Welcome kirk! If you're in America's crotch, I'm in America's armpit, geographically speaking.
However, I was born and raised in the southwest and from what you've posted so far you seem like the kind of guy I'd give a beer too if you stopped by the garage when the roll-up is open.
kirk wrote: Part time driver. Camping. Trips to the lake. Short drives to work.
I dont need AC, power rear window would be nice tho.
Im not driving far or often.
I have friends. And a dog. I like the idea of the Wagoneer so I can sleep in the back.
I can figure anything out with a manual or directions, and Im not afraid to try. My dad used to say "Why pay a man to do your work? If he can do it, why cant you?"
Again, glad to be here. Thanks for the welcome.
Thanks for being so forthcoming with short answers to leading questions! I'm not that good, loquacious as I am, I tend to type way too much. Since you already like the idea of a Wagoneer, I say stick with that. Anything from 74' on will suit you fine. Chero's were available with the "WideTrack", but if we're gonna be honest, that benefits very few people. A Widetrack will fit larger tires from the get go, but you're either looking for a trail-able rig where narrowness counts or an all out wheeler where fenders get cut anyways.
74 was the switch to a Dana 44 front axle with disc brakes and that's what matters. The D20(part-time,Iron case/gear drive), BW1339(full time/chain drive/high and low range) and even the 1305(1339 without low range) behind a TH400, NP208(part-time chain drive), NP219(part/full time, no low)/228(part/full time, high and low range)/229(228 with a limited slip instead of an open diff for full time operation), are all good 4x4 systems for "getting to the lake".
The "creature comforts" question leaves a lot to be interpreted. I'm a hard core, gung-ho combat soldier and most of what I ride in is "helmets mandatory, seatbelts-discouraged". My J-10 over 45mph is over 100db inside, or by military standards, double hearing protection required. On the interstate to Colorado I could barely hear my stereo cranked all the way up. My climate controls have two settings, "off" and "defrost-full blast". I used washers under the seat mounts to adjust the seat to me and now there are no adjustments in anything, from the seat to the side mirrors and that's the way I like it!
You being single with a dog and carefree, may find yourself with something wearing a little white tanktop next to you and wanting to have a conversation, so carpet and window seals might be a benefit. With a wagoneer you have a 98% chance of getting such things right out of the box.
Well, it's my bedtime so I'm gonna cut this short, but in short, get a 74 or newer Wag that "looks right" and go from there. Even the disco front axles will be fine for "camping,getting to the lake, etc".
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