Enthusiast I
Yikes! What have I gotten myself into? I know little about "Overlanding," but hope to learn more with my membership (Youtube can take you only so far). I don't even have a rig, though I'm no newbie to the outdoors and camping.
Hello from Chicago
- Thread starter flatlander071
- Start date
Welcome from San Diego Ca. & you can turn any vehicle into the adventure rig. Good luck & welcome. Great organization & lots of great people here.
Hello and welcome to the OB crew...look forward to seeing what vehicle you choose for your adventure platform.
Enthusiast I
Enthusiast I
Influencer I
Pathfinder III
- 5,200
- First Name
- Kent
- Last Name
- Reynolds
- Member #
-
1632
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- K6KNT
- Service Branch
- Retired Firefighter
Welcome to Overland Bound!
Check the forum calendar and meet-up page for events and trips that might be happening close to you.
If you have any questions message your regional ambassador or assistant ambassador can help.
Enthusiast I
Right now I'm using my Durango which works fine for national and state park camping, etc. I'm considering a Rubicon or 4Runner TRD Pro. Leaning toward a 4Runner for space and comfort reasons, which fits my needs best. But, you can't beat the jeep for all round capability and that "cool" look. I've been following several Youtube channels for both vehicles. It seams the modifications are endless.
Influencer I
Welcome from the suburbs near the big airport!
A Rubi and a 4-Runner are very different types of vehicles. I have a JKU Rubi and love it to death. It basically stock (except for the winch and bumpers) goes anywhere I want from crawling rocks at the off-road parks to muddy Forest Service roads to downtown when I drive it to work. However, it is not the same ride and has different capabilites. My wife drives a Jeep Commander and that is awesome for highway drives and Forest Service roads. It has taken the family from Canada to South Dakota to Florida in comfort with a lot of capability in light off-road use. It cannot keep up with Rubi in extreme off-road obstacle, but it was not designed for that.
Not sure about 4-Runners, but I know there are tons of aftermarket support for the Wrangler. Very limited for the Commander. You might want to make sure the appropriate parts and upgrades are available for whatever model you choose.
If you are interested in some off-road fun, let me know. I haven't been out with the club I belong to in a while, but I can gather some of troops together for an outing to Cliff's (our default location).
Good luck in whatever you choose. But honestly evaluate what your needs and plans are.
A Rubi and a 4-Runner are very different types of vehicles. I have a JKU Rubi and love it to death. It basically stock (except for the winch and bumpers) goes anywhere I want from crawling rocks at the off-road parks to muddy Forest Service roads to downtown when I drive it to work. However, it is not the same ride and has different capabilites. My wife drives a Jeep Commander and that is awesome for highway drives and Forest Service roads. It has taken the family from Canada to South Dakota to Florida in comfort with a lot of capability in light off-road use. It cannot keep up with Rubi in extreme off-road obstacle, but it was not designed for that.
Not sure about 4-Runners, but I know there are tons of aftermarket support for the Wrangler. Very limited for the Commander. You might want to make sure the appropriate parts and upgrades are available for whatever model you choose.
If you are interested in some off-road fun, let me know. I haven't been out with the club I belong to in a while, but I can gather some of troops together for an outing to Cliff's (our default location).
Good luck in whatever you choose. But honestly evaluate what your needs and plans are.
Enthusiast I
Thanks for the advice and offer. I'll look you up when I dive into a new vehicle. It might be a while before I purchase. Nice to know another Commander owner. I had a decked-out 2009. Bought the Durango in 14, but still love that Commander.
Influencer I
The Commander is quite vehicle. It is unappreciated by most. I guess you either love the boxy style or you hate it.
We almost lost ours last month in an accident. Some jackass wasn't paying attention and ran red light while we were making a left-hand turn. As expected, the Commander did its job and sacrificed itself for the passengers. My wife banged her knee against the steering column and I was unscathed. The entire front of the vehicle has been replaced and the mechanics are still working on the front axle. Apparently the collision was absorbed by the passenger's front wheel and suspension and sheared the LSD in the front pumpkin. The mechanics didn't discover the axle damage (even though I asked them to check) until the rest of the vehicle was attended to. Not sure if they would have totaled it if the axle damage was identified earlier. Unfortunately, 2006 Commanders don't have a huge resale value, so the breakeven for the insurance company is not that high. Replacing it with something new would cost quite a bit more than the current value of the car in perfect condition. Just shows some people are jerks and don't have the survival skills to drive safely on the road.
I'm really happy with the Commander and Wrangler as they compliment each other. There are some strengths they share, but I find having the combination gives me a vehicle for any occasion (assuming they are clean and have the dog hair removed :) ).
Enthusiast I
I'm glad to hear you're both OK. It may have been a different outcome in a smaller vehicle. I enjoyed my Commander. it's still on the road with a friend of mine. About 150K and still running strong.
Influencer I
Thanks! Yes, the Commander definitely put its life on the line by sacrificing itself for us. Jeeps are like that. :)
Seriously, we are fortunate that the vehicle absorbed the damage instead of us. I do not want to think about what would have happened if we were in my Wrangler.
Member III
Welcome to Overland Bound flatlander071 from Missouri! Check out the Midwest Region forums and their Facebook page.
