Hey everyone, just wanna let you know, we listened to your suggestions and will have a new list of cheap Overlanders premiering tomorrow. Be sure to check it out!
Yeah, awesome capable rig, but I don’t have a lot of confidence in the “Buick” engine. I use to do head gasket jobs on those at the stealership. Very easily job, but every once in a while one would come in and the block would have a slipped or cracked liner.
Thank you so much! Reading comments like this makes all the extra work that we put into it totally worth it. Sometimes, like right now, it sucks because I miss a week here or there because I get wrapped up in something else and don’t have the time to turn out a video I’m comfortable putting my name on. Hopefully I’ll get the client work off my desk today and can get this week’s video out on Sunday!
The xterras ugliness is why I fell in love with it over time, kind of like that pug your daughter brought home and you initially thought it was a mutant.
I hear you man! No matter what you think of how it looks, it definitely can perform, and that VQ V6... I had a Frontier at one point and that was the thing I remember most about that truck.
@@armandosoria7993 1st Gen Xterras are, second Gen Xterras are more of a 4th Gen 4Runner competitor. About the only substantive difference between them is that the Xterras have leaf springs in the back where 4Runners had 5-link rear ends with coil springs.
You're absolutely right. I've always admired the Trooper. My neighbor had a blue Trooper II when I was a kid that I always thought was super cool and I know Isuzu used to build a pretty stout product. I had an '87 2WD Isuzu pickup when I was in college in Hawaii in the early 2000's. It had it's share of rust holes in the roof, but it wouldn't quit. I beat the hell outta that truck and the only thing that I ever had to fix on it mechanically in two years was a starter! I've always got me eye peeled for a good looking Trooper to feature here. Hopefully we can get one soon!
Well I'm hanging on to my 2003 Tacoma SR5 4X4 extra cab I bought new. Every time I bring it in to the local Toyota dealer for routine maintenance they try to get it from me. I just laugh at them. Nothing has ever gone wrong with it, not even dash lights. Oh, and it has only 90,000 miles on it and looks brand new. Probably one of the best vehicles ever made.
Tell them they'll have to pry it from your cold, dead hands! Never let that thing go, you'll regret it! Every time i see a facelifted First Gen Tacoma, I get really sad and upset with myself for letting the one I had go! Which engine does yours have the 3.4 or the 2.7? Mine was a 4WD 2.7L with a 5 Speed. Man that thing was perfect!
I almost lost $5000 trading with on a careless platform then I was referred to Gloria’s investment She recovered the lost and made extra profit all thanks to her.
I'm so happy for taking the bold step in working and investing my hard earn $500 and I made $6000 profits from it in just a week without paying any tax.
Lots of great info, I am a Mitsubishi guy and figured I would add a little info. The SR models.. almost all of them are factory rear air locked and came with a 220 hp 3.5 DOHC V6. The transfer case is always locked in low range. The 2nd gen is split with the 97-99 models (2.5 gen) having coil front suspension and a SOHC V6. They are very sought after and not under $5000. The Montero sport was available with a factory locker, as are some gen 3 Monteros, option and year dependent. The ZJ almost never came with a 231 tcase most 6cyl have the 242 tcase with an AWD setting that is fantastic for overlanding; and all of the V8s came with the 249 witch is stronger but not as rock crawling happy. Also basically every timing belt engine is interference, all Toyotas are, the DOHC Montero engine is a bit more expensive, definitely a bigger job. O yeah, I am professional mechanic, and I own (overland) both the Jeep and the Montero. Both for sale now actually.
My 2008 Ford Ranger Sport has been through some punishment in the Utah/Idaho mountains/desert, and still as reliable as ever. Most underrated vehicle ever
Got my 93 80 series for $3500. Daily driven and many camping trips for 3 years and now I'm ready to semi restore it. Dropping it off at Torfab next week.
Bought a $3k Jeep WJ and besides the hiccups I’ve had, I love her. I also have a Z71 04 Colorado that became a local legend. I use it as my camper truck with a camper top. Love both and they are decent rigs. They both have needed some work but nothing too crazy
Just gotta say this video immediately hooked me just due to the production quality. I was expecting some run of the mill vlog-type video but it turned out to be much better than that. Loved the video, good job.
I got a Gen 3 montero, love it! Cheap aftermarket parts (limited but cheap) and goes practically anywhere. Got mine with 150k miles for 3.5k, no major issues other than general maintenance and she’s got power when I need it and comfy enough for my 2 boys to fall asleep while driving :)
My sister had 1 brand new in the early 2000’s. Apparently they flipped more than any other vehicle at 1 time. Very controversial as far as reliability but I’m happy to hear yours has been reliable. I have the Rodeo and love it! Much more fun to drive than a 4Runner.
About a year ago I bought a mint lifted 97 Montero Sport from a retired highschool principal that lives in my area. He had the vehicle since brand new, always kept up on maintenance and it just sat in his garage after he got a shiny new luxury SUV. Sold it to me for 3k just to get rid of it plus threw in a full set of winter tires for it. I've had no issues since purchasing it and has been my favorite daily. Always get compliments being as these are rare to come by in good condition these days.
Now that is a good deal! They are definitely getting harder to find in that good of shape, especially at that price point, which is a shame because they are very good looking and capable rigs. I was just one thing over in the Facebook group that it was a shame Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Nissan largely abandoned the “real SUV” market over here to Toyota, I would have loved to have seen what that kind of competition could have done to drive development in the segment.
I have a 1992 pathfinder xe 4x4, I love this little rig. It sat behind the barn for years with a bad transmission. When the pandemic hit I put a new trans in it new tires and rebuilt the front end. Changed oil and drained the gas. Runs like a top. Timing belt should be done next.
3rd Gen 4runner here. Bought it 4 years ago from the original owner in Arizona. High miles but clean and rust free. Over 300k miles now and still running great, ready for another trip to Moab. 👍
Right on! The one we got spent the first fifteen years of its life in New Jersery. Fortunately, the under side of it doesn't look like it spent that much time on the east coast! We're currently at the mid-160's mileage-wise and I'm getting ready to start doing some work on it. I'm expecting to start having some of that content rolling out in January.
I think this is a pretty solid list. One other vehicle I would suggest is the 2003 - 2008 SG Forester. Probably go the non-turbo route if you're going for an overland build. But these can compete with any XJ or 4Runner now problem. Really regretting having sold mine earlier this year.
I've absolutely loved my 2nd gen Xterra! But I totally get the design opinions, I wasn't a huge fan of the look until I bought one. My wife really loved the look ever since she was in high school, and we got it for only half what comparable 3rd Gen 4Runners were going for in the area. We paid $7,000 for ours, but it had a couple extras and a brand new transmission, you can find them for under $5k easy enough. I haven't regretted it at all! We got the Off Road trim with a manual (huge plus there, I'll take manual over auto any day) and it's a beast, it goes everywhere I need it to, carry's everything I need, comes with a factory rear locker and Bilstein suspension, and has slightly more power and torque than even current generation 4runners. But, like you said, you need to do your research and you need to seriously inspect any that you look at. The 2nd gens have big advantages to the 1st gens and look better, but '05-'10 autos have serious SMOD issues to look out for (one more reason to love a manual) and until 2010 they had issues with timing chain guides wearing out. I'm not hugely fond of the electronic transfer case (our first offroad trip we blew a relay and got stuck in 4low, but it was a bit of a fluke and probably won't ever happen again) but all in all I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one in good condition.
I hear you there. I had a then-new '07 Frontier for a couple of years, and it was great. I had the manual, which exempted me from the SMOD club, except that the clutch disintegrated after about 7000 miles and the dealer told me to pound sand when I asked them to cover it under warranty... but that VQ engine! That's gotta be on the list of all time great V6's! We did look at a really nice looking 2nd Gen Xterra before we went with the Disco. We were into it enough we looked at it twice, I only think they were asking about $4k for it with just under 200k on the clock. It did have aftermarket Bilsteins and Toyo MT's on it, but ultimately, my wife had a love at first sight moment when she saw that Disco on eBay and that kinda sealed it for us!
Right on! Sounds like you timed the market on the XJ. I’ve always kinda thought I’d like to have a two door one. I think I might have missed the boat though, unless I wanna pay through the nose for it!
@@MattKester i don't know if the market was up in those yet when I sold it. Maybe it was. I never planned on selling, did a bunch of work and spend a bunch on money. I sold it 1 month after building both diffs with 4.56's and truetracs, I didn't even get to enjoy my work! Guy really wanted it. Now after almost 2 years of driving this 4runner, and again doing a crap ton of work to it I don't know if I'd go back into an XJ, the ride and build quality is soooo much better! Plus it just hit 140k miles. Toyota parts are quite a bit more than jeeps stuff though, that's the unfortunate part.
You forgot to mention the Hyundai Galloper. I imported one direct from Korea for $1600 USD purchase and $1633 shipping, and I love it. Has a Mitsubishi-based diesel 4 cylinder, turbo, manual 4x4. Based on a Mitsubishi Pajero Gen 1, it is no speed demon due to very low gearing, but that same low gearing allows it to crawl over rocks or dig through mud with lots of torque.
Oh wow, that’s incredible! I honestly had no clue until you said something. I just looked online an it appears like they sold a bunch of them in Spain too, I found like a dozen or so right off the bat. Unfortunately, the ones I was finding weren’t 25 years old yet. Thanks for sharing that, I might have to do another video talking about importable rigs!
@@MattKester is 25 years the magic number for importation there? Here in Canada it is 15 years, so my 1999 Hyundai Galloper fit right in. They were only made until 2003, so I can import one that year as well.
@@alexchristie2614 Yup, 25 is our magic number. There are some exemptions you can work to get some stuff in, but for general purposes, it's 25. Looks like that gives you guys a ten year head start on us scouring the world and picking up all the cool cars we didn't get in North America! You could probably make a killing in car speculation buying stuff now that you know American's are gonna snap up for no other reason than "it was cool and we didn't get it here."
@@MattKester 25... Groan that means only 1995 and older. There are the older Gallopers from 1990 that are an exact copy of Mitsubishi Pajero Gen 1, they are actually quite nice. Also, few people realize that the Dodge Raider of 1987 or so is actually a Mitsubishi Pajero 2 door Gen 1 rebadged to Dodge. Those would be perfect with a dropped in DFBA Mitsu diesel (and it will fit).
Man, I miss all those Dodge rebadges of Mitsubishi products from the DSM Motors era! Everyone seems to always focus on the Eclipse/Talon/Lazer or the 3000GT/Stealth, but you hardly ever see anyone mention all the other stuff they collaborated on, like the Montero/Raider. Didn't they have a pickup too? I think I remember a neighbor having a read one when I was growing up.
This is a 3 year old vid now. Just recentley i was gifted a jeep commander. Guy took real good care of it. For a 2006. Its got the v8 4.7. He didnt like the hemis valve cut off system. Its a fun jeep to drive. Ive already took it on some trails around where i live and had q great time. Now im thinking about upgrading it for more rugged trails around here where i live. Its all wheel drive with a 4 low. Ive had toyotas, gm and chevs. This is my first jeep. First im fixing up my k2500 gmc. Thats a beast. Then hopefully next year get the jeep upgraded. Theres a good number of commanders for sale for under 5 grand. Knowing what i know now about the commander id pick up a limited. 2 rigs is enough for now. Like the vid
Nice! Our 2000 SR5 is rolling through the mid 160's right now, but I have no doubts she'll be a three or four hundred thousand mile rig. She's gonna start getting featured a little more coming up in January as she's way overdue for some necessary maintenance. I'm going to be doing the front end bushings and upper ball joints for sure, and I might be getting creative with a couple of other things. Hopefully you can check it out when I start publishing them!
Gonna drop a hidden gem that most people have forgotten about and is still cheap. R51 Nissan Pathfinder. Before people say 'it's got independent suspension' look at how capable they are stock (payload and tow capacity), how cheap they still are, and reliable . Driven mine through hell's revenge is moab as well.
Suburban’s and Tahoe’s lifted on 35s all day long for Overlanding. They have a cult following now and the least expensive replacement parts, plus a strong aftermarket. LS V8s Baby! ;) No brainer
Jeep WJ, all the way. Solid axles, coil suspension, real 4wd, unibody, inline 6, and prices that don’t make you cry. Aftermarket support is still insanely strong. And room to haul the kids and all the gear for a weekend of limitless, off-road, backcountry fun. My kids are always begging me to go on a weekend camping getaway in “Larry” (the Laredo).
Although they don’t have quite the off-road chops as some of these vehicles, the 1st & 2nd gen Ford Explorer (Mazda Navajo, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Sport Trac) may also serve as a decent Overlander Platform.
Right! Most of them also spent their lives as pavement princesses! I loved how the two doors looked! Sadly, the last two door I've seen in ten years was burned out and abandoned on the side of a trail.
I'd throw in the Jeep WJ. Stiffened chassis with the 4.0 or 4.7 V8... Plus the track bar less rear dana 44. Makes for a great Overland rig. I got mine for a $1000
I had a friend with a locking diff Montero. It had been passed around his family between his father and brothers. Everytime it changed hands they had to put a motor and trans in it.
Dang I've owned most of this list! I had an 89 Montero (4 door), a Disco I with a 5-speed, a Jeep ZJ, and a Gen 3 4Runner. The Montero was ridiculously reliable and fantastic ride on all terrain but are super hard to find now and no aftermarket stuff or even spare parts anymore, and the Disco was the best off road bone stock. The 4 Runner had a rough ride, and I never wheeled it. Honestly for the buck, the ZJ wins hands down. Great on and off road, super cheap to buy, even cheaper to fix. The 6 cylinder is tough as a mule and easy to work on. Plus, lots of aftermarket parts. I put a 2" budget boost lift on it for 50 bucks, 31 x 10.50 tires and could go anywhere.
We get the 300tdi in the uk Does not have the same head gasket issue as the v8. Like i say leaking oil is just old seals or worn pipes. Would you expect any less on a 20-30 year old car? Lol Fix the seal/ gasket or pipe and they are fine. Neglect just one of the 100s of seals that are in there and you got your leak. Lack of maintenance due to cost or lack of knowledge on how to ;)
Huge fan of the Discos- both Series I and II- with maintenance and attention- they're beasts off road! Biggest thing to watch out for is, as you pointed out, the head gaskets- but on the Series II- if you do the inline thermostat mod- that problem pretty much goes away. Super luxury with some of the best off road prowess available still to this day. Hill Decent Control is amazing- as is traction control. Full time 4WD makes them gas hogs- but so is the Toyota Land Crosier at 10MPG....Nice content- I'm subbed! BTW- I watched your Disco Head Gasket video and the one that listed all the problems with the Disco listed by the specialist- you're taking the correct approach. Nearly every problem with Disco's can be tackled by a competent DIYer like yourself- at 1/10th the price any specialist will charge. Seriously- Land Rover specialists are very, very, very proud of their work- but it's work the owners that understand vehicle basics can tackle- and learn the items they are unfamiliar with. Parts are relatively cheap- do your own work and you'll not only know every inch of your rig- but it won't scare you to overland it anywhere in the world- and it will go anywhere!
Thank you! I was shocked with just how mechanically simple it was to work on! My first car was a 1987 GMC Sierra Classic 1500, and working on the Disco has reminded me more of that truck than anything else I've ever had. Now I get why old Land Rover's have such a following, they really were amazing! They're a testament to a bygone era where vehicles were built to be simple to maintain and operate, not the era we currently find ourselves in where you need a software engineering degree to do anything with vehicles that have a five-year, planned obsolescence cycle.
I went with the 180° thermostat from the tdi and a new Nissens radiator which basically does the same as the inline thermostat but just looks cleaner 👍
This is a good List and the Pajero/Montero bought one they are extremely Underated. Mine is a 1998 NL stock and I took it on a dirt and sand track and it drives almost like a Raptor.
@@MattKester They do they are so Light and mine is the 7 seater long wheelbase wide body. There's so much features like Over drive, A/T centre difflocks and low crawl functions.
I look out the window at my 02 Xterra and think "You are beautifull and capable, the world just doesn't know it yet". Also been thinking of getting a Disco 1 for a while now, had a couple slip away at good prices..
I have a yellow 01 xterra and she runs like a champ. The exhaust finally split and fell off after 20 years recently lol. Going to have something custom made up with a aftermarket muffler.
@@MattKester 2003 VW golf. Lol. I’ve been priced out of Jeep’s. However thanks to your video, I’m going to look into the ford ranger or it’s Mazda brother.
@@tehboxkat I could think of a lot worse rigs than a Golf! I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I hope you find the right rig, let me know what you do end up finding!
My Mitsubishi Pajero has taken me to many wild bush places around Australia. It's great off road and can handle the desert and beaches. It's comfortable for a family of 4 , tows a camper trailer and is good on the bitumen highway and around town. Not many mechanical issues. Its important to get them serviced on time. Change to oil regularly and air filters when you have been on our red dust roads. A lot of the cars mentioned in your video aren't available here. we have Toyota which is great but I wouldn't touch a Discovery. Cheers. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you too! Yeah, unfortunately, I made this video before I discovered that I have a very strong and engaged audience from places outside North America! Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about the rigs you guys didn't get on the list, you've got way more cool stuff down there that we are jealous of never getting here... like the 70 Series Land Cruiser!
On the disco 2. That old buick engine is good but needs the T top liners. The liners are straight sleeves. When the head gaskets go and it over heats. The block expands faster than the steel liners and they will slip down just a little. You can tell by running you thumb nail on it. The liner should be only a couple of thousands down from the block. When the liners slip down, when it heats up coolant from around the sleeve will get pushed up into the cumbustion chamber. Having the block machined for the T top liners is what is best. What causes these issues in the first place is the fuel mapping. They are designed to pass emissions. So they are ran lean. Which creates excessive heat, which blows the head gasket and makes the liners slip. Get the computer re mapped to run richer and the heating problem go away.
That Beefest reference deserves a comment 😂 Nice videos 👍. I've seen the prices of XJ's soar recently. Went to a car auction here in the UK and saw a clean Orvis 4.0 model sell for over £10k, which is insane (cars depreciate over here like mad - even 4WD's unless they're future classics like Landcruisers, Defenders etc.) Good luck with the disco. The electrics even in the gen 1 can be a pain. Clean ones are relatively rare now in the UK due to rust, bad electrics and a lot of people buying them for cheap offroaders.
Thanks man! So far the electrics on the disco have been relatively okay. I do get an intermittent ABS light and the rear window switches like to quit working once the vehicle has come up to temp. I was able to take apart and fix one of the door switches that wasn’t engaging the down portion of the seat lift. I am sooo thankful I had the switch on a big table when I finally got that case open! Looked like the inside of a pinball machine exploded everywhere with the springs and balls shooting every direction!
Had to chuckle at the Land Rover one, it is the last car I would take anywhere in the Australian bush. I do want to make it home lol. We just got a 2014 Prado (A real shame you got the weak Lexus version, missing the Diesel), but my grandfather has a late 90's model Pajero, just put your foot down and send it, and most times it comes out on top lol.
I've heard that mentioned a time or two about Land Rovers. Hopefully we never find out the hard way, but fortunately enough for us, it's never going to go that deep into the wilderness without our trusty 2000 4Runner to help it out of a jam. I was just looking at new Prado's on the Toyota Austrailia website... man I'd love to have that diesel fuel economy. I did the liters/100km conversion and they're supposed to get something like 30 miles per gallon! You couldn't get a 5th Gen 4Runner with the gas V6 to get anywhere close to that with a tailwind! I hate that we get screwed out of so many cool vehicles here... Don't get me started on the massive crimes I would contemplate committing to get my hands on a new 70 series here!
@@MattKester Yeah, the new Prado's with the power bump are quite nice. Also look at the torque specs on them, over the petrol engines. I put it in low range and the thing just pulls. You can tell the difference with the Camry engine, which is also 3 litre. Although I am enjoying the 150 litres, 1500km+ fuel tank range lol. My Camry was at 800kms The 70 series here has an entire cult following, if I didn't need the 3rd row, I would have considered it.
Hey brother. Stumbled upon your channel looking for mods for my 4th gen. You're doing an amazing job with your editing and production. The content is great too. Keep up the good work and I hope your channel gets the recognition it deserves.
I used to have old Pajero (2nd gen, long version). After adding some equiptment it was good car for overlanding and some offroading as well. I really regret that I sold it... but at the time I was not so deep into that topic.
Love ur channel! Just got into looking at the disco 1 my Subaru sti is my first car but not really an off road vehicle anymore, been looking into montero’s, Isuzu trooper, jimney’s, 4 runners, Honda passports, Isuzu rodeo’s, s-10 blazers, etc but after looking into the land rover growing up always thought it was too expensive but after doing research the only things that are expensive/ are going to be the main issues are : head gasket which these are nice compared to my Subaru where you have to do timing when u take the heads off and engine out and the other is suspension parts🤷♂️ maybe the leaking sunroof but not really bad one of the more expensive parts would be the radiator but haven’t really seen anything on those commonly going out but keep up the content!😁
I recently bought a Disco 1 with 100k miles for $1400. The auto box is being re built for $2000 and according to the off road vehicle specialists other than the power steering pump, the rest is just simple general maintenence items.
Good for you, that's awesome! 2K for that transmission doesn't seem that bad to me, we had to put a new one in my 4Runner at 120,000 miles and it was a heck of a lot more than that!
Thank you! An 80 series is on my list of vehicles I'd love to own before I die, so I'm pretty jealous that you have one! Fingers crossed that someday we'll be able to swing one. I'd love to have one to build into a pop-top someday!
Nice, though I would put the 2nd gen Isuzu Trooper on this list right next to the Montero. Very similar mechanically, but cheaper, readily available, and I'd argue quite a bit more reliable.
I hear you. I was literally almost to the coin flipping stage to decide between these two. The Trooper is definitely on my radar and I plan on talking about it very soon!
As a 25 year veteran import mechanic I will argue... That they are about the same. All of the Japanese vehicles are, if you take good care of them they will take good care of you. There is truly nothing particularly special about Toyota. People tend to forget a lot of maintenance, and then complain. My ZJ is JUNK compared to a import rig, but hasn't ever, not gotten me home, in 10 years.
Often overlooked as well is the Jeep Commander. I just picked up an 07 Hemi, Quadra drive 2 with 100k miles for $5000. Needs a leveling kit and then it’s a great option.
Yeah, so I might have forcefully repressed the existence of the Commander from my mind, but not for a reason relevant to the discussion... a girl I used to date owns one! But, when you do take a look at them, they do look like a very capable rig, I kinda always felt like they were trying to play on the LR3’s vibe quite a bit with the command seating and what not, which was cool to see an American brand try a take on that. My only holdups would be what I’ve seen in the forums about their reliability issues, but at this price point, what vehicle doesn’t? Hmm... Maybe I’ll find one to try out.
@@radicalron65 You do realize that product was designed, built, and sold when Jeep and Chrysler were Diamler brands? Fiat actually killed it after they took over, with then-FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne saying it was, "unfit for human consumption." Fortunately enough for Sergio's legacy, FCA now produces entire ranges of vehicles that are "unfit for human consumption."
@@MattKester ....I just read a book on the story of Daimler and they said that they took a major loss ditching Chrysler and that it was the worst mistake made in it's history of Daimler.....
One of the forgotten offroaders? Isuzu Trooper, Rodeo/Amigo/P'Up. I had a 93 Trooper RS, and currently have a '02 Rodeo with only 74K miles and paid $1800 for it, leaving me lots of cushion for upgrades and preventative maintenance. It is a manual, with 4LO and 4Hi, or 2WD and 4.30 gears. The primary issue with these Isuzu's are the weaker automatic transmissions. If you are handy with a wrench then they are great budget builds/trucks. I've had a XJ, two ZJs, and two AMC J10s which I have done extensive work on and sold for a decent profit. I landed on Isuzu because they are cheaper than dirt, and the driving characteristics and interior remind me of 3rd gen 4Runners but without the Toyota tax. A result of the Bubble era. They are body on frame, really easy to lift(crank the torsion bars up front, spacers or coils in the rear). I like the rear doors swinging outward, allowing for a easy way to mount a table, or molle packs for organization. They don't have the aftermarket support so you need to be creative, or follow the lessons others have learned online. But I snagged a NIB ARB BullBar/bumper.
R50 pathfinder owner here so this might be a bit biased but I bought the R50 because of the vq35. I feel in terms of reliability the pathfinder will outwork the montero sport even with the Vg33. Currently @ 320k with the my 01 R50. From my understanding the name of the game is reliability when it comes to overlanding. Still great video 👍
320k is mighty impressive. Those VQ motors might were one of the best things Nissan has ever produced. I had a Frontier with one once and I thought it was the best feature on the truck. Made a hell of a pleasant exhaust note too!
I own all 3 Generation Montero's...just bought a 1st Gen earlier this year. I also owned a 2000 Montero Sport before I bought my 98 full size Montero. They have been absolutely awesome reliable vehicles. Generally previous Montero owners didn't have the diligence on care and maintenance unlike Toyota owner counterparts. This is why most used ones are either poorly maintained or just beat to hell. Great video!
First off, great video! I enjoyed the way you delivered your content. Second, I've had two ZJs, one with the 4.0 and one with the 5.2. Both were fantastic vehicles for me and were amazing on the trail. I loved the power of the 5.2, but it drank gas like a dehydrated dog after a long run. Loaded down with off-road gear it was especially bad. I sold my ZJ recently and bought a 2008 Jeep WK with the 3.0 CRD engine and I LOVE that rig. It has torque for days and even fully loaded down I get around 23mpg on the highway. The WK is a real sleeper in the overlanding world, especially the 3.0 but the 5.7 is great too. They get a bad rap because of the 4.7 (turd of an engine) and the 3.7 (underpowered) but they can be really great and can also be had for a good price. I paid $5500 for mine. Granted, it needed a little work but I had no issues sorting it out and I've got a reliable beast that is easy to work on now. The sound of that turbodiesel is super satisfying for a gear head. The 5.7 and the 3.0 both come with an electronic limited slip system which locks out the front and/or rear diffs when it senses a lack of traction. It works super well. I've never been stuck in it.
Some days, I find myself day dreaming that I had an extra twenty or thirty grand in the bank and an Excursion with a 7.3L sitting in the driveway. I feel like you could definitely build one hell of an oversized overlander outta one!
That’s a great one! If memory serves right, Ford ended up getting into a patent sharing agreement for that one with a Toyota because they had developed a planetary gear style hybrid, like the one in Prius. From what I gathered, it sounds like the hybrid transmission in that rig is produced by the exact same Toyota subsidiary that made the Prius drivetrain, which means it probably has the same level of reliability. I think that would be a great rig for weekend trips down some forest service roads, more than enough for most people’s needs! Great choice!
Heck yeah! Honestly, you spend 90%-95% of most trips running down the highway anyhow. You can get quite a bit more camping in with all the fuel you save. Plus, I bet having that electric motor in there helping at low speed probably does a great job of making up for not having a low range transfer case!
@@Adeline9418 It is the component in your driveline that takes the rotational output from your transmission, then splits it between the front and rear drive axles. In most heavier duty 4wd applications, it incorporates a selectable low range that makes it easier for the engine to turn the wheels, albeit at a slower pace. On my 4Runner and my wifes' Discovery, the transfer case is attached at the output point on the transmission. I'm not certain where or how the torque split between the axles occurs in your Escape, I guess I could do a little more reading, cause now I'm curious. Here's a little more information on transfer cases... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_case
Oh wow.... they must have beefed it up a little more with the expectation of heavier payloads with that bed on there. I never even though of the Sport Trac... it's now going on my list of vehicles to look into in an upcoming video!
@@MattKester Its really odd that way. The axles on the sport trac had the explorer axles and cv axles, but the ranger frame and a fiberglass bed. It was also spring under axle in the rear. The 2nd generation however had IRS in the rear. It was a really odd vehicle.
Chevy astro or gmc safari awd. Cheap and can be easily and inexpensively converted to 4x4 and lifted. Powerful and reliable engine for mini vans at the time.
Recognized your new truck from the first frame since I’ve had two D1s. Great choice, but keep your maintenance up to date and one eye on the temp gauge. Just something about them.
Edit: YO A ZJ! my dad had a 5.2 zj as a kid and holy smokes they are so much fun to off road. We had a 2" lift and took that thing all over idaho and wyoming. Personally, for other vehicles not on the list, nothing beats a 1st generation expedition or an excursion. Parts are plentiful and there is a pretty decent aftermarket for off road. Granted they are on the hefty side and a tad bit long in the excursions case but they have gotten me some pretty impressive places. If you want to do some some custom fab work, a mercedes w163 is also a great option. "BUT TAYA" you say. "WHY IN THE HELL WOULD I USE A MERCEDES ML??????" Well I'll tell ya! Firstly its super duper fun. Secondly, with a reasonable lift and good tyres you have a pretty impressive moderate off roader WITH HEATED SEATS AND LOW RANGE!!! Third, its a body on frame suv so you can hoon on it pretty good withour worrying about breaking it. And finally, people will see a soccer mom suv with the three pointed star on it and wonder how the hell you got it up there. th-cam.com/video/hXJ54tLfHGc/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/yLW0ubqudVQ/w-d-xo.html Here's a good example of what a well built one can do. Even my stock ml500 hasnt been too bad for what it is. Plus the majority of w163s in north america came with low range! Your video is amazing. Im subscribing for certain!
I love my 3rd gen 4runner 417000 and runs like a champ but I do miss my 97 discovery even though it never made it to 100k before breaking down. If I had the room for it I'd find and my family's old one and buy it and turn into a old-school overlanding rig
I hear you there. My 3rd Gen runs like a top too, but she's still got a Sixpack worth of Discovery head gaskets to go before she catches up to your mileage! One thing have noticed, that's maybe made having to do the repairs on the Disco more bearable is just how much simpler it is to do things to. Like, there's quite a few repair items on the 4Runner that pretty much require a shop press to handle like the bushings, upper ball joints, and rear axle bearing and seals. Seems like the Disco can be maintained with all the basic hand tools you'd find in someone's toolshed in the 1970's. Like, I don't hate working on it because it feels like it's from an era where ease of owner serviceability was a consideration.
Subbed! Cinematography is excellent scripting excellent and on point. Im getting old now and can't be bothered going 100mph everywhere. Outdoors it is. Glad I found your channel.
Love the beerfest reference! Another suggestion is an Isuzu Trooper. I have an 01 and yes they do have faults but for something under $3k you can’t beat it. IMO
I hear you. I hindsight, I probably could have dropped one of the Mitsubishi offerings and put the Trooper there. It's been mentioned enough, I feel like I'm going to have to do a video just on the Trooper!
I was thinking about old suzuki's and isuzu's as well. Isuzu's were sold by gm and honda, and share a lot of their parts. (Aftermarket works as well) Most of them are super cheap and reliable if they were taken care of. Isuzu also still exists over seas and is a very popular brand for diesels. I've found most parts are available. But you may have to do your own creative work. Example: isuzu rodeos side mirrors are extremely hard to find. Only in junk yards. All your overland/camping gear should work universally for the rigs though like grille guard, roof rack, roof top ten etc. Another option is also a old ford explorer.
I bet! I miss the Mitsubishi of the 1980's and 1990's! They really had it going on. I damn near wrecked pulling a u turn in a parking lot the other day to catch a peek at a sweet 3000GT VR4 Spyder in a parking lot the other day. Just another awesome part of their brand they've let die over the past 20 years.
Enjoyed the video! I’ve had a lot of discovery 1’s mostly here they are diesels, slow and noisy but they refuse to die! Living where I do almost every other vehicle is a D1 or D2 😂
I owned two Discovery I's and they were pretty reliable. Now have a 99 P38 Range Rover. Similar drive train to the Disco. Take out the rear seats and you have lots of storage space. Lots of parts available from vendors and eBay. Not that difficult to fix problems if you work on your cars and lots of advice from forums. Very nice on road vehicle and I have kept up with all the Defenders in my LR club. Can be found for under $ 5K but are starting to appreciate in value.
Hands down the most cost-effective way to get into the Toyota game at the moment. I imagine you’d wanna snap one up soon though, I think people are gonna start getting wise about them soon!
My old Montero SR was a tank. The only issues I had with it were the valve guide seals which are common, and the brake lines had to be completely replaced. I chalk that up to Midwest winters, but other than that it was an awesome rig.
That's awesome. I remember one of my neighbors having one when I was a kid and that thing lasted through quite a few Alaskan winters! I'm really hoping I can find someone some day with one to feature it on the channel!
@@MattKester check out the Expedition Portal and Overland Bound forums. There’s still quite a few in the road, but those are the two places you might have luck finding one. Tell ya what, if I can find another SR in good shape I’ll be snatching it up. That’s the one with the factory rear locker. All it really needs is a small lift and a set of tires to be plenty capable. Happy hunting!
@@StayZero556 interestingly enough, I literally just drove past a, from a glance, clean looking second gen parked at an apartment complex. I was in a hurry, but if it’s there tomorrow, I’m gonna take a closer look.
@@MattKester I’m rooting for you! There’s an imported Pajero running around where I live. I keep an eye out for it just hoping I can talk to the owner.
I know that feeling! Happy hunting... I think I’m gonna go leave a note and see if this person gets back to me. Or is leaving a “hi, I like your rig, wanna be on my TH-cam?” a little creepy? Lol
I had a disco II se. Great off road, comfy, slow on hwy and drink gas like crazy.. really liked that truck. Electronics issues are a pain. Had the 3 amigo several times. Once while turning into a parking spot the and went on and brake pedal became hard as a rock, couldn't brake...so be careful with the and sensors.
She's definitely a fuel guzzler, that's for sure. It's also frustrating because she requires premium fuel, when my old 4Runner can through even the nastiest of cheap 87 octane without a complaint. I will be keeping an eye on the electronics, we do get an intermittent code sometimes for the ABS, but it typically goes away after you start driving for a while. Honestly, it doesn't bother me that bad since I grew up on vehicles without ABS and drove a lot of big rigs that didn't have them either.
@@MattKester me too but be careful, again when i turned in that parking spot, i could not stop as tge brake pedal became hard as a rock. The 3 amigos is when the abs,traction control and hill descent light come on at the same time, very well documented issue, at least on the disco II. If you havent yet, look fir a guy on land rover forum called "disco mike" he has a disco, he is a mechanic by trade and know that beast like the back of his hand. I believe he is from AZ. My disco got totalled in an accident (someone cut off my wife..) Since then i got an h3 (the 5 cylinder s) lack a bit of space but still a great truck for off road and comfy on street.
Hey everyone, just wanna let you know, we listened to your suggestions and will have a new list of cheap Overlanders premiering tomorrow. Be sure to check it out!
It would have been cool to see a 90s Bronco Or Bronco II
The Discovery is a great choice as long as you’re not depending on anything electrical or mechanical in it to get you back home.
So what you’re saying is it’s a poor choice.....
My thoughts exactly
They can actually take a huge beating and make it home. See Steve and This Week With Cars and his experiences in the cheap off-roader challenge.
That was a long time ago. Now everything is figured out and has good aftermarket.
Yeah, awesome capable rig, but I don’t have a lot of confidence in the “Buick” engine. I use to do head gasket jobs on those at the stealership. Very easily job, but every once in a while one would come in and the block would have a slipped or cracked liner.
Land Rover Discovery 1 which are pre 1998 are at least is better than 2000 - 2006 Discovery II.
The cinematography you show in this video is way higher than is necessary for a top 5 list. This video was an awesome watch.
Thank you so much! Reading comments like this makes all the extra work that we put into it totally worth it. Sometimes, like right now, it sucks because I miss a week here or there because I get wrapped up in something else and don’t have the time to turn out a video I’m comfortable putting my name on. Hopefully I’ll get the client work off my desk today and can get this week’s video out on Sunday!
Opino lo mismo...good job huey!!!
@@dshitznt x2 o sería x3
Definitely! It felt just a little bit like a vlog but super polished. People need to put out more content like this
The xterras ugliness is why I fell in love with it over time, kind of like that pug your daughter brought home and you initially thought it was a mutant.
I hear you man! No matter what you think of how it looks, it definitely can perform, and that VQ V6... I had a Frontier at one point and that was the thing I remember most about that truck.
Are xterras on par with 3rd gen 4runners?
@@armandosoria7993 1st Gen Xterras are, second Gen Xterras are more of a 4th Gen 4Runner competitor. About the only substantive difference between them is that the Xterras have leaf springs in the back where 4Runners had 5-link rear ends with coil springs.
I loved them since they were released. The “macho” looks, and the fact that I’m not driving a “soccer mum- mobile” is a relief.
What no love for the ISUZU TROOPER ...ive out wheeled my share of xj tj wj and 4runners
You're absolutely right. I've always admired the Trooper. My neighbor had a blue Trooper II when I was a kid that I always thought was super cool and I know Isuzu used to build a pretty stout product. I had an '87 2WD Isuzu pickup when I was in college in Hawaii in the early 2000's. It had it's share of rust holes in the roof, but it wouldn't quit. I beat the hell outta that truck and the only thing that I ever had to fix on it mechanically in two years was a starter! I've always got me eye peeled for a good looking Trooper to feature here. Hopefully we can get one soon!
If you can find one though... my friends dad had a turbo diesel one back in the day
@@MattKester should of said the trooper over an xterra, those are pieces of dog shit would never even consider a nissan lol
Well I'm hanging on to my 2003 Tacoma SR5 4X4 extra cab I bought new. Every time I bring it in to the local Toyota dealer for routine maintenance they try to get it from me. I just laugh at them. Nothing has ever gone wrong with it, not even dash lights. Oh, and it has only 90,000 miles on it and looks brand new. Probably one of the best vehicles ever made.
Tell them they'll have to pry it from your cold, dead hands! Never let that thing go, you'll regret it! Every time i see a facelifted First Gen Tacoma, I get really sad and upset with myself for letting the one I had go! Which engine does yours have the 3.4 or the 2.7? Mine was a 4WD 2.7L with a 5 Speed. Man that thing was perfect!
@@MattKester It's the 6 with auto trans.
Since I started trading I keep loosing I almost decided never to trade anymore what should I do now?
Trading with an expert is the best strategy for newbies and busy investors who have little or no time to monitor trade.
I will advice you should stop trading on your own if you keep loosing and start trading with Gloria investment
I almost lost $5000 trading with on a careless platform then I was referred to Gloria’s investment She recovered the lost and made extra profit all thanks to her.
I'm so happy for taking the bold step in working and investing my hard earn $500 and I made $6000 profits from it in just a week without paying any tax.
Gloria has been trading for me and I’m making much much money 💰 with her platform
Lots of great info, I am a Mitsubishi guy and figured I would add a little info. The SR models.. almost all of them are factory rear air locked and came with a 220 hp 3.5 DOHC V6. The transfer case is always locked in low range. The 2nd gen is split with the 97-99 models (2.5 gen) having coil front suspension and a SOHC V6. They are very sought after and not under $5000. The Montero sport was available with a factory locker, as are some gen 3 Monteros, option and year dependent. The ZJ almost never came with a 231 tcase most 6cyl have the 242 tcase with an AWD setting that is fantastic for overlanding; and all of the V8s came with the 249 witch is stronger but not as rock crawling happy. Also basically every timing belt engine is interference, all Toyotas are, the DOHC Montero engine is a bit more expensive, definitely a bigger job. O yeah, I am professional mechanic, and I own (overland) both the Jeep and the Montero. Both for sale now actually.
Dont forget the 90s suburban and tahoes. all day long cheap and there were sooo many made that you can get parts everywhere.
But that’s not the point of this video . Those vehicles are too big and heavy
@@Noslime large, yes, but my Suburban only weighs 200 pounds more than my FJ80.
Why does everyone think they need monster vehicles for over landing?
@@flight2k5 gotta bring every gadget you can afford with you
My 2008 Ford Ranger Sport has been through some punishment in the Utah/Idaho mountains/desert, and still as reliable as ever. Most underrated vehicle ever
Wow. This video has a gr8 narrative structure, wonderful music, and an interesting story.
Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment!
I agree also great transitions!
The commentary is pure gold on this video. Especially if you have wrenched on any of these.
Thanks!
Got my 93 80 series for $3500. Daily driven and many camping trips for 3 years and now I'm ready to semi restore it. Dropping it off at Torfab next week.
Bought a $3k Jeep WJ and besides the hiccups I’ve had, I love her. I also have a Z71 04 Colorado that became a local legend. I use it as my camper truck with a camper top. Love both and they are decent rigs. They both have needed some work but nothing too crazy
Just gotta say this video immediately hooked me just due to the production quality. I was expecting some run of the mill vlog-type video but it turned out to be much better than that. Loved the video, good job.
I got a Gen 3 montero, love it! Cheap aftermarket parts (limited but cheap) and goes practically anywhere. Got mine with 150k miles for 3.5k, no major issues other than general maintenance and she’s got power when I need it and comfy enough for my 2 boys to fall asleep while driving :)
My sister had 1 brand new in the early 2000’s. Apparently they flipped more than any other vehicle at 1 time. Very controversial as far as reliability but I’m happy to hear yours has been reliable. I have the Rodeo and love it! Much more fun to drive than a 4Runner.
About a year ago I bought a mint lifted 97 Montero Sport from a retired highschool principal that lives in my area. He had the vehicle since brand new, always kept up on maintenance and it just sat in his garage after he got a shiny new luxury SUV. Sold it to me for 3k just to get rid of it plus threw in a full set of winter tires for it. I've had no issues since purchasing it and has been my favorite daily. Always get compliments being as these are rare to come by in good condition these days.
Now that is a good deal! They are definitely getting harder to find in that good of shape, especially at that price point, which is a shame because they are very good looking and capable rigs. I was just one thing over in the Facebook group that it was a shame Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Nissan largely abandoned the “real SUV” market over here to Toyota, I would have loved to have seen what that kind of competition could have done to drive development in the segment.
I have a 1992 pathfinder xe 4x4, I love this little rig. It sat behind the barn for years with a bad transmission. When the pandemic hit I put a new trans in it new tires and rebuilt the front end. Changed oil and drained the gas. Runs like a top. Timing belt should be done next.
That’s awesome! Keep up the good work!
3rd Gen 4runner here. Bought it 4 years ago from the original owner in Arizona. High miles but clean and rust free. Over 300k miles now and still running great, ready for another trip to Moab. 👍
Right on! The one we got spent the first fifteen years of its life in New Jersery. Fortunately, the under side of it doesn't look like it spent that much time on the east coast! We're currently at the mid-160's mileage-wise and I'm getting ready to start doing some work on it. I'm expecting to start having some of that content rolling out in January.
I think this is a pretty solid list. One other vehicle I would suggest is the 2003 - 2008 SG Forester. Probably go the non-turbo route if you're going for an overland build. But these can compete with any XJ or 4Runner now problem. Really regretting having sold mine earlier this year.
I've absolutely loved my 2nd gen Xterra! But I totally get the design opinions, I wasn't a huge fan of the look until I bought one. My wife really loved the look ever since she was in high school, and we got it for only half what comparable 3rd Gen 4Runners were going for in the area. We paid $7,000 for ours, but it had a couple extras and a brand new transmission, you can find them for under $5k easy enough. I haven't regretted it at all! We got the Off Road trim with a manual (huge plus there, I'll take manual over auto any day) and it's a beast, it goes everywhere I need it to, carry's everything I need, comes with a factory rear locker and Bilstein suspension, and has slightly more power and torque than even current generation 4runners. But, like you said, you need to do your research and you need to seriously inspect any that you look at. The 2nd gens have big advantages to the 1st gens and look better, but '05-'10 autos have serious SMOD issues to look out for (one more reason to love a manual) and until 2010 they had issues with timing chain guides wearing out. I'm not hugely fond of the electronic transfer case (our first offroad trip we blew a relay and got stuck in 4low, but it was a bit of a fluke and probably won't ever happen again) but all in all I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one in good condition.
I hear you there. I had a then-new '07 Frontier for a couple of years, and it was great. I had the manual, which exempted me from the SMOD club, except that the clutch disintegrated after about 7000 miles and the dealer told me to pound sand when I asked them to cover it under warranty... but that VQ engine! That's gotta be on the list of all time great V6's! We did look at a really nice looking 2nd Gen Xterra before we went with the Disco. We were into it enough we looked at it twice, I only think they were asking about $4k for it with just under 200k on the clock. It did have aftermarket Bilsteins and Toyo MT's on it, but ultimately, my wife had a love at first sight moment when she saw that Disco on eBay and that kinda sealed it for us!
Sold my XJ for more money than I would've paid for it and bought a 3rd gen 4runner.... love them both !
Right on! Sounds like you timed the market on the XJ. I’ve always kinda thought I’d like to have a two door one. I think I might have missed the boat though, unless I wanna pay through the nose for it!
@@MattKester i don't know if the market was up in those yet when I sold it. Maybe it was. I never planned on selling, did a bunch of work and spend a bunch on money. I sold it 1 month after building both diffs with 4.56's and truetracs, I didn't even get to enjoy my work! Guy really wanted it. Now after almost 2 years of driving this 4runner, and again doing a crap ton of work to it I don't know if I'd go back into an XJ, the ride and build quality is soooo much better! Plus it just hit 140k miles. Toyota parts are quite a bit more than jeeps stuff though, that's the unfortunate part.
@@eriksdodges853 i have a 3rd gen with over 200k still runs and drives like 100k. and only preventative maintenence besides the valve cover gaskets
You forgot to mention the Hyundai Galloper. I imported one direct from Korea for $1600 USD purchase and $1633 shipping, and I love it. Has a Mitsubishi-based diesel 4 cylinder, turbo, manual 4x4. Based on a Mitsubishi Pajero Gen 1, it is no speed demon due to very low gearing, but that same low gearing allows it to crawl over rocks or dig through mud with lots of torque.
Oh wow, that’s incredible! I honestly had no clue until you said something. I just looked online an it appears like they sold a bunch of them in Spain too, I found like a dozen or so right off the bat. Unfortunately, the ones I was finding weren’t 25 years old yet. Thanks for sharing that, I might have to do another video talking about importable rigs!
@@MattKester is 25 years the magic number for importation there? Here in Canada it is 15 years, so my 1999 Hyundai Galloper fit right in. They were only made until 2003, so I can import one that year as well.
@@alexchristie2614 Yup, 25 is our magic number. There are some exemptions you can work to get some stuff in, but for general purposes, it's 25. Looks like that gives you guys a ten year head start on us scouring the world and picking up all the cool cars we didn't get in North America! You could probably make a killing in car speculation buying stuff now that you know American's are gonna snap up for no other reason than "it was cool and we didn't get it here."
@@MattKester 25... Groan that means only 1995 and older. There are the older Gallopers from 1990 that are an exact copy of Mitsubishi Pajero Gen 1, they are actually quite nice. Also, few people realize that the Dodge Raider of 1987 or so is actually a Mitsubishi Pajero 2 door Gen 1 rebadged to Dodge. Those would be perfect with a dropped in DFBA Mitsu diesel (and it will fit).
Man, I miss all those Dodge rebadges of Mitsubishi products from the DSM Motors era! Everyone seems to always focus on the Eclipse/Talon/Lazer or the 3000GT/Stealth, but you hardly ever see anyone mention all the other stuff they collaborated on, like the Montero/Raider. Didn't they have a pickup too? I think I remember a neighbor having a read one when I was growing up.
This is a 3 year old vid now. Just recentley i was gifted a jeep commander. Guy took real good care of it. For a 2006. Its got the v8 4.7. He didnt like the hemis valve cut off system. Its a fun jeep to drive. Ive already took it on some trails around where i live and had q great time. Now im thinking about upgrading it for more rugged trails around here where i live. Its all wheel drive with a 4 low. Ive had toyotas, gm and chevs. This is my first jeep. First im fixing up my k2500 gmc. Thats a beast. Then hopefully next year get the jeep upgraded. Theres a good number of commanders for sale for under 5 grand. Knowing what i know now about the commander id pick up a limited. 2 rigs is enough for now. Like the vid
My 98 4runner,,,,, 288350 miles and still rockin!!
Nice! Our 2000 SR5 is rolling through the mid 160's right now, but I have no doubts she'll be a three or four hundred thousand mile rig. She's gonna start getting featured a little more coming up in January as she's way overdue for some necessary maintenance. I'm going to be doing the front end bushings and upper ball joints for sure, and I might be getting creative with a couple of other things. Hopefully you can check it out when I start publishing them!
Gonna drop a hidden gem that most people have forgotten about and is still cheap. R51 Nissan Pathfinder. Before people say 'it's got independent suspension' look at how capable they are stock (payload and tow capacity), how cheap they still are, and reliable . Driven mine through hell's revenge is moab as well.
Some of the best commentary I've heard about Overlanding rigs. Also Montero for the win!
Thanks. There’s a third Gen Montero that just showed up in my neighborhood and I feel like it’s taunting me!
Suburban’s and Tahoe’s lifted on 35s all day long for Overlanding. They have a cult following now and the least expensive replacement parts, plus a strong aftermarket. LS V8s Baby! ;) No brainer
Jeep WJ, all the way. Solid axles, coil suspension, real 4wd, unibody, inline 6, and prices that don’t make you cry. Aftermarket support is still insanely strong. And room to haul the kids and all the gear for a weekend of limitless, off-road, backcountry fun. My kids are always begging me to go on a weekend camping getaway in “Larry” (the Laredo).
James Pumphrey?
Never heard of ‘em... but if you know him, ask him if he’s ever gonna get back to me on that writer’s application I sent into Donut last month!
A mature and subdued older brother of James.
Love my ZJ Orvis with the V8 for offroading, but now working on a Z71 tahoe for overlanding
Nice! That Tahoe should make a great rig, especially with all that cargo room!
I know it’s a little over 5k but the 98-02 lx470 can be had for under 7k here and that would be my go to for sure
3rd gen Montero might be my favorite... They are going up really quick
Although they don’t have quite the off-road chops as some of these vehicles, the 1st & 2nd gen Ford Explorer (Mazda Navajo, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Sport Trac) may also serve as a decent Overlander Platform.
Right! Most of them also spent their lives as pavement princesses! I loved how the two doors looked! Sadly, the last two door I've seen in ten years was burned out and abandoned on the side of a trail.
Awesome vehicles! Flashbacks! I loved the 2nd generation Montero! Especially the 2 tone green! Absolutely beautiful!
Every time I see one I start wondering, "what if?"
I'd throw in the Jeep WJ. Stiffened chassis with the 4.0 or 4.7 V8... Plus the track bar less rear dana 44. Makes for a great Overland rig. I got mine for a $1000
I had a friend with a locking diff Montero. It had been passed around his family between his father and brothers. Everytime it changed hands they had to put a motor and trans in it.
Dang I've owned most of this list! I had an 89 Montero (4 door), a Disco I with a 5-speed, a Jeep ZJ, and a Gen 3 4Runner. The Montero was ridiculously reliable and fantastic ride on all terrain but are super hard to find now and no aftermarket stuff or even spare parts anymore, and the Disco was the best off road bone stock. The 4 Runner had a rough ride, and I never wheeled it. Honestly for the buck, the ZJ wins hands down. Great on and off road, super cheap to buy, even cheaper to fix. The 6 cylinder is tough as a mule and easy to work on. Plus, lots of aftermarket parts. I put a 2" budget boost lift on it for 50 bucks, 31 x 10.50 tires and could go anywhere.
I hear you. It's crazy how capable the first few generations of Grand Cherokees were and what a bargain they are now!
I commend anyone who endeavors to maintain a flaming pile or British oil leaks. Here here
What was British is now Chinese and even worse
@@radicalron65 Indian!!!
Maintain it properly and it might not leak 😂
@@doominic1882 ....you wish...
We get the 300tdi in the uk
Does not have the same head gasket issue as the v8. Like i say leaking oil is just old seals or worn pipes. Would you expect any less on a 20-30 year old car? Lol
Fix the seal/ gasket or pipe and they are fine. Neglect just one of the 100s of seals that are in there and you got your leak. Lack of maintenance due to cost or lack of knowledge on how to ;)
Huge fan of the Discos- both Series I and II- with maintenance and attention- they're beasts off road! Biggest thing to watch out for is, as you pointed out, the head gaskets- but on the Series II- if you do the inline thermostat mod- that problem pretty much goes away. Super luxury with some of the best off road prowess available still to this day. Hill Decent Control is amazing- as is traction control. Full time 4WD makes them gas hogs- but so is the Toyota Land Crosier at 10MPG....Nice content- I'm subbed! BTW- I watched your Disco Head Gasket video and the one that listed all the problems with the Disco listed by the specialist- you're taking the correct approach. Nearly every problem with Disco's can be tackled by a competent DIYer like yourself- at 1/10th the price any specialist will charge. Seriously- Land Rover specialists are very, very, very proud of their work- but it's work the owners that understand vehicle basics can tackle- and learn the items they are unfamiliar with. Parts are relatively cheap- do your own work and you'll not only know every inch of your rig- but it won't scare you to overland it anywhere in the world- and it will go anywhere!
Thank you! I was shocked with just how mechanically simple it was to work on! My first car was a 1987 GMC Sierra Classic 1500, and working on the Disco has reminded me more of that truck than anything else I've ever had. Now I get why old Land Rover's have such a following, they really were amazing! They're a testament to a bygone era where vehicles were built to be simple to maintain and operate, not the era we currently find ourselves in where you need a software engineering degree to do anything with vehicles that have a five-year, planned obsolescence cycle.
I went with the 180° thermostat from the tdi and a new Nissens radiator which basically does the same as the inline thermostat but just looks cleaner 👍
2001 Mazda B3000 all that way baby!! 2 wheel drive and STILL never gotten stuck! And you fix anything on it without a computer.
Absolutely, I miss the good old days of simple, truly compact trucks!
ZJ joke for the win! Awesome list and video!
Nice to see people still doing affordable rig videos! 👍
Thanks! I was getting a little sick of being told how to go "overlanding on a budget," by people in $60k rigs, too!
I got a 2nd gen ram 1500 4x4 5spd 5.9l V8 with the single cab long bed thats a blast overlanding and offroading, chugs gas lol
Early Dodge Durangos are very affordable. But like the Jeep the little electrical annoyances are plenty.
Definitely one I'd overlooked that would more than fit the bill. It's definitely going on my list for a future video.
This is a good List and the Pajero/Montero bought one they are extremely Underated. Mine is a 1998 NL stock and I took it on a dirt and sand track and it drives almost like a Raptor.
That's awesome! After seeing what they did at Dakar, I imagine they are pretty dang awesome in the sand!
@@MattKester They do they are so Light and mine is the 7 seater long wheelbase wide body. There's so much features like Over drive, A/T centre difflocks and low crawl functions.
Nice! If you're on Instagram, tag us in some photos of it! I'd love it check it out. Use @frugalexplorerdad, @2ndhandoverland, or #2ndhandoverland.
@@MattKester maybe in the future cars a bit busted up from the last owner but Its alright just few scratches and dents.
Would love to see some pics of the 2.5 gen. They are awesome.
I look out the window at my 02 Xterra and think "You are beautifull and capable, the world just doesn't know it yet". Also been thinking of getting a Disco 1 for a while now, had a couple slip away at good prices..
I have a yellow 01 xterra and she runs like a champ. The exhaust finally split and fell off after 20 years recently lol. Going to have something custom made up with a aftermarket muffler.
As a former XJ and a ZJ owner, I can fully back up these thoughts on the Jeep part.
Thanks! What are you rolling in these days?
@@MattKester 2003 VW golf. Lol. I’ve been priced out of Jeep’s. However thanks to your video, I’m going to look into the ford ranger or it’s Mazda brother.
@@tehboxkat I could think of a lot worse rigs than a Golf! I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I hope you find the right rig, let me know what you do end up finding!
My Mitsubishi Pajero has taken me to many wild bush places around Australia. It's great off road and can handle the desert and beaches. It's comfortable for a family of 4 , tows a camper trailer and is good on the bitumen highway and around town.
Not many mechanical issues. Its important to get them serviced on time. Change to oil regularly and air filters when you have been on our red dust roads.
A lot of the cars mentioned in your video aren't available here. we have Toyota which is great but I wouldn't touch a Discovery.
Cheers. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you too! Yeah, unfortunately, I made this video before I discovered that I have a very strong and engaged audience from places outside North America! Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about the rigs you guys didn't get on the list, you've got way more cool stuff down there that we are jealous of never getting here... like the 70 Series Land Cruiser!
I had a 1999 disco, loved it. Maintenance was not cheap.
On the disco 2. That old buick engine is good but needs the T top liners. The liners are straight sleeves. When the head gaskets go and it over heats. The block expands faster than the steel liners and they will slip down just a little. You can tell by running you thumb nail on it. The liner should be only a couple of thousands down from the block. When the liners slip down, when it heats up coolant from around the sleeve will get pushed up into the cumbustion chamber.
Having the block machined for the T top liners is what is best.
What causes these issues in the first place is the fuel mapping. They are designed to pass emissions. So they are ran lean. Which creates excessive heat, which blows the head gasket and makes the liners slip.
Get the computer re mapped to run richer and the heating problem go away.
That Beefest reference deserves a comment 😂
Nice videos 👍. I've seen the prices of XJ's soar recently. Went to a car auction here in the UK and saw a clean Orvis 4.0 model sell for over £10k, which is insane (cars depreciate over here like mad - even 4WD's unless they're future classics like Landcruisers, Defenders etc.)
Good luck with the disco. The electrics even in the gen 1 can be a pain. Clean ones are relatively rare now in the UK due to rust, bad electrics and a lot of people buying them for cheap offroaders.
Thanks man! So far the electrics on the disco have been relatively okay. I do get an intermittent ABS light and the rear window switches like to quit working once the vehicle has come up to temp. I was able to take apart and fix one of the door switches that wasn’t engaging the down portion of the seat lift. I am sooo thankful I had the switch on a big table when I finally got that case open! Looked like the inside of a pinball machine exploded everywhere with the springs and balls shooting every direction!
The way this man cuts his videos and the amount of time and clips he has invested is just mind blowing for a channel with 5k subs. Hats off to you!
Thank you! We're just trying to put out the best content we can. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Had to chuckle at the Land Rover one, it is the last car I would take anywhere in the Australian bush. I do want to make it home lol.
We just got a 2014 Prado (A real shame you got the weak Lexus version, missing the Diesel), but my grandfather has a late 90's model Pajero, just put your foot down and send it, and most times it comes out on top lol.
I've heard that mentioned a time or two about Land Rovers. Hopefully we never find out the hard way, but fortunately enough for us, it's never going to go that deep into the wilderness without our trusty 2000 4Runner to help it out of a jam.
I was just looking at new Prado's on the Toyota Austrailia website... man I'd love to have that diesel fuel economy. I did the liters/100km conversion and they're supposed to get something like 30 miles per gallon! You couldn't get a 5th Gen 4Runner with the gas V6 to get anywhere close to that with a tailwind! I hate that we get screwed out of so many cool vehicles here... Don't get me started on the massive crimes I would contemplate committing to get my hands on a new 70 series here!
@@MattKester Yeah, the new Prado's with the power bump are quite nice. Also look at the torque specs on them, over the petrol engines. I put it in low range and the thing just pulls. You can tell the difference with the Camry engine, which is also 3 litre. Although I am enjoying the 150 litres, 1500km+ fuel tank range lol. My Camry was at 800kms
The 70 series here has an entire cult following, if I didn't need the 3rd row, I would have considered it.
Hey brother. Stumbled upon your channel looking for mods for my 4th gen. You're doing an amazing job with your editing and production. The content is great too. Keep up the good work and I hope your channel gets the recognition it deserves.
Thanks, Mat! I really enjoy making this stuff, too. Hopefully it will take off one day!
I used to have old Pajero (2nd gen, long version). After adding some equiptment it was good car for overlanding and some offroading as well. I really regret that I sold it... but at the time I was not so deep into that topic.
I love my 98 ZJ 4.0! You are correct on the electric gremlins though
Much love for the 4.0!
Love ur channel! Just got into looking at the disco 1 my Subaru sti is my first car but not really an off road vehicle anymore, been looking into montero’s, Isuzu trooper, jimney’s, 4 runners, Honda passports, Isuzu rodeo’s, s-10 blazers, etc but after looking into the land rover growing up always thought it was too expensive but after doing research the only things that are expensive/ are going to be the main issues are : head gasket which these are nice compared to my Subaru where you have to do timing when u take the heads off and engine out and the other is suspension parts🤷♂️ maybe the leaking sunroof but not really bad one of the more expensive parts would be the radiator but haven’t really seen anything on those commonly going out but keep up the content!😁
Thanks! Yeah, they are a quite relatively simple to work on compared to a lot of other rigs out there.
I recently bought a Disco 1 with 100k miles for $1400. The auto box is being re built for $2000 and according to the off road vehicle specialists other than the power steering pump, the rest is just simple general maintenence items.
Good for you, that's awesome! 2K for that transmission doesn't seem that bad to me, we had to put a new one in my 4Runner at 120,000 miles and it was a heck of a lot more than that!
Well done. The Series 1 is a fantastic vehicle. I have an FZJ80, which I adore and has served me well, but the Series 1 does tug at the heart strings.
Thank you! An 80 series is on my list of vehicles I'd love to own before I die, so I'm pretty jealous that you have one! Fingers crossed that someday we'll be able to swing one. I'd love to have one to build into a pop-top someday!
@@MattKester make it happen! I’d love to see you behind the wheel and loving it.
@@Queensizemusic i think I’ll put it on the vision board. Hopefully the channel takes off this year and I can start reinvesting in it like that!
Nice, though I would put the 2nd gen Isuzu Trooper on this list right next to the Montero. Very similar mechanically, but cheaper, readily available, and I'd argue quite a bit more reliable.
I hear you. I was literally almost to the coin flipping stage to decide between these two. The Trooper is definitely on my radar and I plan on talking about it very soon!
As a 25 year veteran import mechanic I will argue... That they are about the same. All of the Japanese vehicles are, if you take good care of them they will take good care of you. There is truly nothing particularly special about Toyota. People tend to forget a lot of maintenance, and then complain. My ZJ is JUNK compared to a import rig, but hasn't ever, not gotten me home, in 10 years.
Often overlooked as well is the Jeep Commander. I just picked up an 07 Hemi, Quadra drive 2 with 100k miles for $5000. Needs a leveling kit and then it’s a great option.
Yeah, so I might have forcefully repressed the existence of the Commander from my mind, but not for a reason relevant to the discussion... a girl I used to date owns one! But, when you do take a look at them, they do look like a very capable rig, I kinda always felt like they were trying to play on the LR3’s vibe quite a bit with the command seating and what not, which was cool to see an American brand try a take on that. My only holdups would be what I’ve seen in the forums about their reliability issues, but at this price point, what vehicle doesn’t? Hmm... Maybe I’ll find one to try out.
You paid too much for that Fiat
@@radicalron65 You do realize that product was designed, built, and sold when Jeep and Chrysler were Diamler brands? Fiat actually killed it after they took over, with then-FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne saying it was, "unfit for human consumption." Fortunately enough for Sergio's legacy, FCA now produces entire ranges of vehicles that are "unfit for human consumption."
@@MattKester ....I just read a book on the story of Daimler and they said that they took a major loss ditching Chrysler and that it was the worst mistake made in it's history of Daimler.....
I have a Nissan Terrano 2.7 TD, holds up pretty well up here in Northern Iceland❤
I've spent hours working on my mate's Disco and I didn't get the memo about it being a bad idea. I really want one.
One of the forgotten offroaders? Isuzu Trooper, Rodeo/Amigo/P'Up. I had a 93 Trooper RS, and currently have a '02 Rodeo with only 74K miles and paid $1800 for it, leaving me lots of cushion for upgrades and preventative maintenance. It is a manual, with 4LO and 4Hi, or 2WD and 4.30 gears. The primary issue with these Isuzu's are the weaker automatic transmissions. If you are handy with a wrench then they are great budget builds/trucks. I've had a XJ, two ZJs, and two AMC J10s which I have done extensive work on and sold for a decent profit. I landed on Isuzu because they are cheaper than dirt, and the driving characteristics and interior remind me of 3rd gen 4Runners but without the Toyota tax. A result of the Bubble era. They are body on frame, really easy to lift(crank the torsion bars up front, spacers or coils in the rear). I like the rear doors swinging outward, allowing for a easy way to mount a table, or molle packs for organization. They don't have the aftermarket support so you need to be creative, or follow the lessons others have learned online. But I snagged a NIB ARB BullBar/bumper.
This is an amazing video. I am actually mid filming an Isuzu Trooper overlander build! This motivates me!
Thanks! We’d love to see your Trooper! Tag us on the Gram, or share some in our 2nd Hand Overland Facebook group!
@@MattKester i joined and sent you a PM.
R50 pathfinder owner here so this might be a bit biased but I bought the R50 because of the vq35. I feel in terms of reliability the pathfinder will outwork the montero sport even with the Vg33. Currently @ 320k with the my 01 R50. From my understanding the name of the game is reliability when it comes to overlanding. Still great video 👍
320k is mighty impressive. Those VQ motors might were one of the best things Nissan has ever produced. I had a Frontier with one once and I thought it was the best feature on the truck. Made a hell of a pleasant exhaust note too!
I own all 3 Generation Montero's...just bought a 1st Gen earlier this year. I also owned a 2000 Montero Sport before I bought my 98 full size Montero. They have been absolutely awesome reliable vehicles. Generally previous Montero owners didn't have the diligence on care and maintenance unlike Toyota owner counterparts. This is why most used ones are either poorly maintained or just beat to hell. Great video!
Yeah, can't tell you how many stray dog looking 3rd Gen Montero's I've seen running around lately.
Glad I got my one owner mint condition XJ for $4k before they skyrocketed
First off, great video! I enjoyed the way you delivered your content.
Second, I've had two ZJs, one with the 4.0 and one with the 5.2. Both were fantastic vehicles for me and were amazing on the trail. I loved the power of the 5.2, but it drank gas like a dehydrated dog after a long run. Loaded down with off-road gear it was especially bad. I sold my ZJ recently and bought a 2008 Jeep WK with the 3.0 CRD engine and I LOVE that rig. It has torque for days and even fully loaded down I get around 23mpg on the highway. The WK is a real sleeper in the overlanding world, especially the 3.0 but the 5.7 is great too. They get a bad rap because of the 4.7 (turd of an engine) and the 3.7 (underpowered) but they can be really great and can also be had for a good price. I paid $5500 for mine. Granted, it needed a little work but I had no issues sorting it out and I've got a reliable beast that is easy to work on now. The sound of that turbodiesel is super satisfying for a gear head. The 5.7 and the 3.0 both come with an electronic limited slip system which locks out the front and/or rear diffs when it senses a lack of traction. It works super well. I've never been stuck in it.
I ❤️ my XJ, TJ, & Excursion. Can't seem to get rid of them.
Some days, I find myself day dreaming that I had an extra twenty or thirty grand in the bank and an Excursion with a 7.3L sitting in the driveway. I feel like you could definitely build one hell of an oversized overlander outta one!
Selling my MKII Pajero was a big mistake, and my Series III Land Rover 😔
Currently have a P38 RR and love it.
I'm picking up a montero later this week.
I’m JEALOUS!!!
man i cant find one i like in decent shape
I've got a 05 Ford Escape Hybrid. Love it. Especially since hybrids are gaining in popularity.
That’s a great one! If memory serves right, Ford ended up getting into a patent sharing agreement for that one with a Toyota because they had developed a planetary gear style hybrid, like the one in Prius. From what I gathered, it sounds like the hybrid transmission in that rig is produced by the exact same Toyota subsidiary that made the Prius drivetrain, which means it probably has the same level of reliability. I think that would be a great rig for weekend trips down some forest service roads, more than enough for most people’s needs! Great choice!
@@MattKester thanks!! It's my daily driver. It's so awesome when the gas engine shuts down and the hybrid one takes over. Total quiet.
Heck yeah! Honestly, you spend 90%-95% of most trips running down the highway anyhow. You can get quite a bit more camping in with all the fuel you save. Plus, I bet having that electric motor in there helping at low speed probably does a great job of making up for not having a low range transfer case!
@@MattKester I guess. What's a transfer case?
@@Adeline9418 It is the component in your driveline that takes the rotational output from your transmission, then splits it between the front and rear drive axles. In most heavier duty 4wd applications, it incorporates a selectable low range that makes it easier for the engine to turn the wheels, albeit at a slower pace. On my 4Runner and my wifes' Discovery, the transfer case is attached at the output point on the transmission. I'm not certain where or how the torque split between the axles occurs in your Escape, I guess I could do a little more reading, cause now I'm curious. Here's a little more information on transfer cases... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_case
I had a Ford ranger, then an Explorer Sport Trac that I build up. Both are decent for camping and light off roading. The sport trac had better axles.
Oh wow.... they must have beefed it up a little more with the expectation of heavier payloads with that bed on there. I never even though of the Sport Trac... it's now going on my list of vehicles to look into in an upcoming video!
@@MattKester Its really odd that way. The axles on the sport trac had the explorer axles and cv axles, but the ranger frame and a fiberglass bed. It was also spring under axle in the rear. The 2nd generation however had IRS in the rear. It was a really odd vehicle.
Chevy astro or gmc safari awd.
Cheap and can be easily and inexpensively converted to 4x4 and lifted. Powerful and reliable engine for mini vans at the time.
I think the suburban or Tahoe is great option around $5k.
Recognized your new truck from the first frame since I’ve had two D1s. Great choice, but keep your maintenance up to date and one eye on the temp gauge. Just something about them.
Working on a 1997 4x4 ranger xcab with a V8 that I got for $2k...absolutely loved this video
Edit: YO A ZJ! my dad had a 5.2 zj as a kid and holy smokes they are so much fun to off road. We had a 2" lift and took that thing all over idaho and wyoming.
Personally, for other vehicles not on the list, nothing beats a 1st generation expedition or an excursion. Parts are plentiful and there is a pretty decent aftermarket for off road. Granted they are on the hefty side and a tad bit long in the excursions case but they have gotten me some pretty impressive places.
If you want to do some some custom fab work, a mercedes w163 is also a great option. "BUT TAYA" you say. "WHY IN THE HELL WOULD I USE A MERCEDES ML??????"
Well I'll tell ya! Firstly its super duper fun. Secondly, with a reasonable lift and good tyres you have a pretty impressive moderate off roader WITH HEATED SEATS AND LOW RANGE!!!
Third, its a body on frame suv so you can hoon on it pretty good withour worrying about breaking it.
And finally, people will see a soccer mom suv with the three pointed star on it and wonder how the hell you got it up there.
th-cam.com/video/hXJ54tLfHGc/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/yLW0ubqudVQ/w-d-xo.html
Here's a good example of what a well built one can do. Even my stock ml500 hasnt been too bad for what it is. Plus the majority of w163s in north america came with low range!
Your video is amazing. Im subscribing for certain!
I love my 3rd gen 4runner 417000 and runs like a champ but I do miss my 97 discovery even though it never made it to 100k before breaking down. If I had the room for it I'd find and my family's old one and buy it and turn into a old-school overlanding rig
I hear you there. My 3rd Gen runs like a top too, but she's still got a Sixpack worth of Discovery head gaskets to go before she catches up to your mileage! One thing have noticed, that's maybe made having to do the repairs on the Disco more bearable is just how much simpler it is to do things to. Like, there's quite a few repair items on the 4Runner that pretty much require a shop press to handle like the bushings, upper ball joints, and rear axle bearing and seals. Seems like the Disco can be maintained with all the basic hand tools you'd find in someone's toolshed in the 1970's. Like, I don't hate working on it because it feels like it's from an era where ease of owner serviceability was a consideration.
Subbed! Cinematography is excellent scripting excellent and on point. Im getting old now and can't be bothered going 100mph everywhere. Outdoors it is. Glad I found your channel.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Love the beerfest reference! Another suggestion is an Isuzu Trooper. I have an 01 and yes they do have faults but for something under $3k you can’t beat it. IMO
I hear you. I hindsight, I probably could have dropped one of the Mitsubishi offerings and put the Trooper there. It's been mentioned enough, I feel like I'm going to have to do a video just on the Trooper!
I was thinking about old suzuki's and isuzu's as well. Isuzu's were sold by gm and honda, and share a lot of their parts. (Aftermarket works as well) Most of them are super cheap and reliable if they were taken care of. Isuzu also still exists over seas and is a very popular brand for diesels. I've found most parts are available. But you may have to do your own creative work. Example: isuzu rodeos side mirrors are extremely hard to find. Only in junk yards. All your overland/camping gear should work universally for the rigs though like grille guard, roof rack, roof top ten etc. Another option is also a old ford explorer.
Loved the style of the video!! Awesome job! About to go binge some of your videos
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the rest of them just as much!
There are many more great alternatives than on this list, but ultimately it comes down to run what you bring and make the best of it.
I’ve just binged through most of your videos and can’t help but notice your camping chair and it looks super comfortable. What chair is that?
It's a Rio Hammock Chair. Costco had them on special earlier in the summer, but they can still be had on Amazon right here - amzn.to/34vHxDU
I actually own a 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport and that thing is just an absolute beast
I bet! I miss the Mitsubishi of the 1980's and 1990's! They really had it going on. I damn near wrecked pulling a u turn in a parking lot the other day to catch a peek at a sweet 3000GT VR4 Spyder in a parking lot the other day. Just another awesome part of their brand they've let die over the past 20 years.
@@MattKester Monteros, Evos Early eclipses and 300gt (GTO) were the serious cars
I hear you man... I really wish we could just make the world 1996 again so we can get the Red Diamond back to her glory days!
99-04 F 150, 4x4 haul what ya need over 300,000 miles
You ain’t wrong there! Company I used to work for had one that I believe had close to 400k on it!
Enjoyed the video! I’ve had a lot of discovery 1’s mostly here they are diesels, slow and noisy but they refuse to die! Living where I do almost every other vehicle is a D1 or D2 😂
Dang, where is this Discotopia you speak of? I must go there! But seriously, I need to find a way to get my hands on a 300 TDI!
I wanted a 4runner around 2011 but it was 15k more than a Pathfinder with 90k less km. Since i dont rock crawl anymore the choice was easy.
I would add to this list, the gx470. I own a 2008 gx470 and I love it. Great video.
I owned two Discovery I's and they were pretty reliable. Now have a 99 P38 Range Rover. Similar drive train to the Disco. Take out the rear seats and you have lots of storage space. Lots of parts available from vendors and eBay. Not that difficult to fix problems if you work on your cars and lots of advice from forums. Very nice on road vehicle and I have kept up with all the Defenders in my LR club. Can be found for under $ 5K but are starting to appreciate in value.
You can sometimes find a first Gen Sequoia around that price range. If you do get it.
Hands down the most cost-effective way to get into the Toyota game at the moment. I imagine you’d wanna snap one up soon though, I think people are gonna start getting wise about them soon!
My old Montero SR was a tank. The only issues I had with it were the valve guide seals which are common, and the brake lines had to be completely replaced. I chalk that up to Midwest winters, but other than that it was an awesome rig.
That's awesome. I remember one of my neighbors having one when I was a kid and that thing lasted through quite a few Alaskan winters! I'm really hoping I can find someone some day with one to feature it on the channel!
@@MattKester check out the Expedition Portal and Overland Bound forums. There’s still quite a few in the road, but those are the two places you might have luck finding one. Tell ya what, if I can find another SR in good shape I’ll be snatching it up. That’s the one with the factory rear locker. All it really needs is a small lift and a set of tires to be plenty capable.
Happy hunting!
@@StayZero556 interestingly enough, I literally just drove past a, from a glance, clean looking second gen parked at an apartment complex. I was in a hurry, but if it’s there tomorrow, I’m gonna take a closer look.
@@MattKester I’m rooting for you! There’s an imported Pajero running around where I live. I keep an eye out for it just hoping I can talk to the owner.
I know that feeling! Happy hunting... I think I’m gonna go leave a note and see if this person gets back to me. Or is leaving a “hi, I like your rig, wanna be on my TH-cam?” a little creepy? Lol
2004 WJ laredo 4.0 select trac. Paid $1200 for it 6 years ago. Aftermarket parts are cheap. Almost 200,000 miles.
Any year Ranger is a great selection, but only get a 1st gen if you know how to actually work on it
I wouldn't leave out the jeep wj either, still solid axles and a just a little more space than the xk.
We love the WJ so much, we made an entire video on it! Check out our popular videos playlist on the channel page to see it!
Whoo!! Mitsubishi Montero!! I own a 94 Montero SR, it's like a tank!!
Man, next time you get that gang of Monteros you had in that one video on your page, let me know! I'd drive next door to Cali to check that out!
Discovery is best with either the 200 or 300 Tdi engine and manual box.
I had a disco II se. Great off road, comfy, slow on hwy and drink gas like crazy.. really liked that truck.
Electronics issues are a pain. Had the 3 amigo several times. Once while turning into a parking spot the and went on and brake pedal became hard as a rock, couldn't brake...so be careful with the and sensors.
She's definitely a fuel guzzler, that's for sure. It's also frustrating because she requires premium fuel, when my old 4Runner can through even the nastiest of cheap 87 octane without a complaint. I will be keeping an eye on the electronics, we do get an intermittent code sometimes for the ABS, but it typically goes away after you start driving for a while. Honestly, it doesn't bother me that bad since I grew up on vehicles without ABS and drove a lot of big rigs that didn't have them either.
@@MattKester me too but be careful, again when i turned in that parking spot, i could not stop as tge brake pedal became hard as a rock. The 3 amigos is when the abs,traction control and hill descent light come on at the same time, very well documented issue, at least on the disco II. If you havent yet, look fir a guy on land rover forum called "disco mike" he has a disco, he is a mechanic by trade and know that beast like the back of his hand. I believe he is from AZ.
My disco got totalled in an accident (someone cut off my wife..)
Since then i got an h3 (the 5 cylinder s) lack a bit of space but still a great truck for off road and comfy on street.