written by toyotalandcruiser2005 on 15/08/2005
The AM General Hummer is a great 4x4 especially with it's big wheels (24" rim).
written by chaser on 01/09/2003
I have typed details of my two H1 hummer experiences in the good points and bad points section. For a quick summary, they were alot of fun to drive, when they worked, which wasn't often, and after only a year's worth of ownership and 6 repair trips to the dealer, I finally gave up on them. I'm sure the military loves them and I'm sure they do a great job, but I seem to be lacking a motor pool department in my garage for daily maintenance. Maybe they should have thought of that before marketing it to the civilian public as "indestructable."
written by J.P.. on 16/11/2002
I love my Hummer! A certain level of skill is involved when driving a Hummer in an off-road situation. Assuming the driver possesses the skill involved, nothing can outperform the Hummer off-road!
Written on: 06/01/2006
I owned a 2003 Hummer H1 and A 2005 H2 they are the worst SUVs I have ever driven. They have the worst gas mileage, and they are cramped. Its hard to see when your reversing and not much cargo space. I had to replace them with a 1994 isuzu trooper. Even though its older, its much more comfortable, roomy and has a huge cargo space. Better gas mileage much more reliable and off-road capable.
Written on: 02/07/2003
Try the FC101 (soft top)30 years old and still one - if not the best off road vehicle going, cheap to buy, heavy on petrol (off road 10 mpg @ )
<br>Short on frills as it is a pure military vechicle.
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<br>recent 4x4 meet a FC101 beat the rest of the field including a Hummer !
written by pertyuiplumundo. on 18/06/2002
My hummer is a poor off road vehicle. It gets stuck everywhere. My little toyota really shows it up off road.
Written on: 22/08/2002
Pardon my ignorance as we don't see many Hummers bombing around the country lanes of England! But you describe the vehicle as weak! and not a good offroader! Are we talking the same car that Sean Connery stole off the guy in the movie The Rock, and demolished everything in it's path including a tram (streetcar)? Are we talking the car the US Army uses - not being good offroad!! REALLY?
Written on: 02/03/2009
i own a 2005 ford ranger UK spec, i have pulled hummers out of the mud at off road sites across the UK, they are no good off road, ive also tandem winched a couple of defenders out of the rough stuff, it depends how good the driver is more than the truck, you could have the worlds best custom 4x4 built for anything, but if you drive like a grandad, YOU WILL GET STUCK! the driver is 90% of the trucks ability.
Written on: 03/12/2004
I know we are going a bit off topic about the hummer but malachi the new discovery 3 is THE best off-roader ever built, it has terrain response control which is basically a dial you can twist to different off-road settings which adjusts rev control and suspension electronically according to the type of terrain you want.
<br>During its trials before it was released it was tested in pretty much every type of terrain possible and has better off-road ability than the hummer believe it or not.
<br>The hummer was designed mostly for rock-crawling whereas landrover was designed for everything, thats why landrover is still the biggest selling 4x4 company worldwide after 56 years.
Written on: 15/11/2004
Bucksboy must be British! Good old mother England makes the best of everything! I would really like proof that a Discovery is better than anything the new world could produce. What do you Yanks think?
Written on: 10/11/2004
Well if any of you Hummer owners want a real 4x4 try out the new Land Rover discovery. It doesn't stop working when it gets slightly wet like a Grand Cherokee either. I would suggest all Hummer/Cherokee owners be-friend a Discovery owner for when the next get stuck.
Written on: 03/11/2004
Does not sound like anyone has heard. Mercedes UNIMOG is the ultimate 4X4 ever, anywere, fullstop.
<br>Andy
Written on: 17/09/2004
Anyone have ideas about the Hummer's onroad abilities/roadholding etc, say compared with a Range Rover? After all, most of us use 4x4's mainly on the road.
Written on: 05/08/2004
I own a 1973 88in series 3 landrover and it goes anywhere.......and i mean anywhere,
<br>I havnt driven a hummer so i cant criticise them but landrover has been voted the best offroader worldwide for over 30 years.......so if the hummer is so good then why is landrover always voted better?
Written on: 12/06/2004
I had the oppertunity of buying an HMMWV (humvee). supposedly it was dangerous to use in traffic so I spent my money on a 2004 Explorer 4x4. Did I make a good decision?
Written on: 10/06/2004
The ones ive used were reportedly costing $150 K which are the .50mm browning / armoured version.
Written on: 10/06/2004
Sorry, I made a mistake, I posted that the price for a HUMVEE was around 40-50k when it's actually price 22k. Just incase anyone wanted to know that's the real price. Once again, sorry. :)
Written on: 10/06/2004
LOL, what is it good for hmmm?
Written on: 09/06/2004
Good comments VINSIN. It is fair to say that the Land Rover is the King of off-road light utility vehicles (hence, good for weekend off-roaders), whereas the Hummer is heavyweight military system good for, err hum..? Ah yes, of course, that's where the "hum" comes from! (Only kidding ;-)
Written on: 08/06/2004
The point I was trying to make was to stop comparing the HUMVEE/HUMMER with average 4x4s. It's like comparing a plane with a helicopter. Both have distinct different capabilities and purposes but both are able to fly. The HUMVEE/HUMMER isn't the same as a regular 4x4, but it just so happens it can off-road. The HUMVEE/HUMMER is in a completely different class and that class is for military purpose and use. From a military standpoint the HUMVEE/HUMMER is the best off-road vehicle that can perform WARTIME off-road capabilities rather than a guy who's just out doing some off-roading for fun. It's a military vehicle and as such should ONLY be treated as one, not as another 4x4. You want to say it has crappy suspension, then fine, you want to say it has a crappy engine, then fine, but when you're in the middle of a battle, ALL OF IT comes together and you'll realize why everything is the way it is.
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<br>"One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness."
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<br>I'm not trying to trash talk anyone or get personal so I'm sorry if anything I might say or have said sounds offensive to someone. :( However, I'd like to hear from people some ideas on how to improve off-road capabilities ass a whole, as I am part of the development project VANGUARD that you might have seen above. If you have any helpful ideas I'd appreciate it. Even if it doesn't really exist and you've got this great idea I'd love to hear about it. Just drop me an e-mail at [email protected] Take care, and I hope to post here further development on the VANGUARD, and the civilian ORV VANGUARD XS just incase you’re interested.
Written on: 07/06/2004
What a load of old tosh, the hummer isnt 'the best' at anything, because it tries to be many roles as you rightly pointed out.
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<br>Theres an old saying 'jack of all trades, master of none'
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<br>And thats exactly what the hummer is, master of none.
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<br>As a seasoned Royal Marines Commando Ive used many a off road vehicle including the hummer, it just doesnt cut the mustard.
Written on: 05/06/2004
Ok, obviously someone hasn't paid attention to what the HUMVEE was actually designed to do and not do. I've spent years doing research and development on advanced off-road vehicles for military and civilian use and have learned a large amount. Ok, first lets talk about what the HUMVEE actually is, it’s classification is a 4 wheeled light armored tank that can handle numerous configurations. Next, lets talk about their width. They aren’t as wide as you might think they are but here’s why that have to be, besides the average person saying it’s so it won’t tip over while off-road…
<br>1. It holds a third person in the rear for the gun turret (I have never seen a Land Rover have a full size turret on the top, nor anything else…)
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<br>2. The width allows for full-size ambulances to have enough working room… because of their size they can support up to 4-6 stretchers!
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<br>3. They’re also wide enough that even the slant-backs have enough room to slide another stretcher inside… and you could squish 9 people inside a HUMVEE if you really had to!
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<br>4. Their wideness prevents the vehicle from completely flipping over in most cases when driving over landmines, which again, I don’t know of any other 4x4 that can handle that.
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<br>A HUMVEE can be configured to become a troop carrier, armament carrier, S250 shelter carrier, ambulance, TOW missile carrier, and a Scout vehicle, and many more configurations. Again I don’t know of anything else that can do that. Its gas mileage is around 14 MPG which is very good seeing how the average fulls-size SUV gets around 10-11 MPG. The chassis is built with aircraft quality alloy and the doors made of steel and all the major components of the chassis are RIVETED together. Another HUMVEE ONLY feature is its CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System), which can come in real handy. The use of diesel engines is easier to waterproof and the HUMVEE is already waterproofed which means all you need is a snorkel. The case about independent suspension is, yes it’s good for mud, but it’s also easier for steering on rough terrain. The only difference really is that it doesn’t have as much movement, but because of the extra width the HUMVEE has it makes up for its loss and doesn’t need to worry about the extra movement.
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<br>The comment about US Special Forces using Land Rovers Defender 90/110 is because they are working with the British Special Forces hence the use of that vehicle. They were in no way replacing or preferring the use of them to a HUMVEE but using what the British themselves had while working with them. When the US Special Forces head out on there own they’ll use HUMVEEs, but when working with another country that country will use what they’re use to for obvious reasons. (I guess we could say that when British Special Forces use HUMVEEs while working with the US Special Forces they prefer the HUMVEE.)
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<br>HUMVEEs cost around 40-50k, which isn’t bad considering what they’re made of and what they have and how long they last. When you hear about people saying they break down so much is because of how many there are. If you’re using 5,000 HUMVEEs of course many of them will break down. If you put 5,000 average cars together lots of them will break down, you just can’t tell when out in public because it’s not noticeable.
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<br>When people watch HUMVEEs get stuck its almost always because the driver has this brainless sense of “I have a HUMMER, so I can drive over and through anything.” Because of this they don’t pay attention to how they are driving. If you know how to handle it and what it’s capable of doing and know what you can and can’t do, then you’ll get it stuck or have problems with it.
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<br>The HUMVEE is considered the best not because of its capability, but CAPABLILITES because it handles more diverse terrain than anything else and can be fitted to do many more things. It has its weak points here and there but NOTHING is perfect unless it’s the vehicle stated below.
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<br>If you’re wondering what the ULTIMATE off-road vehicle is, then it’s the VANGUARD.
Written on: 02/05/2004
Last year in october I took my Nissan Patrol to the 4x4 festival days in Belgium. Where I come from, this is a very popular offroad event. Needless to say that there were lots of 4x4's to join the fun, including only one hummer. Then the trip started. The hummer got stuck in almost every turn. I never used my winch that day. The hummer needed it on allmost every climb. To make the misery complete, it stalled and wouldn't start again. I dragged the famous humvee back to the start with my, in comparison, small Patrol, never getting stuck once. So the hummer is the most capable offroader available? Maybe in the USA, bust certainly not in Belgium.
Written on: 13/04/2004
Landrover Range Rover any day.
Written on: 11/04/2004
I'm looking to buy either a hummer or a Range Rover vogue V8 and i'm not sure which to buy, I like the look of both and I know they are both kings, but which is best? I'm not plannig on scaling mountains in it, it'll be used mainly on-road, and the opinion I want is NOT a patriotic one please, I want an honest unbiased opinion.
Written on: 10/02/2004
I've seen many hummers get stuck at the dunes where i'm from. It's always a big chevy or ford truck that ends up pulling out the so called "bad bum" hummers. I agree, there great for offroading. But what it comes down to, the best 4x4 vehicle is only as good as its driver.
Written on: 31/01/2004
As a serving member of the Royal Marines (Britain's Commando's) I've spent years driving on and off road, Landover's, Defenders and Wolf TUM versions.
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<br>Ive also had the 'pleasure' of driving USMC Hummers and was slightly impressed until we found how easily it got stuck in mud due to its excessive weight and automatic gearbox and locking diffs that dont.
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<br>The Hummer is ok in large expanse of Mohave dessert, but not a patch on the Land Rovers versatility in any condition. The Hummer is 7' x 14' long and only has seats for 4 in a standard version the LR TUM (truck utility medium) on the other hand is smaller, lighter, faster and can accommodate 9 at a squeeze.
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<br>The Hummer has been totally over engineered because its designer obviously wanted to make it the ultimate off roader, when, like every thing in life the more simple it is, the better it works.
Written on: 07/01/2004
I think we can sum it all up and say that the hummer is the best offroad vehical ever designed.
Written on: 08/10/2003
www.pirate4x4.com
<br>good stuff here.
Written on: 07/10/2003
I must agree that all the vehicles are good at their own thing. Even custom built ones must be built for one thing in particular, such as rock climbing, mudding, etc. If one of these custom built rock climbing rigs went out in the sand though, it would be a different story. So, it all depends on the terrain. I have a Land Rover Discovery Td5 that is built to the same standards as the Camel Trophy Discoveries, and it is very capable and dependable in this environment.
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<br>But im not concerned with this, I would like to have a word with this "Richard Christian" guy. I have been desperatly trying to reach this so-called www.4x4xfun.com long before I saw his post here. If you go 2 the site, it is all about tobacco processing, not anything even resembling a site dedicated to 4x4s. PLEASE! if NE1 has ANY information, e-mail me @ [email protected]
Written on: 29/06/2003
Hey, my father has a Humvee, the Toyota really does show it up off-road. Where are you gonna come up on a 3 foot wall in the woods anyway? it just isn't designed for everyday off-roading. Sure, it can handle some mud, extremely steep hills, and boulders, but a modified Toyota for less than 30grand can still show this hefty 80grand SUV how it's really done. There's places where it's just too big to get around an 18 inch rock, and it gets stuck on it. I guess it all depends on wut kind of off-road trails u have in ur area. If u have an abandoned military off-road facility near you, then this is the vehicle might be worth the money.
Written on: 30/05/2003
My Land Rover 90 Diesel used to belong to the British Army. It originally had a snorkel and axle breather tubes which would, theoretically, allow it to 'wade' to a depth of 6 foot! Problem is that it drowns the driver & passengers (that's military thinking, I guess... :-)
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<br>Presumably the Hummer has something similar?
Written on: 30/05/2003
I have a 1986 Toyota 4-Runner with big mud tires and a lift and yes the Toyota can go throught a good bit of mud here in alabama but my buddy has a humvee that is unbelievable and indestructable. the humvee's are the ultimate off-road machine. we have driven down creeks before in water up to our chest in side the humvee and i can personally tell you my Toyota would never be able to do that!
Written on: 20/05/2003
(Before commenting, I hope no-one thought my laughing at Jay's tongue-in-cheek comment about the hummer being conspicuous was "getting personal". The image of an inconspicuous convoy of Military Land Rovers full of heavily armed US Special Forces made my smile. Sorry Jay!)
<br>Anyhow, I suggest that the original US Army Willies Jeep is the best 4x4 by far. So simple, cheap and lightweight. Overall it is probably the "most usable" of all the off roaders for us civilians having fun. Of course, all the 4x4s are great, even the recreational ones. It is fantastic that they're so popular.
<br>Enjoy your off-roading!,
<br>Rick
Written on: 19/05/2003
I think it's great that people have many opinions, dissappointed that people get personal though. The hummer is a good 4x4 vehicle for a specific purpose. It's difficult to say what is the best vehicle is overall, but if you are a serious off roader the main consideration is strength, servicabilty in extreme locations, and the ability to cross a multiple of terrains. The hummer I am afraid cannot do this. For example, I could drive across a desert or rocks in a land rover and also through a densely wooded forest, a hummer could not drive through the forest. The long wheel base of the hummer would render the vehicle completely stuck on a small hillock whereas a short wheel base vehicle would simply drive over... therefore.. the hummer is not the best 4x4 !.... off roading should be fun...www.4x4xfun.com..respect each others vehicles and opinions!!
Written on: 15/05/2003
Again, it comes back to Built rigs. Not bought. For fourwheeling, i would choose a rig that someone has put their sweat, blood, house payments, and tears into, anyday over a hummer. It shows a lot more if you can build a rig than if you can buy one. Also, i have heard Numerous occasions of hummers breaking a T-case and putting holes in them while off-roading. and the military says that occasionally, when one would break, they would just park it and get into another one. So the Land Rover may be a good one, but a bit too pricy, gimme the moeny and i could build a rig much much better than any bought one.
Written on: 13/05/2003
Jay, that's so funny! Great, I fell about laughing. The Hummer "would stand out"! Yep, just like a British vehicle full of soldiers (smile).
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<br>It seems to me that this debate has established two things: the hummer/Land Rover is best! Each to its own environment. I own an ex-military Land Rover. I'd love to own a Hummer too.
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<br>Anyone who owns a Hummer and would like to visit the UK, I'll take you Land Rover driving where it works best (deep mud, axle-articulation and narrow-winding-lanes, but, in exchange, you must let me visit and show off your Hummer. BOTH GREAT VEHICLES.
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<br>The End.
Written on: 09/05/2003
The Land Rover probably would be a better choice for the Special Forces when they are behined enemy lines because if they were in a hummer they would stand out.
Written on: 08/05/2003
Who cares?
Written on: 25/04/2003
It's interesting to see that US Special Forces in Iraq are making extensive use of the Land Rover rather than the Hummer. So, who knows best? My money's on the Special Forces guys! (Of course the Hummer is a great vehicle, just that Land Rover's "Defender" 90/110 is better in some situations.)
Written on: 25/04/2003
All you people dont have a clue about exactly what a Hummer can do. I have driven numerous 4X4's in the last 10 years and none can even come close to the famous 'Humvee'. Typically the English 'big-up' the Land Rover, but thats mainly due to heritage and pride, and the ignorance that England used to be a world leader in 4X4 design, but is no more! As for the little Toyota, it seems like certain people are tryin to polish a lump of fecal matter. The only 4x4 thats worth even comparing was made by Lamborgini, and being lucky enough to have driven one then you would not even look at any 4X4 again!
Written on: 11/02/2003
Where can I hire a Hummer in Britain?
Cheers
Mark
[email protected]
Written on: 30/01/2003
I am in the US army and drive hummers almost every day if you know how to drive it (which who ever wrote this dosent) then just about the only way it will get stuck is if it somehow gets fliped over.
Written on: 08/01/2003
Hummer is the ultimate in untouchable vehicles, it's tuff, looks great and best of all it's the most competent off road vehicle, the only downside apart from the price, is they may be a bit widee for the averagee bush track, that only means a chain-saw would be a must. Hail, Hail the mighty HUMMER.
Written on: 06/12/2002
well, of course there are advantages and disadvantages of ANY Offroad vehicle that is going to be produced. Jeeps, Land Rovers, Toyotas, Chevys, GMCs, Fords, etc. all have their advantages and their disadvantages. It all depends upon on what you want your vehicle for. A jeep might be able to pull a Hummer out of a mud puddle on the side of the road but by far the best off road vehicles are the ones that are custom made. Otherwise, you will have to suck up what your vehicle can't do. I have a Suburban 4x4 and it is lifted but it can do a lot more that some of my friends vehicles. Of course there are somethings My Beast can't do, but even vehicles with 19" of lift and 44" tires there are going to be. Ultimately, i would choose a hummer if i had to choose a Stock offroader, but other than that the best 4x4's are made not bought.
Written on: 04/12/2002
Hummer, long wheelbase in fact 130 in. hmm, I think I would take a 100 in. land rover wheelbase over that. I'm only 15 and you guys think that the hummer is so big and bad when the truth is the jeep cherokee will do better rock crawling stock, stock means that there are no modifications. If I wanted to get stuck I would most definetly get a hummer. If you don't believe me then you can look at my wallpaper which has my a jeep similar to mine pulling one of your so-called big bad machines. Hows that for education from a 15 yr old.
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Written on: 03/12/2002
My tuppence worth if I may: The Hummer is King in open environments like desert, tundra, etc. It is a mudder too having those wide nobbly tires as standard. But the Hummer is not King say on narrow tree lined mountainy trails with scree and gravelly surfaces because it is physically too wide, whatever about technical suspension properties. For such tight environments the narrower Defender 90 or 110 easily beats the Hummer.
Also the original review stated one advantage of the Hummer as being cheap. At $100K, that it's not especially considering the loose and rather primitive 6.2L turbodiesel motor that seems to be standard fare across all US vans and trucks.
Written on: 02/12/2002
Who do you think you are dissing a Hummer like that??? There may be places that they can't go, but those places are few and far between. A Hummer is definitely the offroad vehicle of choice if you can afford it. Toyota's, I will give some credit, but nothing will tear up the terrain like a hummer.
Written on: 24/10/2002
I thought you would know that big, high horsepower, rigs are for mudding, not four cylinder toyotas. Light trucks are great for rocks because of their manueverability and you also do not need a lot of horsepower for creeping in the rocks. You need flexible suspension, lockers, and low gearing.
Written on: 21/10/2002
Articulation? can your little toyota climb a 3-foot vertical wall? didn't think so! c'mon, little trucks are light and can spin their way through some mud, but any serios off-roader has a real 4x4, Hummer being the king of them all.
Written on: 14/10/2002
Chris, Do you know anything about suspension articulation? Hummers are fully independent suspension, which means horrible flex on obstacles. I would take a Toyota truck over a Hummer out here in the rocks.....Rick your review has no point to it.
Written on: 08/10/2002
The Hummer is great fun. Sure it's tough (in military version ...not quite so tough in civilian form). Of course, the King of off road vehicles is the British Land Rover as used in more expeditions and world military than any other off road vehicle. But, the Hummer is a different design concept. I love off roading my ex-Military Land Rover 90 ...and equally loved riding around Colorado's forest tracks in an ex-Military Hummer V. --- Go take a trip in one and Enjoy! -- Rick.
Written on: 07/10/2002
Hey AG from England! Ever hear of the saying anything can be done in the movies.
Written on: 09/09/2002
It's obvious the "person" who wrote this review is joking. I seriously doubt his "little Toyota" beats his "Hummer that gets stuck everywhere". It was a weak attempt at a joke. C'mon man, you at least could have made up some stuff about the transmission or how it handles....something most if us can not talk about because we don't have one. But we all know the Hummer is the KING hands down off-road. Use your imagination at least.....let me guess, you're the guy still yelling "April fool" 2 weeks later.....
Written on: 24/08/2002
I totally agree with the review
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105971_Bill Willings.'s Response to J.P..'s Review
Written on: 10/06/2003
Actually, there are quite a few obstacles that can stop a Hummer offroad. Its greatest weakness is its large width and height. This fact means you simply will not make it through tight jeep trails with narrow passes or canyons. Of course the military has explosives and can blast a path through - but that's not an option for civilians!
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<br>The vehicle's extreme length and weight, along with its limited suspension travel (it has independent front/rear suspension) can result in it being high-centered on rocks. Even with tall tyres, a boulder can hang up on the frame keeping front and rear tires off the ground. Add to that the vehicle's considerable expense, cramped interior (for its size) and poor fuel mileage, and you have a 4WD that's a poor choice for most buyers.
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<br>For all-around 4WD civilian use, most people would be better off with a smaller, lighter 4WD vehicle with solid axles and good suspension travel.