Photography: Harry Wagner Vintage is all the rage right now, from using distressed wood in home-building to growing a beard and dressing like a lumberjack. Of course, to complete the look you need a retro 4x4, like an Early Bronco, FJ40 Land Cruiser, or Jeep Grand Wagoneer. All these vehicles have skyrocketing values, but does buying one make sense for you? Despite images of sunny days at the shore that you might see on social media, there are plenty of quirks associated with classic vehicles — regardless of make or model. For starters, they don't always start. Older vehicles are simply made and generally devoid of electronics, trading fuel injection and adaptive cruise control for a carburetor and drive-by-wire throttle pedal. Glass fuses, miles of vacuum lines, and age itself can cause issues to surface at the least-opportune moments. If you plan to drive an older vehicle, keep some hand tools and spare parts with you. A pair of coveralls under the seat isn't a bad idea, either. While dressing like a garbage collector might not be as en vogue as, say, dressing like a lumberjack, coveralls come in handy when the u-joint straps come loose on your driveline. Driving an older vehicle means it doesn't come with a warranty, so plan to work on it fairly regularly. Performing your own maintenance and repairs will save you money, and give you the opportunity to gain familiarity with your vehicle. Since older vehicles are relatively simple, there's no need to be intimidated by them. Many consider tinkering with vehicles a relaxing pastime, and we at Off Road Adventures are among them. One caveat: it's much less stressful to work on a vehicle when it's not your primary form of transportation. The more often you drive and the further you go, the newer and more reliable (and comfortable) your vehicle should be. But this just applies to the pavement. On the trail, a vintage vehicle can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they tend to come with solid axles, are rugged, and smaller in size when compared to modern vehicles. On the other hand, they tend to have leaf springs, short wheelbases, and ride like a tank. Take your time and enjoy the scenery; it will be easier on both your body and your vehicle. At this point, it might sound like we're discouraging you from buying a vintage 4x4. Nothing could be further from the truth. We aren't trying to talk anyone out of getting their childhood dream vehicle, but maintaining realistic expectations can be the difference between being excited about your purchase and wincing every time you get behind the wheel. Vintage 4x4s stand out in a sea of Camrys and Accords, and let people know there is more to your life than miles per gallon. They are also a decent investment; many continue to increase in value. But if you require eight cup holders and 12-volt power ports, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. And, if you don't like getting your hands dirty, or know how to wrench on a vehicle, you're going to be in a world of hurt. A modern 4x4, such as a Wrangler or Tacoma, might be a better choice to get you to work on Monday morning, and the trails on the weekend.

There isn't much plastic inside a vintage CJ or FJ40. You never have to worry about cracks with a flat metal dash, and it's easy to add gauges or switches. Don't expect air bags or a working defroster, though. If you're lucky, you might get a functional heater. This is as Spartan as it gets.

Modern Wranglers are available with heated leather seats, power windows, air conditioning, and touchscreen entertainment. These creature comforts are great, but they aren't always the most durable when exposed to the elements over the long term. There is a trade-off between comfort and simplicity.

Power steering didn't become standard until the mid-70s. Trying to turn oversized tires, particularly with locked differentials, is a chore without power-steering. Fortunately, Advance Adapters and PSC make conversion kits to retrofit a Saginaw power steering box onto older Jeeps, Land Cruisers, Scouts, and Broncos. We would put this at the top of our priority list for modifications along with baselining all maintenance items.

Changing jets and adjusting floats is a lost art, but carburetors are simple when compared to fuel injection. Be warned: passing emissions tests can be difficult, even with a well-running carburetor. Aftermarket throttle body fuel injection systems, like those available from Howell and Holley, are significantly less expensive than an engine swap, and run cleaner and more efficiently than carburetors.

There are trade-offs to ‘wheeling an older vehicle. Typically, you won't be as concerned about scratching or denting something you're not making payments on, but some vehicles like FJ40s and Early Broncos are becoming too expensive for most people to ‘wheel. In addition to being less expensive, older vehicles tend to be smaller, simpler, and nimbler on the trail. And, they have more style than any modern vehicle.

The good news: you could get a V8 in a Jeep CJ up to 1981. The bad news: those AMC 304s were only rated at a pitiful 125 horsepower. Modern engines are considerably more powerful, efficient, quiet, and reliable. Even though it is down 86 cubic inches and two cylinders to the AMC 304, the 3.6L Pentastar engine makes more than twice as much horsepower.

For daily driving, it's tough to beat a modern vehicle. "Modern" doesn't necessarily mean "new off the dealer lot," it means new enough to have features like fuel injection, power steering, and disc brakes. These conveniences make a vehicle much easier to drive for long periods of time. Sure, they might not get as many likes on Instagram, but they sure are comfortable.

While the Jeep Wrangler is one of the few vehicles left to retain solid axles front and rear, Toyota replaced its solid front axle with independent front suspension back in 1986. Since that time, the short wheel travel torsion bars have been replaced by coilover struts, and modern Tacomas offer an excellent ride at any speed, in any terrain. Unfortunately, IFS doesn't offer the articulation and strength possible in a solid axle.

It doesn't get much simpler than leaf springs. They've been around since the days of covered wagons (literally). They locate the axle fore and aft, side to side, and support the weight of the vehicle. Leaf spring suspensions are easy to replace, rugged, simple, and inexpensive to lift. The trade-off is the ride isn't nearly as smooth as modern coil suspension systems, so you may lose a few teeth on the trail.

The best of both worlds is a classic vehicle that has been restored with a modern drivetrain, or even placed on an entirely new chassis. Mark Turner of Daystar took this CJ10 body and put it and an Aqualu bed atop a JK chassis, complete with the JK interior, and a supercharged 3.6L Pentastar engine. Being unique comes at a price, though.

Take note, millennials: manual hubs are cool, center axle disconnects are not. Getting out to lock in the hubs triggers the endorphins associated with going off-road. Unlocking the hubs when you get back to the pavement increases fuel mileage, and keeps the front-end components from having to turn all the time, reducing wear. Center axle disconnects also keep front-end components from turning, but are weak and more failure prone than hubs.

While there are replacement products and upgrades available for older 4x4s, none match the sheer volume of aftermarket accessories available for the Jeep Wrangler JK. From suspension to axles to drivetrain to accessories, if you can dream it up for a Wrangler, it's likely available for purchase. Most modern vehicles will enjoy more aftermarket support than older ones. This is especially true if you are a fan of more oddball vintage iron. Often, you will need to fabricate your own parts if you are.

Every open-top Jeep is fun in the summer, but in winter we'll take a newer Jeep any day of the week. The heater and defroster work far better, and both the hard tops and soft tops seal out the elements better than older Jeeps. Modern stability control also makes new vehicles considerably safer in inclement conditions and on icy roads.