Jason wrote "I'm not gonna sit here and brand bash or people bash or succomb to name calling like some of the less mature people in this board, but the lot of you make me glad I never became a "jeeper" "

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Jason, I resemble that remark! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> In the sake of having a little tongue-in-cheek fun, I'll own up to being the less mature Jeep owner.
Honestly, I do pay some attention to other 4x4's available in our marketplace, but I do not believe that isuzu, mitibishi, Montero, or other similar vehicles can possibly be rated the best 4x4's available . . . I would put them in the same catagory as Ford Explorers, Chevy Blazers, and Dodge Dakota's! Toyota has some good products, I like the clearance they have, and stock capabilities right off the showroom floor. Credit has to go to those manufacturers that had the forethought to include a beefy axle in their rigs; It took Jeep several decades to begin to listen to their customers!
Get over the brand loyality! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> The topic is the best 4x4 available, and has little to do with what an individual settled for when they purchased their vehicle. The Dakar Rally is in many ways similar to the Baja Rally --- those rigs are race specific --- and are in a catagory different than I would use to select the best 4x4! I think we should consider the best stock 4x4 in several trail conditions, namely sand, mud, snow, ice, and rocks! Unimogs were my suggestion, but it was pointed out that they didn't seem to do well on trails with deep mud. Ground clearance may keep the new Jeeps from being considered the overall best, but kudos have to be given to DC for offering the Rubicon to our marketplace.
Much is made about the money some Jeep owners will spend to build a specific trail worthy rig. This is especially common with rockcrawlers that want to easily traverse any trail obstacle they should encounter. But, the Jeep can be made into a superior trail rig for much less than $7500!