Windwalker
Contributor
Go for a Jeep or Volvo, I currently own/d Toyotas (4 runner/mr2), Chevies(67 PU), Jeep(cherokee, grand cherokee), Subaru(Legacy/SVX), Volvo 740 Diesel/240 Diesel and Dodge (72 motorhome). For a first vehicle, a jeep is not pretty, but they can take a beating, Plus they are easy to work on. I have never had a Jeep fail on me. (Where as, my 4 runner left me stranded in Weed California) Jeeps are excellent off road, get pretty good gas mileage for the box that they are, and at least for my insurance or not listed as an SUV!!?!! I was informed by my mechanic Buddy that the 4.0 engine was designed to be a generator engine and can maintain high RPMs for extended durations. The towing capacity is astounding.. I have towed a 4runner on a full car dolly (3,500 + 2700) over the mountians.. (returning to Oregon from Weed)
As far as carrying capacity goes.. 15 x 60 pound bags of concrete and lots of wood makes the back a little low(but not overly), and the power of the vehicle does not notice it too much.
One thing of note about Jeeps. They use a soft brake material, so they are the most common thing that needs service. I just had to replace the brakes of my 2000 Grand Cherokee. I believe the brakes are so they will NOT warp under long downhill jaunts. (engine braking can only take you soo far). I also do a lot of off roading in it (Carrying 24-48 inch stumps through the woods for setting up AMM(American Mountian Man)) hawk blocks. The reason I mentioned this statement is, It can hold several hundred pounds of dead tree in the back, and still climb over rocks and stumps without damaging the vehicle.
<stupid Jeep tricks>
I have used my jeep to pull out a farm tractor bogged in the mud
and
A friend used a Cherokee AS a farm tractor for several years. Go figure.
When selecting a jeep stay away from the Transistion models, (for example when chrysler bought jeep) I hear those can be pretty awful mechanically - thats how they got their bad name.
OR
If you can find a Volvo, they are also pretty nice, large trunk and pretty good gas mileage. The 740's station wagons have a place all the way in the rear for a pop up child seat,(if there is no seat) it is very awesome for storage and you could probably fits some tanks in the nook so that they do not roll around. Also the bed sucessfully sleeps a 6'4 person comfortably. Volvo's have good suspensions and should not have any difficulty carrying eight tanks and gear.
as far as looks go...
Volvo's look boxy for a reason, they are the only car I know that can get into a 60MPH impact with a 1967 Dodge Monico and be able to drive away. (hint.. The volvo has stronger bumpers then most(if not all) 60's era American cars) If you don't believe me! Check the Thickness of a 240 bumber.. the 7 series is the same just under plastic. Volvo bumpers are mounted on Shocks so they can absorb a lot of impact before the sheet metal comes into play, then they have considerable cruch space before the engine comes into play. a 700/200 series volvo love tap is a 20MPH impact.. Only do that with people that are aware of the love tap rule (who also own volvo's)- it doesn't hurt the volvo's. Although this might sound a little childish.. My friend and I have been known to nail each other on occasion. (then again, he's a Volvo mechanic)
The swedes know how to build cars! As a starter car, they can take lots of abuse and are a nice segway to another vehicle. In my expierence they are reliable and dependable. One point of note: Volvo's will eat themselves to keep running. Keep up on the maintenance and it will probably be the best car you are likely to own. If it does eat itself, the repair bill is not going to be pretty. They are not cheap to have catastrophic work done on;
and finding a Volvo mechanic can be difficult in many parts of the country.
Hope this info is insightful, Have fun!
As far as carrying capacity goes.. 15 x 60 pound bags of concrete and lots of wood makes the back a little low(but not overly), and the power of the vehicle does not notice it too much.
One thing of note about Jeeps. They use a soft brake material, so they are the most common thing that needs service. I just had to replace the brakes of my 2000 Grand Cherokee. I believe the brakes are so they will NOT warp under long downhill jaunts. (engine braking can only take you soo far). I also do a lot of off roading in it (Carrying 24-48 inch stumps through the woods for setting up AMM(American Mountian Man)) hawk blocks. The reason I mentioned this statement is, It can hold several hundred pounds of dead tree in the back, and still climb over rocks and stumps without damaging the vehicle.
<stupid Jeep tricks>
I have used my jeep to pull out a farm tractor bogged in the mud
and
A friend used a Cherokee AS a farm tractor for several years. Go figure.
When selecting a jeep stay away from the Transistion models, (for example when chrysler bought jeep) I hear those can be pretty awful mechanically - thats how they got their bad name.
OR
If you can find a Volvo, they are also pretty nice, large trunk and pretty good gas mileage. The 740's station wagons have a place all the way in the rear for a pop up child seat,(if there is no seat) it is very awesome for storage and you could probably fits some tanks in the nook so that they do not roll around. Also the bed sucessfully sleeps a 6'4 person comfortably. Volvo's have good suspensions and should not have any difficulty carrying eight tanks and gear.
as far as looks go...
Volvo's look boxy for a reason, they are the only car I know that can get into a 60MPH impact with a 1967 Dodge Monico and be able to drive away. (hint.. The volvo has stronger bumpers then most(if not all) 60's era American cars) If you don't believe me! Check the Thickness of a 240 bumber.. the 7 series is the same just under plastic. Volvo bumpers are mounted on Shocks so they can absorb a lot of impact before the sheet metal comes into play, then they have considerable cruch space before the engine comes into play. a 700/200 series volvo love tap is a 20MPH impact.. Only do that with people that are aware of the love tap rule (who also own volvo's)- it doesn't hurt the volvo's. Although this might sound a little childish.. My friend and I have been known to nail each other on occasion. (then again, he's a Volvo mechanic)
The swedes know how to build cars! As a starter car, they can take lots of abuse and are a nice segway to another vehicle. In my expierence they are reliable and dependable. One point of note: Volvo's will eat themselves to keep running. Keep up on the maintenance and it will probably be the best car you are likely to own. If it does eat itself, the repair bill is not going to be pretty. They are not cheap to have catastrophic work done on;
and finding a Volvo mechanic can be difficult in many parts of the country.
Hope this info is insightful, Have fun!
