I am in the need for a family of four rig for rock crawling. Like to still be street legal, four doors or capabilities better, AC for the wife, but be able to take my two boys (9 and 13) with me and my wife, which will just ride to camp mostly.
I have looked into Full size jeep (FSJ) like the older wagoneers, but people tell me they are too hard to find parts for and too hard to work on too.
I have look into the XJ's. Like the ideas of them, but being 6'4 and 300 lbs, makes a tight fit, very tight.
I have looked at FJ60 and FJ80, little top heavy though, but not much for options of wheeling and lots of $$
I have looked at the chevy k5, lots of parts, but really top heavy, to wide for the jeep trails and no two doors and a suburban is too long , I think?!?
A ZJ is too formal for me.
A newer TJ/YJ would be perfect if it had two doors' wait there is one and it will be available for next year, whoa nellie tooooo much $$$$.
But what about stretching the TJ/YJ, what would that take. Just 9-12 inches would give room to everyone and still able to haul *** and have fun. Any Ideas out there. I am going to post this a few areas to get more interest!

the new 4 door Wrangler, but you mentioned $$$

Stretching an existing platform to accomodate more people and have more room ain't exactly cheap either though

Or find an 'older' LJ (no 4 door though),where somebody else already took the 'big hit' depreciation ...

just throwing some suggestions out there (can you tell I'm in favor of a Jeep )

An FJ80 can be made to be a very capable rig. Now, it's never going to be a Wrangler, but it doesn't seem like you would take the whole family on extreme wheeling trips anyway. Check out Old Man Emu suspensions and Downey Off-Road for suspension ideas. Also, 4wd Toyota Owner magazine has lots on these rigs. The last issue had a nice article on Land Cruisers at Moab, including many FJ80's.

you might rethink the waggy idea....

very inexpensive under 1000 running & driving
ac was an option (so it is available)
mid sized
emissions exempt (due to age)
4-door
good wheelbase
factory V8 (add propane or tbi for reliability)
axles are D44's (most of the time)
transfer case is the only drawback (quadratrac)

picture this
78 wagoneer flat black
chop the top, install cage
AMC 360
chevy TBI
SM465 (4 speed) or TH400 (auto)
Atlas / Stac t-case
D44's 4.56's, lockrites
36" tsl radials

id drive it to work.

fullsize jeep is the way to go.
spring over the front, in the rear i use ford ranger shackle hangers with xj revolvers.
look for a model 20/ t18 combo( atlas is expensive)i prefer v8 models, but the 6 cyl isnt bad.
regear, and add selectable lockers 35-37" rubber should fit with a little trimming.
unstopable, and cheap!