Find a local 4x4 forum, and hang out there. Those guys usually have a lifted rig for 4x4ing, and another that is non-lifted but a daily driver. Plenty of good used cheap vehicles on those forums, and they usually don't screw around anyone there, as they all are somewhat knowledgeable about the vehicles - unlike Ebay Mercedes customers....

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79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI