We recently connected with Overland Bound Member #0833, Isaac Marchionna about his mega loaded up overland rig that he uses every day as his daily driver in Downtown Portland. He gives us his insight into what to expect when you make your off-road vehicle your pavement pounder on the city streets!
The Art of the Overland Rig Daily Driver
By Isaac MarchionnaOverland Bound Member #0833@lawndartdesignDaily Driver: 2015 4Runner TRD Pro (with a lot of mods)Location: Downtown Portland, ORAll photos courtesy and copyright of Isaac Marchionna
We’ve all felt it. The insatiable call of the wild… but the crushing reality of a day job. These two pulls have lead many of us to build an Overland Rig and then drive them on a daily basis. And with this decision comes different responsibilities and realities that you have to take into account when your daily driver is an expedition rig.
Let’s be honest for a moment…driving an Overland rig around a crowded population center can be pretty smile inducing. You’ll pull more attention than any sports car could muster; however, you’re also driving around a rather big, heavy, and maintenance intensive vehicle.
Here are a few points I’ve learned along the way with my daily driver.
Your Friends
You’ve likely tricked out (or are in the process of building out) your rig to store all your camping gear, drawer systems, fridge, power management, etc etc etc. The downside to this consumption, or “utilization” of space, is that your ability to carry humans (what the vehicle was designed to do) has now been comically “downsized.”
I am familiar with the quizzical reaction by people when asked if I can haul stuff for them or pick up a group of people. I don’t have extra space to offer. Remember that friend who needed your help moving a sofa?
Have fun not sounding like a deadbeat when you tell him he’s on his own moving and you have a long bed expedition truck. “Oh I would love to help you…but adventure mobile!”
The Fury Road Factor of a Daily Driver
One of the things you’ll see on almost all Overland vehicles is the addition of armor, both underbody and front/rear bumpers. Here are the advantages.
First off, these systems are invaluable in their ability to take a hit and be beaten back into shape or replaced entirely. Damaging a plate worth a few hundred dollars, rather than causing crippling damage worth thousands, is an entirely fantastic trade off.
Bumpers allow for the mounting of additional lights, winches, recovery points, fuel, spare tires, jacks, communication systems, all while providing additional armor for the trail. I cannot tell you how many times my rock sliders have proved to be awesome investments just in stopping door dings, while mangling the doors of those who are careless around my truck.
I shouldn’t laugh, but here I am doing that while writing. But all that metal comes at a cost: weight.
Weight can both help and hinder you on the trail. Proper distribution of weight can provide better traction when scrambling up a boulder field in the mountains. In the city however the additional weight means you have more mass to stop.
Urban driving means a lot more stop and go traffic; it also means being able to stop the vehicle when a pedestrian darts out in front of traffic.
We are vastly exceeding the original gross vehicle weights spec’d by the manufacturers. My vehicle for example comes in at a whopping 6600 lbs fully fueled. The original vehicle ranged from about 4700-4800 lbs in stock form.
That weight affects everything from acceleration to braking distances. Your brakes become that much more critical on the trail and on the street. Do not ignore them and upgrade as necessary. That might mean stronger pads, and caliper systems.
You can do more damage in a crash due to armor and weight, and it is your responsibility to know how your rig behavior. Every modification you do has a real world implication on daily driver performance, and you are responsible in knowing how those implications play out on the road.
Wide Load – All that junk in the daily driver trunk
Space is at a premium in cities and you need to know the relationship between the dimensions of your vehicle and how it relates to its place in the physical world.
You do not want to be the person who parks their wonderfully reinforced steel bumper into someone’s BMW because you were parallel parking your expedition battleship into a space just barely big enough.
Parking space is going to be your biggest concern. If you think hunting for a parking is bad when driving a midsize car, it’s hellishly tricky when you’re trying to park a vehicle that’s got a swing out tire carrier, bull bars, sliders, etc.
Your friends will quickly learn to expect you 5-10 minutes late because you parked 10 blocks away from your meet up point.
Do you have a swing out tire carrier? Take into consideration the need for enough space to open your tailgate, especially in parking structures or on the street. It’s all too easy to be forced to open up swing arms over someone’s hood.
Don’t be the guy that drags the business end of a hi-lift jack over someone’s car hood. It’s not cool.
Height of daily driver – An acceptable parking garage
Know your vehicle’s height, and know it as well as you know your social security number. Know it so well that you begin to cry a little every time you go to park your vehicle in a parking garage, but immediately turn around because you know you’d tear the top of your vehicle off if you proceeded down that highway to the danger zone.
Parking garages are not your friend. They are no one’s friend. The average height of parking garages in my city range from 6’6” to 7’. My truck is 6’11” when fully fueled. Most parking garages also have weight limits on their ramps.
You will exceed one or both of those limits. Again, do not be that guy. You’ve made a conscience effort to build up your vehicle with lights and roof top tents, you put a bed on the top of your vehicle. Now you must lay down in it and live a life of desolation far far away from the comfort of a parking garage.
Lock It Down
One of the more overlooked upgrades you must also do is security. This means where you leave the vehicle and how you leave it.
Many of us outfit our vehicles with communication and navigational gear and these are items that are highly desirable by those who might wish to alleviate us of our technological and financial investments.
That means being able to stash or secure high value items in our daily drivers such as HAM radios, GPS systems, lights, etc. Anything that can be secured via locks or anti-theft bolts is worth the time to do so.
If you carry fuel and water externally it behooves you to keep things locked. I have heard conflicting thoughts on keeping external gas tanks fueled or not, and I am not an expert on this from a legal standpoint.
I’ve seen shady people come up and wrap their knuckles on my fuel tanks to see if there was anything in them, or come out of stores to see someone trying to mess with the locks thinking they could steal the cans.
Also consider that someone could tamper with your external fuel tanks. 5 gallons of gas can do quite a bit of damage when strapped to your rig, especially in the hands of someone who wishes to do your rig harm.
Know when to fuel up and load up the vehicle for travel, and download gear and fuel when back in town.”We didn’t buy them for the mileage…”Speaking of gas, all of these modifications come at a severe penalty to miles per gallon.
The original manufacturer spec sheet for my vehicle listed 18 city and 21 highway. I’m going to go have a sad moment when I think about what I’m getting now. Okay, the moment has passed. I’m lucky to get 13 in town and 14-15 on the highway at sea level, on a downward slope…with a tailwind.
This is the nature of what happens when you add nearly a ton (that’s not figurative, that’s literal) of armor, cargo systems, roof rack, lights, winches, batteries, and all other forms of expedition knick knacks.
You will find that your ability to make it 4-5 days of commuting will become a bit ambitious, especially when you factor in traffic. Know your vehicle, and how thirsty it gets.
Gas is more expensive in population centers, and you will pay dearly for your decision to live in a city.
You’re ready. Ok. That’s not Isaac’s 4Runner, but he did take this picture of the OB rig as daily driver in Downtown Portland.
Because all overland rigs vary, what I’ve mentioned may not apply to you. The takeaway is that every overlander needs to be well versed in how their vehicle performs, how it exists in physical space, and how your daily driver modifications affect those around you.
From stopping distances due to extra weight, how additional armor increases the size of your vehicle, and how internal modifications alter usable space… if your vehicle is your daily driver, and thus there is no separation between “work rig” and “play rig” you need to understand there will always be a compromise somewhere in what you’re giving up to take on.
There is something incredibly powerful in having an overland vehicle. It means you are constantly in a rig that tempts you to go and explore. And it means you’re daily driving something that can be loaded up in a moments notice to escape the confines of urban living and find yourself on an adventure.
You’ll get more smiles, waves, and questions than the guy driving his bland and boring sedan to work and back. If you’re prepared for the trade-offs, it’s a wonderful thing to have a vehicle that inspires as much as it can be challenging.
Full rig build out breakdown of Isaac’s Beast here!
Join the Overland Bound Team!Become a Member of the fastest growing global Overlanding network!Order your custom Member Emblem and begin your journey.Click HERE To learn more.
Corrie, if you could please re-title this awesome article to "So, your Overland Rig is Your Daily Driver?". Hahahah. I'm kidding. This was another great one.
[QUOTE="RaggedViking, post: 51807, member: 5587"]Corrie, if you could please re-title this awesome article to "So, your Overland Rig is Your Daily Driver?". Hahahah. I'm kidding. This was another great one.[/QUOTE]
Thanks. I tried to focus on stuff that regardless of make/model of your rig, would still be applicable. As I've seen the same general issues occur regardless if you're driving a smaller rig or not.
[QUOTE="RaggedViking, post: 51807, member: 5587"]Corrie, if you could please re-title this awesome article to "So, your Overland Rig is Your Daily Driver?". Hahahah. I'm kidding. This was another great one.[/QUOTE]
Ha! I'll consider it… 🙂
My overland rig is my daily driver, but try as I might I just cannot make my job seem like an adventure.
Awesome article! Im in the same situation. When im on a rough trail im always cautious. If I break something major, how will I get to work!?!? Haha
[QUOTE="Jensen Cole Mason, post: 51831, member: 5661"]Awesome article! Im in the same situation. When im on a rough trail im always cautious. If I break something major, how will I get to work!?!? Haha[/QUOTE]
The struggle is real!!!
[QUOTE="LawnDart, post: 51811, member: 5959"]Thanks. I tried to focus on stuff that regardless of make/model of your rig, would still be applicable. As I've seen the same general issues occur regardless if you're driving a smaller rig or not.[/QUOTE]
What you've done is touched a heart-string in a lot of us! This is our life!
Nothing like getting rid of that smooth ride when you put larger MT tires on. Then again, MT tires aren't really needed..
Great article, I'm just really glad Salt Lake has great public transportation options so I only need to drive a couple miles to the train station and I can take it into the city for work. Keeps the miles off and makes it so I'm not guzzling a tank and a half a week. My wife has a Ford Focus too so when need be we just take that and my truck can chill at home.
great article
I feel our overland rig as a daily driver is probably 99% of us here
I too worry about sticky fingers making off with my hard earned items
I'm trying to find a way to make my daily driver my daily overlander. Short of winning the lottery or a generous benefactor, suggestions? :grinning:
What a sweet ride! What type of front bumper is that?
I find it hard when I read an article that pulls a couple cords in my heart because I know I fall in that category. I'm lucky to work only 5 miles from base camp 1 (also known as home) in which my backup daily is a motorized bicycle that can hit 30mph. However I hate being cold and we'll Arizona drivers aren't known for being incredibly safe or alert. I'm currently building up a small trailer just so I don't feel like I have to stack all my gear on or in my rig especially since I have several children that need to fit in safe and comfortable.
Sent from my SM-N900V using OB Talk mobile app
[QUOTE="SCrunner, post: 64362, member: 7105"]What a sweet ride! What type of front bumper is that?[/QUOTE]
It's made by Pelfreybilt
None y'all got nothin' on me…
I'm on track to logging 100k miles on that Frontier since 2-22-2015
I teach at an Elementary school, at least the kids find it cool when the truck is muddy, dusty, or filled with goodies for camping. Adults look at me like I am three headed. Oh well.
Maybe the adults are really more jealous of the blatant expression of independents and adventure.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using OB Talk mobile app
This thread hits very close to home for me. I drive, a LOT, for work, sometimes have to drive clients and have a kid who plays volleyball that I get to drive everywhere and two large dogs (Ridgebacks) who need space too. Because of this, I can't really build my 4Runner into a full-out expedition rig. That said, when I do off-road, I need to take it more easy than some others because I need to be able to get to work and transport the kid and dogs which is hard to do on my KTM. Battle scars, while cool, also don't work when picking up clients who expect an attorney to drive a nicer rig and not a beater.
My plans are to do something like the C4 Fabrications partial front bumper, aluminum skid plates, sliders and a rear bumper. (Does anyone make a rear bumper where the swing out can be removed?) I will not be building a drawer system, but will build a low profile platform with tie down racks and store my gear in Pelican cases and keep food, beer, etc. in a cooler. When I get them, I'll leave the Maxtrax and Hi-Lift in the garage and only put them on the rig when I'm actually heading out for a weekend (or longer) trip. My goal is to make it very easy to "gear up" when the time calls for it, but to leave the rig as road-friendly as possible the majority of the time. This way, the 4Runner will be road-friendly for work and M-F, but can easily be converted into a off-road rig.
[QUOTE="YETI X, post: 74339, member: 7573"]This thread hits very close to home for me. I drive, a LOT, for work, sometimes have to drive clients and have a kid who plays volleyball that I get to drive everywhere and two large dogs (Ridgebacks) who need space too. Because of this, I can't really build my 4Runner into a full-out expedition rig. That said, when I do off-road, I need to take it more easy than some others because I need to be able to get to work and transport the kid and dogs which is hard to do on my KTM. Battle scars, while cool, also don't work when picking up clients who expect an attorney to drive a nicer rig and not a beater.
My plans are to do something like the C4 Fabrications partial front bumper, aluminum skid plates, sliders and a rear bumper. (Does anyone make a rear bumper where the swing out can be removed?) I will not be building a drawer system, but will build a low profile platform with tie down racks and store my gear in Pelican cases and keep food, beer, etc. in a cooler. When I get them, I'll leave the Maxtrax and Hi-Lift in the garage and only put them on the rig when I'm actually heading out for a weekend (or longer) trip. My goal is to make it very easy to "gear up" when the time calls for it, but to leave the rig as road-friendly as possible the majority of the time. This way, the 4Runner will be road-friendly for work and M-F, but can easily be converted into a off-road rig.[/QUOTE]
You can always look at the Wilco Hitchgate. Have one on my 4R and I know their is a 5th Gen running one as well that I always see pics of. I like mine as I'm not a huge fan of the big metal rear bumpers…yet. 🙂
[QUOTE="Corrie, post: 51795, member: 2161"]New article! New article! [USER=5959]@LawnDart[/USER] is KILLIN' it on dem streets with his beasty. 🙂
When Your Daily Driver is Your Overland Rig
We recently connected with Overland Bound Member…
Continue reading the Original Blog Post.[/QUOTE]
Great read! My rig is also my daily driver.
Well done.
I use my truck for way too many projects to be just an overland rig. I will have 2 setups here shortly. I'm picking up a diamondback truck cover this weekend for daily driving. It will keep my stuff secure and give me more loading options with the short bed.
My 2nd setup will be an RCI bed rack with my RTT and all the camp gear.
It seems expensive at first but not compared to building a dedicated trail rig.
Maybe someday I can get my dream land cruiser or 4runner.
Well Done!! Great article. Very informative as I myself use my rig as my DD. This will help me with my future decisions on how I build up my rig for the adventures that I’m shooting for.
Good read, all my previous vehicles have been multi-role vehicles (unfortunately never had the luxury of a dedicated tourer – however some lent more one way than the other), so they've all had their compromises. I'd say the current one is possibly the most road focussed of all in it's standard form, but also has the most ability of all I've owned (except maybe the Defender 110). Which is handy as I have a 90km each way commute everyday and have to occasionally accommodate our little'un.
However in my line of work it also needs to be fairly capable and able to cover big miles over outback or rough roads.
I need to win the lotto, have a gas efficient vehicle for work and a OB Vehicle for adventures
[QUOTE="dmurph1996, post: 84345, member: 2550"]I need to win the lotto, have a gas efficient vehicle for work and a OB Vehicle for adventures[/QUOTE]
I feel your pain. Believe it or not the rangie is cheaper to run than the Suzuki before it (Diesel vs petrol).
My rig is my daily and still pretty stock so im cant wait for these problems/adventures but for the sake of adventure we park blocks away, we are not as hard on the gas and give the space for braking, as much as we want to trust the people around us we lock up. As bad as we want to park on that grassy/dirt and hope a curb we dont ;). We pack out more then we pack in. We are overland off road and urban. Smile speed bumps dont effect us. We build to live we live to explore
awesome article that obviously hits home for many, me included. i feel that usually the best option when daily driving my rig is to leave all the overland stuff that i can at home. obviously things get stolen, but a lot of the plastic stuff stuck on our rigs, like maxxtrax and rotopax are damaged by prolonged exposure to uv rays. save a few (hundred?) pounds and leave the shovels, gas, trax, jacks etc. at home. i know it looks cool, but it shouldn’t be a fashion show. save gas and wear and tear on your rig and gear at the same time. my 2cents. great article.
[QUOTE="Rexplorer, post: 144604, member: 14359"]awesome article that obviously hits home for many, me included. i feel that usually the best option when daily driving my rig is to leave all the overland stuff that i can at home. obviously things get stolen, but a lot of the plastic stuff stuck on our rigs, like maxxtrax and rotopax are damaged by prolonged exposure to uv rays. save a few (hundred?) pounds and leave the shovels, gas, trax, jacks etc. at home. i know it looks cool, but it shouldn't be a fashion show. save gas and wear and tear on your rig and gear at the same time. my 2cents. great article.[/QUOTE]
I agree %100. Here is my rig on our trip…[ATTACH=full]33510[/ATTACH]
Then the week after we got back….
[ATTACH=full]33511[/ATTACH]
https://s13.postimg.org/t3626239z/25353849_938112306354669_866058707410583757_n.jpg
970 kilograms of briquettes
Summit X Overland
(Rig 1: 2017 Jeep JKU)
Instagram.com/SummitXOverland
I keep my recovery gear behind the seat all the time. I strip the camping gear off when not needed. It's s pain to store but my truck can then be my daily driver, and my utility rig for hunting and chores. I've found being organized you can convert in an afternoon and be ready for adventure.
Sent from my E6810 using OB Talk mobile app
I’m new to OB and really appreciate articles like this. Some points may seem obvious, yet easy to overlook or under estimate. Experience based articles based are priceless. Thank you.
So on the flip side of the coin, what factors should someone keep in mind when they take their daily driver/work vehicle off-road? Before I can enjoy wandering the great outdoors on Friday night, I need a high degree of confidence I’m going to be able to use it for work at 7:00 am on Monday morning?
I intend to stay on “softer” trails that still get me to the camp, scenic and fishing spots. I also reasonably know the limitations of my vehicle and current state of build-out, but….? I’m sure there are some nuggets of knowledge and experience out there.
Thanks again.
[QUOTE="CanyonMULE, post: 204724, member: 21254"]I'm new to OB and really appreciate articles like this. Some points may seem obvious, yet easy to overlook or under estimate. Experience based articles based are priceless. Thank you.
So on the flip side of the coin, what factors should someone keep in mind when they take their daily driver/work vehicle off-road? Before I can enjoy wandering the great outdoors on Friday night, I need a high degree of confidence I'm going to be able to use it for work at 7:00 am on Monday morning?
I intend to stay on "softer" trails that still get me to the camp, scenic and fishing spots. I also reasonably know the limitations of my vehicle and current state of build-out, but….? I'm sure there are some nuggets of knowledge and experience out there.
Thanks again.[/QUOTE]In TX a patch kit and compressor is a must due to sharp rocks and thick torns…normally tires are the first to get damages and once you use the spare the other option is trail repair…I have used mine in a mall parking lot to "save" strangers without a spare to stay trained and know that my equipment is working properly.
Sent from my SM-G950U using OB Talk mobile app
Keep plastic boxes ready with cooking supplies and canned/dried food just ready to grab and go…replenish food as soon as you get back to stay ready. I have a Jerry can style container with fresh water ready to go as well. Also a hammock with a tarp can be more practical than a tent in quick situations
Sent from my SM-G950U using OB Talk mobile app
I solve the DD issue by only having a 4 mile commute to work . Mpg is not a factor for me at all because even on trips the difference in 10-15mpg vs 15-20 is not really that much money if you sit down and do the math . If I had a long commute I would definitely have 2 rigs , nothing is worse then breaking out on the trail knowing you have to hurry up and fix it b4 work .
Great article
I live 2 miles from work, which indeed makes the 15-17mpg in my 4Runner not so bad! Back when I was commuting 16 miles each way, I had figured up that if I bought myself a 250cc dual sport bike (75mpg!), it would completely pay for itself if I rode 3 days a week (not hard in Florida!) If I ever get into a longer commute again, I will definitely go back to looking at such a purchase!
Got a hardy chuckle from “expedition battleship”
My Jeep is my daily. We moved from 32mi away to 7mi from my office so it’s been great. I get about 15mpg with rack n tent on there. I’d like to take the tent off on Sundays and throw it back on Fridays but it’s too damn heavy for me n the wife. Since I need help I’ll leave it on there until the hurricanes come, then stash it in the garage. I carry my recovery gear, tools and bottled water all the time. Only pack my camp boxes when rolling out. I’m not too worried about breaking stuff since I can borrow my wife’s GX460 if anything breaks. I feel damn lucky to have all this awesome stuff.
Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
Great article.
Should add the benefit of other drivers less motivated to cut you off when they see that small steal elephant in the lane beside them.
Add a secure main cutoff switch for the winch.
Heard about and personal had people massing with the winch line on the street.
The awkward look on drivers’s faces in traffic when they read the “open beer here” on the bumper bottle opener..
I agree with all the comments about what a great article this is. I spent over an hour one way to work between country roads and expressway. So yes my rig is a daily driver and you pay a price for that in fuel but I would not have it any other way. The fact I live in a town with more cows than people and have land and good neighbors around me makes up for the latter. I am still building on my rig and adding more weight as I go so factoring in what tires I want ( have to do well and wear well on the interstate) but still give me good off road capabilities plays in the choices I make. Current ones not so we'll, new ones on the way. Slim down on inside gear but have the necessitys to handle what comes my way. Adapting and overcoming is a every day thing. Thanks to all who have shared thier wisdom on this.[ATTACH=full]56742[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]56743[/ATTACH]
Sent from my SM-N950U using OB Talk mobile app
There's a thrill in pushing your rig to the limit while knowing you have to get to work on Monday. There's an art in keeping the balance. I run empty on my commute back and forth to work, but always worry about security when I have a load on for the adventure.
Great article, the one thing I always consider is the security. Always have tried to keep things out sight and incognito, especially when in and out of our cities higher theft areas. Becoming a little harder to do lol.
Another thing is because it is our exploring and daily rig, the mind set of being prepared for the unexpected is intertwined together. Having a “gobag” and other tools close by can be invaluable. I have had to help a coworker with their car, basic tools all in the truck, well actually my vw car at the time. Or like the tracks for the snowstorms up here in the northeast. Counted plenty of cars that drove off the road and got stuck this past winter. Having bigger first aid kit on hand, besides your basic edc.
Wouldn’t have it any other way, a daily overlander.
Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
I was in the same situation until I realized that I could get a gas saver pretty much for free. My Fiat 500 Abarth averages 30 MPG even when I have my foot in the throttle and costs about the same as I save on gas with my 70 mile round trip drive to work. My Jeep will not have 200k miles when paid off and I have a fun little car. It makes the Jeep feel slow now…the only down side.
Great Article! Thanks for sharing.
[QUOTE="WalkingBear, post: 204728, member: 21835"]Keep plastic boxes ready with cooking supplies and canned/dried food just ready to grab and go…replenish food as soon as you get back to stay ready. I have a Jerry can style container with fresh water ready to go as well. Also a hammock with a tarp can be more practical than a tent in quick situations
Sent from my SM-G950U using OB Talk mobile app[/QUOTE]This. I use this method with the ever popular costco boxes , works great. Convert In and out in no time . You have to be organized
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
I daily drive my rig because there's no way I can afford to pay insurance for a car that is just a "toy" for overlanding – my wife drives the minivan, and my car has to be my adventure mobile as well as my daily commuter. I drive 72kms to work each way, so 144kms per day – one of the major factors that went into my choice of the Honda CRV RD1. Also the reason I chose General Grabber AT2 tires – very good on the highway, awesome on the dirt. One nice advantage I have is that when I park my car at work, it's in the parking lot of a government building full of armed law enforcement officers, so security isn't a worry. lol
Just returned from FJ Summit 2018 and all my check engine lights were on. Thankfully I was able to make the 17 hour trip home. Rig has been in the shop for the last 9 days. Checking this checking that. Now I think we have narrowed it down to the ECM being bad. Not sure why or what happened. Just thankful that it did not strand me way up on one of the Colorado passes while there. I am also thankful that I have a company vehicle to drive while mine is down. It is my only vehicle. But not necessarily my daily driver I guess. lol. I just want my FJ back.
I grew up doing landscaping and construction, and just kept half my tools in my f250 all the time. I just got used to the preparedness that comes along with that. I’ve towed cars out of ditches, directed traffic at a just happened accident before cops showed up, stuff like that. It’s just good to be prepared for things to happen because guess what….bad things happen.
Daily driving my “overlanding rig” isn’t really about overlanding or being cool. It’s about being prepared. I like having my tools with me. The number of times I’ve plugged a friends tire and aired it back up BEFORE he even got the spare lowered is high. And that’s how I like it. Also, living in a hurricane evacuation area, it’s good to be prepared with supplies and gear for a quick evacuation. My wife and I could be loaded in our car, with over a weeks worth of water and freeze dried food, and completely self-sustainable set of camping gear in under 30 minutes. No different than packing up for a weekend trip!
The cost is driving around a heavy vehicle with a ton of crap on it. And getting 13 mpg. I think it’s worth it though. I have a work truck I have the option to commute with, and I still drive my 4runner 3-4 days a week. I just feel safer and better prepared.
My adventure rig is also my daily driver. Being a Land Rover LR4 it’s never been known to be the pinnacle of reliability even when it was new. That being said I do try and take it easy and not get myself in a situation that could cripple the car.
[QUOTE="bencleveland, post: 243931, member: 23118"]I grew up doing landscaping and construction, and just kept half my tools in my f250 all the time. I just got used to the preparedness that comes along with that. I’ve towed cars out of ditches, directed traffic at a just happened accident before cops showed up, stuff like that. It’s just good to be prepared for things to happen because guess what….bad things happen.
Daily driving my “overlanding rig” isn’t really about overlanding or being cool. It’s about being prepared. I like having my tools with me. The number of times I’ve plugged a friends tire and aired it back up BEFORE he even got the spare lowered is high. And that’s how I like it. Also, living in a hurricane evacuation area, it’s good to be prepared with supplies and gear for a quick evacuation. My wife and I could be loaded in our car, with over a weeks worth of water and freeze dried food, and completely self-sustainable set of camping gear in under 30 minutes. No different than packing up for a weekend trip!
The cost is driving around a heavy vehicle with a ton of crap on it. And getting 13 mpg. I think it’s worth it though. I have a work truck I have the option to commute with, and I still drive my 4runner 3-4 days a week. I just feel safer and better prepared.[/QUOTE]
That is exactly how I feel about driving my Jeep every day. And the sad thing? I have two other cars, AND a motorcycle lol.
Nice to have first-world problems…LOL!
At least with the abysmal MPG I'm getting, I've learned to not be so heavy-footed or it would literally cost me.
[QUOTE="LostInSocal, post: 244499, member: 11175"]Nice to have first-world problems…LOL!
At least with the abysmal MPG I'm getting, I've learned to not be so heavy-footed or it would literally cost me.[/QUOTE]
Truth. I’m a much friendlier driver in my 4runner.
[QUOTE="LostInSocal, post: 244499, member: 11175"]Nice to have first-world problems…LOL!
At least with the abysmal MPG I'm getting, I've learned to not be so heavy-footed or it would literally cost me.[/QUOTE]
That’s part of the reason I enjoy driving my Jeep so much-it forced me to slow down. It’s nice to have a clean driving record after all these years!
[QUOTE="sabjku, post: 244552, member: 17060"]That’s part of the reason I enjoy driving my Jeep so much-it forced me to slow down. It’s nice to have a clean driving record after all these years![/QUOTE]I can agree with that, came out of 600whp z06 into my Jeep lol.
[QUOTE="sabjku, post: 244552, member: 17060"]That’s part of the reason I enjoy driving my Jeep so much-it forced me to slow down. It’s nice to have a clean driving record after all these years![/QUOTE]
Right!? It's forced me to plan a bit better to get to my destination, meaning to give myself plenty of time to get there. The driving is just less stressful than it used to be. You think it'll fly if I say to my wife that I'm getting a steel bumper to reduce stress while driving? Ha!
[QUOTE="LostInSocal, post: 244632, member: 11175"]…………… You think it'll fly if I say to my wife that I'm getting a steel bumper to reduce stress while driving? Ha![/QUOTE]
Do you think your wife would notice the bumper change?! Easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission:) But that's coming from me, with no wife or kids!
[QUOTE="cody_roberts, post: 244628, member: 19576"]I can agree with that, came out of 600whp z06 into my Jeep lol.[/QUOTE]
Wow! I can't even imagine putting my foot into that throttle any more. I have an older John Cooper Works Mini Cooper with tons of tasteful suspension, brake, and engine upgrades, and it's sitting around 220hp. That's enough to get me into trouble lol.
I’ve been telecommuting for years and live in the country, so usually no problem, but last week we were visiting one of our kids in LA and I had to park on the street. I pulled out everything from the bed, took the mtn. bikes inside and put cable locks on Rotopax, Maxtrax, HiLift and spare. Got through unscathed. My muddy ZR2 diesel got lots of rubbernecking in a town populated mostly by very clean cars. Even the UPS guy gave me props.
Who as built an overland rig that can still fit in a 6'8" garage for daily driving in the city?
[QUOTE="Jacob Feuerman, post: 271351, member: 16492"]Who as built an overland rig that can still fit in a 6'8" garage for daily driving in the city?[/QUOTE]
A Chevy Colorado ZR2 with most bed caps or racks would fit, even if you added a little bigger diameter tires. You may have to replace the OEM antenna with a stubby unit though. If you want stuff on top of the cab roof or bed rack/cap (spare tire, jack, RTT, etc.), you'd have to store it separately.
[QUOTE="Jacob Feuerman, post: 271351, member: 16492"]Who as built an overland rig that can still fit in a 6'8" garage for daily driving in the city?[/QUOTE]
A Chevy Colorado ZR2 with most bed caps or racks would fit, even if you added a little bigger diameter tires. You may have to replace the OEM antenna with a stubby unit though. If you want stuff on top of the cab roof or bed rack/cap (spare tire, jack, RTT, etc.), you'd have to store it separately.
[QUOTE="Jacob Feuerman, post: 271351, member: 16492"]Who as built an overland rig that can still fit in a 6'8" garage for daily driving in the city?[/QUOTE]
My rig on 33s clears my garage door opener by one inch. If I nose it all the way to the back of the original slab (I have an 8 foot extension on the back), I can actually jack it up enough to get some work done.
Mine is daily driven. Just crossed 276k on the odometer. Freshened up the top end in the garage. If any of you out there have a chance to rebuild a Powerstroke in your garage without jacking the cab…….pass. 😉
Awesome article, my 2016 4Runner is my daily driver, and I average close to 50 miles a day lol.
Thought provoking article. Nice to know I’m not alone commuting in my adventure mobile. I have an over-roof rack system which must be removed before I can fit in a parking garage. Looking into other solutions but may just dial in public transportation. Anyway, thanks for the article.
Great article and well written. I’ve struggled with this concept as well as I do about 3500 miles a month. So I’ve looked for ways to transform my DD into my rig and be able to swap back and forth. For example my Nav and comms I use a product that enables me to mount ram balls and take them off easily, and the mount hides discreetly behind my radio bezel never to be seen while in DD mode. The sliders I chose give me good rock protection but also don’t stick so far out that my pants (or passengers’ pants) get wet or dirty when exiting. I also worked hard at finding a rack system for my truck that takes 10 mins to pop on and off so the transition is quick. With some thought and research it definitely can be done depending on your function and form that you want. I talked to Michael at the OB Rally and he did a walk around about it.
Just added this bumper on 2 weeks ago, it matches the stock look while giving me a winch, LED Bar, and hard points while not looking too overly aggressive or heavy. [ATTACH=full]77175[/ATTACH]
[MEDIA=youtube]Qike5D_Msjk[/MEDIA]
I am a new member, 2013 Jeep Wrangler. I am very interested in Jeep activities in Florida and the Southeast. Bob
[QUOTE="Bobby B, post: 282978, member: 33381"]I am a new member, 2013 Jeep Wrangler. I am very interested in Jeep activities in Florida and the Southeast. Bob[/QUOTE]
Welcome Bob. Lots of great people on here. Check out the rally point page and then choose your region from the drop down and you’ll get a list of all the events happening local to you whether that be a meet up or a trip.
Thank you, still learning to navigate this site.
[QUOTE="Bobby B, post: 283975, member: 33381"]Thank you, still learning to navigate this site.[/QUOTE]
Have fun!
“Expedition Battleship” Awesome! Thank You for the insightful article. New to this, but my Jeep is my daily driver and I suppose once I gear it up, I’ll be in the same boat. Thanks again!
Thanks for this! I want to explore overlanding using my tacoma sport as my primary rig. I am not looking to make this a lifestyle thing initially but dont want to be underequipped when it counts. OMG this seems to be an expensive hobby! Maybe I should look into yachting or polo instead…..
I enjoyed this. You helped again illustrate to me that its not reasonable (for me) to have my daily as an overland. I have a lowly subaru outback that I have lifted, and put a roof rack on, with a few other goodies like sliders. As I was building and seeing the gas mileage drop off the cliff, I came to the point where I need to start thinking of storage. Once I got into that It came clear to me my best option was to get a trailer. I simply did not want to take up my entire rear with racks and sliders full time. I have dogs, I have things to move, I have a day to day life I didnt want to disrupt.
I had to get a small but functional trialer so I went with a turtleback getaway trail.
Each to their own and all.
I seriously looked for a trd pro 4runner, I mean scoured the dealership sites. I finally convinced myself I would just do all the upgrades you did over time, and that made me question why I would buy the pro for 10K more than an offroad.
No doubt you have a good looking rig.
I live about 11 miles from the office with is 90% freeway so that helps with the gas. I have been an advid bike rider my whole life so I "try" and ride to work 2 days a week in the spring and fall. Living in las vegas when it is some times over 100 at 7:30am in the summer and not wanting to be a sweaty mess when I get to work keeps me from riding too much in the summer…hahaha
I have 3 cases that fit side by side (by side) on the roof rack/bin with hold random camp stuff/cooking utensils in Ziploc bags, cans and dry good food and the last has my axe, camp shovel, extra tent supplies and basic tools. I take those off the truck durring the week and pop them back on in 5 or so minutes before I jet off for fun. I also have a bin and bag inside the cab with two small compressors, a fully charged jump pack and recovery gear….
Its nice to have the extra room inside… My XL7 has a third row which is always down and then I drop the second row for more stuff.
My DD has been my stock LLC since the end of 2009. It does fine as a DD and fine as a trail rig in stock form (but I never push the vehicle because I'm always alone in the back country). The only "mod" is I run KO2 tires (and previously, Big O/Cooper AT tires) instead of the P loads that Toyo likes to put on these rigs.