And yes I know there is a similar thread on this from another Michigander, but wanted to compare the suggestions with a different total budget. 
Looking around and trying to find a new toy to road trip around the US and camp out of come this spring. Quick background: Currently own and drive a 2006 Tundra Limited, small lift, 35s, 4.88s, Detroit locker, goes through anything I drive it in and drinks gas like you'd expect it to. Also have a 2011 Grand Marquis that does nearly 26 mpg with that cruise set at 75 and eats highway miles. Live in Michigan so I've come to peace with a fly and buy purchase. Total budget of say $15-20k for a vehicle and supporting mods.
I'm trying to find something between these two extremes. Something comfortable over long stints of highway driving, and enough offroad capability to get me off the fire roads and into the more remote camping spots. Won't be a daily driver but will see winter driving when the roads go to hell and open diffs and rear wheel drive doesn't sound like an entertaining commute.
Needs:
4x4
Seat 4 comfortably / enough room for 2 to camp out of. Not necessarily in the cab, but enough cargo space for two.
Large enough to strap a couple kayaks onto.
Left hand drive.
Wants:
500 mile range. Who wants to stop and fill up when they're making good time? Not looking to hypermile, but a large enough tank(s) that I'm not looking to constantly fill up.
Enough tow rating to pull a trailer with a couple of quads on the back. Tundra does it fine so not required. Michigan has a LOT of trails to ride.
Self recovery. Some flavor of locker and a place to mount a winch.
That's pretty wide open... Primarily I'm looking to see what's out there that's similarly as capable as my Tundra, but is more economical and keeps me on the road longer between stops. My current truck is a blast, but a 2400 miles round trip in it can be a little taxing. I've primarily been looking at domestic diesel trucks, but I'm not sold on the Duramax's ride (that pogo feeling) and I won't touch a 6.0 Ford, even after bulletproofing.
Looking around and trying to find a new toy to road trip around the US and camp out of come this spring. Quick background: Currently own and drive a 2006 Tundra Limited, small lift, 35s, 4.88s, Detroit locker, goes through anything I drive it in and drinks gas like you'd expect it to. Also have a 2011 Grand Marquis that does nearly 26 mpg with that cruise set at 75 and eats highway miles. Live in Michigan so I've come to peace with a fly and buy purchase. Total budget of say $15-20k for a vehicle and supporting mods.
I'm trying to find something between these two extremes. Something comfortable over long stints of highway driving, and enough offroad capability to get me off the fire roads and into the more remote camping spots. Won't be a daily driver but will see winter driving when the roads go to hell and open diffs and rear wheel drive doesn't sound like an entertaining commute.
Needs:
4x4
Seat 4 comfortably / enough room for 2 to camp out of. Not necessarily in the cab, but enough cargo space for two.
Large enough to strap a couple kayaks onto.
Left hand drive.
Wants:
500 mile range. Who wants to stop and fill up when they're making good time? Not looking to hypermile, but a large enough tank(s) that I'm not looking to constantly fill up.
Enough tow rating to pull a trailer with a couple of quads on the back. Tundra does it fine so not required. Michigan has a LOT of trails to ride.
Self recovery. Some flavor of locker and a place to mount a winch.
That's pretty wide open... Primarily I'm looking to see what's out there that's similarly as capable as my Tundra, but is more economical and keeps me on the road longer between stops. My current truck is a blast, but a 2400 miles round trip in it can be a little taxing. I've primarily been looking at domestic diesel trucks, but I'm not sold on the Duramax's ride (that pogo feeling) and I won't touch a 6.0 Ford, even after bulletproofing.
