No current overland vehicle, but I'm hoping to have one by the end of the year.
I just graduated college, started my job, and I'm getting married later this year. I own a home, which is taking up some of my finances, I foster dogs, and I have three of my own, so I'm always busy with my local rescue.
The plans are to get a vehicle that the fiance likes, the dogs can all fit in, and can be used as a "daily." It will be used as a third vehicle, but I drive our current third vehicle more than my daily, because it's a lot faster.
These parameters limit me to SUVs, because she doesn't want a truck, which is fine, I live in Alabama, most of my friends have trucks, so if I needed one, I could borrow one. I have a personal connection with Toyota, but I'm slowly being won over by the Nissan Xterra. The SUVs I'm thinking about are:
3rd-4th Gen 4runner
Pre-2010 Xterra (seems that the 1st and 2nd gens are similarly priced in that year range)
FZJ-80 and LX-450
100-Series and LX-470
GX-470 (fiance thinks they are ugly, but maybe the interior will convince her)
I believe all of these will have good reliability, good starting platforms. a built up forum base to rely on, enough aftermarket support for my requirements (I will get to that soon), and the right price for my budget ($10kish).
My requirements:
Armor (front/rear bumper, slider, and skid plates)
Winch and Recovery gear
Lighting
2-4" lift
33" tires or smaller
Gearing (maybe)
Rear Locker
Enough room for our 3 large breed dogs (they are weigh about 60lbs)
As well as camping gear for 2-3 days (As of right now she does not want to stay out longer than that)
On board air
Outdoor kitchen
And maybe after all of that is done, I'll add an outdoor shower
I hoping I can accomplish this, with the help of this forum, by gaining ideas, tips, and tricks. Also, I have some learning to do, like learning how to find appropriate trails here in the southeast. Hopefully we have some members that live in the area.
Thanks for reading my introduction!
EDIT: I did not lay out my overland experience, I believe novice is the only appropriate term. I did some overlanding in my bone stock 1996 Land Cruiser (unfortunately I don't have it anymore).
I just graduated college, started my job, and I'm getting married later this year. I own a home, which is taking up some of my finances, I foster dogs, and I have three of my own, so I'm always busy with my local rescue.
The plans are to get a vehicle that the fiance likes, the dogs can all fit in, and can be used as a "daily." It will be used as a third vehicle, but I drive our current third vehicle more than my daily, because it's a lot faster.
These parameters limit me to SUVs, because she doesn't want a truck, which is fine, I live in Alabama, most of my friends have trucks, so if I needed one, I could borrow one. I have a personal connection with Toyota, but I'm slowly being won over by the Nissan Xterra. The SUVs I'm thinking about are:
3rd-4th Gen 4runner
Pre-2010 Xterra (seems that the 1st and 2nd gens are similarly priced in that year range)
FZJ-80 and LX-450
100-Series and LX-470
GX-470 (fiance thinks they are ugly, but maybe the interior will convince her)
I believe all of these will have good reliability, good starting platforms. a built up forum base to rely on, enough aftermarket support for my requirements (I will get to that soon), and the right price for my budget ($10kish).
My requirements:
Armor (front/rear bumper, slider, and skid plates)
Winch and Recovery gear
Lighting
2-4" lift
33" tires or smaller
Gearing (maybe)
Rear Locker
Enough room for our 3 large breed dogs (they are weigh about 60lbs)
As well as camping gear for 2-3 days (As of right now she does not want to stay out longer than that)
On board air
Outdoor kitchen
And maybe after all of that is done, I'll add an outdoor shower
I hoping I can accomplish this, with the help of this forum, by gaining ideas, tips, and tricks. Also, I have some learning to do, like learning how to find appropriate trails here in the southeast. Hopefully we have some members that live in the area.
Thanks for reading my introduction!
EDIT: I did not lay out my overland experience, I believe novice is the only appropriate term. I did some overlanding in my bone stock 1996 Land Cruiser (unfortunately I don't have it anymore).
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