I've always been into the mindset that lightness is king, currently setting up a Suzuki Jimny (SJ elsewhere?). It's simple, light, very capable and, to my knowledge, fairly common in many markets. Current modifications are a -lightweight aluminium roof basket, which to me is required for bulky, light cargo like tents & clothes, especially on such a small vehicle. -small lift, I'd prefer to avoid but on the zooks you need a lift to fit the majority of quality tyres, I've gone up 75mm to fit 215/75r15 BFG KO2s, they would just fit under 50mm lift but would rub slightly under articulation -modifications to 'fix' the lift, castor corrected, shock reposition shackles, lower offset wheels to increase track width (30mm) -work lights front and rear That's all I've got so far, got a few more bits planned: -light, ~3000kg winch, only looking to self recover -compressor, want to fit a good compressor somewhere in the engine bay -rock sliders, not going for a full bumper setup due to weight, would love a step that doubles as a slider though for little mishaps -backup battery -some kind of shelving system in the rear. No problems at all with being too big or too heavy, my dream is to eventually set up a Defender 110 when I have access to more substantial funds.
Everything said in this video and the others you have made is very very valid and I wish more people would take the time to listen and debate the importance of your years of experience living and over landing. My personal preference is family sized SUVs currently using a 2007 Ford Expedition EL 4x4 with front, center, and rear locking differentials, and because its a family adventuring vehicle we don't worry about its size because most places we would likely travel are either wide open enough for a behemoth vehicle or just off the main roads of most highways. I decided because its mostly for the family and rarely used for recovery, the 12.5k winch, and reinforced winch plate, work well for what we would normally be caught doing. I run 325/50R20s or 33x12.50R20s wheels because we like the ride, and they have the footprint needed for such an ungainly vehicle. I do carry a Hilift jack and plenty of kit for a family of 6 in case something goes wrong, so far as for suspension I have removed the factory air suspension and leveled it with new coil overs and I look forward to a new Icon Vehicle Dynamics suspension in the future. At this point, I really doubt I need to upgrade the size of my tires to a 35" tall tire, but I keep getting peer pressured into what is cool for the kids, which hasn't swayed me yet. Otherwise, been a huge fan for years some of my first videos from you Andrew are VHS that I got as gifts when I was younger, and I have read a few stories of Paul and his adventures over the years, so to see you two offering up personal wisdom and experience is amazing and has helped change my view on a few things that I personally thought I would need to enjoy vehicle-based travel.
superkjell I think 4xoverland is trying to stay away from mentioning any "brand" as every fanboy on the internet will just start to argue that "their brand" is the best. We already know what Andrew likes and he has covered it in the past as to why.
Remember when I bought my Pajero 2012 10 years ago, in a magazine they said it was old fashioned technology and recommended something newer. I thought that if that's the case, it is well tested, fine with me.
I dont have an option to choose, I already have an FJ Cruiser 2008 for 11 yrs and I trust it more than my 2015 Rav4. So I guess I have to figure it out how to equip it.
Andrew, did the 2012 Discovery 4 you used through Baboon Pass have an air suspension? How did it do on the trail? Any problems or failures? If it had been an option, would you have changed it for a more traditional overland suspension before trying such a difficult track?
I agree with many of these statements you made in this video, however, one key point you mentioned was electronic air suspension.. I too once thought these things were the devil for off road travel as I didn't really understand them, and if they failed they'd drop to the bumpstops. Then, as my 80 series was due to be replaced, I had to do research, and A LOT of it. I needed to find a capable all around wagon that could be loaded for trips, yet unloaded for daily use. I fall into the weekend to full week occasional overlander camp, so I also use my car for day to day and it's a tough balance! I looked at a newer Land Cruiser, I found they have much the same issue with rust as I'd been dealing with on my current one. Bad news. 4 runner (US spec 120 series, as is the GX Lexus) was too high waisted.. the window line is very high, and seeing out in tight spaces is difficult, made worse because I am indeed very short 😂 With both vehicles, the space inside was similar, the ride was better, but too soft to put kit in for overland obviously. I found with my Land Cruiser, I had to uprate my springs for use overlanding, but my kit had to come out once I was home, so I could use the car day to day, and it rode (obviously..) terribly! Adding weight, which I did do, solved some of it, but at a cost of daily fuel economy. I started to ask myself "ok what can I do in my next vehicle to make it fit both needs in as seamless a way as possible?" I did consider air bag load springs, but they limit articulation and WILL fail in heavy use, as I've seen several times on friend's vehicles, due to rubbing on the spring with dirt etc. So I (admittedly I'm a big Toyota guy here..) had to look at the Discovery from Land Rover, and I found a few things. The air suspension is, as I found out, actually not that complex.. It's mostly mechanical and works like the air systems on commercial trucks do. There is a computer attached to control ride height, yes.. And yes there is 4 ride height sensors because of that. But beyond that, it's very mechanical and I learned all about it to the point where I am 100% confident I could repair the system on a trail. I should add, I'm very mechanical, so I am not afraid of taking a 4wd half apart on a trail to make it work again, so obviously my logic will not apply to all. I suppose my point I'm trying to make is, if you take the time to understand the systems of the vehicle (and in my case, also carry tools and most important on such an electrics heavy car, a good OBD management tool) you can find that an electronically controlled air suspension can indeed, provide an AMAZING balance day to day. Plus in the US, there isn't a wagon around that has such a nice square and flat load space as the D3/4 does. I find it's been tremendous this past year, and I'm looking forward to several more years of use. I love these "Overlander 101" videos. I like when you make me think with new ways of adding kit, streamlining what I bring along, and how I get to thinking about ways to overcome the shortfalls of having such a dual purpose vehicle. I always appreciate your content! I look forward to what's next!
riding a D3 agree with you. put some line, connectors and stuff (which is lightweight too!) in your spares bag and you're good to go. maintain it, and have fun with it. eas is such a big advantage over coil sprung suspensions, especially when it's your daily driver and you're using it with alternating loads.
Hi there Andrew and Paul another great video please keep them coming.Vehicle choice what a great topic as we all have to start somewhere but lets be fair not everyone has the luxury, money or supporters you do. I seem to remember Andrew; that when you arrived in Australia you sourced a truck started a major rebuild of it then half way through changed your mind and switched to your current troupy. I on the other hand bought my current Nissan D 40 with a plastic canopy already fitted with the sole idea of being able to access remote beaches from which to go scuba diving.Having discovered the world of Overlanding I've had to adapt this vehicle at quite some cost to make it fit the change of "what I want to use my 4B for" remembering it is also my daily drive. My point being that things change and with a bit of ingenuity most trucks can be made to fit the bill. Do the best you can with what you've got but get out there and enjoy it!!!!regards from bigezi
Bought my nissan xterra from a dealership and the biggest thing I noticed was that the previous owners had each serviced the transmission along with some other services most forget or dont even know they should be doing. Yes there is some surface rust from being in the american rust belt but it's not cancerous and can be remedied.
I am busy using a VW Touareg and Love it. it has steel suspension. I think it will make an excellent overlander, especially as an expedition vehicle. Want to go into Nam and Botswana mostly but be able to do another Cape to Cairo.
I've only driven manuals but have a couple of mates that have auto and with a shift lock up up kit they decend just as controlled if not better than manuals
Considering with interest your way of thinking, for european trips of 4-5 days each in mountains areas and winter time use (french Alpes Danemark, Norway), what could be your suggestions for a simple, fonctional and reliable 4x4 ? I understand that my question is a bite reductive but i am interested to read your comments on that. On an other video you were not enthusiaste about Nissan Navara (my basically choice) Thank you.
I'm really in doubt about which 4x4 diesel should I choose. I live in Brazil and the cars available here in the appropriate price range are: Mitsubishi Pajero 2011; Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2007; Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (also called challenger or Dakar) 2010; Toyota Fortuner 2008. How good are these cars off-road? How stable are they on the road? How well built are they? How comfortable are they on difficult roads? I personally am inclined towards Pajero or Pajero Sport. Any answer is welcome.
RELIABILITY use it until it melts down or RESALE VALUE, use it only for a year and two. PARTS/ACCESSORIES availability original or aftermarket. TOYOTA YOU'LL NEVER GO WRONG. It just won't die, Ask Jeremy Clarkson LOL!
What don you think about a suzuki xl7. My trips are going to be a few weaks to a month maximum and i'm on a tight budget. Where i live, i can find a sound 04 for under 3k.
Daniel Beard i looked at those, but i need the big size of the xl7. The 04 has a true 4x4 whith low range. Im not going to places where lockers are needed but a true 4x4 is. If fitted with a lift and 31" tires, would you consider it or its still a no. Just looking at my options
Looks like a light duty SUV. Does it have low range and how good is the clearance? It doesn't need to be big and stupid to work as an overlander, but it does need clearance. It's the one thing that can't be optional.
I enjoy your productions. Your think tank round tables stimulate thought. I have enjoyed off road and outdoor experiences for around 50 years now. Most of my experience is in the Appalachians and east coast. But I have lived and worked in wilderness areas and wide open spaces. I am a bit brand loyal. I like the Toyotas and loved my FJ. But I traded for bigger. Back to my first love Chevy. I have a 2500hd crewcab and a 6.5 bed. I can go anywhere short of the extreme trails that really go no where. 450 miles+ to a tank with flexfuel better with gas. The suspension design is not the best but a great set of performance shocks and better tire size would fulfill my needs. I only travel in North America at this time and often with my KTM. But I have a neat build with this truck coming. I thought I would chime in with something different.
My son is a mechanic and he suggested a Toyota Hilux SR for me. Dual cab, as my car is usually the family car as well. I found a 2010 with only 67K on the clock. That was in January 2016. It is an auto (While I can drive manual, hubby can't...) So that impacted the choice a little. I love the vehicle - it was an ex govt. I've since fitted it with a tray liner, canopy and roof racks. There are a few more bits n pieces to get (like dual battery, fridge & solar panel) all in good time. I have roof racks, so I can transport my kayak and OzTent RV3. Just loving the car, best one I've owned, ever. I'm more about getting to the great campsites - and enjoying those spaces. The car has to last me for quite a while, so I do take care of her, re - getting her regular services. I have a good local mechanic, plus of course, my son as a backup. Am loving this series and enjoy the discussions between Andrew and Paul very much. Thanks for putting these together. Cheers
These videos are packed with great bits and bites of information. Thanks for sharing your vast experience. If I had the resources, Paul would be a tremendous resource to have build my truck out. I am curious if you fellows have any experience using or seeing full-sized pick-ups (mine is a 2013 Dodge Power Wagon) out on the trails. You mentioned not being able to take large trucks into some locations, would that sort of 3/4 ton be included in that exclusion? I am looking to do some medium range overlanding in North America. Cheers.
I knew nothing about Jeeps when I bought mine I just knew I wanted a red one and when I found one I bought it.. No one showed me anything about how to drive it or anything.. I just bought it and took it home..
This is the most valuable content I have ever watched in relation to this this content. I am now wanting to buy and transform a vehicle into an “over landing” machine. Do you offer a course or service to assist?
I suggest you log on to 4xoverland.com/ and watch the 'Overland Workshop' playlists. You won't find a better start to building an overlander, anywhere. Its free, but you do have to register.
Currently got a discovery TDi , wanting to upgrade to a discovery td5 to build up as a touring vehicle to travel remote parts of Australia, however really concerned about reliability issues!
I did 50,000 k's around Australia in 2010 - my Disco 2 TD5 was almost perfect aside from losing the heater hoses with monotonous regularity. I did the Canning, the Simpson, and a complete circuit the long way around. Finding a good low mileage vehicle is really tough. Don't buy a V8, the range is very limited with such poor economy.
madbikeboysins thanks, it's good to hear positive stories. But you're right it's hard finding anything under 200k on the clock . Which means what would be the things to look for in a car that's done 200k plus? Is a car that's done that many Ks would be ideal to be considered for what I'm planing to do ? And as for the v8, I've never consider a petrol vehicle for a 4wd.
Look for the thick service history and the corresponding huge folder of receipts. It's super obvious when a vehicle hasn't been looked after. In 10 seconds, you can see if the interior and exterior are clean and perfect, and if they're not, it's always a good sign that the neglect extends to the drivetrain. I buy 20-30 vehicles per year, and I've never bought a lemon.
Land Rovers are bitch mistresses, you can't sell them to normal people, only to mechanically capable people. The worst vehicle I've ever owned was a 2011 Nissan Navara. I'd rather catch herpes than own a Navara again.
Currently on a 3 year mostly off road tour of Australia - never staying in towns and cities in my 1997 TDI300 Discovery and it is running like a trooper... Easy to fix, easy to service and it goes anywhere with ease... Stick with you TDI and forget the TD5 and you will not have reliability problems...
Since I now have two grandsons, I’m thinking of trading my Jeep for Sequoia. I’m hoping the Sequoia will allow for some good off-road ability and allow for overlanding.
Air suspension... all lorries run air suspension these days. OK maybe you have to carry a spare air bag or two but they're relatively light. You also get the advantage of variable height, variable rate springs, great for a vehicle with a changeable load.
I dont understand why experienced overlanders like you Andrew and Paul keep on dashing on the air suspension. I think you guys need to update your knowledge on that. Maybe 20 years ago it was complicated and not reliable, but now a days its quite reliable and with right tools and a mind set simpler to troubleshoot or repair than traditional springs; and the benefits in some scenarios outweigh the need to educate yours self on how it works. Particularly when choosing your vehicle for multipurpose use. Meaning occasional overlanding (with bunch of heavy weight) or every day use when all you haul is groceries.
brilliant talk. love paul, great guy. you too andrew, but, really: eas disqualifies trucks for overlanding? how would you have fixes a broken spring on cst? i know you're now, or since more than a while now, to like toyota over land rover, but ... you must admit that there are different scales of overlanding ..
Toyota Hilux d4d 4x4 D/C 2007 model. ? Plan on being out and about overlanding in Africa ending in Europe,,4-5 years. When the time arrives, I will be calling on you both for guidance and Paul for build assistance
Great conversation from two well respected overlanding legends, some wonderful advise. I recently bought a 2002 LC 90 series D4D auto to start my overland project. I find the vehicle a little uncomfortable but seemed to be the logical sensible choice but I’m a Range Rover man for the last 15yrs & that’s where my heart is. I also own a L322 autobiography Range Rover that’s been very well looked after & given me 30,000 miles trouble free motoring this last 5yrs of ownership but I know that as an overlanding vehicle it’s not the best choice so I completely understood the chat about where your heart is at. I decided to just keep the RR as my daily driver & the LC as the overlander.
I agree with much as discussed. I consider the decision across three points: 1) What was the vehicle designed for in terms of use and market (High loads and severe environment for overlanding) 2) Design and build quality for the intended use (well designed and built do not always coincide) 3) Used within the intended limits (do not overload). Failure of any one of these elements can result in an unreliable vehicle for overlanding or everyday use. Few vehicles satisfy the first two and we seldom meet the third in use. The Toyota reputation for reliability is well deserved as the LandCruiser and Hilux are well design and well built for severe use under load but can still be overloaded. (What is the ASPW Troopy weight relative to GVWR?) The US vehicles are seldom designed for the same use as Global vehicles and where they may share common underpinnings, the Curb weight is much higher for the luxury items that are not appropriate for severe use (sound dampening, electric powered everything, multi speaker systems) and not required for high sales numbers in developing countries. This limits the available capacity for all teh fun overlanding gear. Keeping the vehicle simple is always good and typical of commercial vehicles. That is not available in many forms in the US but the largest choice we can influence beyond the original purchase. Simple applies to both points 2 and three above. Simple design and build, Simple changes in use. I do not believe any vehicles sold in the US now would met this criteria. Maybe Simple is significant to be point 4. review some of the popular options: 4Runner: fails on on 1, Good on 2, seldom meets 3. Tacoma: better on point 1, good on 2, better on 3. Range Rovers: marginal on 1, fails on 2, fails on 3 Defenders:: Good on 1, Fails on 2, Good on 3 Ford Superduty: Good on 1?, Marginal on 2, Good on 3(can go either way) So my point is pick the right vehicle and stick with a simple and low weight plan. Then the vehicle has a chance to be reliable. My personal choice: 76 Scout traveler. Being built to be simple, reliable, nothing fancy, and starting with much less initial investment. But still tugs on the heart strings.
Fisher Man Those jeeps will survive a nuclear holocaust which is good because they aren't the most common outside of North America so spares would be little bit harder to come by compared to a Land Cruiser
On the other side my 2013 falcon Ute with a tonneau handles waikaremoana gravel roads in winter easy I guess it depends how much do you won’t to push your weekend car!?!?!?!?
I am a bit confused since the curbed weight of an Armada/QX is about 5,576 to 5910 lbs and the Land cruiser is 5815 lbs. There is not a lot of difference between them and we all know that the Cruiser is top Overland Rig, so why can't the Armada?
Not bashing you gentleman, but rather offering constructive criticism. I like the channel and you seem very knowledgeable, however I felt this video was very lacking in information, especially for how long it is, I still have a lot of fairly basic questions about choosing a vehicle that are unanswered. For instance, size was talked about a lot, either going too large or too small, but without any real examples of when a vehicle choice is too small or too big, and for what type of overlanding, and if the issue is merely an inconvenience that can be lived with if you really want to make a vehicle work, vs. just not being realistic. I have a 1997 Suburban, and a 2001 S10 Blazer, and am torn between them for which one to build for offroad and eventually some overlanding. I like my Suburban a fair amount better, the Blazer feels wayward, lots of bodyroll and less stable, and I like the added room of the Suburban. The Suburban has higher ground clearance stock for stock, axles that don't need upgrading to throw big tires on, bigger aftermarket support, bigger tow/haul/cargo room capacity, a lot higher range with the 42 gallon fuel tank and a 6.5TD that's pretty good at sipping fuel for moving such a large beast about. The only thing really giving me pause about building the Suburban is it's size and weight, I'm not sure if I would be likely to run into problems trying to fit into places with it, or with breakover angles because it is so long. I want to build the burban though, I thought I loved my little S10 Blazer...then I bought the Suburban...I like my S10 Blazer...But I LOVE my Suburban.
nice video and info. but overlanding in diff countries is diff busines. and you dont need many stuff in car in small europe countries. large areas and large countries needs one things and small areas , small countries not deserted needs different stuff in car. i get it that those videos are mostly for toyota trucks with lots of space in it. But you can overland in subaru via europe. i traveled for 2 weeks around europe with subaru outback and was sleeping all nights inside car very comfy and safe. as Andrew said in other video. almost any car is good for you if its gives you joy and best time of your life.
The best 4x4s I have owned -Nissan patrol 96 -suzuki samurai lwb with -VW 2.5tdi -grand vitara gearbox -jimny axles and the interior from the grand vitara -VW Amarok 3.0 v6 -Jimny -1999 4.0 TJ -defender 90 -disco 4 -Lada niva -VW TOURAEG DAKAR replica -volvo xc90 -2001 l200 v6 I have had 2 toyotas in my time but both were utterly awful I’m not saying toyota’s are bad, this is my honest experience -1997 hilux, brand new after a few weeks it would go in reverse, Toyota kindly took it back in (I had an 8year extended guarantee) after I got it back the clutch wouldn’t do anything, Toyota took it back and apparently forgot to do the clutch cable up, 3 months before its first MoT it lost all ability to break so I took it to the main dealer and they said, the master cylinder had ceased, (this was my second car this nearly put me off the bugers for life) it failed its first MoT due to lack of breaking power, which was odd as Toyota gave it a pre inspection the day before where it passed, at 60,000miles the engine blew up shortly after towing a Vauxhall 10 up breeze hill in Dorset UK, Toyota responded by kindly taking 6 weeks fixing it whilst I made do with said 1938 Vauxhall 10. The car was scrapped at 64,000miles only 4 years into the guarantee. My next toyota experience was with a land cruiser Colorado 2004 bought it after having my first child hoping it would give some safety after my son was born on the way back from the maternity ward with a 1 day old baby and mother (-6 outside) (the car was 2 years old) driving along we began noticing the heating turn to cooling and the engine lose power as it cut out during an overtaking manoeuvre along with the engine ceasing due to a con rod snapping that caused the cam to snap, left me rolling stranded on the over taking lane with no power steering or braking.
Thank you for this discussion. For me it has been helpful to balance your perspectives against my thoughts of what would fit me these days. Back around 2005 I did a years photo journey, living out of an older V6 Ford Explorer 4WD W/automatic transmission, traveling around Colorado and the Pacific NW, here in the U.SA. It was enough then and I was able to go a lot of places, sleep in the back or park in a parking lot over night undisturbed. The trip you posted of going through Death Valley and the narrow paths, was insightful to the benefit of staying small and lightweight. Since I am nearing retirement age and thinking about doing it some more; but perhaps a little bigger, the thought how big is too big and is there too small, has been an interesting exercise in dreaming. I am not sure that I would be trying to squeeze through small places so much, fording streams or "mudding it". That said and looking for something like this: ( th-cam.com/video/efhs-Gd-ZFY/w-d-xo.html ) In diesel, with solar powered appliances, seems like it would be suitable for doing enough off road, while being a bit more comfortable for being out for a year or so. Just wondering if you have any feedback regarding something this size. Yes, I have also considered something like this: ( th-cam.com/video/AmJL6f2wSBU/w-d-xo.html ) but ... seems I can get something like the bigfoot used and at a lower price then these new van conversions. Is this something you have covered in one of your videos or can point me to some content that reflects your opinion on such?
What size of truck is too big for the parks and game reserves? If it fits in a container, is it probably fine? What if it looks more like a commercial truck than an SUV? I'm super keen on the EarthCruiser EXP for my future travels, as it's built with experience and meets all my desires and requirements, but would they let it into the parks and reserves?
This was a lot of chit chat about spare parts, prices etc.. Not a lot about actual vehicle types. Also the two gentlemen are focused on warmer climate. If you want to go around the world, consider the northern hemisphere in the winter: cold and wet. In the summer: mosquitos. Etc etc.. The world is big, do you really want to go overlanding just to follow the convoy of overlanders into the natural parks? The Earth cruiser is an excellent vehicle, developed by experienced experts. So are the even larger truck's. If you are somewhat handy - consider a self build, it can be done at a cheaper price than say a new Land Cruiser. Bon Voyage!
Daniel Beard, What you have said is of merit concerning the country of destination, & I am assuming the American trucks you are referring to are the typical dual wheel fatass show pony one;s, is that right? or were you referring to the 4X4 poptop "fit's in a container" Earth cruiser Mate.
DEPENDING where you are going goin in the worldn is depending what you can get serviced for the vehicle you drive. king of the road : anything Toyota old faithful: landrover indetructable: mercedes noble mention: ford and GM , though reliability is a known flaw... looking at the scene in the last few years people seem to be moving away from the traditional 4x4 or 6x6 brands opting for light to medium duty trucks such as fuso, mercedes, toyota and so forth with migration into the 2 tonne classes becoming present in the industry we are seeing retrofits of ex military vehicles or going the route of of 6x6 either a land rover or landcrusier if you want a daily city suzuki's are great though off road would be a no no kings here in Australia re : Toyota, Nissan and Land rover, though if requiring repair both toyota and nissan are likely the easiest to repair and maintain outside of the metro area... you can can be waiting for days to weeks for parts if a another brand breaks down i'm not sure what your time in servicing was like within south africa and the greater african continent whenn you got a breakdown andrew
I am just thinking why all new public buses and commercial trucks have air suspension. It works with heavy load. So maybe it is worth spending time to learn to fix and some extra storage for spare parts for air suspension. That's why all bigger SUV's have air suspension. Not mainly for comfort it is. It is just leaf spring nobody want to use. That's why all trucks and buses went from leaf springs to air suspension. I am an automobile engineer, not from sky talking these things :) and commercial companies would not buy trucks with air suspension if it fails easily. So do research again and maybe make new video about relooking air suspension for overlanding :)
Great reply. Those issues can be over come with a sealed alternator and a secondary fuel filter but more money. The VDJ's are known to have that issue unfortunately.
A FJ is more global regionally in North America than a BJ. Getting non-consumable parts for your Gold Wing on the Trans-Amazonica will be harder than on the Trans-Canada. Anything other than generic consumables and you might have to rely upon Fed/UPS.
eh.. those "jeeps" that have air suspension aren't really jeeps. Those are just tallish cars with the jeep badge on them. The only real jeep that jeep still makes the the wrangler. All the other models stopped being real jeeps back when they ditched solid front axles for IFS.
I love you channel but every time this guy is on he won't hardly let you get a word in. Not saying he can't contribute but your a well of knowledge were here to drink from not listen to him drone on for an hour.
good points but also pedantic. You credibility would be improved if you were a bit more of an engineer and mechanic/technician. I am not downplaying your experience.
Automatics are FAR stronger than manual transmissions. A planetary gear set is literally 3-5 times stronger (depends on the number of planetary gears around the sun gear) than the simple single point mesh of a manual. If the manual in my 98 grand cherokee can stay cool while spinning heavy 33in tires on boulders all day in the 118 degree AZ desert, then I don't think overheating your tranny fluid is going to be much of an issue in a real 4x4. Maybe if you are out there in some modern crossover SUV or something sure, but then you are exceeding the designed purpose of that vehicle.
Great Sunday Sermon from both Paul and Andrew. I wish there will be part 2, 3 and more. Always good stuff. Thanks.
There is so wisdom listening to you and Paul! Cheers!
Amazing video, I loved every single piece of wisdom, I can only imagine how much experience the two of you have combined.
I've always been into the mindset that lightness is king, currently setting up a Suzuki Jimny (SJ elsewhere?). It's simple, light, very capable and, to my knowledge, fairly common in many markets.
Current modifications are a
-lightweight aluminium roof basket, which to me is required for bulky, light cargo like tents & clothes, especially on such a small vehicle.
-small lift, I'd prefer to avoid but on the zooks you need a lift to fit the majority of quality tyres, I've gone up 75mm to fit 215/75r15 BFG KO2s, they would just fit under 50mm lift but would rub slightly under articulation
-modifications to 'fix' the lift, castor corrected, shock reposition shackles, lower offset wheels to increase track width (30mm)
-work lights front and rear
That's all I've got so far, got a few more bits planned:
-light, ~3000kg winch, only looking to self recover
-compressor, want to fit a good compressor somewhere in the engine bay
-rock sliders, not going for a full bumper setup due to weight, would love a step that doubles as a slider though for little mishaps
-backup battery
-some kind of shelving system in the rear.
No problems at all with being too big or too heavy, my dream is to eventually set up a Defender 110 when I have access to more substantial funds.
Everything said in this video and the others you have made is very very valid and I wish more people would take the time to listen and debate the importance of your years of experience living and over landing.
My personal preference is family sized SUVs currently using a 2007 Ford Expedition EL 4x4 with front, center, and rear locking differentials, and because its a family adventuring vehicle we don't worry about its size because most places we would likely travel are either wide open enough for a behemoth vehicle or just off the main roads of most highways. I decided because its mostly for the family and rarely used for recovery, the 12.5k winch, and reinforced winch plate, work well for what we would normally be caught doing.
I run 325/50R20s or 33x12.50R20s wheels because we like the ride, and they have the footprint needed for such an ungainly vehicle. I do carry a Hilift jack and plenty of kit for a family of 6 in case something goes wrong, so far as for suspension I have removed the factory air suspension and leveled it with new coil overs and I look forward to a new Icon Vehicle Dynamics suspension in the future. At this point, I really doubt I need to upgrade the size of my tires to a 35" tall tire, but I keep getting peer pressured into what is cool for the kids, which hasn't swayed me yet.
Otherwise, been a huge fan for years some of my first videos from you Andrew are VHS that I got as gifts when I was younger, and I have read a few stories of Paul and his adventures over the years, so to see you two offering up personal wisdom and experience is amazing and has helped change my view on a few things that I personally thought I would need to enjoy vehicle-based travel.
I think your videos are some of the most intelligent 4wd videos on the internet. There are other good ones. But videos like this are a notch above.
I was a die hard Land Rover guy until I purchased and worked on a LandCruiser 70 series. I get it.
It would be interesting to hear further discussions on various models' strong and weak points.
superkjell I think 4xoverland is trying to stay away from mentioning any "brand" as every fanboy on the internet will just start to argue that "their brand" is the best. We already know what Andrew likes and he has covered it in the past as to why.
Remember when I bought my Pajero 2012 10 years ago, in a magazine they said it was old fashioned technology and recommended something newer. I thought that if that's the case, it is well tested, fine with me.
Loving these videos that cover a very high overview of overlanding
I dont have an option to choose, I already have an FJ Cruiser 2008 for 11 yrs and I trust it more than my 2015 Rav4. So I guess I have to figure it out how to equip it.
Andrew, did the 2012 Discovery 4 you used through Baboon Pass have an air suspension? How did it do on the trail? Any problems or failures? If it had been an option, would you have changed it for a more traditional overland suspension before trying such a difficult track?
I agree with many of these statements you made in this video, however, one key point you mentioned was electronic air suspension.. I too once thought these things were the devil for off road travel as I didn't really understand them, and if they failed they'd drop to the bumpstops. Then, as my 80 series was due to be replaced, I had to do research, and A LOT of it. I needed to find a capable all around wagon that could be loaded for trips, yet unloaded for daily use. I fall into the weekend to full week occasional overlander camp, so I also use my car for day to day and it's a tough balance! I looked at a newer Land Cruiser, I found they have much the same issue with rust as I'd been dealing with on my current one. Bad news. 4 runner (US spec 120 series, as is the GX Lexus) was too high waisted.. the window line is very high, and seeing out in tight spaces is difficult, made worse because I am indeed very short 😂 With both vehicles, the space inside was similar, the ride was better, but too soft to put kit in for overland obviously. I found with my Land Cruiser, I had to uprate my springs for use overlanding, but my kit had to come out once I was home, so I could use the car day to day, and it rode (obviously..) terribly! Adding weight, which I did do, solved some of it, but at a cost of daily fuel economy. I started to ask myself "ok what can I do in my next vehicle to make it fit both needs in as seamless a way as possible?" I did consider air bag load springs, but they limit articulation and WILL fail in heavy use, as I've seen several times on friend's vehicles, due to rubbing on the spring with dirt etc. So I (admittedly I'm a big Toyota guy here..) had to look at the Discovery from Land Rover, and I found a few things. The air suspension is, as I found out, actually not that complex.. It's mostly mechanical and works like the air systems on commercial trucks do. There is a computer attached to control ride height, yes.. And yes there is 4 ride height sensors because of that. But beyond that, it's very mechanical and I learned all about it to the point where I am 100% confident I could repair the system on a trail. I should add, I'm very mechanical, so I am not afraid of taking a 4wd half apart on a trail to make it work again, so obviously my logic will not apply to all. I suppose my point I'm trying to make is, if you take the time to understand the systems of the vehicle (and in my case, also carry tools and most important on such an electrics heavy car, a good OBD management tool) you can find that an electronically controlled air suspension can indeed, provide an AMAZING balance day to day. Plus in the US, there isn't a wagon around that has such a nice square and flat load space as the D3/4 does. I find it's been tremendous this past year, and I'm looking forward to several more years of use. I love these "Overlander 101" videos. I like when you make me think with new ways of adding kit, streamlining what I bring along, and how I get to thinking about ways to overcome the shortfalls of having such a dual purpose vehicle. I always appreciate your content! I look forward to what's next!
NickWMpls sequoia will be good or 4runner
riding a D3 agree with you. put some line, connectors and stuff (which is lightweight too!) in your spares bag and you're good to go. maintain it, and have fun with it. eas is such a big advantage over coil sprung suspensions, especially when it's your daily driver and you're using it with alternating loads.
I'd say stay under 3.5 ton for uk/europe travel, it makes life so much easier and cheaper for borders, tolls, ferries, licences, tax etc etc.
great video man, a great conversation that people need to listen to before a overland trip
Hi there Andrew and Paul another great video please keep them coming.Vehicle choice what a great topic as we all have to start somewhere but lets be fair not everyone has the luxury, money or supporters you do. I seem to remember Andrew; that when you arrived in Australia you sourced a truck started a major rebuild of it then half way through changed your mind and switched to your current troupy. I on the other hand bought my current Nissan D 40 with a plastic canopy already fitted with the sole idea of being able to access remote beaches from which to go scuba diving.Having discovered the world of Overlanding I've had to adapt this vehicle at quite some cost to make it fit the change of "what I want to use my 4B for" remembering it is also my daily drive. My point being that things change and with a bit of ingenuity most trucks can be made to fit the bill. Do the best you can with what you've got but get out there and enjoy it!!!!regards from bigezi
Paul Marsh is my hero
Same here!
He knows things very well.
Bought my nissan xterra from a dealership and the biggest thing I noticed was that the previous owners had each serviced the transmission along with some other services most forget or dont even know they should be doing. Yes there is some surface rust from being in the american rust belt but it's not cancerous and can be remedied.
I am busy using a VW Touareg and Love it. it has steel suspension. I think it will make an excellent overlander, especially as an expedition vehicle. Want to go into Nam and Botswana mostly but be able to do another Cape to Cairo.
any news? what about the Touareg reliability, which engine 2,5TDi, from where are you departing?
I've only driven manuals but have a couple of mates that have auto and with a shift lock up up kit they decend just as controlled if not better than manuals
I wish I can hear your opinion about the j8 milespec Jeep Wrangler
1994 DELICA V6 3000 Auto with high roof ON 31" AT Tyres.
Considering with interest your way of thinking, for european trips of 4-5 days each in mountains areas and winter time use (french Alpes Danemark, Norway), what could be your suggestions for a simple, fonctional and reliable 4x4 ?
I understand that my question is a bite reductive but i am interested to read your comments on that.
On an other video you were not enthusiaste about Nissan Navara (my basically choice)
Thank you.
I'm really in doubt about which 4x4 diesel should I choose. I live in Brazil and the cars available here in the appropriate price range are: Mitsubishi Pajero 2011; Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2007; Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (also called challenger or Dakar) 2010; Toyota Fortuner 2008. How good are these cars off-road? How stable are they on the road? How well built are they? How comfortable are they on difficult roads? I personally am inclined towards Pajero or Pajero Sport. Any answer is welcome.
LR D4 air suspension...you can get attachment for manual inflation if the sensors etc fail. Very rare to puncture one.
Interesting and important topics you've discussed.
RELIABILITY use it until it melts down or RESALE VALUE, use it only for a year and two. PARTS/ACCESSORIES availability original or aftermarket. TOYOTA YOU'LL NEVER GO WRONG. It just won't die, Ask Jeremy Clarkson LOL!
What don you think about a suzuki xl7. My trips are going to be a few weaks to a month maximum and i'm on a tight budget. Where i live, i can find a sound 04 for under 3k.
lol
Terminxman why lol! Care to explain. It was a genuine question.
Daniel Beard i looked at those, but i need the big size of the xl7. The 04 has a true 4x4 whith low range. Im not going to places where lockers are needed but a true 4x4 is.
If fitted with a lift and 31" tires, would you consider it or its still a no.
Just looking at my options
Looks like a light duty SUV. Does it have low range and how good is the clearance? It doesn't need to be big and stupid to work as an overlander, but it does need clearance. It's the one thing that can't be optional.
What years are best for XL7?
I enjoy your productions. Your think tank round tables stimulate thought. I have enjoyed off road and outdoor experiences for around 50 years now. Most of my experience is in the Appalachians and east coast. But I have lived and worked in wilderness areas and wide open spaces.
I am a bit brand loyal. I like the Toyotas and loved my FJ. But I traded for bigger. Back to my first love Chevy. I have a 2500hd crewcab and a 6.5 bed. I can go anywhere short of the extreme trails that really go no where. 450 miles+ to a tank with flexfuel better with gas. The suspension design is not the best but a great set of performance shocks and better tire size would fulfill my needs. I only travel in North America at this time and often with my KTM. But I have a neat build with this truck coming. I thought I would chime in with something different.
My son is a mechanic and he suggested a Toyota Hilux SR for me. Dual cab, as my car is usually the family car as well.
I found a 2010 with only 67K on the clock. That was in January 2016. It is an auto (While I can drive manual, hubby can't...) So that impacted the choice a little.
I love the vehicle - it was an ex govt. I've since fitted it with a tray liner, canopy and roof racks.
There are a few more bits n pieces to get (like dual battery, fridge & solar panel) all in good time.
I have roof racks, so I can transport my kayak and OzTent RV3.
Just loving the car, best one I've owned, ever.
I'm more about getting to the great campsites - and enjoying those spaces.
The car has to last me for quite a while, so I do take care of her, re - getting her regular services.
I have a good local mechanic, plus of course, my son as a backup.
Am loving this series and enjoy the discussions between Andrew and Paul very much.
Thanks for putting these together.
Cheers
ShazBoo BookOwl I think no car would beat the unbreakable Hilux! My favorite truck is the Hilux.
In Australia - Toyota whatever with 16” wheels - spares and tyres throughout the bush and mechanics who know them backwards.
Love these workshops
These videos are packed with great bits and bites of information. Thanks for sharing your vast experience. If I had the resources, Paul would be a tremendous resource to have build my truck out. I am curious if you fellows have any experience using or seeing full-sized pick-ups (mine is a 2013 Dodge Power Wagon) out on the trails. You mentioned not being able to take large trucks into some locations, would that sort of 3/4 ton be included in that exclusion? I am looking to do some medium range overlanding in North America. Cheers.
I knew nothing about Jeeps when I bought mine I just knew I wanted a red one and when I found one I bought it.. No one showed me anything about how to drive it or anything.. I just bought it and took it home..
Well done 💯 thousand subs Andrew! 👍
This is the most valuable content I have ever watched in relation to this this content. I am now wanting to buy and transform a vehicle into an “over landing” machine. Do you offer a course or service to assist?
I suggest you log on to 4xoverland.com/ and watch the 'Overland Workshop' playlists. You won't find a better start to building an overlander, anywhere. Its free, but you do have to register.
@@4xoverland Thank you for your fast reply. I will definitely do that, thanks again 🙏🏽
Great video thank you!
Currently got a discovery TDi , wanting to upgrade to a discovery td5 to build up as a touring vehicle to travel remote parts of Australia, however really concerned about reliability issues!
I did 50,000 k's around Australia in 2010 - my Disco 2 TD5 was almost perfect aside from losing the heater hoses with monotonous regularity. I did the Canning, the Simpson, and a complete circuit the long way around. Finding a good low mileage vehicle is really tough. Don't buy a V8, the range is very limited with such poor economy.
madbikeboysins thanks, it's good to hear positive stories. But you're right it's hard finding anything under 200k on the clock . Which means what would be the things to look for in a car that's done 200k plus? Is a car that's done that many Ks would be ideal to be considered for what I'm planing to do ? And as for the v8, I've never consider a petrol vehicle for a 4wd.
Look for the thick service history and the corresponding huge folder of receipts. It's super obvious when a vehicle hasn't been looked after. In 10 seconds, you can see if the interior and exterior are clean and perfect, and if they're not, it's always a good sign that the neglect extends to the drivetrain. I buy 20-30 vehicles per year, and I've never bought a lemon.
Land Rovers are bitch mistresses, you can't sell them to normal people, only to mechanically capable people. The worst vehicle I've ever owned was a 2011 Nissan Navara. I'd rather catch herpes than own a Navara again.
Currently on a 3 year mostly off road tour of Australia - never staying in towns and cities in my 1997 TDI300 Discovery and it is running like a trooper... Easy to fix, easy to service and it goes anywhere with ease... Stick with you TDI and forget the TD5 and you will not have reliability problems...
Since I now have two grandsons, I’m thinking of trading my Jeep for Sequoia. I’m hoping the Sequoia will allow for some good off-road ability and allow for overlanding.
Air suspension... all lorries run air suspension these days.
OK maybe you have to carry a spare air bag or two but they're relatively light. You also get the advantage of variable height, variable rate springs, great for a vehicle with a changeable load.
Where can I see pictures of vehicles that Paul has built? It sounds like he puts alot of thought into it
Nice episode. Besides the great advice, it was a nice back and forth conversation, and interesting location, wherever it was.
I dont understand why experienced overlanders like you Andrew and Paul keep on dashing on the air suspension. I think you guys need to update your knowledge on that. Maybe 20 years ago it was complicated and not reliable, but now a days its quite reliable and with right tools and a mind set simpler to troubleshoot or repair than traditional springs; and the benefits in some scenarios outweigh the need to educate yours self on how it works. Particularly when choosing your vehicle for multipurpose use. Meaning occasional overlanding (with bunch of heavy weight) or every day use when all you haul is groceries.
brilliant talk. love paul, great guy. you too andrew, but, really: eas disqualifies trucks for overlanding? how would you have fixes a broken spring on cst? i know you're now, or since more than a while now, to like toyota over land rover, but ... you must admit that there are different scales of overlanding ..
Toyota Hilux d4d 4x4 D/C 2007 model. ? Plan on being out and about overlanding in Africa ending in Europe,,4-5 years. When the time arrives, I will be calling on you both for guidance and Paul for build assistance
Great video
Good advice Thks
Nice to dream on! Grazie!
Great conversation from two well respected overlanding legends, some wonderful advise. I recently bought a 2002 LC 90 series D4D auto to start my overland project. I find the vehicle a little uncomfortable but seemed to be the logical sensible choice but I’m a Range Rover man for the last 15yrs & that’s where my heart is. I also own a L322 autobiography Range Rover that’s been very well looked after & given me 30,000 miles trouble free motoring this last 5yrs of ownership but I know that as an overlanding vehicle it’s not the best choice so I completely understood the chat about where your heart is at. I decided to just keep the RR as my daily driver & the LC as the overlander.
I agree with much as discussed. I consider the decision across three points: 1) What was the vehicle designed for in terms of use and market (High loads and severe environment for overlanding) 2) Design and build quality for the intended use (well designed and built do not always coincide) 3) Used within the intended limits (do not overload). Failure of any one of these elements can result in an unreliable vehicle for overlanding or everyday use. Few vehicles satisfy the first two and we seldom meet the third in use. The Toyota reputation for reliability is well deserved as the LandCruiser and Hilux are well design and well built for severe use under load but can still be overloaded. (What is the ASPW Troopy weight relative to GVWR?) The US vehicles are seldom designed for the same use as Global vehicles and where they may share common underpinnings, the Curb weight is much higher for the luxury items that are not appropriate for severe use (sound dampening, electric powered everything, multi speaker systems) and not required for high sales numbers in developing countries. This limits the available capacity for all teh fun overlanding gear.
Keeping the vehicle simple is always good and typical of commercial vehicles. That is not available in many forms in the US but the largest choice we can influence beyond the original purchase. Simple applies to both points 2 and three above. Simple design and build, Simple changes in use. I do not believe any vehicles sold in the US now would met this criteria. Maybe Simple is significant to be point 4.
review some of the popular options:
4Runner: fails on on 1, Good on 2, seldom meets 3.
Tacoma: better on point 1, good on 2, better on 3.
Range Rovers: marginal on 1, fails on 2, fails on 3
Defenders:: Good on 1, Fails on 2, Good on 3
Ford Superduty: Good on 1?, Marginal on 2, Good on 3(can go either way)
So my point is pick the right vehicle and stick with a simple and low weight plan. Then the vehicle has a chance to be reliable.
My personal choice: 76 Scout traveler. Being built to be simple, reliable, nothing fancy, and starting with much less initial investment. But still tugs on the heart strings.
Jeep with the 4.0 liter
Fisher Man Those jeeps will survive a nuclear holocaust which is good because they aren't the most common outside of North America so spares would be little bit harder to come by compared to a Land Cruiser
Too small
Are the stamps on a vehicle log book trustworthy?
On the other side my 2013 falcon Ute with a tonneau handles waikaremoana gravel roads in winter easy I guess it depends how much do you won’t to push your weekend car!?!?!?!?
Please test the new Patrol Andrew, we finally have that here in US, badged as an Armada/QX80
STUNN312 those trucks are too heavy and not great for custom works done to them
I am a bit confused since the curbed weight of an Armada/QX is about 5,576 to 5910 lbs and the Land cruiser is 5815 lbs. There is not a lot of difference between them and we all know that the Cruiser is top Overland Rig, so why can't the Armada?
Israel Tigabu
You have no idea what you’re talking about.
Not bashing you gentleman, but rather offering constructive criticism. I like the channel and you seem very knowledgeable, however I felt this video was very lacking in information, especially for how long it is, I still have a lot of fairly basic questions about choosing a vehicle that are unanswered. For instance, size was talked about a lot, either going too large or too small, but without any real examples of when a vehicle choice is too small or too big, and for what type of overlanding, and if the issue is merely an inconvenience that can be lived with if you really want to make a vehicle work, vs. just not being realistic. I have a 1997 Suburban, and a 2001 S10 Blazer, and am torn between them for which one to build for offroad and eventually some overlanding. I like my Suburban a fair amount better, the Blazer feels wayward, lots of bodyroll and less stable, and I like the added room of the Suburban. The Suburban has higher ground clearance stock for stock, axles that don't need upgrading to throw big tires on, bigger aftermarket support, bigger tow/haul/cargo room capacity, a lot higher range with the 42 gallon fuel tank and a 6.5TD that's pretty good at sipping fuel for moving such a large beast about. The only thing really giving me pause about building the Suburban is it's size and weight, I'm not sure if I would be likely to run into problems trying to fit into places with it, or with breakover angles because it is so long. I want to build the burban though, I thought I loved my little S10 Blazer...then I bought the Suburban...I like my S10 Blazer...But I LOVE my Suburban.
nice video and info. but overlanding in diff countries is diff busines. and you dont need many stuff in car in small europe countries. large areas and large countries needs one things and small areas , small countries not deserted needs different stuff in car. i get it that those videos are mostly for toyota trucks with lots of space in it. But you can overland in subaru via europe. i traveled for 2 weeks around europe with subaru outback and was sleeping all nights inside car very comfy and safe. as Andrew said in other video. almost any car is good for you if its gives you joy and best time of your life.
The best 4x4s I have owned
-Nissan patrol 96
-suzuki samurai lwb with
-VW 2.5tdi
-grand vitara gearbox
-jimny axles and the interior from the grand vitara
-VW Amarok 3.0 v6
-Jimny
-1999 4.0 TJ
-defender 90
-disco 4
-Lada niva
-VW TOURAEG DAKAR replica
-volvo xc90
-2001 l200 v6
I have had 2 toyotas in my time but both were utterly awful I’m not saying toyota’s are bad, this is my honest experience
-1997 hilux, brand new after a few weeks it would go in reverse, Toyota kindly took it back in (I had an 8year extended guarantee) after I got it back the clutch wouldn’t do anything, Toyota took it back and apparently forgot to do the clutch cable up, 3 months before its first MoT it lost all ability to break so I took it to the main dealer and they said, the master cylinder had ceased, (this was my second car this nearly put me off the bugers for life) it failed its first MoT due to lack of breaking power, which was odd as Toyota gave it a pre inspection the day before where it passed, at 60,000miles the engine blew up shortly after towing a Vauxhall 10 up breeze hill in Dorset UK, Toyota responded by kindly taking 6 weeks fixing it whilst I made do with said 1938 Vauxhall 10. The car was scrapped at 64,000miles only 4 years into the guarantee.
My next toyota experience was with a land cruiser Colorado 2004 bought it after having my first child hoping it would give some safety after my son was born on the way back from the maternity ward with a 1 day old baby and mother (-6 outside) (the car was 2 years old) driving along we began noticing the heating turn to cooling and the engine lose power as it cut out during an overtaking manoeuvre along with the engine ceasing due to a con rod snapping that caused the cam to snap, left me rolling stranded on the over taking lane with no power steering or braking.
The most fun off-road vehicle I ever owned was a Suzuki Samurai.
Thank you for this discussion. For me it has been helpful to balance your perspectives against my thoughts of what would fit me these days. Back around 2005 I did a years photo journey, living out of an older V6 Ford Explorer 4WD W/automatic transmission, traveling around Colorado and the Pacific NW, here in the U.SA. It was enough then and I was able to go a lot of places, sleep in the back or park in a parking lot over night undisturbed. The trip you posted of going through Death Valley and the narrow paths, was insightful to the benefit of staying small and lightweight. Since I am nearing retirement age and thinking about doing it some more; but perhaps a little bigger, the thought how big is too big and is there too small, has been an interesting exercise in dreaming. I am not sure that I would be trying to squeeze through small places so much, fording streams or "mudding it". That said and looking for something like this: ( th-cam.com/video/efhs-Gd-ZFY/w-d-xo.html ) In diesel, with solar powered appliances, seems like it would be suitable for doing enough off road, while being a bit more comfortable for being out for a year or so. Just wondering if you have any feedback regarding something this size. Yes, I have also considered something like this: ( th-cam.com/video/AmJL6f2wSBU/w-d-xo.html ) but ... seems I can get something like the bigfoot used and at a lower price then these new van conversions. Is this something you have covered in one of your videos or can point me to some content that reflects your opinion on such?
What size of truck is too big for the parks and game reserves? If it fits in a container, is it probably fine? What if it looks more like a commercial truck than an SUV?
I'm super keen on the EarthCruiser EXP for my future travels, as it's built with experience and meets all my desires and requirements, but would they let it into the parks and reserves?
If it fits in a container is a good guide. African parks, maybe not. The EarthCruiser EXP is border-line too large.
doubtful - thats a full truck. But which country do you want to go to?
This was a lot of chit chat about spare parts, prices etc.. Not a lot about actual vehicle types. Also the two gentlemen are focused on warmer climate.
If you want to go around the world, consider the northern hemisphere in the winter: cold and wet. In the summer: mosquitos. Etc etc..
The world is big, do you really want to go overlanding just to follow the convoy of overlanders into the natural parks?
The Earth cruiser is an excellent vehicle, developed by experienced experts. So are the even larger truck's. If you are somewhat handy - consider a self build, it can be done at a cheaper price than say a new Land Cruiser. Bon Voyage!
Daniel Beard, What you have said is of merit concerning the country of destination, & I am assuming the American trucks you are referring to are the typical dual wheel fatass show pony one;s, is that right? or were you referring to the 4X4 poptop "fit's in a container" Earth cruiser Mate.
you make some good points. Thanks!
Paid $260 for a redbook inspect on my new 2003 100 series V8. Money well spent i think.
Holden RC Colorado or Isuzu Dmax, those 4jji motors are bullet proof
I agree with Andrew: air suspension basically sucks. I’ll stick with leaf springs.
In the U.S. in 2018 this would mean a Jeep Wrangler or a Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser or Land Cruiser.
DEPENDING where you are going goin in the worldn is depending what you can get serviced for the vehicle you drive.
king of the road : anything Toyota
old faithful: landrover
indetructable: mercedes
noble mention: ford and GM , though reliability is a known flaw...
looking at the scene in the last few years people seem to be moving away from the traditional 4x4 or 6x6 brands opting for light to medium duty trucks such as fuso, mercedes, toyota and so forth
with migration into the 2 tonne classes becoming present in the industry we are seeing retrofits of ex military vehicles or going the route of of 6x6 either a land rover or landcrusier
if you want a daily city suzuki's are great though off road would be a no no
kings here in Australia re : Toyota, Nissan and Land rover, though if requiring repair both toyota and nissan are likely the easiest to repair and maintain outside of the metro area...
you can can be waiting for days to weeks for parts if a another brand breaks down
i'm not sure what your time in servicing was like within south africa and the greater african continent whenn you got a breakdown andrew
Jason howe
So long as you live where it's warm/hot and dry - otherwise they're rot boxes
'Lada, interesting' that must be interesting as in the Chinese curse, 'may you live in interesting times'.
I like the Lada 4 door. Fun little cars to thrash about
I am just thinking why all new public buses and commercial trucks have air suspension. It works with heavy load. So maybe it is worth spending time to learn to fix and some extra storage for spare parts for air suspension. That's why all bigger SUV's have air suspension. Not mainly for comfort it is. It is just leaf spring nobody want to use. That's why all trucks and buses went from leaf springs to air suspension. I am an automobile engineer, not from sky talking these things :) and commercial companies would not buy trucks with air suspension if it fails easily. So do research again and maybe make new video about relooking air suspension for overlanding :)
200 series but i'm very bias :D
120 series! It was the only Toyota I could afford :P haven't let me down yet though. But your 200 series is awesome so I don't blaim ya :P
Great reply. Those issues can be over come with a sealed alternator and a secondary fuel filter but more money. The VDJ's are known to have that issue unfortunately.
Daniel Beard what are you driving mate?
Ive submerged a 200 series alternator plenty of times, even carried a spare with me and zero issues at all.
Don't discount the other wagons like the Subaru outback and Subaru Forester
A FJ is more global regionally in North America than a BJ. Getting non-consumable parts for your Gold Wing on the Trans-Amazonica will be harder than on the Trans-Canada. Anything other than generic consumables and you might have to rely upon Fed/UPS.
Chris York trans Canada is all tarmac... it's highway 1.
MAN HX 6X6, is the truck, eat unimogs and zetros for breakfast!
eh.. those "jeeps" that have air suspension aren't really jeeps. Those are just tallish cars with the jeep badge on them. The only real jeep that jeep still makes the the wrangler. All the other models stopped being real jeeps back when they ditched solid front axles for IFS.
Jeeps and Land Rovers are alike. They've gone soft. Long live the Wrangler!
I love you channel but every time this guy is on he won't hardly let you get a word in. Not saying he can't contribute but your a well of knowledge were here to drink from not listen to him drone on for an hour.
VW Polo Cross 🤔
Damn ! Those Mosquito's.. Argh..
good points but also pedantic. You credibility would be improved if you were a bit more of an engineer and mechanic/technician. I am not downplaying your experience.
Automatics are FAR stronger than manual transmissions. A planetary gear set is literally 3-5 times stronger (depends on the number of planetary gears around the sun gear) than the simple single point mesh of a manual. If the manual in my 98 grand cherokee can stay cool while spinning heavy 33in tires on boulders all day in the 118 degree AZ desert, then I don't think overheating your tranny fluid is going to be much of an issue in a real 4x4. Maybe if you are out there in some modern crossover SUV or something sure, but then you are exceeding the designed purpose of that vehicle.
You guys oughta jump on an ADV motorcycle and just go. Quit talking, just go.