Let’s say you were looking to pack up the wife, kids, and maybe a dog. You want to get out and explore, and you want a vehicle that can take you far off the beaten path and then provide shelter once you’re away from others. The world of overlanding is calling you. What vehicle would you use to answer that call?
There are many excellent platforms out there from which to choose, and all cater to a wide range of budgets. Our own Christopher Tracy is doing entertaining day trips and weekend getaways with his Land Cruiser. Friend of Hooniverse Zach Bowman packed up his family for an entire year on the road and he used a Dodge truck fitted with a large camper shell.
If you were looking to head off into the sunset, what vehicle would you want rolling beneath your feet?
Hooniverse Asks: What vehicle would be the starting point for your overland build?
By Jeff Glucker
Oct 23, 2017
By Jeff Glucker
Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff
Are we planning on a life on the road here or just a weekend (or week or so) in and past the hills?
For anything less than a mobile-home situation: A brand-new Jeep Wrangler with a bunch of good camping gear in back.
Longer-term? Oh, the planning.
Your choice!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8b43628ed32067fe0f1366264b08d65e31f10037c83c5a60d8abdc0324b47f89.jpg
That’s only Slightly Off-Kilter Max. Needs more random components welded to it.
“I’d rather push a Chevy than drive a Pontiac.”
Pontiac always followed along in Chevrolet’s wake.
Pontiac was never more than half the car Chevrolet was.
https://www.aluminess.com/wp-content/gallery/chevy-van-2003-2013-front-bumper/chevy-van-2003-2013-front-bumper-1.jpg
Boring answer, but plenty of space, and you’d be hard-pressed to find somewhere in North America where you couldn’t get parts and service for a Chevy Express.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/akYNu8o2Va8/maxresdefault.jpg
For whimsy, why not a Matra Rancho?
Kundalini wants his hand back.
I like the Rancho but would go Holden Sandman for maximum whimsy.
The Rancho would tread lightly, perhaps too lightly. How about this? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/db9e72f0385fd2eb74239cd35eef60573b707ea2c3adfaf80b680210fd932a5d.jpg
Overlanding and zombie apocalypse do go together pretty well.
Is there any research whether zombies are color blind?
ZMY?
ZYMK?
Zombie Magnet Yellow. Play on a tired meme.
Paint job isn’t as rad as I would expect from a Sandman, but I think I mostly just fixated on Rancho for being plus Francais.
Great suggestion, for US readers this is an aftermarket Overlander conversion to turn the Holden into a 4×4. The 308 V8 is pretty stout, Turbo 400 trans, I forget what transfer case, and Dana 60 diffs from memory. Overall they are pretty overbuilt – finding one will be the hard part! I’d be surprised if there are more than 50 Overlander vans in existence.
Airstream B190 converted to 4wd.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oGCaor6rt-8/maxresdefault.jpg
Or a slide-in camper on an H3T Alpha.
http://www.phoenixpopup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_2266.jpg
Or a custom build on an H2. (I can’t find any images online of anyone having done this, but this is what I’m leaning toward)
I have had this for years it works for camping,just not long term. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ef9d65bf0aa6190f57f5b5f14aa5a907af5ab37b80ef5c7412ac48c404567281.jpg
Arctic trucks has that covered:
http://arctictrucks.no/uploads/543/0/lc150AT37_2.jpg
Bonus: In most countries of the world you’ll look like mafia and will get the right of way without asking. Also, a tent will do fine for overnighting purposes.
Rooftop tents have come pretty far since the 50ies, also adds to the rear-mirror profile’s intimidation -> more
rightinjustice of way!I can’t take these too serious, a neighbor in downtown Dresden had one in white, with snorkel, new. I thought it was a cool car to have, until I saw him plucking a maple seed off the hood with a handkerchief. I may be too judging, but that’s one of the cars where a dirt crust looks more than appropriate.
Yeah, I agree. Dunno about the German fascination with survival vehicles. But when I see them, they carry their own traffic jam, and are not allowed to go offroading anywhere but in designated areas anyway. But for spending a couple of months in Central Asia, such a rig would be tolerable.
I’d go with something recommended by the factory for such exploits:
http://www.rollermobilclub.ch/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/solyto006-b-520×656.jpg
with the demonstrable advantage of being easy to push when stuck.
http://www.blog.rollermobilclub.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/solyto_im_schlamm.jpg
I always saw you more as a WildGoose type of person specially given it’s claimed top speed, perfect for the car racing type.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/44/2b/8e/442b8eaad54f6bbb8281502056f79cc3–vintage-rv-vintage-trailers.jpg
The answer depends. Are you doing a year or more around-the-world trip like the guy here: http://transworldexpedition.com/? Then a 80 or 100 Series Land Cruiser is your best bet. Parts are easily sourced around the world, especially in areas that don’t have an auto parts store on every other corner, since the UN has used them for years on peacekeeping missions.
Are you cruising the highways and biways of North America with an occasional excursion into the backcountry? I would go with a LR3 or LR4.
Are you doing the Trans America Trail and will be spending a month or more off road? I’d go with a Jeep Wrangler outfitting with recovery gear.
Do you have stupid amounts of money? Your answer to all three above should be this:
http://earthroamer.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/XV-HD-Block.jpg
I’ve always liked the no-nonsense early Troopers.
Most of what you need from a Land Cruiser, for 1/6th of the cost!
Just uh…be gentle on the IFS.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Isuzu_Trooper_%28first_generation%2C_first_facelift%29_%28front%29%2C_Serdang.jpg
Along the same lines of overlooked Land Cruiser alternatives, I’d seriously look at a 1st gen Montero.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6a04bf312b82e4003d4c972dc3c041e1bb7718c29da107c7a3f1811ff6a2f276.jpg
They were good machines, but the early generations were renowned for transmission issues. Over here they were called the Pajero, but they had to be renamed for the Spanish-speaking market. Apparently Pajero is a naughty word in Spanish meaning… owner-operator… if you catch my drift.
Has there ever been a Mitsubishi that hasn’t had transmission issues? It’s the #1 thing to pip up in my head when I see the three diamonds.
The Isuzu Trooper is such a perfect piece of cubism. I loved them as a kid.
So they renamed it Rendezvous?
Really? My knowledge of Spanish is restricted to a few naughty words and how to ask to find the toilet.
Found these guys…
https://www.planbsupply.com/military-6×6-disaster-bugout-trucks
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/324fa1_13d59405fe654b3ab21d84276f5611e2.png/v1/fill/w_600,h_424,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/324fa1_13d59405fe654b3ab21d84276f5611e2.png
The IH SCOUT, of course.
I love ’em, too, but in all honesty, it would rust out before you got very far.
Unimog is always the right answer for these ocassions https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ef/fa/7e/effa7e4a3b897ad5f705743253e4813d.jpg
My thought, too. The middle straight hoods (5th from left) are optimum between price, repairability (as in: blacksmith can fix), and modernness (as in: workshop can fix).
One or two generations after that they reduced the cross-country mobility, since they were forced to negotiate gravity constant G if they wanted to continue – and 99% of the drivers would never see the limits with a telescope.
http://d1evvto86t5vms.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/images/2014/07/Unimog-history.jpg
The newest Unimog doesn’t have a hood? Multicar’s belated victory!
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfp1/t51.2885-15/e15/10990603_415539045277135_924464659_n.jpg
Kudos to those overlanding a Multicar – I tried finding an image, but that seems to be uncharted territory.
Last Call-ish reply:
I’ve met a Swiss couple in Kirgizstan that drove a 4×4 VW LT from the Alps to Pakistan, China, India, and criss-crossing the Silk Roads. They said it was a good choice if it had been a RWD. They had more than one situation where they had to wait for 4×4-specific parts, whereas there were RWD parts cars at arm’s length.
So ten years ago, a RWD LT would have been my answer for Europe->China, but I’d stick to established “secondary roads” (farm tracks) in the hinterland. Since the German cars from the 80ies have started to disappear from K’stan (@Sjalabais:disqus told us so) I’d probably take something Japanese for Central Asia.
For Africa, probably a Landy Defender.
For North America, whatever you are recommending here.
South America, Toyota has my money, too.
Now I wonder if there are Arctic Trucks with insulated living unit around?
Don’t have kids and our dog is very small…
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8683/27762781754_55246744c9_b.jpg
Serious answer:
https://i2.wp.com/www.gearboxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/delica_1-e1393872520353.jpg?resize=1500%2C1125
Dream answer:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3873/15029992435_8968d563a4_b.jpg
At least on Vancouver Island, there’s a disproportionality high number of Delicas pushed into surf van duty (given how VW vans are getting prohibitively expensive), and I think every time I’ve been to BC, I’ve quickly ended up on Auto Trader looking for one.
I see quite a lot of Delicas here in Manitoba as well. Obviously not as surf vans. They are a very excellent combination of cool and useful.
whoot!!! Tatra 813/815 Quadcab Flapside- exactly what I would have chosen. And add Dakar race truck mods….
For when a trip involves looking for the best back roads to the destination
It carries everything I need and when I’m in the mood, I can still carve up every land barge wheezing its way through Cunningham’s Gap. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/37b00b03905f07b920dcebb9e92361e3b79ee75ed2d8797f95e6f285c74b7791.jpg
For weekend warrior my silverado is almost perfect. For full time overlanding a Geolander.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b3e6eb1e6c0fc18f85220dd3237e9e413097767cb99164edd0572c4f6e53a2e6.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9fce0ef24772cbc6c45371454f2ed7b9c5cd2a36b4fb55878a7d3f9d66509022.jpg
Room for sleeping, room for stuff, and is so adept that it will even go off-road when you aren’t trying!
http://www.roadkill.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IOE_Saabs_Gone_Wild.jpg
Don’t forget the asynchronous four wheel drive.
Sometimes it has asynchronous three-wheels-plus-one-hub drive.
The practical but un-sexy answer is the 4th-gen Toyota 4Runner with the V8. It’s reliable, has plenty of torque to handle the add-ons and gear, and has a good stock suspension to start with. It doesn’t have the cool factor of a LR, G Wagon, or LC, but the reliability and potential are solid.
I’d like to change my answer. I really think a Jeep-based vehicle makes the most sense for overlanding. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/00fdc854ec4a946b27ebb8448d862a26169a7598ee6831b97e34c19f8d0602ee.jpg
The front mounted gas cylinders would be one of the best safety features ever conceived to prevent speeding and late braking.
Something tells me speeding will not be an issue.
” I really think a Jeep-based vehicle makes the most sense for overloading”/ FTFY.
I think the optimal choice depends on how capable the vehicle needs to be and parts availability in your travel area. An Econoline 4×4 is fine in the US, iffy in Africa while Land Cruiser 78 parts are rare in Rapid City SD.
I like the look of the Earthcruisers built on a Mitsubishi Fuso 4×4, plus the factory is just on the other side of town
http://earthcruiser.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/FX_EarthCruiser_irish_lake_dave_198.JPG