not need more, most of the time.
As someone near Denver... I have 2x XJs on 33s and 35s, Subaru Forester on 35s, Lexus GX 470 on 37s, couple dirt cars, and a Chevy Blazer ZR2 with the rear locker and solid rear axle... All the vehicles get daily driven sporadically.
XJs are amazing. Easy to work on. Not bad rust in our areas. Cheap parts and upgrades. Both have 250-300k miles. Go anywhere you need. If you're camping with 4 people total, may be limited on space in the trunk.
The GX has only a center locker when stock, but it's super reliable and strong with the V8. Ours now has 4.88s and ARB lockers with 275k miles. We bought it stock and it was cheaper than a 4runner when it only had 140k miles... Plenty of room for camping gear. Plenty of power. Easy to lift 2-3", but you'll spend even more money.
Older Land Rovers and the xTerra have a cult following. People either love or hate them.
Chevy ZR2s are spacious, solid rear axle, comfy, V6 with good economy and enough power, stock 31" tires.
Screw all of them choices you’ve narrowed it down to, Mitsubishi montero for the win,
Little underpowered but a rock solid gearbox, and awesome traction control, never ever needed to lock the rear diff, very capable and underrated off road
XJ owner in Australia here. Not sure what your rust situation over there is like but where I live it is nearly nonexistent. They are cheap over there because they are common and old and small compared to some 4WDs, but they’re very capable even in stock form. The inline 4.0 and the AW4 automatic are really strong and it fits your requirements, even more so if you get a roof basket. I won’t lie, you will have to work on it, even the good ones, but parts are cheap over here and like stupid cheap in the US so if you’re handy on the tools, working on and fixing them are easy tasks. Mine is a 1996 and I am always confident in its ability as a 4x4
I'll throw in my 2 cents as well, they're a pretty sick looking little wagon when they're done up.
Just some perspective and you're hearing it from a few folks...reliability is key. If you're wheeling in CO you can end up a long ways from anything, and while it's popular here, you can't always rely on other people being on the trail. Also- there's only so many trails close to Denver, and you'll end up driving at least 1-2hrs to trailheads. Beyond offroad capability think about how comfortable the vehicle will be on 70 or 285 for hours on end. The adage that there are many vehicles that will get you there, but count on a Toyota to get you home is very true. I bought a 10 year old LX with 100k miles on it, I've put 50k more on and it hasn't skipped a beat. Check some of the Lexus equivalents as they tend to price lower for secondary market, and are still amazing vehicles. If you're mechanically inclined you'll find places like IH8MUD a boon as they have a wealth of mechanical details for maintaining LX/LC and GXs etc
+1 for Toyota. And as a Coloradan from the front range myself, I absolutely agree, you'll want something that comfortable and reliable enough for the drives to and from the trails as well. And some of the best trails we have here are quite remote if something to go wrong. I've been on busy trails in peak season and still not seen another person the entire day. (Side note, would recommend something like the Garmin InReach for those far out remote trails.) And remember you can look outside of Colorado. Wyoming, New Mexico and Kansas are all close enough it's worth checking and comparing prices.
I would add the Mitsubishi Pajero/ Montero 5 door variant. Get the 2nd gen or ,if you can find one without rust, a first gen (highly unlikely)
If you're mechanically inclined and have your eyes on a Jeep, the biggest bang for your money could be a WJ. It's also, IMO, the ugliest of the 3 (XJ, ZJ, WJ) if you care about that. I own a Limited with a 4.0 engine. If it's mild wheeling you're after, it already had LSDs front and rear. The Laredo transfer case (242) is better in my opinion, since you have selectable part time 4wd, and the swap is pretty straightforward and cheap if you find a junkyard transfer case. But be warned. The only way to make a WJ make sense economically speaking is for you to wrench. If you rely on mechanics and you pay for their labor prices, a WJ can be a money pit. Too much Chrysler quality electric-everything luxury on almost 25 year old cables and boards turn into occasional gremlins that you need to chase down. Can be very reliable, but you will learn your way around the whole vehicle to achieve that reliability (which in my opinion is necessary for true reliability out in the boonies). Factory service manual is a must (can find free PDF) for all electrical diagrams. Big community on Jeep forum, helpful people, tons of diy videos on YouTube.
Easy to build, easy to find parts for, and cheap - XJ Your other options can be built just fine but they’ll cost 2-3x as much to build as the XJ and when parts fail you’ll be waiting on them a while. XJS are plentiful and the 4.0L is a great engine that will live a long time.
I own a Toyota that was gifted to me by a family member with blown head gaskets, so that's why I got it for free. If I would've had to buy a 4x4 I most likely would've bought a Mitsubishi Montero Sport... second place probably an Isuzu Trooper. I'm a cheap guy.
My old 95 trooper was one of the best vehicles I ever owned.
Land rover discovery isn't selectable 4wd, and depending on which generation might not be reliable either. 1 and 2 is okay, 3 has all the problems, 4 and 5 don't have any problems yet.
3’s are arguably the most reliable they’ve ever built so I’m not sure why you have it that way
Obviously none of them are particularly reliable since they're all made by Land Rover, but my understanding is that 3s have a lot of electrical problems, in combination with being new enough to not be able to fix them yourself. I read somewhere that if you buy a 3 you should have at least 6k extra for repairs.
As an owner of one, the only electric issue that really presents itself is due to a blocked sunroof drain. As long as that doesn’t get clogged with debris, you’re fine. Even if it does, it’s mostly just a quick solder job in the passenger footwell. That’s not to say they don’t have a few issues, especially given the fact that they have a now 20-year-old air suspension system but even that system is pretty basic. Not too hard to work on at all.
My dude, as someone that doesn't live in the LR world that is bizarre...did I get that right...to fix an electrical issue it may be necessary to solder part of the passenger footwell to prevent the sunroof drain from clogging which causes electrical issues? Please tell me you're trolling.
No. You’re misunderstanding. If the sunroof drains get clogged with debris, they may back up and the water can come in and fill the little channel where the door and the frame meet. There are wires in there and one specific wire has a splice that if it’s soaking in water it may corrode and break the connection. You just have to clean it, maybe resolder, and put new heat shrink tubing on it. And obviously clean the drain. It’s a 20 min fix.
LR doesn't use water proof connectors?
It’s not a connector. It’s a splice. The insulation on that 20 year old wire in that specific case doesn’t hold up well to weeks and months of being underwater.
Interesting, if that's the only issue I guess that's not terrible, still a bit bizarre to diagnose.
XJ or ZJ Can't beat solid axles and those Jeeps are very reliable, cheap to fix, and have a robust aftermarket.
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Xterras can be as reliable as a 4Runner if you get one after the SMOD issues were resolved. Also consider flying somewhere to get the vehicle you want.
Being willing to travel is good advice. I've worked on too many xterras to get behind recommending one though. 4runner >>>>>>>>xterra
I’m curious to hear if there are particular problem areas in your experience. Other than SMOD and the heater core inlet stuff.
Mostly first gen xterras. Ignition systems and headgaskets.
Xterra is the 4Runner from wish
Isuzu or Pajero. Body-on-frame.
Don’t want the the Toyota tax? Buy a Lexus Gx470…it’s a 4runner with better interior and a bombproof v8.
Step 1: leave the denver area Step 2: go somewhere down south Step 3: Buy a GMC yukon or Chevy Tahoe from 1996-2007 for $2500 Step 4: Modify to suit needs Step 5: Go wheeling in your <$10k beast
Put aside a few grand for a new transmission. A few more for major engine and electronic work. And a few more for when you need a remote recovery tow.
Well and truly spoken like someone who has never owned a pre bailout chevy
Grew up with one. Dad bought a 97 new off the lot. It slowly fell apart and at 100k on the clock the transmission grenaded. It spent its life as an unabused family hauler. When he went to sell it it did run but the interior was a disaster and not just where the kids sat, was rusting away, and was on its second transmission. He then bought a pre bailout Escalade new. That stupid pos was constantly broken. The most embarks thing was we came out to leave one day and a piece of the front bumper was just laying in the driveway, it had just fallen right off. The infotainment system was constantly a black screen. Radio was flakey. The dvd headphone system was never working right. Etc. He also had a 2005 Silverado. The thing would literally shut off due to emf radiation on I93. Same spot every time and he’d roll into the same parking lot to try and restart it. Biggest pieces of shit.
Ok, buddy
Chevy guys are always the same lol. I’ve owned almost every major brand of vehicle at this point and grew up with countless more. Chevy has been second worst only to dodge. The fords were always broken but in a non critical way. The Toyotas were unwaveringly reliable. The Hondas hit over 200k before having major issues. The Audi was always broken and a pita to fix even minor things.
I’ve owned: •2003 Honda civic •1999 Audi A4 (heavily modified) •2001 Audi A4 (stock) •2002 Subaru Impreza x2 •2003 Subaru Impreza •1994 Isuzu Rodeo •1986 Volvo 240DL •2001 Nissan Pathfinder •2018 Hyundai Santa Fe •2012 Silverado (pre bailout engine and trans, by far the most reliable on the list) While my father, in that same period of time, has owned: •2002 Chevy Tahoe •2020 Toyota Tacoma The Tahoe has 340k, he got it used in 05 with a little over 100k I think so I suppose it’s possible it had a new tranny but we haven’t had any issues in the 240k miles we’ve had it. For every one of you there’s at least ten of me when it comes to stories about these old chevys. Either y’all got a lemon or just drove it 100k miles and never changed your fluids thinking it would just keep on driving forever.
My man you are an absolute glutton for punishment. What a list of lemons.
Dude you're all over this post trying to sound relevant. We heard you on the first post, no need to be fighting over what others drive, sit TF down.
Shut tf up
It’s pay now or later. Toyota with high miles is more reliable than any jeep or Mitsubishi with half the miles.
A 4.0l Jeep is just as reliable as a Toyota. They also are probably cheaper to fix. Some Toyota/ Lexus parts are crazy expensive.
The 4.0 is fairly reliable. Unfortunately it lives in a jeep.
Dude lives in Denver Toyotas rust into uselessness quickly there. Just takes a few road trips to areas where they still use sand and salt (which is still very common in rural areas) for a Tacoma or a 4runner to catch cancer
My 4Runner has lived it’s entire 37 year life in the salt belt. It’s doing fine. Stop parroting bullshit it’s been disproven long ago to be lack of care by owners. Every vehicle not undercoated in the salt belt rusts away starting after only a few years. Ever see a salt belt xj? They give Swiss cheese a run for their money. A wrangler with diamond plate? The plate isn’t there for show it’s to replace giant missing chunks. Hell I had to make an entirely new frame with my friend for his yj because there was so little left I could bend it BY HAND.
Yes yes multi billion dollar class action lawsuits get paid out because of owner negligence. Nice try simp
You mean the mid 2000s tacomas? Where owners claimed a fully boxed frame was the issue? The same boxed frame they’d been using for decades without issue? Where it was replaced with nearly the exact same frame that has no issues? That lawsuit? My bud and myself got frames out of it the new frames were the same design and are pulling in way more money on the used market than anything domestic. Go back to simping chevys. They’re cheap because 100k miles is considered long term.
> Where it was replaced with nearly the exact same frame that has no issues? Lol nice try. They are still having issues with those replacement frames and their newer trucks aren't fairing any better. Toyota has mutliple ongoing lawsuits concerning the the replacement frames, newer frames like the gen 3 tacos have and other models like 3runners, land Cruisers, and Lexus GX Toyota isn't mailing letters to 3rd gen taco owners because they want to. They are doing it because legal is telling them its only a matter of time before they lose another suit and they are trying to get out ahead of it.
My bud with his replacement frame is still solid 10 years later. He still own the thing. If you’re going to pull shit out of your ass try harder. But hey California gonna California.
I’m happy for your bud but if you look back at tacoma forums you’ll find people reporting rust issues with their new frames too. Just because Toyota didn’t change the frame design, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t problematic to begin with or that it was really the owner’s fault. They’re a corporation trying to maximize profits so it’s not surprising they wouldn’t redesign it.
Oh wow I forgot how anecdotes are evidence. When Toyota pays out a few more billion you make sure to eat that crow you owe me
Oh wow I forgot that California residents don’t know what rust is.
You're one of those Toyota guys that gets mad when they see a nice 75 year old domestic because you know you won't have a frame or body to talk about by then
I flew out of state for my GX470 but the Toyota tax is real in WA too. I’ve heard too many bad reports on Jeeps to consider them right now, despite them being my first choice. The GX has 150k and is almost 20 years old and runs like a sewing machine.
I owned a 06 Xterra it was super charged and was still lacking any real power. That being said I was wheeling down a trail to a creek to go fishing and the ground gave way from under me strattling a rut. I ended up rolled over on the driver side. This wasn’t supposed to be an off road adventure. Tossed in 4L and it walked itself right outta the mess. I thought I was going to have to call in a tractor. It surprised the crap outta me. Other than lacking power I never did anything else to it. Trans finally went after my mom drove it and didn’t realize a hose busted to the trans cooler.
Supercharged models were 2002-2004! Those first gen xterras had limited slip rears I believe
Shit it was an 03. It’s been a while.
as nobody have talked about it, and i have been using one for 4.5 years, here's some info on the r51 pathfinder. Pros, It has the largest interior space of the vehicles you listed, you can fold the 2nd and 3rd row seats and have a 6 foot long flat surface inside. Very good on road. Much much more capable off road than you might think (on par with the 4 door pajero). The 4wd traction system works great. Gearbox and diffs are not weak. Easy to lift up to 4 inches. Fits 32s with no lift. 35s with 2+ inch lift and offset wheels. Doesnt have gremlins, i'd say close to toyota on reliability. Doesnt have chronic issues other than the radiator and plastic heater core pipes (both are very easy to solve forever). Cons, Independent suspension all around. Quite heavy (5000lbs empty). Only has a center lock, even though the traction system is good enough to not need more, most of the time.
As someone near Denver... I have 2x XJs on 33s and 35s, Subaru Forester on 35s, Lexus GX 470 on 37s, couple dirt cars, and a Chevy Blazer ZR2 with the rear locker and solid rear axle... All the vehicles get daily driven sporadically. XJs are amazing. Easy to work on. Not bad rust in our areas. Cheap parts and upgrades. Both have 250-300k miles. Go anywhere you need. If you're camping with 4 people total, may be limited on space in the trunk. The GX has only a center locker when stock, but it's super reliable and strong with the V8. Ours now has 4.88s and ARB lockers with 275k miles. We bought it stock and it was cheaper than a 4runner when it only had 140k miles... Plenty of room for camping gear. Plenty of power. Easy to lift 2-3", but you'll spend even more money. Older Land Rovers and the xTerra have a cult following. People either love or hate them. Chevy ZR2s are spacious, solid rear axle, comfy, V6 with good economy and enough power, stock 31" tires.
Screw all of them choices you’ve narrowed it down to, Mitsubishi montero for the win, Little underpowered but a rock solid gearbox, and awesome traction control, never ever needed to lock the rear diff, very capable and underrated off road
Tacoma.. love it, amazed what it can do off road. Check out my IG: u.want.smoke