lagasse@biomed.UUCP (Robert C. Lagasse) (08/12/85)
There is a good article in Trailer Boats magazine (July or Aug 85) that compare the little Blazer, 4Runner, and the Jeep Cherokee. From this article and the brochures that I got from the showroom at each of these dealers, and seeing the trucks on the road, I would not buy the 4runner for towing or carrying anything heavy. It has a towing capacity of 1000 lbs and Toyota does not really recommend "towing anything with any of their vehicles" as I have read in another article (Trailer Boats March 85). The little Blazer and Ford and the Cherokee all have a decent towing rating of a couple thousand pounds anyway. My big Blazer has a ridiculous tow rating of something like 5500 pounds which I do not need (It rides like it too). I tow 2200 lbs and I think next time around it will be a little Cherokee for me. I was considering a little Blazer but, I have read too many articles in Popular Mechanics and Popular Science of dealer uncorrectable problems with the 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission used in the S-10 pickup and little Blazer. I am sick of shifting and the next time its an automatic for me, but not one that "constantly shifts, searching for the proper speed....enough to make you want to jump out of the truck" as I have read. The Trooper II does not offer an automatic or power steering, but I like the swing out back doors. I wish the Cherokee had those as an option. The Cherokee apparantly has a new super-duper 4-cylinder engine for 86 that puts all previous 4-cyl and V-6's to shame AND a tried and true automatic tranny. The Cherokee also has a fiberglass swing-up one piece tailgate. Little Blazer has a swing-up frameless (#$%^$#@ it shattered!) window and a swingdown tailgate. Enough of this rambling, back to work!