Expedition vehicle - how did you decided on yours

[colodak]

I previously had a '81 Dodge Ramcharger that my goal was to make an all-round travel vehicle with big plans, even after getting married. Then we got our dog and plans got changed, the wife and dog began fighting over the front seat so it was time to get something with a back seat and 4 windows that went down. Hence I settled on my '00 Dakota quadcab, my only issue, the lack of aftermarket support. The only lift kit has been discontinued, so it's t-bar keys and add-a-leafs for nominal lift. But, so far, in 11 yrs, it's served me very well. I'd love to have a full-size diesel, but, the Dakota it paid for, I can work on it, with the 360 ci V8 parts are readily available and I don't need to be engineer to work on it. The proverbial weakest link is the front axle. I'm seriously planning a trans rebuild and new gears this coming year and possibly a pop-up the following year.

 

[Roaming Robertsons]

I wanted something that would be good enough 4wd stock from a capability and ground clearance perspective. I also need space for kids and dogs. My Titan is a bit big for some trails but I've been able to push through anywhere I wanted to go. The flippac is perfect for the four of us. With two bench seats, we've camped with a total of six. That's a little tight for more than a week but it works. People are surprised to see how many people pile out of that truck in the morning.

After the kids, we're looking at something a little larger for the camper and a little smaller truck chassis. Something that we can live in (not around) and that can do most any 4wd trail. It sounds much like the Unimog you've chosen or maybe something from XPcamper if we're going to stay in the Americas. That's yet to be seen.

 

[Buliwyf]

Locally, and at offroad parks, Jeep Wranglers Rule. The YJ is by far the best choice in my area. And usually 3-4" of suspension and 33" tires are plenty. Beyond that the trails start to become less fun and challenging, and the Jeep becomes a poor handling trailer queen beyond that.

For expo travel, pulling Jeeps or Bikes, and camping I prefer 1 ton trucks with solid axles and larger gas engines. I prefer tents over trailers as I stay in lodges/hotels when appropriate. Usually the 1 ton trucks from Ford, Dodge, and the olde Chevys have stout durable drivetrains that are great to build off from. No worries about weak parts. Usally the extra size deosn't hinder me. I don't expect my expo rig to need to go where my Bike would be better. Allthough I consider a normal 1ton as a "small" truck. I never have trouble with thier size.

I like to balence my trips between plush and rough. I'll rough it to camp in a scenic location, but I'm not camping in no KOA parking lot or any other campground with nothing more than a parking lot style to offer, better off just finding a decent hotel.

I like trucks with:
-At least a Dana 60 up front
-long beds, which usually have larger fuel tanks
-shorter wheelbases
-300-350 hp, 400+tq.
-auto trans and a Detroit Locker in the rear, open front diff.
-3-4" of lift and some improvement in articulation. I prefer BDS kits. (But stock is fine if you don't need a little more articulation or only plan on 33" tires)
- 33 to 36" hybrid tires like the GY Duratrac, Kelly GSR etc.
- at least 4.10 gears for a stock truck, 4.30 for any kind of decent tire, 4.56 for 35" tires.

I avoid IFS, LWB crewcabs, 2wd's, and diesels. IFS is kind flimsy and I can't tune them to ride as plush as I can a solid axle. LWB CC's high center too often for me, one of my neds is to cross a roadside ditch at 45 degrees. Diesels are usually too heavy and break through frosted mud roads more often than gassers. Best off road modification I ever added to my truck was a Honda CRF450R.

 

[1911]

You guys put way more thought and planning in it than I have -I just use whatever I have and modify it to suit. I'm not doing any other-continent expeditions however, I just like to go camping in places you can only get to with a 4WD.