SVO ....Small Vehicle Overlanding

[Salvat]

So question for everyone. How do you guys handle self recoveries? Bigger rigs can afford the weight on the front with a winch, but us smaller guys that extra weight up there can cause issues. I have been toying around the the idea of a custom winch in a box. Basically, getting a pelican case and reinforcing it with a "mounting" plate for the winch along with hook points on both the front and back side of the box. Thoughts?


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[Gary Stevens]

So question for everyone. How do you guys handle self recoveries? Bigger rigs can afford the weight on the front with a winch, but us smaller guys that extra weight up there can cause issues. I have been toying around the the idea of a custom winch in a box. Basically, getting a pelican case and reinforcing it with a "mounting" plate for the winch along with hook points on both the front and back side of the box. Thoughts?


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I carry recovery boards Treads, less money than Max Traks and works just fine for my size vechile. I also carry a higher end air compressor to easily air up and down. I am not going somewhere or have the ability to go onto rocks that will get me stuck. I cannot take a change that someone with big tires, winch can do. Since this is my daily driver and a nice vechile that I intend to sale at full value someday I am not taking risks.

 

[Joey83]

I have not had that "problem" yet, but I am looking into getting some kind of recovery boards at some point, I just want to try and keep the weight down and not buy/carry lots of stuff just because I "might" need it at some point.

 

[Gary Stevens]

I have not had that "problem" yet, but I am looking into getting some kind of recovery boards at some point, I just want to try and keep the weight down and not buy/carry lots of stuff just because I "might" need it at some point.

I felt the boards, were the best fail safe, and I figured out a good way to carry and mount them. The air compressor is still small and reasonable to take. Really the most recent purchase of the portable power generator/battery falls into what you mention, big, heavy and what kind of bang for my buck will I really get. That one remains to be seen. I think the money and space for the recovery boards pay for them selves the first time you don't have to call for a tow or recovery.

 

[The other Sean]

Sorry I guess my question wasn't clear. What I'm asking is: in your opinion is it more important to have a 2WD with good clearance or an AWD with bad clearance? This is regarding small cars like yours Luis.

If I were to get a bigger crossover I would probably get a Dacia Duster: much cheaper and 2" more clearance than the Renegade and Tucson. I don't think you get them in the US or Australia but the engine and driveline is from the previous generation Nissan X-Trail (3 modes: FWD, Auto and Locked Centre Diff).

I was in Poland a few weeks back with my wife and we rode around in her Uncle's Duster. I loved it. Relatively inexpensive, simple, nimble and rugged. I wish they sold them in the U.S.

With that said, I'd take AWD and a little less ground clearance over FWD and FWD over RWD.

Also, I would think a quality come along would also be a good tool to have. Most times over the years with smaller vehicles stuck all it needed was a simple tug to get it back on solid traction. I think a decently rated come along could get you out of a bind easily.

 

[Salvat]

I have always been nervous using come alongs. If the come along fails it can turn Into a dangerous projectile. I suppose I could just get one really over-rated for the application.


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[Luis Merlo]

When it comes to recovery gear, i have been slack...i just have some shackles at this stage, i painted my dedicated recovery points bright yellow and are clearly visible...managed to test the front one recently on a very steep rocky climb...worked well, I need to get All Terrain tyres soon ....sigh

 

[Luis Merlo]

You ought to consider LiFePO4 instead of AGM, initial cost will be a little higher, but total cost of ownership will be lower, especially when you factor in usable cycles ~4x or more, depth of discharge, etc.

I’d also add Anderson plugs, to make it easy to gang the boxes.


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The Gel Deep Cycle battery was a gift...so it's a keeper...looking at getting a DC to DC charger first, so I arrive at camp with close to full charge as possible, then... when stationary, I want to hook up solar to trickle charge, that is the plan anyway mate !

 

[Luis Merlo]

Finally found some AT's in my legal size.....

 

[Luis Merlo]

Whilst I was there, I picked up a spare rim....black steelie...my current spare gets the "death wobbles" at speed....

 

[old_man]

Hi @Luis Merlo and others.

I'm planning ahead to my next vehicle as my current one is pretty old and I'm considering not getting a traditional 4x4 and maybe going for a crossover-type vehicle. Due to legal restrictions in Scotland there are very few opportunities for offroading and so 90% of the tracks I've done have been pretty tame forestry dirt roads that could be done by most cars.

There are two small cars I have in mind - one is 2WD but has very good ground clearance for a car (20cm/7.8") and the other is AWD but has much lower ground clearance (14cm/5.5"). My inclination is that 2wd with good ground clearance (and good tyres) would be much more useful in general, but I'd be really grateful to hear your opinions on what is more important?

Take a look at this.
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/threads/wee-jim.2324/#post-158584

 

[Nisken]

Love the ideas! I considered a renegade trailhawk and a compass trailhawk at one point. Glad i went with the Sequoia which is about as opposite of an extreme as you could get.

 

[Luis Merlo]

Gave the rims a little tidy up before the AT's get fitted...these are actually Toyota Camry rims....5x114.3 stud pattern, (+42) offset, 15x6 ROH steel rims...only the 'hub" clearance needs to be machined to suit...

 

[Luis Merlo]

All Terrain's fitted and balanced !

 

[Salvat]

So cargo room. What do you guys do to help increase the space you have available? Or maybe decrease the space needed? As Overlanders in smaller vehicles space is at an absolute premium. Especially when you travel with wife and 2 kids, like I do. So far I have put on a roof rack, which helps a lot, but kills my mpg if to much is put up there. We have also moved to bed rolls instead of sleeping bags. These squished into a space saver bag helps more than you think. So... let the ideas flow!


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[Luis Merlo]

Second case up...need all the space I can get !

View attachment 4053

@Salvat

 

[Luis Merlo]

Front case= recovery gear, jumper cables, compressor, tools
Rear case= awning wall, tarps, assorted camping gear...

 

[Salvat]

Front case= recovery gear, jumper cables, compressor, tools
Rear case= awning wall, tarps, assorted camping gear...

I tried cases on top and the wind killed me. MPG was worse than a wrangler. We are talkin about 10 MPG. Maybe my box was just too tall. You got a linky for yours?


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[Luis Merlo]

will check....it's been a while...one was bought from Ebay, the other a "local" auto parts place...links to follow

 

[Luis Merlo]

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/ToolPro-Safe-Case-560-x-430-x-215mm/326046