SVO ....Small Vehicle Overlanding

[CR-Venturer]

So I upgraded from a samurai tin top to a 2000 wrangler tj, and the tj seems like a palace inside to put all my gear.

I am extremely jelly of anyone who has a tintop samurai lol small is beautiful. :)

 

[Rivmage]

People travelling in the small rigs, I HIGHLY recommend a Sylvansport Go. We LOVE ours. It gives you great tent space, plus lots of room to lug your gear with you. Worth every dollar we paid for it!
[/QUO

People travelling in the small rigs, I HIGHLY recommend a Sylvansport Go. We LOVE ours. It gives you great tent space, plus lots of room to lug your gear with you. Worth every dollar we paid for it!

I would love to see pictures of your setup.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

I am not on my computer right now, but I put a few pictures in this thread of it...

Our Sylvansport Go.

 

[bawesomfels]

I absolutely LOVE that generation of Tracker. I almost bought one when I was first looking for a 4x4. It was between that and my CR-V. The Tracker had an oil leak and some rust, unfortunately, so I went with the V. It's all about space efficiency when it comes to these little rigs. Carefully consider what gear you take and don't take anything that doesn't actually add value.

Those CR-Vs always catch my eye, they're super neat when built out a little bit (don't tell my friends I said that) . As far as space, I've been spoiled for so long using a pickup that determining what's essential and what isn't is going to be fun. The current plan is taking out the back seat adding a roof rack, but still won't be as convenient as having a bed. Oh well, I'm excited to see what I can do.

 

[Downs]

Those CR-Vs always catch my eye, they're super neat when built out a little bit (don't tell my friends I said that) . As far as space, I've been spoiled for so long using a pickup that determining what's essential and what isn't is going to be fun. The current plan is taking out the back seat adding a roof rack, but still won't be as convenient as having a bed. Oh well, I'm excited to see what I can do.

For their size they really have quite an impressive cargo area. The area behind the rear seats is quite square and deep, at least the older ones. I understand the newer models have more of a slope to the rear window cutting down on cargo space.

 

[CR-Venturer]

For their size they really have quite an impressive cargo area. The area behind the rear seats is quite square and deep, at least the older ones. I understand the newer models have more of a slope to the rear window cutting down on cargo space.

I have a first generation one, and definitely it has a decent cargo area even with the rear seats up, but you can fold the rear seats almost flat and have a huge cargo area. Also, on some of the first generation, you can fold the seats into a flat, albeit slightly slanted bed. All you have to do is park on a slight uphill and voila, flat, level bed.

 

[CR-Venturer]

Those CR-Vs always catch my eye, they're super neat when built out a little bit (don't tell my friends I said that) . As far as space, I've been spoiled for so long using a pickup that determining what's essential and what isn't is going to be fun. The current plan is taking out the back seat adding a roof rack, but still won't be as convenient as having a bed. Oh well, I'm excited to see what I can do.

I love mine. I think it looks like a baby 80 series land cruiser :D

 

[Downs]

I have a first generation one, and definitely it has a decent cargo area even with the rear seats up, but you can fold the rear seats almost flat and have a huge cargo area. Also, on some of the first generation, you can fold the seats into a flat, albeit slightly slanted bed. All you have to do is park on a slight uphill and voila, flat, level bed.

My wife had a first gen and when she traded it in she was all set on another till she really looked close and saw they had changed it to be more shaped like a bar of soap, you know for aerodynamics. Totally ruined the cargo area for her. She trains dogs and HAS to have a mostly square cargo area for crates and whatnot. She wound up with a 2012 Honda Pilot instead after the CRV and when we traded in the Pilot we wound up with a Kia Sedona minivan.

 

[CR-Venturer]

My wife had a first gen and when she traded it in she was all set on another till she really looked close and saw they had changed it to be more shaped like a bar of soap, you know for aerodynamics. Totally ruined the cargo area for her. She trains dogs and HAS to have a mostly square cargo area for crates and whatnot. She wound up with a 2012 Honda Pilot instead after the CRV and when we traded in the Pilot we wound up with a Kia Sedona minivan.

1st gen is best gen :D One of my fav vehicles I've ever owned, possibly number 1, with my 06 Dodge Charger vying for that spot. If Honda engineered a vehicle as awesome as the RD1 when they weren't even trying to make a "true off roader", I'm sad they didn't actually set out to make the ultimate compact 4x4, because they probably could have created a true legend.

 

[Oakster]

Having a grand ol time!
View attachment 183189

What are those cases on your roof rack? Are they rifle cases..if so, what brand? I like the profile of your rack - every case I look at is too tall for my tastes (and gas mileage...)

 

[Luis Merlo]

They were, "Pelican" style cases, water proof, dust proof and a 1/3 the price mate.

 

[Cypress]

So I upgraded from a samurai tin top to a 2000 wrangler tj, and the tj seems like a palace inside to put all my gear.

I went from a Tin Top to a XJ Cherokee. I kept the Tin Top though. It's still one of my favorites and it gets used locally fairly often.

 

[Lindenwood]

What are those cases on your roof rack? Are they rifle cases..if so, what brand? I like the profile of your rack - every case I look at is too tall for my tastes (and gas mileage...)

9800 Weatherproof Protective Rifle Case, Long, Black

Amazing deals on this 9800 Weatherproof Rifle Case, Long Black at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

They are quite solid (~3/16" walls), weatherproof, and gave the dimensions I wanted. They are on sale regularly; I bought two for $100 on Black Friday, and the third for $115 around the New Year.

 

[Lindenwood]

Out beebopping!

Also, going for round... Four? of my rear lift. This time universal 16x5 coils of 250lb/in rate (up from ~210), with custom spring seats. It doesn't take much weight to get the rear sagging these days (I think my factory coils have settled a lot), and I wanted a bit more rear ground clearance and stability.



*edit*

Oh! Forgot about White Sands!!

 

[Naidu]

Yeah I was thinking of getting a marine optima (the blue top). Im honestly not sold on the solar idea, its not very effective from a cost benefit stand point in my opinion. Also for most of my trips I may not even need to charge my second battery. All that my life right now really allows for me is single night trips, and all that I would be running is a small speaker for music, lights, and a fan to keep the air inside of the Escape circulating. I would just pull the battery and hook it up to charger when I get back home.

Would a Jackery or Bluetti (they're available from many brands) Lithium battery-based power station fit your needs? Not the cheapest option, but might be the most flexible, and especially well suited for your 1 or 2 day requirement.

 

[Oakster]

What are those cases on your roof rack? Are they rifle cases..if so, what brand? I like the profile of your rack - every case I look at is too tall for my tastes (and gas mileage...)

9800 Weatherproof Protective Rifle Case, Long, Black

Amazing deals on this 9800 Weatherproof Rifle Case, Long Black at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

They are quite solid (~3/16" walls), weatherproof, and gave the dimensions I wanted. They are on sale regularly; I bought two for $100 on Black Friday, and the third for $115 around the New Year.

Thanks. I never would have though of Harbor Freight for rifle case, though I haven’t been inside one for 5 years or so. Great tip.

 

[Lindenwood]

I installed the lift! It was way too tall and way to stiff because I didn't realize how much the stock coils had sagged--the two coils pictured are technically supposed to be the same length! Did some quick math, though, and going down to 225lb-in should give me the balance I was seeking and not sit quite so high in the rear. Those coils came in yesterday and will go in over the next couple of days.

 

[Gone_xtrkn]

2015 Subaru Crosstrek, just the right size for us.

 

[Jim SoG]

Great discussions, way to keep it on topic guys! Moved thread to your own forum under Rigs.

Of note I run a Jeep Liberty which is small in size, I love that I can go places that wider rigs can not....

Jim

 

[Red_Leaf_Overland]

I have a 2019 Jeep compass trailhawk that I am planning on doing a little bit of work to so it can be used better for camping with the family. I love seeing other small vehicles and it gives me ideas for my own. One thing I will likely build for it is a full roof platform style rack that I can throw a couple of hard cases or a soft carrier on and still have some extra room to attach an awning or put my traction boards up there.
I wish it had a bit more ground clearance and a larger tire but it was bought as something to use for long commutes and to be fuel efficient, which I no longer have the long commute to deal with. I am excited to start cracking into this thing as I can't seem to leave anything stock. I have another lifted vehicle that I use for more aggressive trails but I would still like to get this one out into the woods a little further.
Picture is the compass fully loaded last summer for a long weekend camping trip with my wife and my ( at that time) about 3-4 month old son.