Hello to all members,
I am a new member with no prior experience or no overland vehicle yet. Live in Vestal , NY, upstate.
Near retirement or partly retired so looking to explore US in a rather non conventional way and looking to explore possibilities with some over landing, camping in the wonderful outdoors of US.
I read and saw a lot of videos about the New Nissan Armada and how comfy and well equipped it is for rugged travels.
I would appreciate other member thoughts and advice about modifying with after market accessories including beefier suspensions and wheels.
Thanks,
Jay
Jay,
I bought a 16v Scirocco in Vestal about a life-time ago while stationed in upstate NY....
Since you asked, I can provide my humble opinion and hopefully it’s not too late for you to change direction.
I own an Armada, Tacoma and LandCruiser so I do have first hand knowledge.
The Armada is big! It’s got a ton of power and is comfortable. It’s my wife’s daily driver and she does really like it. We bought it because of its perceived refinement, relatively low cost, ability to carry 8 passengers and tow our 21’ travel trailer. This was an upgrade from our 2007 Sequoia (the 4.7L 8 was just a bit shy of the power we wanted).
Last year we traveled 8000 miles in the Armada as a family of 5 over 3 weeks and towed our camper down Route 66 to California and home to Michigan via 80/90. We hit several National Parks, drove over many washboard roads, over mountains, through heavy rains and 114 degree weather.
We’ve also taken the Armada and camper through Michigan’s UP and Canada the past couple of summers and to Camden NY (inlaws) for the past 3 years for Christmas through snow and -degree weather.
We have a 2012 model Armada and it’s the same running gear as the 2018 with the 2018 having an updated shell. Currently we’re at 96k miles.
My Land Cruiser 100 is a 2000 model year with 249k miles and some modifications that have been added as original equipment ages out; e.g. new muffler at 189,900 miles to replace the factory stainless steel original, new springs at 242k miles to replace originals, etc.
The build quality of the Land Cruiser is a standard much higher than the Armada. The 4WD system of the LC is much, much better on snow, gravel, any surface. There are several companies catering to Land Cruisers for Overland mods and there is a reason it is well represented in any Overland venue.
The Armada is temperamental and little ghosts exist in the electrical components where they may or may not work when you need them. Periodically the vehicle likes to drain the battery (no lights were left on... it just happens sometimes) just low enough to require a jumpstart.
The Armada is built to be a family grocery-getter...it is not meant to take the trails of an Overland agenda and it will brake. The suspension won’t take it and the whole vehicle will loosen up.
In my humble opinion, I’d take the $ that would be spent on a 2018 Armada and put 1/8 of that into buying a good Land Cruiser... make any necessary repairs and drive it until you feel you really need to modify it for the level of Overlanding you desire.
We’re replacing our Armada with a Land Cruiser 200 and the 5.7L 8.
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