The Rig That Started It All

[Nickzero]

Whats up OB community! I'm Nickzero OB#12727 out of Central FL, USA.

I'd really enjoy getting to know you guys a bit better and would love to hear your short story on 'The rig that started your passion for this lifestyle'. This could be your first personal off road vehicle or a ride in a friends truck that got you hooked. Feel free to include a picture and short descriptive story. We are all passionate overland enthusiasts always seeking that next journey to find and live new experiences. - Nickzero


(WARNING: This is an emotional topic and could bring back good memories that may cause tears.)

 

[Nickzero]

I'll start it off. The first off road vehicle that sparked my 4x4 passion was my old '00 Jeep Wrangler TJ 5-speed. I found it via Craigslist one day working for my dad up in NC flipping homes. At the time I had no means of transportation and needed a car or truck quick. As I was reading the posting I felt like this was the right choice for me. It just fit my lifestyle perfectly. --- I ended up pulling out the cash I had to my name and rode over to the west side of North Carolina mountains with my pops. We arrived at a school parking lot on a Saturday afternoon and there it was! Exactly how I saw it in the ad. The top was torn up and there was a noticeable crack in the exhaust manifold when I cranked her up. Overall there was little to no rust on her and the paint was still flawless. I had found a virgin TJ 5 speed 2.5L with 130K miles for a steal deal. My pops instantly approved of my new purchase and he followed me back home in his F150. That drive home was when I knew I had made the right choice. This is the rig that started it all for me. - Nickzero OB#12727

 

[tritonl]

Whats up OB community! I'm Nickzero OB#12727 out of Central FL, USA.

I'd really enjoy getting to know you guys a bit better and would love to hear your short story on 'The rig that started your passion for this lifestyle'. This could be your first personal off road vehicle or a ride in a friends truck that got you hooked. Feel free to include a picture and short descriptive story. We are all passionate overland enthusiasts always seeking that next journey to find and live new experiences. - Nickzero


(WARNING: This is an emotional topic and could bring back good memories that may cause tears.)

I started with a 1990 Jeep Wrangler Islander edition. Bought it in High School, drove it cross country to CA, spent the next 7 years there mostly with the top off. Then drove it back to MA and finally sold it around 2008. It was a rough ride, it was loud, it was not very fast with the 4” lift and 33” tires. I want another one. Lots of memories.


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[Nickzero]

I started with a 1990 Jeep Wrangler Islander edition. Bought it in High School, drove it cross country to CA, spent the next 7 years there mostly with the top off. Then drove it back to MA and finally sold it around 2008. It was a rough ride, it was loud, it was not very fast with the 4” lift and 33” tires. I want another one. Lots of memories.


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Sounds like a hell of a journey you endured. Its always good to reflect on what started our passions for what we love. Nice story.

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[Smileyshaun]

a 1973 cj5 that my dad bought new , spent my childhood in that thing bumping around in the woods listening to that v8 rumble from below the floorboards . now it's my project rig and hopefully a way to start new memories with my kids .

where it started


where it currently sits

 

[Nickzero]

a 1973 cj5 that my dad bought new , spent my childhood in that thing bumping around in the woods listening to that v8 rumble from below the floorboards . now it's my project rig and hopefully a way to start new memories with my kids .

where it started View attachment 63099


where it currently sits
View attachment 63100

I'm impressed man. One hell of a transformation so far. My dad had a red TJ when I was 6 or 7 years old. He only had it for a few months but I remember him taking the doors off and being shocked that Jeeps could do that. Looks like you got yourself a great project. Thumbs up! - Nickzero

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[Smileyshaun]

I'm impressed man. One hell of a transformation so far. My dad had a red TJ when I was 6 or 7 years old. He only had it for a few months but I remember him taking the doors off and being shocked that Jeeps could do that. Looks like you got yourself a great project. Thumbs up! - Nickzero

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ya the only thing left of the jeep is the tub and I kept the gage cluster as a momento to hang on the wall , it's been quite the project but thankfully it's actually gone together really smooth and effortlessly

 

[Steve]

Previous posts on this same topic:

https://overlandbound.com/forums/threads/what-was-your-first-vehicle-you-took-exploring.1772/

https://overlandbound.com/forums/threads/post-up-the-rigs-you-had-in-the-past-pics.969

 

[Bouncer]

The first I can recall was an old Renegade. I don't have a lot of clear memories of it, but I do recall my mom taking me to school in it when I was about 6 with no top, no doors, it was loud, it scratched when she shifted, and I thought it was SOOO cool. For along time I forgot what it was other than a big brown convertible and the word "renegade" on the hood. Then in my early 20s looking at wranglers for my girlfriend I came across one and the memories all flooded back. I don't recall ever off-roading with it, but I recall my mom being happy driving it all over town and to the lake. Not a photo of the rig itself, but one on display I saw that is a very clean version of the same rig

 

[mylilpwny]

For me there are 3 main vehicles that stick out of the many (probably to many) I and my family have had.
The first was my father's Wrangler. It was a 94 and he got it in 96. The Wrangler was purchased as a DD for getting back and forth to work. Funny enough it was a massive mpg jump over the previous big block f30 dually lol. Well that is the vehicle I learned to drive on and learn clutch and throttle control. In the vehicles later years it was just a strictly fun vehicle. Even tho we never did any mods to the Jeep it did everything we asked of it and that vehicle is the star of many of my best memories.
The second would be my first truck my frontier. This truck was built ground up and a long travel 4x4 prerunner. After a while the motor blew and me liking to be different I decided to not put in a V8. In stead I sourced a rb20 from a skyline and went from there. I loved that truck for how different it was. It finally met its match in Baja while prerunning a course and I got a little to cocky and over she whent. Truck was totaled but the cage and safety equipment in the truck did the job perfect and the worst injury was my friend broke his pinky finger. I miss this truck. This is the truck that started my love for camping and outdoors. And all gear was backpacking gear because there was no bed just cage lol.
The 3 and final was my 96 BMW 318ti. This was my very first car and the one that fueled my passion for all things motors. I loved learning car control and eventually got into racing it with drift events thrown in for fun. I had worked hard to build up the car and had gotten a few sponsors over the time I had it. The motor finally let go with 206xxx on it and most of that was very harsh miles. This car taught me so much between mechanics and vehicle control

Well those are the ones that started my passion for vehicles and using my vehicle to learn and explore.

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[Lindenwood]

I'd have to say my old Samurai was my original foray into a "rig I could take anywhere." Admittedly, much of that passion was fueled by the "Zombie Survival Guide" culture, but I used to love using that rig to bounce off somewhere and spend the day testing bug-outgear. I even deliberately chose a hard-top model, even though the soft-tops look better to me, for the increased security to support that.

Hah! I just remembered doing a cheap spring-over-axle lift that jacked it up about 4.5". It wasnt my style, but I couldnt afford nicer, more subtle options. I couldnt even afford extended front shocks, which meany I simply had no front shocks at all! Going over big bumps fast would thus give me two or three good bounces of the front tires .

 

[Nickzero]

The first I can recall was an old Renegade. I don't have a lot of clear memories of it, but I do recall my mom taking me to school in it when I was about 6 with no top, no doors, it was loud, it scratched when she shifted, and I thought it was SOOO cool. For along time I forgot what it was other than a big brown convertible and the word "renegade" on the hood. Then in my early 20s looking at wranglers for my girlfriend I came across one and the memories all flooded back. I don't recall ever off-roading with it, but I recall my mom being happy driving it all over town and to the lake. Not a photo of the rig itself, but one on display I saw that is a very clean version of the same rig

View attachment 63285

I got a soft spot for those Wranglers! Great story.

 

[Fozzy325]

I didn’t have just one rig, my love started with overlanding was born in the military when doing long range patrols, moving rapier hittiles, recce, mountain rescue. But basic rig of all of the were a series of land rovers and my rucksack.

 

[Nickzero]

I didn’t have just one rig, my love started with overlanding was born in the military when doing long range patrols, moving rapier hittiles, recce, mountain rescue. But basic rig of all of the were a series of land rovers and my rucksack.
View attachment 77459View attachment 77460View attachment 77461View attachment 77462View attachment 77463View attachment 77464View attachment 77465

That is one epic rig!

 

[bawesomfels]

Although this wasn't necessarily the vehicle that started it all (my dad's old CJ-5 gets that credit) it was my first actually capable rig. 2000 XJ 4.0, "Black Betty". I sold it after I bought my Frontier and have been kicking myself about it ever since.

 

[gatorglenn6]

This was my ride in high school. Not this one. But one just like it. Down to the same color. And I wish I’d never sold it. It was a beast on the sand dunes of north Florida growing up.

 

[Graeman]

View attachment 77700
This was my ride in high school. Not this one. But one just like it. Down to the same color. And I wish I’d never sold it. It was a beast on the sand dunes of north Florida growing up.

Our first 4x4 was a '73 FJ55 in grey/white. We would go wheeling with 2 friends that had CJ5's with the 304 V8 motors. They sounded so good and I just loved riding in the back of them with the top down and listening to the rumble of the motor. I learned to drive stick in a '78 FJ40. Then I bought my first 4x4 '87 Samurai and I took that thing every where - including Turkey. Started a 4 well drive club at Incirlik AB, TU and then again in San Antonio, TX - 4xFanatics.

 

[Nickzero]

View attachment 77700
This was my ride in high school. Not this one. But one just like it. Down to the same color. And I wish I’d never sold it. It was a beast on the sand dunes of north Florida growing up.

These are Iconic! One of my faves.