Light-weight rugged 4x4 4-down "convertible" options

Parts availability and resale value is what steered me towards the TJ. That and my wife had always wanted a Jeep Wrangler...

Now I am putting together the pieces needed to tow it.

I bought a used EvenBrake 9400. It came with the monitor, but the monitor was stolen an hour after I bought the EvenBrake. My fault. I left it on the curb by accident while loading the main EvenBrake. It was gone by the time I realized I didn’t load it. I also have to order the transmitter and breakaway system for it.

I still need to buy a tow bar for it and a light kit. My TJ has an aftermarket bumper which should help. I’m not sure I am comfortable wiring into the Jeep’s lighting, so I may get the magnetic lights.

I am a complete newbie to towing a dingy!

Congrats! One great thing about the TJ is there are still tons of parts available for it!

Thanks for all the feedback/advice! I wound up getting a Jeep Wrangler TJ. I did consider this particular Daihatsu Rocky: https://cosprings.craigslist.org/cto/d/91-lifted-rocky/6789160248.html

charles7a wrote:
Hello,

I am looking for light-weight rugged 4x4 4-down "convertible" (removable top) options for towing behind a Sprinter diesel (bluetec V6) class C motor-home.

So far, it seems like it comes down to Daihatsu Rocky's, Suzuki Samurai's and Jeep Wrangler's (YJ:1986-1995 or TJ:1996-2006).

Listed by weight (lightest to heaviest):
1) Suzuki Samurai
2) Daihatsu Rocky
3) Jeep Wrangler YJ (1986-1995)
4) Jeep Wrangler TJ (1996-2006 - near the limit of my motor-home’s towing capacity)

Are there any other options I missed? Pros/cons between the four choices? Personal experience(s)?

Thank you in advance!

-Charles

If your motorhome can handle pulling 3740 lbs. I would highly recommend the Jeep TJ. We've been towing our 2004 since 2005. It's been towed over 140,000 miles, but only has been driven 60,000 miles. So far the only maintenance has been new shocks, new u joints, regular oil and transmission changes, a couple sets of tires, and a couple tune ups.

We bought it specifically to tow behind the motorhome. It seemed we were towing our Buick across the country several times a year only to leave it at the campground when we rented a Jeep for off roading.

Ours is the Sport model and it rides like a typical Jeep.

I don't know your weight limit but older Toyota 4Runners had removable hard tops.

Samuaris are lighter. Geo Trackers are identical to Suzuki Sidekick.

Trackers, Geo Trackers have independent suspension which makes ride much smoother then Samurais.

Suzuki or Geo twin would be my choice. Light, cheap, easy to work on, and a lot of fun. There are a few places that are doing Toyota motor conversions. That takes the worry about an orphan out of the mix.

Chev Tracker and Suzuki Geo version