Dedicated beach/sand vehicle

[ThinkRevolutionx]

If you were to build up/buy a dedicated beach/sand vehicle - older, newer - doesn't matter. What would you go for?

I have excellent off-road beaches by me I go to a few dozen times a year. Been considering a fun project truck so as not to wear down my daily. It's soft, mostly flat sand, but also pretty deep and people often get stuck. Has to be able to fit 2-3 people, and 2 big dogs. Alot of vehicles suffice with just appropriate tires, but I want something to work on, so looking to toy with something that has upgrade potential.

I've been all over the place. Things I've considered:

Full size bronco. Waiting for new bronco. Any gen tacoma. Fj80 land cruiser. 92 mercedes G. Cherokee XJ. K20. Old Range rover. Pre 2006 LR discovery. Ford Ranger, including new. Etc.

I don't like: Wranglers, 4runners, FJ cruiser.

Open to any ideas suggestions or experiences.

[thegump]

Originally Posted by ThinkRevolutionx

If you were to build up/buy a dedicated beach/sand vehicle - older, newer - doesn't matter. What would you go for?

I have excellent off-road beaches by me I go to a few dozen times a year. Been considering a fun project truck so as not to wear down my daily. It's soft, mostly flat sand, but also pretty deep and people often get stuck. Has to be able to fit 2-3 people, and 2 big dogs. Alot of vehicles suffice with just appropriate tires, but I want something to work on, so looking to toy with something that has upgrade potential.

I've been all over the place. Things I've considered:

Full size bronco. Waiting for new bronco. Any gen tacoma. Fj80 land cruiser. 92 mercedes G. Cherokee XJ. K20. Old Range rover. Pre 2006 LR discovery. Ford Ranger, including new. Etc.

I don't like: Wranglers, 4runners, FJ cruiser.

Open to any ideas suggestions or experiences.

I'd vote for a FJ60 or a 1st gen 4runner (removable top ).

[overcoil]

Toyota Sienna with lift kit

[Mach550]

Do you plan to drive it to the sand or trailer it?

[ThinkRevolutionx]

Drive to and from, about 10 miles.

Love converted 4x4 vans, looked at the sprinters but more $$ then i'd really want to spend.

[JasonCSU]

My question is, what do you not like about Wranglers? Being able to take off the top, doors, and fold down the windshield make it an ideal beach/sand vehicle. A NAS Defender 90 with the removable top would also be fun.

[vreihen16]

Two words...Meyers Manx.

Oh, and where in NY is there a place where you can legally drive on the beach?????

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

My question is, what do you not like about Wranglers? Being able to take off the top, doors, and fold down the windshield make it an ideal beach/sand vehicle. A NAS Defender 90 with the removable top would also be fun.

I feel similarly. I usually hate on Chrysler but the Wrangler seems just plain fun. Drawbacks: Chrysler reliability and how ubiquitous they are.

[dgoldenz]

I have a JL wrangler, a GT3, and an M3. I still wind up driving the wrangler 80% of the time. Great daily. Big step up from previous generation.

[ThinkRevolutionx]

Alot of beaches on the south shore of long island you can legally drive on the beach, they just re-opened gilgo beach for example - but there's democrat point, sore thumb etc.

Wranglers just don't inspire anything in me. Every single person here has a wrangler. Yea, it's a dedicated offroad vehicle, but this area is littered with them. It's usually young kids that put lift kits and big tires on them just to angle themselves up curbs and snowbanks "For insta" if i'm going to have a project, I want to feel something with it - and also either be unique, or have some opportunity to make it unique.

The defender.. now we are talking. Looked into those for awhile, and that's what led me to an older G wagon. Seems the merc does everything they do better, while being more reliable , similar price, and (strictly my opinion) looking cooler.

[Unknown_Car]

I vote for Mercedes g wagen if you got the money.

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by ThinkRevolutionx

Alot of beaches on the south shore of long island you can legally drive on the beach, they just re-opened gilgo beach for example - but there's democrat point, sore thumb etc.

Wranglers just don't inspire anything in me. Every single person here has a wrangler. Yea, it's a dedicated offroad vehicle, but this area is littered with them. It's usually young kids that put lift kits and big tires on them just to angle themselves up curbs and snowbanks "For insta" if i'm going to have a project, I want to feel something with it - and also either be unique, or have some opportunity to make it unique.

The defender.. now we are talking. Looked into those for awhile, and that's what led me to an older G wagon. Seems the merc does everything they do better, while being more reliable , similar price, and (strictly my opinion) looking cooler.

Nice thing about Defender, Wrangler even Nissan X-Terra you can to some extent hose out the sand and dirt. Older Ford Broncos and Suburbans, even older crew cab pick-ups have reached such desirability that proper pricing and finding a good frame is for the very experienced.

Old G-wagons can be grey market or 25 year old import Defenders and G-class also requires a lot of research with a gamble.

[OrcaPod]

Mitsubishi DELICA 4wd early 90's models (i had one with manual transmission and it was pretty potent offroad vehicle ). Plenty of space inside and mattress can easily fit if you decide to stay overnight

or may be Mitsubishi Pajero?

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I feel similarly. I usually hate on Chrysler but the Wrangler seems just plain fun. Drawbacks: Chrysler reliability and how ubiquitous they are.

This is true with the drawbacks, however Wranglers do hold their value really well which is a plus.

[Conissah]

Lifted Miata

Lifted Honda Acty

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by ThinkRevolutionx

Alot of beaches on the south shore of long island you can legally drive on the beach, they just re-opened gilgo beach for example - but there's democrat point, sore thumb etc.

Wranglers just don't inspire anything in me. Every single person here has a wrangler. Yea, it's a dedicated offroad vehicle, but this area is littered with them. It's usually young kids that put lift kits and big tires on them just to angle themselves up curbs and snowbanks "For insta" if i'm going to have a project, I want to feel something with it - and also either be unique, or have some opportunity to make it unique.

The defender.. now we are talking. Looked into those for awhile, and that's what led me to an older G wagon. Seems the merc does everything they do better, while being more reliable , similar price, and (strictly my opinion) looking cooler.

Yeah, I can understand that. Wranglers are far more common and some owners are the "bro" type posers who will never use the full capabilities a Wrangler offers. I personally really like the new JL models and wouldn't worry about what other owners do or don't do with theirs.

I really like the two door G wagon models for their capability and reliability, however they are hard to come by. Another random option to consider would be the Colorado ZR2.