Has there ever been a better truck?

[1989 Jeep Mike]

Over the last almost 60 years I have had a number of new trucks, including a Chevy and a Ford, but the Comanche I bought new in 1989 has been the best overall vehicle by far. Sure, the Ford 150 Lariat Crew Cab was more comfortable, and the Chevy Luv was the least expensive vehicle I ever bought, but the Chevy couldn't carry much of anything and the Ford got poor MPG and had mechanical issues quickly. The Comanche, on the other hand, has cost almost nothing over 37 years, has moved hundreds of tons of gravel and wood, and just keeps rolling along.

[1989 Jeep Mike]

Oops. Since everyone likes a truck full of gravel, here is a typical picture of my Big Ton long bed loaded with a cubic yard of 1" for my long driveway.

[fiatslug87]

Welcome, please post in the Original Owners thread also. 

 

[ComancheKid45]

I agree completely!

[Pete M]

which truck is best depends entirely on your needs.  for example, if you need to tow 8k or fit 4 people, then the MJ won't be of much help.  but as an all-around work horse and offroader that's easy to work on, it's hard to beat  

[Chico]

59 minutes ago, Pete M said:

which truck is best depends entirely on your needs.  for example, if you need to tow 8k or fit 4 people, then the MJ won't be of much help.  but as an all-around work horse and offroader that's easy to work on, it's hard to beat  

 

oh, oh, Mikey...

You're opening up the proverbial can-oh-worms! 

 

I ever tell you about the 1982 VW Rabbit P/U truck we stuffed a 2.8L VR6 12V into? 

That thing could haul gravel bro.

Like at least 2-300 lbs 

 

Seriously though.

Of course I love our Comanches but,

 

This one time,

at band camp,

I got to drive a 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat,

towing a Nascar trailer,

with close to 8K lbs of mozzarella cheese in it,

overnight,

thru 4 states.

 

Closest I ever got to feeling like Smokey and the Bandit,

Trip was BAD-A$$!!!!

And so much fun 

 

Not to mention comfortable.

 

I gotta agree with Pete-O on this one brewsky.

 

[89 MJ]

I really, really like my Comanche. It is a fun truck and is pretty capable for its size. The bed is great for hauling smaller things, but I hate towing or hauling heavy with my MJ. It just does not feel very planted, but some of that is the fact its a short bed and the way I've built the truck.

[1989 Jeep Mike]

Ok, sure, you guys have a point, my big ton Comanche is not something I want to tow a big trailer with (yes, I tried it), and the bench seat becomes a torture device after about 5 hours, but I still say it's the best overall truck I have owned. A guy wanting to live a happy life ought to believe his wife is beautiful, his country is great, and his truck is the best, and everyday I see more evidence of this. I mean, look at how perfect my chainsaw fits in my Comanche. 

[89 MJ]

When you look at what an MJ can haul compared to most new half tons, there is no comparison, the MJ is far more useful as a truck

[coheed]

The only thing I want in a truck that a Comanche doesn't have is an extra cab with more room behind the seats to be able to store things. Aside from that I don't see a point in my life that I wouldn't own a Comanche. If I need to tow something that the MJ can't handle, rental trucks are pretty cheap these days or whatever it is is bigger than I need to be moving if I'm not getting paid. The metric ton springs give you a payload higher than every single "entry level" truck these days. And a longbed is bigger than 3/4 of the trucks made in the last 10 years (for the US at least). Seems like the perfect truck for me.

[derf]

3 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

When you look at what an MJ can haul compared to most new half tons, there is no comparison, the MJ is far more useful as a truck

Hauling, sure.  But it lacks towing chops.  It can handle light duty towing fine but a built Jeep on a trailer is too much for it.  And, unfortunately, that's what I really need.

 

But for daily work stuff, it's hard to beat.

[89 MJ]

1 hour ago, derf said:

Hauling, sure.  But it lacks towing chops.  It can handle light duty towing fine but a built Jeep on a trailer is too much for it.  And, unfortunately, that's what I really need.

 

But for daily work stuff, it's hard to beat.

Agreed. For daily driving, it is plenty capable of doing what I need on a day to day basis. When it comes time to actually hook a trailer up, I will not use my MJ.

[watchamakalit]

I hauled a lot of firewood on trailers with my mj. Mostly local (30-45mins) from home.  It will tow fine, you just have to remember it is a midsize truck built during the fuel crisis. It is definitely not good for heavy trailer loads but will handle smaller stuff just fine.  I have to agree with everything else that was said. MJ's rule the truck world.