OK, not really sand related, but should be the proper crowd. 

I have been searching high and low for a Jeep M38, CJ or Wrangler and have not come up with much unless it is a full on off road "machine" for over $7000 or a pre beat worn out rusty POS for over $3000 

Just so you you have some background, I just built a 1994 4Runner for my daughter and all turned out good (so far). I found a 1st gen. Toyota 4Runner 4X4 for almost free... (exaggeration)... I was thinking of picking it up and cherrying it out a bit and using it as a temporary toy, then potentially sell it to buy a Jeep later on once we get out of our current house...

I was really skeptical at first, so I went at look at it. It is really not that bad, ugly, but it doesn't really matter does it? 22RE and a 5 speed, the engine had been rebuilt 3000 miles ago and I think it has a plugged up timing chain tensioner port because of a defective oil pump (was replaced). It has new 2" rear springs (Skyjacker) all new shocks and 31" Cooper mud tires plus boxes of other new goddies like a new Moog front suspension kit, ball joints, tie rod ends, idler assembly, pitman arm, wheel bearings and half shafts (still IFS).

Talk to me, I have the money right now and almost bought it tonight, but figured I better ask the Peanut gallery....

GT

I like the toyotas better also, but I can reafirm selling a toyota is never hard to do. Sounds like it already has some decent goodies on it and the 22r is a piece of came to do anything to. I'd say just depends on how much you're exagerating "free"

Well a jeeps a jeep I personally would take the toyota over one but they are fun. I personally have a soft spot for k5's and there's quite a few for 3k and under on cl in the ie section. Only downside is a v8 if your trying to be conservative with fuel. But a toyota  22r will run for ever and selling a toyota 4x4 is never hard to do. If set up right gearing and tire wise it should have enough power to scoot down the freeway, tow a boat and have more than enough grunt on the trail. Parts are cheap is depending on what you break and there's quite a few toyotas at pick a part if you add some character to the body or just want spare trail parts. Iirc this would be for you and your son? It would be a good starter to get into off roading and crawling just a matter of setting it up to what you plan on doing, a Sas would be the way to go imp but. Either way it would be a nice first vehicle.

Fat fingered from the phone- Corey

You are pretty much mirroring my thoughts....

I had a 1972 Chevy Blazer CST 4X4 with a 1992 aluminum headed port injected 5.7 out of a wrecked Corvette...

Lets just say not a day goes by that I don't kick myself in the ass for ever letting it go......

This Toyota is going to serve double duty. It will be in town transportation for my son who is in process of getting his drivers license and be a weekend putt putt to go into the mountains and play around in the trails and potentially some rocks...

This thing IMO is being sold way too cheap and oddly enough I think it is why he is having trouble selling it. It ugly though, the body is crazy straight for a 1987 4X4, but someone painted it desert camo....Not really a good look.... I was just going to paint some black around the bottom following the lines of the utility front bumper all the way around and repaint the removable top black and the "mossy oak" treat the rest to soften it up a bit.  This after Herculining the floors inside..

I have no plans on doing an SAS do to the cost, but would like to get it about 2 more inches higher (has a 2" spring lift right now).

I like the toyotas better also, but I can reafirm selling a toyota is never hard to do. Sounds like it already has some decent goodies on it and the 22r is a piece of came to do anything to. I'd say just depends on how much you're exagerating "free"

Let me just say he showed me receipts for the stuff he bought in the last 9 months and I am paying less than that.....The truck racked up a whopping 3000 miles since all the work was done and parts were bought, including the tires.

Cake* before some has too much fun with my typo

LMAO

are you trying to be talked out of it or .... i have been looking around for something also but just for my son.  and have come to the conclusion that it should be a full size. chevy or god forbid ford . dirt cheap on the initial buy , good practice for the kid to learn on .


and lets not forget  safe. well sorta. i always thought of it this way if my kid was to get into an accident what would i want them driving???

now the last thought!  you can also limit there driving by how much money you give them or they can make gas is not cheap, and a big 4x4 sucks it up fast than anything!  just my thoughts! good luck with what ever you choose.