here's my situation:

I have the S2000, the 98 Accord I4 auto sedan, CBR600F4i, and a 5x8 utility trailer.

The Accord tows my trailer, if it is loaded lightly, without an issue; but once I loaded 2x the limit into it, it had a TOUGH time.

so, I'm thinking about a SUV to replace the Accord. the Accord is worth 4k, so I would want to spend between 5 and 10 for the SUV. MPG does not matter - the S2000 stays as the daily-driver. the SUV should be able to tow a boat, a classic car, jetskis, ATVs, motorcycles, building materials (I own a 4-plex), or a small camper. it should be competent off-road (so a 4x4 with a low-range selection); no need for rock-crawling - ATVs do that. It has to be an auto; the S2K is the fun car. I would like it to be fairly large (not so large that it can't off-road - Excursion?); the S2000 is the small car. it wouldn't hurt if it was luxurious (I will not get a TownCar, if this is a rolling palace). the vehicle will be driven occasionaly (mostly weekends), so it should be able to sit idle for periods of up to 2 weeks. the miles shouldn't be awfully high, but it won't go more than 4k per year, so it's not a HUGE concern. I do not want a truck, as the trailer can fill that duty, if towed behind the SUV. the SUVs age is not a major concern; I live in CA... no rust here. No SUVs like the Land Rover, or anything else that will murder me on maintenance.

i have some SUVs in mind: Land Cruiser, Grand Cherokee, Pathfinder, 4Runner, Excursion, Expedition, Suburban ... not sure how well the American ones do off-road

fire away!

 

LC with f/r lockers

 

did they come with them?
did Sequoias come with them too?

 

i would go rav 4 but if you dont like that then get the 4 runner. get a jeep if you want it to spend more time in the shop then towing your trailer and for your budget youll have to buy an older suv and old american ones look like @$$. the nissan and toyota would be good but i think the toyota looks better.

 

Land Cruiser fits the bill perfectly imo. I don't know about the price though.

 

Land Cruisers are expensive... too bad :-(

I kinda like the diesel 4x4 excursion - 10k lb towing, HUGE, can do some off-roading, cheaper than the LC, it's so HUGE that I can probably put my motorcycle INSIDE, can seat like 14 people just on the front seats alone... always wanted a diesel (I drove a F-250, and fell in love - do not comment on huge diesels, if u never drove one)

...I remember it vividly: I was a valet, and this dude pulled up in a modded F-250 powerstroke. I took the wheel, and was amazed by the torque... then I saw a red BRAKE light on the dash. I released the parking brake... it felt like a got rear-ended by a 747. such a beast! he probably had it a like 800 lb/ft

 

I know the 80 series (1990-1997) had the option of front and rear lockers. You'll see a rotary switch on the dash, to the left of the steering wheel. The Sequoia did not have this option.

 

Sounds like a 4runner or similar sized SUV will fit the bill. Don't see a need for anything larger if your Accord was able to do most of the work.

4runner is:
Relatively cheap.
Wide range of used selection.
Can take a beating.
Can off-road.
Large enough for your needs.

 

The Explorer will probably be the best value in that you will get the newest, lowest mileage vehicle for the same cash. I don't think they are great off road but that really depends on just how off road you want to go. Tahoes are good but I don't think their resale has taken quite the hit that the Explorer has taken.

The 4Runner is a great vehicle but you get hit with very high resale which is the opposite of what you want.

The Jeeps are great off road. People seem to be worried about service costs.

You might also consider something like a Durango.

Keep in mind with some of the Japanese models you might be talking about a 15 year old vehicle. It might be reliable if serviced well etc or it might be a POS. My older Toyotas were far from trouble free. Good cars for their age and mileage but not trouble free.

 

I'd suggest a look at the Jeep Liberty. My wife had one. I didn't like how it drove, not the fit & finish, but it was small yet still rated for 5K lbs towing!