AnnaD:
Now this is JUST my $.02, but here goes. From what ya say, you'll be haulin lots of stuff, BUT, your not towing anything. I can personally attest to the crashworthyness of the Gen1 D's, & IMHO ya can't beat em. I rolled my 99 & a BIG tree fell on this one (my 01). I swear by 4WD, & personally think EVERY vehicle should have it, especially if ya have to deal with all 4 seasons. At the very least, they should have AWD. Pure safety factor.
That being said, ya NEED to look at your economics. The D's SUCK down gas. Now this part is also a personal view, but I wouldn't TOUCH anything Dodge/Chrysler made during the Daimler regime. The Caravan was the 1st mini van ever made, & they DO have a lot goin for them, BUT, unless ya get a brandy new one (made under the new regime), stay away.
From what you've said, a mini is probably the best thing for ya. I'd find one that was AWD, & maybe all wheel disk & 4 wheel ABS. The Gen 1 D's are TRUCKS (even though many try & make em cars). The Gen 2 D is an over glorified mini van. Yeah, it has power, but it is not an off road vehicle. Hell, it can barely handle construction sites (as do most newer SUV's). Are ya planning on going off roading?
Most people buy for looks these days, not for need. Ya see that with all the SUV's rollin down the roads today, most never even hit gravel let alone trails. They have the rubberband tires on em, LCD's all over the place, & generally inept morons behind the wheel that shouldn't even drive a golf cart let alone a big assed SUV.
To be honest, if I didn't have a need to tow heavy items, I probably never woulda gotten my D. BTW, I'm on my 3rd (or 4th if ya count the one I got frauded on). I've had 4Wd vehicles since the 70's. Wouldn't have it any other way. My wife has a S10 Blazer as she doesn't need all that power. She could never go back to a 2WD vehicle again, she's seen the light on the safety issues.
Her S10 has over 160K on it & someday we'll have to replace it (as it came with the factory GM rust issues). We'll definitely go with another 4WD, but this time, diesel power, & probably a mini, as she insists on carrying tons of junk everywhere she goes. Just something to consider. Good luck in whatever you decide.
