[JohnnyO]

Ours is a 4-banger automatic, it is very hilly here in western PA, and I think it is fine. Stock 225/75-15 tires (so far). On a long hill it will slow down to 60 mph with my foot to the floor, but it's better than the 3.0/stick/3.73-geared Ranger 4x4 I used to have. My main issue is that the automatic is only a 3 speed, so the engine is singing pretty good on the highway and mpg (for a 4 cyl) is pretty bad as a result. I'd recommend a stick so you have an overdrive gear.