Carry a spare because of reliability? 
24 hours to go!
While not explicitly a rule, it would be nice to have some photos/ads of all entries posted before the deadline. It makes my job easier.
Featuring:
- 4.0 liter I6 with throttle body injection (the F150 had this in 1983 so I don’t feel bad) producing 135hp
- Four wheel drive with locking diffs and offroad tires and skidplate
- Standard bench seat interior with basic radio
- Four wheel drum brakes because realism and helped me reach $14k on the nose
- No latch for the tailgate because I’m an idiot and I forgot
- Styling definitely stolen from Far Cry
1981 Boulder L150 4x4 StepSide
Details
First introduced in 1962, this generation of Boulder L-series saw only a pair of major updates in it’s decades-long production run, first in 1968 when 2wd models received independent front suspension and the chassis was galvanized, then again in 1975 when 4x4 models received front coil springs.
In 1981 it received a facelift, finally moving to rectangular sealed-beam headlamps. It also received a new base engine; a 4.0 liter, 247ci I6 that replaced both the 3.7l 228ci Legion Slant Six and the 4.4l 270ci Big Six. The new engine was based on the Legion motor, as Turból was looking to consolidate I6 production and it was to be used in large Legion cars as well, but with increased stroke for additional displacement and torque.
As expected from a Boulder vehicle, offroad capability is still a priority, and the available offroad package included manual locking differentials, skidplates, a more aggressive final drive ratio, and plastic fender moldings with a slightly widened stance.
Additional Photos
1982 Suisei Yama Sharyo
Developed by Suisei in the late nineteen seventies to eighties for the JGSDF, the Yama Sharyo could arguably be called one of the pinnacle vehicles of the Japanese Military.
With a powerful straight six engine, four wheel drive, locking differentials and unbeatable reliability, this absolute beast of a 4x4 was designed for the harsh terrains of combat.
not more photos
I was going to make a competent ad and take more photos, but life got too busy, so here’s my poorly designed one, but with flavor text.
Reuna Hana XXL dually
State of the art pickup truck.
XXL model comes with many dealer installed extras, such as removed air conditioner and deleted rear seats.
1982 Birch Hypic Express 2.4 OR Package
Our newly revealed passenger car also comes in a high-roofed van variant. Sporting a 2.4L turbocharged inline 4 found in all van variants gives the Hypic Express great fuel economy and low-end torque. The OR Package upgrades the car with a 4x4 system, stronger rear axle, a lockable diff and greatly increased ground clearance.
Get the van you need with all the comfort of a regular car that you want for only 14500$.
Note: all units are imported from Europe. Customs may charge fees. For further questions, call our hotline: 1-800-BIRCH-STRONK. Calling fee 2.31$/call and 1.49$/min.
Cant argue about opinions even if they are incorrect.
Entries are closed!
I’m still processing some entries but I should have preliminary reviews out shortly. Stay tuned.
I’ve got 39 entries to go through.
Reviews Part I
Sitting in his motel room, Bill begins flipping through the Truck magazine to see what’s available for him to purchase. The plan is to note down everything that catches his eye and then check the yellow pages for dealerships to visit tomorrow. The first part of the magazine he lands on is the list of vehicles the editors don’t recommend.
@anotherone Henderson Monstera 4300
“The Monstera 4300 is packed with advanced features such as a 5-speed (!) and disc brakes all around yet still returns a well below average fuel economy, not even managing 9 MPG. It is also not geared for towing by any means and has the stiffest sway bars we’ve seen this side of a track car.”
Engineering is all over the place (chasing stats above realism?) and the tow rating is a whopping 60 kg.
@Madrias Bricksley Wanderer High-Top
“The Bricklsey Wanderer High-Top is a solid multi-purpose alternative to the standard 4x4 carryall. Its one downside is the rather limited tow rating, so it’s not necessarily the best proposition for some.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg.
@vero94773 Edison Montauk LX-S
“The Edison Montauk LX-S is a capable offroader outfitted for adventurers but it sacrifices utilitarian duties for it. The tow rating is lower than you’d expect and the leather bucket seats all around several compromise interior practicality, not to mention the low quality radio.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg and interior layout is completely unrealistic (rear bucket seats, and premium interior with basic entertainment).
@Mad_Cat Estrada Familiar 1600WL
“The Estrada Familiar 1600WL is a very cheap utility wagon that is neither capable nor spacious and is best suited for small urban deliveries.”
Load capacity of only 999.9 kg might have slid by but cargo volume is also below 2000L. Generally poor performance in important stats.
@LinkLuke GMI Friesian Frontier Edition
“The GMI Friesian Frontier Edition, while an attractive offroader, is unfortunately no longer available due to tighter emissions regulations.”
No catalytic converter.
@EnCR Avantii Mammoth
“The Avantii Mammoth is a very affordable offroader that performs quite well for a variety of utilitarian uses. It is however let down by its rather limited tow rating, so if you really don’t need to tow anything substantial it can be a decent purchase.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg.
@HelloHi Warlock Conqueror
“The Warlock Conqueror is an interesting little offroader, offering plenty of capabilities in that regard but cannot be used as for utility purposes due to the effectively non-existant tow rating.”
*Towing capacity of 0 kg (also premium interior with basic entertainment is never a way to go.)
@Restomod Brute 15000 4x4
“The Brute 15000 4x4 is just a bad truck, from the delays due to the overcomplicated engine, to the apparently inadequate tow rating, and the abysmal comfort levels.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg, engine ET too high.
@Urke101 Fukorami Sightseer EO-48 Pickup
“The Fukorami Sightseer EO-48 Pickup is quite a mounthful of a name and likely too much for it to tow. While a mostly solid vehicle, the inadequate tow rating means we can’t recommend it.”
Towing capacity of 0 kg.
@oppositelock GSI Caribou
“The GSI Caribou looks like a capable truck at a glance, but while it can haul decently and works well when empty, the electronically controlled automatic seems to have issues in terms of towing, giving it an effectively non-existant tow rating.”
Towing capacity of 0 kg.
@patridam Earl E-15 Lakota 4x4
“The Early E-15 Lakota 4x4 truly looks the part of an all-American truck and while it is for the most part, it falls short with an unusually low tow rating for the segment.”
Towing capacity not meeting the minimum 500 kg.
Following the list of vehicles to avoid, Bill flips over to the main article: the comprehensive list of 1982’s 4x4s, ranging from wagons to trucks to vans. And so he begins leafing through to see what looks intresting to him.
@cake_ape Mons Crest
The first vehicle Bill lands on is a seemingly conventional compact pickup truck. Bill finds the styling rather attractive and reads on.
“The Mons Crest is quite expensive for the segment at $15,800. It’s a technological showpiece likely to cost a pretty penny to repair. It makes use of the latest in electronic fuel injection technology, electronic 4-speed automatic, sport brakes, and sport steering”
That’s enough to make Bill shake his head at it. The article also mentions that its offroad capabilities are quite lacking compared to a lot of the competition, so it’s definitely not the right vehicle to replace the Dominion.
@conan Ossan Hardwood 4x4
The next vehicle Bill flips over to is a coupe utility. That’s something different but there’s no reason to not have a look, maybe he’ll be pleasantly surprised.
“The Ossan Hardwood 4x4 is a very affordable proposition for those not in need of a heavy duty truck. Being a coupe utility we can understand the 5-speed, but what we don’t understand is why the cabin is so spartan. It’s almost comparable to a military jeep.”
While Bill isn’t too concerned about comfort, he also isn’t keen on anything too spartan. The article also mentions its capabilities and driving characteristics. Bill ultimately decides to pass up on it since he’s sure to find equaly capable vehicles that haven’t sacrificed comfort.
@yangx2 Innis Kiwanda Jumbo Junior
Bill goes through a few pages and lands on a two door offroader that looks like it can tackle any terrain in the Yukon.
“The Innis Kiwanda Jumbo Junior is a unibody pickup with a standard bed cap that effectively transforms it into a more conventional offroader. The main thing to note about it is that it’s astounding at off road driving while being better suited for utility purposes than a standard offroader due to still having a separate bed.”
Bill was surprised to find out it was actually a truck, but a closer look at some of the photos confirmed it. The praise it got for its capabilities and the affordable price of $14,400 means he’s off to the yellow pages to find the nearest Innis dealer to have a look tomorrow.
@AMuteCrypt Taupo Workhorse
The next vehicle Bill has a look at is a high riding compact truck with a very saprtan design.
“The Taupo Workhorse is a capable compact pickup that offers excellent capabilities when off the road and rather good fuel economy, and while feeling solidly built it is more expensive than a lot of its competitors.”
The price was nagging at Bill a bit, as the truck doesn’t seem that outstanding. He also finds that the very bare bones styling would be more at home in the lot of a mine or logging site than on his property, so he flips the page to something else.
@abg7 GEC GXT 4.2 4x4
Bill goes through a few pages until he finds a quite modern conventional pickup truck that looks comparable to a new version of his Dominion.
“The GEC GXT 4.2 4x4 is one of those trucks that does the jack of all trades role quite well, being quite capable in all aspects seemingly without any compromises. We do have some hesitation about the electronically controlled 4-speed automatic; you just never know how new technology will hold up.”
That line about the transmission does give Bill some hesitation but this is a capable truck after all. While the $15,000 price is affordable, the article mentiones that service costs are a bit high compared to many others. Bill decides that unproven tech is not worth the risk when the vehicle does not particularly stand out to him.
@Jaimz Franklin Marshall Overlander
Turning back the page, Bill finds a rugged 4x4 that looks like it would be right at home in his corner of the Yukon.
“The Franklin Marshall Overlander may look like a conventional 4x4 but it makes use of a unibody chassis that seems to work well in giving it additional rigidity. While offroad capabilities are not compromised we’d be careful not to beat on it too much as it is lacking in utilitarian qualities.”
A unibody 4x4 is certainly something unusual for Bill. While this is fairly small, the foldaway rear seats give it enough cargo space to be usable and the $14,800 price is more than fair. However, Bill gets the feeling that he’ll need something more utilitarian.
@GassTiresandOil Armor Anvil Mesa
Finding his way toward the start of the article, Bill lands on another stylishly rugged offroader with some eye popping graphics.
“The Armor Anvil Mesa is one of the best offroaders on the market, and while it’s not the most all-rounder it’s certainly no slouch for family and utility use. The suspension is rather stiff however, making it less than ideal in terms of ride comfort.”
Bill finds it hard to look away from the very attractive styling. He figures that it’s worth deciding for himself if the ride comfort is a problem or not seeing as it checks off all the boxes, so he adds the Armor dealership to his list. At $15,800 it’s near his budget limit but seems to offer enough for it.
@nerd Dixiecar Truman 271
Bill next ends up on a page with a very retro woody wagon that looks more like something his parents drove when he was young.
“The Dixiecar Truman 271 is an unusually retro styled woody wagon but we assure you that it is a new car. It has the same capabilities as you’d expect from a station wagon while it’s 4x4 system also gives it some carryall characteristics, but not to the level of something based on a truck chassis.”
Retro styling aside, the utilitarian and offroad properties of this car seem a little low compared to some of the others Bill has looked at. The wood veneer along the sides also looks pretty crudely applied and Bill decides it’s not worth a closer look.
@Knugcab IP Brigadier Uti-Lite
Bill flips through until he finds something more conventional, this time a compact pickup truck.
“The IP Brigadier Uti-Lite is one of the best towing platforms out there and it’s cheap. Beyond that, it has a decent load capacity but its bare bones nature make it mediocre in pretty much all other ways.”
This isn’t the vehicle for Bell as he wants something to do more than just towing and looking the part, so it’s back to flipping through the magazine to find something else.
@mart1n2005 KnightFreight Packer 4x4
The next vehicle to catch Bill’s eye is a conventional 4x4 cargo van.
“The KnightFreight Packer 4x4 offers all the space and utility you’d expect from a van along with the offroad capabilities of a carryall. It is also worth noting how comfortable it is to drive, especially for a a purely utilitarian vehicle.”
The praise given by the Truck staff to this van have Bill reaching for the yellow pages to hopefully find a KnightFreight dealership nearby to give this one a try. It’s not every day one finds a cargo van that’s seemingly a joy to drive and coming in at a low $14,700.
@Admiral_Obvious Eagle Emporium
Bill next comes across a strange green van that looks more like a car than a conventional van.
“The Eagle Emporium is quite different, as should be obvious by its, ahem, unconventional design. While it cannot be denied that it offers good utility features and can certainly do as a small delivery van, we cannot recommend the offroad capabilities nor would we recommend it for rural deliveries for that reason.”
As he really couldn’t get behind the styling of what somehow made him think of an ogre, Bill finds it easy to move on after learning it’s not capable enough for his needs. There’s a reason he’s looking through Truck magazine rather than any number of car publications.
@missionsystem CCM Reacher
The next vehicle to catch Bill’s eye is an unusual soft top pickup with attractive graphics that he first mistook as a conventional soft top offroader.
“The CCM Reacher does a very good job at combining work and fun into an attractive package. It is an excellent offroader while also being excellent in a utility role, making this another of those jack of all trades that seemingly does so with no sacrifices.”
Bill had not really considered a soft top vehicle but a solid case is made for this one, and he could always get a hard top for it for better insulation during winter. This is another one to grab the yellow pages for, especially with the $13,700 being the lowest so far.
@Maverick74 Ryuji Shogi 4x4
Bill flips through and lands on a Japanese compact truck with some interesting graphics along the side.
“The Ryuji Shogi 4x4 is a solidly built truck that can hold its own off the road and at work. While the price is very attractive it is let down by its rather spartan interior and poor driving comfort.”
While he has nothing against imports, Bill does have a thing against comfortable vehicle. Even with its stellar styling and utilitarian qualities, it’s not enough to overcome the fact that it’s simply not comfortable enough.
@Stryder237 Zihatsu Elysian 3.0 Trek
Bill finds his way to the end of the alphabetical list to land on polished looking Japanese offroader. The magazine must have processed the pictures backwards because the steering wheel is located on the wrong side.
“The Zihatsu Elysian 3.0 Trek is a well engineered and capable offroader that works just as well hauling cargo as it does passengers. It doesn’t specifically stand out anywhere but stands strong as a mostly solid all rounder. It is fairly lacking in tersm of utilitarian features.”
The article did mention the back seat needs to be folded down to make full use of the cargo capabilities but that isn’t an issue for someone who travels alone like Bill. While the $14,600 price is enticing, the apparently lacking utility features as well as a mention of servicing costs slightly above average force Bill to pass it up.
@Xepy Kaufmann Kleinbus 2.5
Once again Bill flips through and ends up looking at a van, this time an imported cabover passenger model with a very European flair.
“The Kaufmann Kleinbus 2.5 may ultimately be a passenger van outfitted with 4x4 but it does that very well. The short wheelbase allow it to get surprisingly far from the road whereas the interior is more spacious that some larger vehicles and has loads of storage space even with all the seats occupied.”
A European passenger van isn’t what Bill was expecting to find but this one seems to be worth taking a look. The $15,300 asking price isn’t the cheapest but then there are a lot of possibilities with this unconventional vehicle that have him seeking out a dealership.
@karhgath Angus HT300 SE Ranger
Going back through the magazine, Bill finds himself looking at something more conventional: a pickup truck. This one promises military levels of utility.
“The Angus HT300 SE Ranger is one of the most capable trucks we’ve tested this year. Seriously. It’ll seemingly haul and tow anything you throw at it while driving through just about any terrain with ease. Our only gripe is a small one about the fuel consumption being slightly higher than average.”
Slightly higher than average fuel economy isn’t enough to dissuade Bill from a capable truck that looks the part, but reading further about the service costs and fairly high sticker price are. Even such a capable truck has some shortcomings that can’t be ignored.
@Mikonp7 Deer and Hunt Fallow MKI Safari
From one pickup to another, Bill’s attention is captured by a truck outfitted with offroad accessories that cuts quite the tough image.
“The Deer and Hunt Fallow MKI Safari is another of those trucks we’ve gotten our hands on that we can declare as being one of the most capable on the market and we truly mean it. It’s tough, it’s rugged, and it can handle any job through any terrain. It isn’t the most cooperative thing to drive however.”
At $16,000 on the nose, Bill does have the money for it, but the issues about how drivable it is worry him especially for winter and how uncooperative his old Dominion can be. The article also mentions rather high service costs, so Bill figures it’s enough downsides to not be worth testing out.
@66mazda @Aruna Kaizen Terravis 15o
Bill flips through to land onto another imported offroader also outfitted for the part. The styling almost looked like a pickup with a bed cap at first but a closer look shows that isn’t the case.
“The Kaizen Terravis 15o looks like any number of other offroaders but it manages to be one of the best to tackle unpaved terrain. Truly surprising is how much weight it seems to be able to carry, though it’s not the most utilitarian vehicle when compared to a pickup.”
Bill is placed in a tight spot on this one again as it really tugs at his heart. Thinking with his brain he figures that with the higher retail price of $15,700 paired with less than stellar utilitarian qualities and the apparently higher servicing costs make it not worth his time.
@Kyorg Merca-Boretti GS82 LX-6
The next vehicle that sticks out to Bill is what he initially took for a soft top offroader but a closer look revealed to be a soft top pickup truck.
“The Merca-Boretti GS82 LX-6 is the king of the trail. This was the vehicle that none other could keep up with in the trails. Beyond the outstanding offroad capabilities, it is a comfortable vehicle that isn’t all play: it holds up well like one would expect from a pickup. It does seem like the stereo budget was put into the transmission with that electronically controlled 3-speed.”
All that offroad praise does have a part of Bill excited but there’s also a part of him that’s cautious about that transmission, while the low spec radio is a strange pairing with leather seats. While $15,400 is affordable, the unproven technology and seemingly elevated service costs have Bill hesitant enough to decide to pass over this one.
@Petakabras Cabrera Pathfinder Injection
Bill flips through and stops on a page with an unusual yellow soft top vehicle. Strangely enough, the magazine mentions it’s a pickup truck but from the photos that’s clearly not the case.
"The Cabrera Pathfinder Injection is an unusual vehicle with its long soft top and somehow being officially classed as a pickup truck. It’s capable but doesn’t particularly stand out in any ways outside its unconventional styling, rendering it outclassed by several less expensive vehicles.
While he can’t say he’s a fan of the styling, Bill was willing to give it a chance but the high purchase price with no particularly outstanding qualities means he goes back to flipping through the article for something else.
@Spot IMC L250 Quad-Drive
Bill finds himself once again looking as a brown van with styling surprisingly similar to one he’s seen before. After double checking that it isn’t a variation of that cargo van, he carries on reading.
“The IMC L250 Quad-Drive is a 4x4 passenger van that can hold its own with various trucks and SUVs for work and tackling rough terrain. Where it loses praise is the rather high sale price along with the service costs being much higher than we’d expect from a van, so if you have a large budget and need a van that can do some offroading then it can be the van for you.”
Servicing costs and asking price are both things that matter to him, and while he can afford it, he isn’t comfortable spending this much on a vehicle that isn’t as impressive off the road and will end up costing him when it needs servicing.
@Arn38fr Watson Cargo V8
Flipping back toward the end of the article, Bill once again finds himself looking at a coupe utility. It’s not the first one and still seems odd to him but worth giving a chance.
“The Watson Cargo V8 is a capable 4x4 coupe utility that can almost hold its own against conventional pickup trucks. It can haul and tow adequate amounts of cargo and offers an alternative to a larger pickup truck. We do think it is outfitted with inadequate tires as even with an automatic it struggles to keep the wheels from spinning on dry pavement.”
Well that seals it for Bill, capabilities aren’t outstanding and it’ll just chew through rubber. He gave it a chance and it just isn’t for him.
@Detsikeulii Birch Hypic Express 2.4
Going back to the other end of the article, Bill once again finds an unusually sleek car-based van.
“The Birch Hypic Express 2.4 is a small, strangely designed van that is more capable than it seems. While small it can haul a surprising amount of cargo but it seems that the low cost was achieved with sacrifices to the interior, so if you want a bargain it might be the one for you.”
While the low price and decent capabilities are nice, Bill isn’t keen on the lower comfort, and the article also mention that front and rear tires are of a different size. He’ll pass up on that extra complication.
@LS-Vehicles Reuna Hana XXL
Flipping through the article once again, Bill lands on the largest truck he’s seen so far. The large heavy duty looks suggest it to be a very capable vehicle so he starts reading.
“The Reuna Hana XXL is a borderline heavy duty pickup best reserved for job sites. It can practically haul a house but it has a purely functional interior with no extras and also makes use of an unsual 4-speed electronically controlled automatic and includes a speed limiter so low that you may end up finding it when driving unladen down a mountain pass like we did.”
Back breaking comfort, complicated variable tire sizes, an unproven transmission type, and a fairly high asking price are all things Bill is not looking for in a truck, so he turns the page in search of something else.
@Elizipeazie MOOVER T330e 4x4
Bill finally finds a page with a truck he hasn’t seen yet. This truck looks quite conventional if rather small but still well worth a read.
“The MOOOVER T330e 4x4 is a compact truck that stays true on the path forged over the last decades, pushing ahead with what works. It should prove to be one of the most dependable trucks on the market and is well worth the price for buyers that value that.”
The praice for its reliability is interesting to Bill but beyond that the $15,500 seems to mostly be going toward building these well rather than capable as it seems very average in capabilities. Bill decides to pass up on this one as well, with potential reliability not being enough to sway him.
@Hilbert Suzini OKI-T 4x4
The next vehicle Bill looks at is a brightly coloured imported pickup that looks nothing like anything else he’s seen.
“The Suzini OKI-4x4 is the cheapest vehicle we’ve had a chance to look at this year. Seriously, this thing is bargain basement cheap. It offers loads of cargo space in its large bed and can hold a good amount of weight. Where the low price stands out is in the spartan interior, so unless you need something comfortable then this is an absolute bargain.”
Bargain or not, Bill does care about comfort, and he also cares about ease of maintenance from even sized tires he can rotate, so this practical back breaker isn’t right for him.
@donutsnail Boulder L150 4x4 StepSide
Bill looks through the article for anything he’s missed and lands on what he finds to be an absolutely beautiful stepside truck. This definitely looks like the sort of vehicle he wants.
“The Boulder L150 4x4 StepSide happens to be one of the more expensive vehicles we’ve tested this year but it’s another of those jack of all trades that has no problems doing it all. The quality is truly commendable and we expect this truck will be good as new for years to come.”
$16,000 is the absolute limit Bill set for himself. This truck does everything he needs quite well, but it’s expensive to purchase and expensive to service. Tentatively, Bill the Boulder dealership to his list to test drive this one.
@Falling_Comet @variationofvariables Yama Sharyo
Flipping all over the article once again, Bill finally finds the last vehicle that interests him, an attractive Japanese carryall with a military heritage.
“The Yama Sharyo is a very rugged vehicle designed to handle any terrain. While offroading is its strong suit, comfort for the whole family is also present, but it is lacking a bit in utility features. Unusually, it also makes use of a 5-speed, making it seem like it might have some sporting aspirations.”
Solid and capable, but still a $15,500 carryall that isn’t the most utilitarian thing. Bill finds himself having to pass up on this one, closing the magazine and unfortunately not ending this evening’s search on a high note.
With that, Bill will be test driving vehicles from:
@yangx2
@GassTiresandOil
@mart1n2005
@missionsystem
@Xepy
@donutsnail
Ah, crap. Kilograms, not pounds. Been so long since I participated in a challenge that I flat up forgot to change that unit so I could get that stat dialed in.
Seems like Bill is right to be wary about all the advanced tech available in 1982. Variable power steering, multi-point EFI, 4-wheel disc brakes and electronically controlled automatic transmissions were not as common back then compared to just a decade later, let alone today - especially in the utility 4x4 sector where the simplest solutions tend to be the best ones.