I'll admit I am new to the "Expedition World" as defined on here. However, after competing in King of Hammers, 3 Super Crawl national Rock competitions and multiple offroad series events, I'm pretty rehearsed at extreme offroad competitions and survival. That being said, I've built, bought and sold some of the most extreme purely offroad technical rigs in the country. Recently, after retiring from the military I am down sizing and looking at various Expo type rigs. I've read a lot on Earth Roamers, Sportsmobiles etc. However, I continue to be dumbfounded on the various marketing strategies and real life usage of some of these rigs. I'll admit they are cool to look at. However, I have yet to see one really on much more than a fire road, open desert or flat terrain that a 2 WD could easily negotiate. So why would anyone drop that much $$$ on something so big, heavy sprung weight and heavy military type tires that are never going to provide real traction?
I would like to see any of the Gucci brands actually put to a real test as advertised!!! Why not try to take one thru the Rubicon trail, Fordyce Creek, run Dakar, Moab upper Helldorado etc? Instead I read about the National Expos, where they all show up, set up camp and talk about all the "Wheeling" they've done and have prepared for an off-roading Apocolypse buy outfitting their rigs with all the latest. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great adventure write ups and actually people out and pursuing adventure in extreme conditions. However, I rarely see those under built expensive rigs doing anything other than terrain that can be done by a stock Toyota. Outside of cool factor, are most of those buyers posers or are they really getting what is advertised and does anyone really believe those rigs could actually wheel in harsh terrain?
I understand the pop up market, that makes sense. However, these massive Mogs, portals, F550s and Tigers are nothing more than a 4WD RV made for snowy weather. Let's open up for discussion and opinions on EXPO marketing and offroad vehicle capabilities. I'm not wanting a vendor bashing thread, just a little insight to what everyone truelly thinks about requirements for offroad sustainment and capabilities. Thanks
I would like to see any of the Gucci brands actually put to a real test as advertised!!! Why not try to take one thru the Rubicon trail, Fordyce Creek, run Dakar, Moab upper Helldorado etc? Instead I read about the National Expos, where they all show up, set up camp and talk about all the "Wheeling" they've done and have prepared for an off-roading Apocolypse buy outfitting their rigs with all the latest. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great adventure write ups and actually people out and pursuing adventure in extreme conditions. However, I rarely see those under built expensive rigs doing anything other than terrain that can be done by a stock Toyota. Outside of cool factor, are most of those buyers posers or are they really getting what is advertised and does anyone really believe those rigs could actually wheel in harsh terrain?
I understand the pop up market, that makes sense. However, these massive Mogs, portals, F550s and Tigers are nothing more than a 4WD RV made for snowy weather. Let's open up for discussion and opinions on EXPO marketing and offroad vehicle capabilities. I'm not wanting a vendor bashing thread, just a little insight to what everyone truelly thinks about requirements for offroad sustainment and capabilities. Thanks
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