Five best overland vehicles in North America?

[Token]

Couple that are overlooked due to the typical blingy status.. Hummer H2 and H3.. Both are pretty a step above your average 4x4 when it comes to being able to wheel right out of the box.

H2 can handle 37" rubber w/ no lift the H3 can go 35" with no lift.. Both can be found with rear lockers (and front locker in the 09 and 10 Adv Package)

Down side is you get a fair bit of Hummer Hate.. Can't say I've ever heard of Land Rover hate...

 

[wcdu]

I heard this same question asked on a NPR show called, I think, "Car Talk". The "tappet brothers", "Click and "Clack", two brothers, MIT grads up in Boston, Mass, who answer questions on all things vehicles on public radio. My favorite thing on radio but anyhow, they said the GM Tahoe or GMC version. I would pick the surburban. I tend to always take too much stuff so bigger is better for me.

An individuals relative mechanical knowledge & skills would determine the best choice for the age / mileage of the vehicle. If you have the skills, there are older versions that are very capable, some with diesel. If not so inclined, a newer model would likely be more suitable reliability wise and the warranties are quite good. I would recommend against much bling and Foo-fah-rah unless you know that you are going to do the Poison Spider or some such run.

Steve

 

[ChadHahn]

I don't know about the rest of Latin America but Dodge Ram trucks are popular at least in Northern Mexico as are full size Fords. There also seem to be a fair number of Nissan trucks.

I would want to choose a vehicle was easy to find parts for. That might be different for Asia and Latin America. Perhaps a Toyota or Nissan might be the best for both continents.

Chad

 

[FreeManDan]

I would like to vote for the H1, even though I do not own one, I own an 03 Nissan Frontier.
My vote for the H1 is based off my exposure to the military version, every time I'm in one I think what I would do if I owned ether the military or civilian version. "I'd put bikes here, I'd put cargo up here, I'd get a fuel can there..."

 

[Scott Brady]

Hey Chris,

Great to hear of the progress with your book.

For new vehicles available in North America for serious overlanding, I would suggest the following and in the following order.

1. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
2. Toyota 4Runner
3. Toyota Tacoma
4. Nissan Xterra OR
5. Dodge Power Wagon (the US list must have a "big truck" option- right?)

For Used vehicles available in North America, I would suggest the following.

1. 60 and 80 Series TLC
2. 460 and 463 G-Wagen
3. 4Runner (any vintage)
4. Any Toyota Pick-up
5. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon LJ
***Defender (hard to include in the list due to high cost and lack of diesel motor)

Honorable mentions: Isuzu Trooper 1998-2001, Land Rover Discovery I and RRC

I go into more detail in this article here:

 

[Token]

I would like to vote for the H1, even though I do not own one, I own an 03 Nissan Frontier.
My vote for the H1 is based off my exposure to the military version, every time I'm in one I think what I would do if I owned ether the military or civilian version. "I'd put bikes here, I'd put cargo up here, I'd get a fuel can there..."

H1 is tough, can hold a LOT of gear.. But they are to blasted wide for a lot of trails.. Single digit MPG and unless you're running the later model Turbo Diesel, you're not gonna break 65mph on the freeway..

 

[Christian P.]

Guys, an overland vehicle does not need to have 37" tires!!!!
And forget any type of engine swap.

People need to understand the difference between overlanding and rockcrawling.

Assuming that the context here is for someone to come over from overseas and buy a vehicle ready to travel around North America/Central America.

In such circumstances, you would probably be doing 80% paved road, occasional dirt road and sometimes a bit more challenging off road, but nothing extreme.

We do have several good options here - let's stop thinking that we don't have any decent vehicle.

-Any 4x4 Toyota (LandCruiser, 4Runner, Tacoma, etc)
-Dodge Cummins
-Nissan Frontier is also an excellent and often overlooked choice. I have seen several of them in Southern Africa.
-Discovery

All these options would also be appropriate for overlanding on other continents.

 

[ChadHahn]

[*]Whatever 2WD station wagon/van you can get for $2000. Import or domestic?

A library I used to go to had a bunch of the Mercedes Benz magazine from the 50s. There were lots of articles about people driving their Mercedes from England (or where ever) to India and China. Lots of pictures of stock sedans driving through the Khyber Pass and over the Himalayas and such.

I don't know if a current unibody station wagon is built as rugged as cars were in the 50s but something like a Mercedes Station Wagon or a Volvo XC70 might be a good choice.

Chad

 

[Chris S]

Hi all, many thanks for great feedback so far. I wasn't getting notification so assumed no one was interested, but here you all are.

The selection is definitely not for travelling around North America where, just as in Europe and Australasia, ordinary highway travel is straightforward.

"..I think the idea is for the book to recommend vehicles that could be purchased in North America, prepared for overlanding, and then shipped to another continent..."
Yes, or just driven down to Ushuaia (Darien Gap notwithstanding).

... In such circumstances, you would probably be doing 80% paved road, occasional dirt road and sometimes a bit more challenging off road, but nothing extreme.
Exactomundo. Too extreme in a fully-locked, 37" sense is just not worth the risk of stressing the vehicle that is your home for months. Life's complicated enough with a visa running out, the guts in freefall and water in the fuel. It's all more of a long-term travel thing.

All the variables about budget, accom, routes, season, and so on are addressed elsewhere in great detail but I'm looking for local NA knowledge about vehicle selection to attempt to make the publication genuinely useful to NA readers. Motorbikes are pretty similar the world over, but cars and trucks becomes a can or worms!

Thanks for the ExPo editorial links to Scott and Haven's articles. It was there all along but great to get others' feedback. And Scott that's a great list, thanks.

paulj, yes a cabin is as you describe - one of many words for 'living module'

'H1 hate' - I'd expect it in some places, even in the UK. I've even seen a similar attitude towards Range Rovers, tho for different reasons. Low profile is good, IMO and like someone else says of H1s, I can think of a few normal, village access tracks in Moroccan Atlas where the wheels would go over the edge.

Thanks for the tips on Nissan Frontier - had to look that one up along with 'Guard 1008'. Nissan pickups in the UK (3L TDs) would not be on my list but an early 80s Mercedes Station Wagon would be my choice of regular car. The problem is the good old stuff is either long exported to the places the books' aimed at - or has plain rusted away.

I'd guess what I'd take to Latin America is significantly different to what I would take elsewhere tho. Dont a lot of of US bangers end up there - or maybe old everything ends up there, so a good idea to buy old American?

Chris S

 

[Scott Brady]

I'd guess what I'd take to Latin America is significantly different to what I would take elsewhere tho. Dont a lot of of US bangers end up there - or maybe old everything ends up there, so a good idea to buy old American?

Chris S

To some degree, especially in Mexico. There are loads of Fords and Chevrolets there. Any further south, and it is just like the rest of the world. Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and a few Rovers. I think the typical US attitude is more towards reliability than serviceability, which is why Toyotas rule on the longer trips. The new Jeep 4-Door is giving the 'Yotas a run for their money now though.

You will see more Fords again in Argentina, but they are mostly older (really old) models.

 

[Pskhaat]

H2 can handle 37" rubber w/ no lift the H3 can go 35" with no lift.

Seriously? No rub issues, no turning radius issues &c?

 

[Pskhaat]

While camping in British Columbia I've meet 2 Australian couples who had bought a minivan...vehicle is easy to find on the used car market, and has plenty of space for 2 people to sleep, along with their gear. Obviously it wouldn't be the best for driving rougher roads.

Toyota and Mazda models (did) have AWD options in their Minivans, the ultimate road trip vehicles. How about a 4wd Mazda MPV?

In reality I find they do not have more usable cargo space than my SUV, but they sure do accommodate and facilitate easy people movement.

I think the Sienna is not a good drive but (putting up my dukes for a defense) thought the Mazda5 with a manual transmissionwas downright fun.

 

[charlieaarons]

Guys, an overland vehicle does not need to have 37" tires!!!!
And forget any type of engine swap.

People need to understand the difference between overlanding and rockcrawling.

Assuming that the context here is for someone to come over from overseas and buy a vehicle ready to travel around North America/Central America.

In such circumstances, you would probably be doing 80% paved road, occasional dirt road and sometimes a bit more challenging off road, but nothing extreme.

We do have several good options here - let's stop thinking that we don't have any decent vehicle.

-Any 4x4 Toyota (LandCruiser, 4Runner, Tacoma, etc)
-Dodge Cummins
-Nissan Frontier is also an excellent and often overlooked choice. I have seen several of them in Southern Africa.
-Discovery

All these options would also be appropriate for overlanding on other continents.

Not trying to be in-flame-a-tory, but...
1st, I agree 100% engine swaps and major offroad buildups are totally out of place here.
2nd - if someone comes from outside the Americas to our hemisphere, they'd be way better off bringing a diesel Toyota - whether 70, 80 or 105 series - or similar and using it here than trying to pick from we (don't) have to offer. OTOH, if a N. American is doing a RTW trip, serious thought needs to given to buying a non USA vehicle to do it in. Where are you going to find diesel Dodge parts in Australia or India or Europe or Africa?
Experienced expedition travel writers like Chris and Tom Sheppard make it clear that diesel is highly desirable compared to gas, and worldwide parts availability is a real plus. Which is why they like Mercedes. Where can you get a diesel Mercedes in this country, other than a luxo car or a Sprinter van?

I again reiterate our choices are quite skinny. The only 2 diesel overland-type vehicles available in N. america w/worldwide parts and service availability are...again...
FG140 and U500. Very different from each other, and very different from the typical US domestic diesel pickup, which is rare outside the W. Hemisphere.
Ford sells a few F250 diesels in Australia. A few are sold in W. Europe. The S. American versions of F250/350 have a 4.2L 6 cyl diesel.
Plus, the post 2006 versions of US diesel pickups can be nightmarish as far as reliability and roadside repairability.



Charlie

 

[haven]

"Where are you going to find diesel Dodge parts in Australia or India or Europe or Africa?"

Finding the right parts in faraway places is always a crapshoot, regardless of the vehicle you're driving.

The Cummins B series (3.9L 4 cylinder, 5.9L 6 cylinder) is used in a variety of vehicles around the world, including heavy equipment used in mining and roadbuilding. It's more common than the International diesel V8 found in Ford's pickups.

That said, Mercedes rear wheel drive trucks are easily the most common medium and heavy vehicles on the road in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, and South America. I'm less certain about South Asia and Oceana.

 

[Pskhaat]

"Where are you going to find diesel Dodge parts in Australia or India or Europe or Africa?"

Isn't this thread about NA vehicles?