Good morning! I’m back, after a mishap in Mountain Home, Idaho the other night. I’ll tell you all about it when I write up my trip report, but suffice it to say that when the fender of a U-Haul trailer meets a cinder-block wall, they both lose. I’m gonna have some ‘splainin to do. Good thing I bought the insurance.
Massive thanks to Thomas Hundal for covering yesterday, in his inimitably locquacious way. Excellent picks, too. Who doesn’t love a mid-engine sports car? (Put your hand down. You do too.)
After adding my vote for the X1/9, the results are pretty clear. There’s nothing wrong with a good 914, of course, but it’s hard to beat two-tone brown, especially with those gold wheels. The X1/9 is the other sports car I have wanted ever since I was in grade school, along with my beloved MGB GT, so this was an easy choice for me.
So let’s continue with our eastward journey. I’m writing this from the Fairfield Inn in Laramie, Wyoming, after a very long drive through the mountains. Wyoming is the least-populous state in the country; fewer than 600,000 people call this big rectangle home, and you can tell driving across it. There are places on Interstate 80 where there is not a single sign of human habitation in sight except for the road itself.
As such, the entire state of Wyoming has but one Craigslist site to serve the whole thing. And as is typical of sparsely-populated areas in the US, the most common vehicles by far are pickup trucks. I found the two cheapest viable trucks listed for sale within our typical price range. Here they are.
2001 Ford F-250 Super Duty – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 6.8-liter overhead cam V10, four-speed automatic, 4WD
Location: Casper, WY
Odometer reading: 312,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Ever since Ford spun off the Super Duty line of trucks as its own body style in 1999, it has been a huge hit. When a mere F-Series just won’t cut it, you reach for the big guns. And in this case, that means a gigantic V10 engine displacing 6.8 liters, or if you prefer, 415 good ol’ American cubic inches. You could get this monster with a five-speed stick; I’ve seen one, in US Forest Service Green, in fact, but this one makes do with Ford’s 4R100 automatic.
That transmission, however, was replaced five years ago, so it doesn’t have nearly as many miles on it as the rest of the truck. The rear suspension was just refreshed as well. The seller says it runs and drives well, but I do wonder how that’s possible with no battery. Maybe they swiped it for some other vehicle, or maybe they took the photo mid-replacement. Either way, it’s odd, and something you should ask about.
This isn’t quite the luxury truck that you can get today, but it is a comfy truck, and since it’s the Lariat model, it has quite a few bells and whistles. The heater and air conditioner work fine, and really, what more do you need? Oh right; four-wheel-drive. Done and done.
Comfy or not, trucks in harsh environments get used hard, and this Ford bears the scars of a life well-used. It’s got dents and rust, and a plastic bed liner and a toolbox in the bed give it working-truck cred as well. Luckily, Wyoming doesn’t use road salt, as anyone who’s ever tried to drive through here in December knows all too well, so it shouldn’t be eaten away underneath.
1986 Jeep Comanche – $4,250
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter overhead valve inline 4, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Laramie, WY
Odometer reading: 170,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
How do you improve on the beloved XJ Jeep Cherokee? Easy: Chop its ass off, weld on a couple of frame rail stubs, and make it a pickup truck. That’s what AMC did in 1986 to create the MJ-chassis Comanche pickup, to compete with the likes of Ford’s Ranger and GM’s S-series, as well as a host of imports. The welded-on frame rails were necessary because, unlike its competitors at the time, the XJ was a unibody design – no frame to build on.
This first-year Comanche is set up just about how you’d like: it’s four-wheel-drive, of course, with a five-speed manual and AMC’s tough 2.5-liter pushrod four-cylinder. The mighty 4.0 liter six wouldn’t come along for another year or so, and the optional engines were a Renault diesel and a GM-sourced 2.8 liter V6, and the less said about those, the better. This Comanche runs and drives just fine, and the seller says it is a veteran of many an off-road adventure.
It looks like it, too, with rust and dents, a beefy-looking steel tube rear bumper, and a 2-inch lift. The icing on the cake is the factory stripe kit; nobody does stripes like these anymore, and they are sorely missing from new car lots. It looks a little rough, but the seller says all the rust is on the surface from damage; it’s solid underneath.
No mildly obscure vehicle worth its salt would be complete without a battered Haynes manual and a bunch of parts the seller never got around to installing, or picked up years ago “just in case,” and this Comanche doesn’t disappoint.
So that’s Wyoming. Tomorrow if all goes well I should be at my aunt’s house outside of Wichita, staying there for a couple of days before hitting the road again. In the meantime, choose the 4WD truck you want from the high plains.
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
It’s the Ford for me. Although I don’t have any use for a 3/4 Ton truck, the Ford’s got the best body style out of that generation (Short bed, Super Cab and 4×4) and it’s got modern-ish features to still be considered a regular driver (fuel economy be damned).
I really like Comanches and if I ever get one my OCD would tell me to bring it back to its former glory, but it’s got the wrong powertrain and by the time you swap the right 4.0 / AX-15 in it (which isn’t easy nor cheap) you’ll be around 10K and you’ll still have to deal with rust. I know some people would just drive it as is into the ground but I just can’t
I mean, sure, the Ford is a good deal and definitely the practical (read: boring) choice. But, just look at that Comanche. It oozes cool.
F250 for sure. I love the MJ’s, but that one just looks too ratty and 4cy/5speed is no from me, dawg.
The For has the good engine (for that year), and a recent tranny. Cut the fenders a bit and throw on some 38’s and have a cheap beater trail rig/mud truck.
Or the axles alone are probably worth the asking price for a 1-ton swap project on another rig.
If this were closer to me, I’d seriously consider picking this up. I’ve been wanting a big, dumb truck, and this is such cheap money for one.
The Ford. Most of the mileage is likely highway, it’s cheaper, and if the ad is to be believed, the most worrying component (transmission) has already been dealt with.
But the Jeep is cool, and I wouldn’t fault anyone for choosing it.
Since most vehicles in Wyoming are doing only highway miles, or highway speeds on non-highways, 300k+ on the F-250 it is.
Even though 300k+ is kinda pushing it for the V10’s and the E4OD/R100. Neither are bad, just saw a lot of V10’s not make it that far because of head/spark plug issues and the transmissions usually need a rebuild by this point, or earlier.
and the transmission has already been dealt with so one less thing to worry about.
This is a what do you need situation. The F250 is a good deal for a beater truck that can haul and tow. The Comanche is what you want for running around town or hitting the trails. I voted for the Ford, but Comanche is still a cool little truck.
We have the previous generation F-250, and even though we just dropped close to 5 figures on repairs, I’d replace it with this Super Duty just because its back windows open so our dogs can have a place to put their noses.
I’d replace it with this Super Duty just because its back windows open so our dogs can have a place to put their noses.
I was working on the deck of the The Mount Hope Bridge (Bristol, RI) about 10 years ago, and we were using flaggers to alternate traffic (2-lane bridge).
In the stopped lane I walked past a GMC pickup with non-opening rear windows which were tinted. If I could’ve seen the huge German Shepherd in the back seat I would’ve given it a much wider berth, but I guess I passed by too closely.
The dog went into a rage, bashed out the window with his head/muzzle, and just went into a barkfest with his snout thrust out looking for a piece of me.
I really don’t scare easy, but this put me in a bit of shock. There was no warning. I recouped, and just said soothingly, “it’s OK, who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy?”
Just then, the flagger in this traffic lane signaled for the column of vehicles to move, and the driver rudely yelled, “Gimme the window, gimme the window!!” I didn’t realize that the tinted window lite lay in the gutter, in one piece and perfectly intact. I picked it up and he leaned over and put his hand by the now-vacant aperture. I said, “No, I’m not sticking my hand there, open the damn passenger window!!”
We weren’t supposed to use foul language with the public, but I guess the situation was extraordinary. He hit the button for the passenger window, and I half placed/half tossed the window on the seat. He just rolled away then, no apology, but at least he didn’t report me to the Bridge Authority for using a mild cuss word.
I’m a dog guy, but this kinda shook me up. And yes, all dogs need a place to put their noses.
Poor dog had a crap owner.
Two reasons I will take the Comanche:
1- The ’80s-tastic stripes are fantastic and would delight me every day.
2- The F250 is too big to fit in my life. Seriously, it’s too long for my parking spot, too long AND tall for my boyfriend’s parking garage.
If I’m buying a truck I’m intending to do truck things, and the Ford can do more truck things. Of these choices, it’s the better tool, so that’s how I voted.
That Jeep is sweet though.
I love the jeep but it’s like 2x the price once you talk the ford seller down for not including a battery. I think I’m going super-duty here.
I think you’ll blow through that price difference in the first month with the Ford and its V10/4speed-auto combo gallons/mile fuel thirst
I chose the F250 but it really comes down to what you need and what you’re going to do with it. I’ve already had 2 F250’s and an F150 and they can do all truck stuff you need. If I was looking for an off road beater, maybe the Jeep but it’s a little rough and I got so used to having the 6 cyl that the 2.5L would be a let down. Plus $2500 vs $4250. Easy choice. Safe travels!
Buy both. Put the Ford axles under the Jeep. Sell the rest of the Super Duty for parts.
In the end, I voted Ford. Too much utility to sacrifice for the higher cost of the Comanche. If the Comanche was a bit cleaner to justify the higher price, it would have been a more difficult decision.
I like the Super Duty. It’s in really good shape for the miles.
But I can’t say no to those stripes and a 5-speed stick!
Stripes is sizzle.
And I really like sizzle.
As do I!
I’m not that cool of a person, so I went with the Ford.
Having owned a comanche I had to vote for it. Mine was a short bed “sport truck”, ’87, 4speed/4cyl. Bench no carpet very bare bones, but boy it was awesome in the snow!
I was all for the Comanche until I realized it had the 2.5 4cyl. Been there, done that, never again.
If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: the AMC 2.5 is a criminally underrated engine. Easy choice. Come for the stripes, stay for the simplicity. Mmm. That Comanche just hearkens back to a simple time when Jeep was more humble and less aspirational.
The F-250 is cheaper, more useful, and honestly probably a pretty good deal if you needed just a simple work truck but it’s not the cool option. I’m going to have to go with the Jeep here
V10 Superduty for me mainly due to all the rust I’m seeing on that Jeep. If the Jeep had a whole lot less rust, then I would have voted for it.
Plus it has the added bonus of being way cheaper.
Damn, closer to $3k and I’d be driving up to Wyoming to look at that Comanche. I don’t really need a truck to bomb around off-road, but that is the vehicle for the job. The rear bumper sells it. Interior isn’t bad, either.
The F250 is cheaper and really more usable of the two as a truck. It could pull about anything. It would make a good work truck for the weekend projects. I have no love for jeeps
at nearly $1.70/L for 87 octane, I’d quickly eat up the cost difference between the Superduty and the Jeep.
Plus, I’ve owned two XJs so I’m partial to the platform. Comanche it is!
Even at US prices, the Ford is gonna drink the difference pretty quickly but I’d still take the Ford.
The Comanche doesn’t feel anything like a good deal at this price.
When I’m done with it, the Ford could easily be resold to someone who wants to pull a large camper or boat on the cheap.
I think it would probably be cheaper for that someone to just ship his camper next-day-air to the camping site than pull it with that gas guzzler
Comanche is all the truck I would need and I miss my old ’89 XJ at times. I would worry a bit about the Renix EFI but it looks like there is spare computer in the parts hoard and I imaging a later model 4.0 swap is possible.
Wow, didn’t expect the results to be so close. I took the Commanche, I already have one and need the parts.
I don’t know why everyone hates on the 2.8 V6 so much. These are actually pretty great engines. I have owned several and that little V6 could take a beating, never had serious problems with them other than coil packs.
I think this gen used rope for the rear main seals and likes to leak, but I agree they are generally good motors
Yes, I think you are right about the seals, and I should have been more clear on mentioning 2.8’s in general. Not just the ones in the Commanche.
I think half of the hate is because of just the stupidity of having it over the straight 6 that came before it. Lore within Jeep was the chief engineer or exec (can’t remember which) hated the 4L with a passion and thus packaged it in such a way so that it didn’t fit. Of course after initial sales and problems with the 2.8 they realized the error of their ways, which is why the 4L is shoehorned into the XJ in a way no one in their right mind would do if it was planned for from the beginning.
The Comanche had me at the first pic. And I already have an F-250 older than that