Jeepster/Commando vs RTV? vs Mule?

NHGatorGuy · Nov 18, 2004

Bob-

I have used numerous vehicles to get around my woodlot, including a suzuki, a small GMC SUV and a Nissan P/U. In 1998 I got a JD Gator- Since then I haven't even had a thought of using a road legal vehicle. The Commando was a way cool truck but my opinion is that any road vehicle is much more difficult to maneuver, much easier to get stuck and extricate and cannot get into half of the terrain that any of the UTV's can. Think in terms of ground pressure as well- most UTV's exert >10lbs of ground pressure- ie you can still function in mud season without gettin' the tractor to pull out your truck! Good Luck! Jake

Will_C · Nov 18, 2004

Bob, I think others have summed up the biggest disadvantage: size. We used an old Toyota 4wd truck on my brother's 90 acres for many years, until the frame rusted through. The Mule that we have now is much more handy. We thought about replacing the Toyota with another, but we were looking at spending $2500 or so for a decent truck, in fair mechanical shape.
Will

flyingn · Nov 18, 2004

Please don't say that you actually *believed* what CR said about them lil Zooks rolling over.. Do you realize that it was all staged by CR (consumer reports) and proved in court and suzuki countersued CU?? Bet you did not see THAT in the news.. Thats the facts.. The samurai is as stable as any other small SUV is..

( Bob,

Haven't seen one of the Commando's in years. Weren't they made in the 1960's? Can you still get parts and stuff?

How about a Suzuki Samurai? I believe many use these for on and off road. Probably plenty of parts around also. Slowzuki - thoughts/comments? If it weren't for cornering, I'd probably consider one myself.

Brian

)

Dargo · Nov 19, 2004

Are you being funny about the Suzuki? I know an attorney who worked some on that case. Suzuki admitted nothing, but dropped the case. There was a dispute about how fast they (cr) drove the Suzuki and that they tried turning harder with it than others, but that notion was proven incorrect. Both sides claimed victory, but in the separate tests done during the court proceedings, the Suzuki also flipped. It's all moot now since that particular model hasn't been made in years.

flyingn · Nov 19, 2004

no, Im dead serious... Thats what happened. The video of CR filming the flipover was actually doctered and th eoriginal tape was found and shown on the net. It showed CR trying about 9 times to flip it. And when it finally went over the camera man cheered and yelled "yea we did it" !! Well this won th ecase for Suzuki and it was determined that CR rigged the test.. Suzuki countersued.. Its still in court.

http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0407/09/b01-207320.htm

( Are you being funny about the Suzuki? I know an attorney who worked some on that case. Suzuki admitted nothing, but dropped the case. There was a dispute about how fast they (cr) drove the Suzuki and that they tried turning harder with it than others, but that notion was proven incorrect. Both sides claimed victory, but in the separate tests done during the court proceedings, the Suzuki also flipped. It's all moot now since that particular model hasn't been made in years. )

Bird · Nov 19, 2004

Good ole "unbiased" Consumer Reports went after the Suzuki Samurai and got'em. And then later there were news reports that, yeah, you could turn it over, but not as easily as you could turn over a Ford Bronco. And the Samurai owner's manual, as well as decals on the driver's door and on the sun visor, warned consumers about the fact that it was different from a sedan. I don't know of any other manufacturer who went to any greater lengths to inform customers.

bczoom · Nov 19, 2004

( Please don't say that you actually *believed* what CR said about them lil Zooks rolling over.. )

Frank,
My use of the word "cornering" wasn't precise. I meant it in terms of "turning radius". Heck, I can roll most anything.
Brian

Dargo · Nov 19, 2004

Great link. I hadn't seen that article, but it does pretty well say what my attorney buddy told me; no money changed hands and both sides claimed victory. Hmm, was Ralph Nader employed by CR then /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I wonder why CR didn't go after the 70's model of the Toyota Land Cruiser? I flipped my dad's new 1975 Toyota Land Cruiser 5 days I got my drivers license. Yes, I was going around a corner a bit too fast. However, no tires were squealing or sliding and, it went over quickly and easily. Those model Land Cruisers are now collectors items and they are beasts off the road, but I assure you that they will roll over easier than the Suzuki! Besides turning over, those Land Cruisers also needed the valves ground in their inline 6 about every 20,000 miles. If you have ever had one, you'll know what I mean. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I saw one on eBay a few months ago that was advertised as a Chevyota. It had a Chevy 350 transplanted into it.

TBrown · Nov 19, 2004

I've had a '78 Jeep CJ-5 for 15 years. I rolled it the very first winter I had it. I was coming home from my hunting club's annual banquet in the late evening. It was cold, but the sanders had been out and the driving was good. I crossed a bridge and all **** broke loose. As everyone knows, the bridge decks will freeze before the roadway, and this one looked wet, but was actually black ice. The jeep bounced a little coming onto the bridge and started fishtailing, but when I left the bridge it grabbed hard. I hit the snowbank, which was rock-hard, and went up and over. The jeep ended up right in the middle (thankfully) of the snowmobile trail on its top. I walked to the closest bar, called the restaurant where my dad and the rest of the hunting club were, and an hour or so we had it back on its wheels. I drove it along the snowmobile trail until I could get back on to the road, then home (10 miles with the windsheild busted out, brrrr!).

That accident was the result of driver error. I've lived in the great white north all my life, and I know enough to slow down when I come to a bridge under those conditions, and pick a line and pay attention. I didn't do any of those things, I just barreled along. Did the Jeep roll when a car probably wouldn't? Absolutely. But if someone's going to own a vehicle like a CJ or Samurai, thats something they have to be aware of, and respect. I certainly don't blame the Jeep. That consumer reports thing was total B.S., in my book. It was not unsafe, you just had to be a little smarter when you drove one. But for what it's worth, I only drive mine in the summer now.

Anyway, I've got Snapper Groundscruiser for a UV. I'd be interested in hearing the opinions of some other people who have, or have had, both a UV and a jeep-like vehicle, with regards to stability. To me, the UV 'feels' more stable. It seems, from a seat-of-the-pants perspective, that it would be awful tough to roll. And the Snapper is pretty crude compared to the RTV and others.

rdln · Nov 19, 2004

My first car I bought was a used 1979 cj-7 with v-8 and a nice cozy hardtop.

I had it two weeks when I took my mom to her hair appt. in town, there was 1 or 2 inches of fresh snow on the curves around a lake. The last curve was downhill to the left and my backend went right and hit a dry spot under the trees.

We were both inducted to the upside- down club that morning.

We stopped on the roof and dangled there with the seat belts on. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I blame the wide mud tires with 20% tread left on them that came with the jeep, I was going slow but still was issued a too fast for conditions ticket which ticked me off more than the accident.

8 years later I rolled my jeep j20 onto its side, I blamed Bud and his friend wieser for that one /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Bob, The 1960's bronco half cab is close to the jeepster you are looking at if you want to do a search on it.