Alpine Hoo Ha
Observer
One afternoon a few weeks ago Scott Brady approached me in the shop at the Expeditions West head quarters and proposed to me an idea he had. “What do you think about a super simple, super basic expedition, on a super limited truck and travel budget, we could call it the Expoordition, or something like that” he said with a smile. “And your truck would be perfect for it.”
Well he was talking to the right guy. My travel budget definitely is limited (usually zero balance in that fund) and my truck definitely basic (stock except for repair items and few goodies acquired through credit card splurges and work trades).
Here is the plan:
The idea is “Travel vs. Truck”. The idea is adventure. The idea is to experience as much as possible, on the smallest budget possible. However, it is also important to me to be as prepared as possible (I guess that is the aviator in me), and to do it with the means I have available. Some means must be available, that part is obvious. I need to have a 4x4 for the remote locations I want to visit. I want to carry my mountain bike. And I need to have the basic tools to complete the trip. But I don’t want to completely blow my savings, or max my credit cards.
Enter me:
I am a part time student and some how hold a full and part time job. I have college loans. I have credit card debt. I pay rent. I also have a 1995 Toyota 4Runner, a descent mountain bike, an old pair of snow skis, a backpack, and the will to go… “over land”.
Enter Cossette:
Cossette is a 1995 Second Generation Toyota 4Runner Limited, 5spd, 3.0 liter, four wheel drive I paid $3,600.00 for. She had 165,000 miles, balding tires, and several leaks. But her lines were straight, frame sound, and interior clean. All I really wanted was a Toyota with four-wheel drive and a manual transmission.
Over time I have stopped all her leaks minus one, upgraded her saggy springs and tired shocks, shod her in new tires and splurged on a few goodies like off road driving lights. My goal is to show how a inexpensive truck (namely 2nd Gen 4Runners/ Hilux’s and Pickups) can be transformed into a world exploration vehicle, while retaining simplicity, functionality, and most importantly, maintaining a budget.
Enter the ExPoordition:
Times are tight, I’m not loaded, I but with some discipline, encouragement, and time off from work, I have the opportunity to embark on my first solo overland journey. I have a $600.00 travel budget and about 4 weeks to burn. August is a slow time for my primary employer so a leave of absence is actually encouraged. I have enough personal leave and savings to pay my bills while I’m gone. The destination is Northern Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Maybe Northern New Mexico. I plan on making appearances at the Outdoor Retailers Show in Salt Lake City and at the Land Rover National Rally in Leadville CO. Exploration is the goal. I will be bringing my bike, my tele skis, what ever I need to camp for a month, a borrowed camera, and some sort of computer to update the trip. I will be pinging my location via a borrowed SPOT device and posting updates in the In Progress Expeditions section of the forum.
Enter the Expedition Portal Community:
I invite all of you to provide your wisdom and insight as I explore the best way to do this. How should I prepare myself and the truck? What should I bring? Where should I go? What sounds like fun to you?
Let me know what you think, and if you want join up with me somewhere.
Adventure on.:smiley_drive:
Well he was talking to the right guy. My travel budget definitely is limited (usually zero balance in that fund) and my truck definitely basic (stock except for repair items and few goodies acquired through credit card splurges and work trades).
Here is the plan:
The idea is “Travel vs. Truck”. The idea is adventure. The idea is to experience as much as possible, on the smallest budget possible. However, it is also important to me to be as prepared as possible (I guess that is the aviator in me), and to do it with the means I have available. Some means must be available, that part is obvious. I need to have a 4x4 for the remote locations I want to visit. I want to carry my mountain bike. And I need to have the basic tools to complete the trip. But I don’t want to completely blow my savings, or max my credit cards.
Enter me:
I am a part time student and some how hold a full and part time job. I have college loans. I have credit card debt. I pay rent. I also have a 1995 Toyota 4Runner, a descent mountain bike, an old pair of snow skis, a backpack, and the will to go… “over land”.
Enter Cossette:
Cossette is a 1995 Second Generation Toyota 4Runner Limited, 5spd, 3.0 liter, four wheel drive I paid $3,600.00 for. She had 165,000 miles, balding tires, and several leaks. But her lines were straight, frame sound, and interior clean. All I really wanted was a Toyota with four-wheel drive and a manual transmission.
Over time I have stopped all her leaks minus one, upgraded her saggy springs and tired shocks, shod her in new tires and splurged on a few goodies like off road driving lights. My goal is to show how a inexpensive truck (namely 2nd Gen 4Runners/ Hilux’s and Pickups) can be transformed into a world exploration vehicle, while retaining simplicity, functionality, and most importantly, maintaining a budget.
Enter the ExPoordition:
Times are tight, I’m not loaded, I but with some discipline, encouragement, and time off from work, I have the opportunity to embark on my first solo overland journey. I have a $600.00 travel budget and about 4 weeks to burn. August is a slow time for my primary employer so a leave of absence is actually encouraged. I have enough personal leave and savings to pay my bills while I’m gone. The destination is Northern Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Maybe Northern New Mexico. I plan on making appearances at the Outdoor Retailers Show in Salt Lake City and at the Land Rover National Rally in Leadville CO. Exploration is the goal. I will be bringing my bike, my tele skis, what ever I need to camp for a month, a borrowed camera, and some sort of computer to update the trip. I will be pinging my location via a borrowed SPOT device and posting updates in the In Progress Expeditions section of the forum.
Enter the Expedition Portal Community:
I invite all of you to provide your wisdom and insight as I explore the best way to do this. How should I prepare myself and the truck? What should I bring? Where should I go? What sounds like fun to you?
Let me know what you think, and if you want join up with me somewhere.
Adventure on.:smiley_drive:
