What are the realities of overlanding in a stock 4X4?
Best choice ever if we are talking a capable 4x4.
Define capable?
A VW Syncro is a fabulous little RV. But easy to overload. Stock. keep it within the manufacturers intended use. Maintain it. Very capable.
F150, same thing. Incredibly well designed to what Ford intended. GVWR, ground clearance, close to stock tire, it'll work well.
F250, much more capable. Solid axles, higher payload capacity, better ground clearance. Another well engineered 4x4 capable of more and near bulletproof stock.
And then everything else from an Outback.... incredible AWD. To an EarthRoamer. There is always something stock that will do what you want. The choice is always, should I lift a Samuri and put it on 32s? or buy a stock Wrangler. Is my talent and budget geared to buy a Square Body K30 and put it on 37s with a 4"lift.... or should I just buy that FGB 71.
Fact is if your budget is under $50K there will be a completely stock 4x4 to do what you want. If you are buying a Tacoma to fit in with the Tacoma crowd........... you will likely modify it but not necessarily make it more capable or reliable. Most of the mods done are driven by the internet, marketing and peer pressure. And that applies to everyone, not picking on Tacomas, Wranglers are even worse..... I've owned Wranglers since '87, Before that they were called CJs, my first 4x4 was my first "car" out of high school, an M38. Back then almost no one modified a 4x4 unless they were going racing.
A few guys like the challenge to "engineer" a better vehicle. But they don't do that shopping on the internet. And they don't ask the question on internet forums,
"What mod should I do?" lol They do it because they have a vision and fuck you if you don't like it.
There is likely a stock 4x4, budget aside, which might keep up with them. But if you are addicted to "engineering" it better, you could care less. Come campfire time, the guys doing their own thing rule. The guys driving EarthRoamers are bystanders.
If your goal is to explore, yeah stock is the best, most economical way to go. You modify 4x4s for a different reason.
