T.Low you are an inspiration to us all. If I had a shorter family I'd be copying your setup myself. At 43 (for another month) I have decided to begin enjoying the outdoors in a different manner with my family. I believe the Van is my best option, and although I require a larger model until the youngsters fly the coop, you and many others have proved to me that you don't need a built rock rig to enjoy getting away from it all and having fun with friends. Granted it wont be with my friends that are hooked solely on the Hammer trails, but through this forum I have met several good people that I enjoy wheeling with, and when the build is done I hope to go out and wheel with many more.
Capability is different things to different people - it all depends on what you want to accomplish. Being in an industry where easily greater than half the people building their trucks are for looks on the road, its easy to blur what is important to each individual. While the rock crawlers (like me a few years ago) wouldn't have considered owning a vehicle like ours for a trail & camping rig, for us, at this point, its perfect for our needs. Adding some dual sport bikes behind the rig later on will satisfy the rest of our exploring desires and complete the package.
Terry, thank you very much for the kind words, and your eloquent points. That's an especially nice thing to hear from someone inside the offroad industry.:ylsmoke:
Some people will say what they say, and thats fine, they're welcome to their opinions and comments. I really don't mind that they don't get it. I used to be that guy (mostly about paddlesports) and nowadays I try to not think too much about the rock crawlers travelling like snails while a few of us enduro riders going blowing past them. (Endruo riders generally refer them as pylons :bike_rider: )
For some, the truck is the athlete. They build it to go to cool places and do cool runs.
For me (and many others), the truck is the duffle bag and I am the athlete. I built it to carry gear, white water boats, mountain bikes, my enduro, my wife and my child to cool places, so I can ride and paddle and camp in cool places while enjoying the trip to the destination. It's just a different emphasis, thats all. I've done all that in my Tacoma and my FJ40 Land Bruiser and this simply works better for what I need. More "capable".
I like to call it the AstroLander, my wife likes to call it the Sherpa.
Cheers.