I see thousands of listings on our forum, but the vehicles that excite me most are under $10,000. There’s something charming about a well-loved 4WD with stories to tell and many more miles to give. Perhaps it’s the romantic in me, but I love the notion of throwing some bedding, basic supplies, and my camera in a cheap truck and just hitting the road. In fact, that’s exactly what I did this year after an engine failure in my main live-in vehicle; it meant traveling and living in my basic $6,000 L300 4WD for eight months. The experience has been enlightening and demonstrated how little I need to be happy. With this in mind, here are a few recent rigs posted to our forum that fit the above criteria, including an $8,000 2005 Land Rover LR3 HSE with the HD Package, a $9,000 1994 Mitsubishi Montero, and a $9,000 2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab SR5 4×4. However, today’s 1992 Toyota 4Runner (182,092 miles) at $7,000 OBO has to be the best value to date and is the perfect choice for a summer road trip. Learn more about the second-gen model in Scott Brady’s recent article Celebrating 40 Years of Toyota 4Runner.
From the Seller:
“I purchased the 4Runner in October of 2021 with 84,000 miles. I imported the car to Connecticut and have since changed the oil regularly, with a new battery, power steering pump, wipers, and brakes at 105,000 miles. Clean title, no accidents, family owned before me with two different people on the title, so I’m technically the third owner (Connecticut does not issue titles for vehicles older than 20 years). This is a great vehicle to get started with your adventure or to use as a base for a full build—it does not need much.”
1992 Toyota 4Runner SR5
The 4Runner is fitted with a 3.0-liter V6 that produces 150 horsepower, 180 pound-feet of torque, and returns a combined 14 mpg. An exceptionally long-lived motor is matched with impressive capability thanks to 4WD, high and low range, armor, and a center-locking differential. Inside, these rugged credentials are balanced with driver comforts that include:
- Power steering, windows, and locks
- Sunroof
- Air-conditioning
- Cruise control
- Pioneer audio
Distinguishing Features
This 4Runner is a rarity in that it’s largely unmodified and could be enjoyed as is or utilized as a blank canvas for a full overland build-out.
- Tepui Low-Pro 2 Tent available for $1,500 (includes roof bars and bedding)
This 1992 Toyota 4Runner SR5 is listed for $7,000 OBO and is currently located in Danbury, Connecticut. Check the full vehicle specifications via the original Expedition Portal forum post here.
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