Free: Contests & Raffles.
Buddy, what you really need (to buy for "us") is an expedition vehicle. Here are some options you should consider. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/58546863889335794/?lp=true
Very subjective question. The short wheel base point should point you in the right direction. For me compact isn't a big deal. I haven't found myself on excessively tight 4w tracks. Ability to sleep in the back and haul a couple other guys gear is more important. And more than that, reliability. Completely limiting anything that can go wrong. So for me the ultimate hunting rig:1994-97 Dodge Ram 2500-Diesel, with a manual transmission. 22 MPG on the highway for the long trips. Everything is mechanical, (including the injection) there is no reliance on anything electrical. If the battery goes, it can be compression started and it'll run how it is supposed to. -canopy-carli 2.0 suspension-a host of other minor steering/suspension upgrades to soften the ride offroad.-Pulls a fishing boats too -Drivetrain is borderline not killable. A million miles is definitely a possibility if you can store the thing indoors. A lot of guys I know would say no way to rolling in a truck from that era. Stuff today just rides and drives too well. But I only use it for the woods and mountains, and for those purposes I want basic and fault tolerant.
I am on my 2nd Nissan Frontier. 2012 ,4x4, four door. have 90k on it. Never got into the super truck frame of mind. It gets around the narrow roads easier than the big trucks and doesn't take a bank load to drive it around on Hwy or every day. If I need more cargo space I back up to my 10x12 utility trailer and go. No issues with it.
I bought my 2019 OR TRD Tacoma last August. Not only is it packed with features, but it goes through and over just about anything. I needed a friend who's more familiar with what 4WD vehicles can do to show me the extent of its capabilities. I absolutely love the vehicle except for the mileage. Mileage is about 16 average, not the 18-22 on the sticker. Otherwise, I'm trilled with the performance of this vehicle, pulling, quality of ride, specialty 4WD selection. Check out crawl mode on YouTube. Amazing stuff.By the way, August is the month to buy. They increase the rebates and cut the 4-year extended warranty in half. The warranty is transferable. Resale value on these trucks is off the charts. Get financing through whoever the local dealer goes through and then search the credit unions for an additional point off the APR. Oh, and it's fun to walk in with a bag of cash for your down payment and see everyone's reactions, especially the credit manager, who almost never sees cash for anything. I used a large ziplock bag for mine.
The new Ram 1500 ecodiesel have been catching my eye. 30 mpg and up to 500 miles a tank is a huge feature for me in a hunting rig. Sure it's a full size, but the mpg is better than most midsize and you've got more truck when you need it. I always have heard suspect things about the long term quality of newer ram interiors...but as long as it doesn't fall apart it would be a comfy and capable hunting rig