More proof that Jeep is the leader in 4x4 overland vehicles

[shays4me]

Pass me another pork rind

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: You're only speaking for yourself, too bad

I see very few vehicles on here or elsewhere that are truly expedition builds. Most of the vehicles I see on here are just a collection of all the cool aftermarket accessories a person can fit on there vehicle. In turn this often makes a vehicle less fuel efficient, heavier and less reliable. On the Jeep side I see mostly rock crawler builds that are being called "expo" when they're clearly not. Most of them would not be pleasant to drive on a long road trip, much less across a continent. In the gun world they call it "tacticool" but I haven't seen a name for it here yet. As for me, I hope to see even more capable off road machines from every builder, but we're a dying breed in vehicle use. More and more SUVs are built for the highways of the first world as opposed to third world conditions and the reason is purely economic. Look at the new Range Rover for instance. Who in their right mind would consider a vehicle like that to be suited for off road? Those ground effects say one thing to me, and that's urban professional. They're selling an image more than anything. It's not that I'm a Land Rover hater either, it's just the way things are these days. Vehicles are designed for the niche of the market they're trying to sell in and the LR and TLC vehicles are clearly marketed for urban professionals, while the Jeep Wrangler is marketed for us hillbilly, tooth missing, trailer trash hillbillies.

I am neither hillbilly/tooth missing and especially not trailer trash, so you may preach to a very small limited group !

:costumed-smiley-007:wings:

 

[marktutone]

I love this picture. Not jacked up. Simple. In an open vehicle in the Sahara desert. This is a real adventure vehicle. That is why I love my Jeep. I never get over 60 MPH by choice. I take it real easy so I can smell the roses. Pictures and stories of the greatest generation adventurers inspire me to be simple and appreciate what I have. I consider myself very fortunate.

 

[shays4me]

:sombrero: You're only speaking for yourself, too bad




I am neither hillbilly/tooth missing and especially not trailer trash, so you may preach to a very small limited group !

:costumed-smiley-007:wings:

I find life is a lot more fun if you can laugh at yourself.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

How many expedition vehicles are fully stock? No bumper, tire or intake changes? Can one be driven off the showroom floor, loaded with gear and head into the bush? I know that there are dealerships that will install and warranty AEV installations, which includes a motor swap.

.

You bring up a great point. I can tell you that in the case of the VDJ79 'Sherpa II' shown above, all of the modifications are rather minor. Bolt on suspension, front winchbar/winch, step/side rails and of course the canopy (and some other minor mods). The drivetrain including snorkel on all of the E7 trucks are otherwise stock. While it would be 100% possible to hop in the stock truck and drive it across the Canning Stock Route or similar, the quality of the trip was improved purely by the modifications. We had 9 - 90L Fuel drums in the rear of the Sherpa which is a grip of weight and you would lose much needed clearance with the stock suspension. In many markets including the US, all of these type of mods could be installed new at the Toyota dealership and sold under the warranty (aftermarket warranty perhaps?). We often install suspensions on brand new Tacoma's and FJC's for the local dealership, they tack it on the purchase price and send it out the door. Personally I don't think it matters which is stock, but which has the most stock components and chassis you can work with.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...Most of them would not be pleasant to drive on a long road trip, much less across a continent. In the gun world they call it "tacticool" but I haven't seen a name for it here yet...

The name "expo" seems to do the trick in my mind If I hear that word in relation to how someone is going to build a rig or how they are going to travel with it, they are generally trying to convince someone of something.

...Vehicles are designed for the niche of the market they're trying to sell in and the LR and TLC vehicles are clearly marketed for urban professionals, while the Jeep Wrangler is marketed for us hillbilly, tooth missing, trailer trash hillbillies.

Your absolutely right in regards to the US market. Toyota for example is very keen to their market and while I along with every Land Cruiser aficionado would love to see a new 70 Series here on US soil, the market simply doesn't demand it and thus we have the 200 Series as the sole LC offering, great rig but not a VDJ76 . Kudos to Jeep for still catering to a smaller segment of user (auto owners et al) and continuing to refine those vehicles to that market. I think Mark Allen (Jeep Chief Designer) and team have their heads in the right place and are willing to stand up to the corporate machine to preserve a niche market.

 

[shays4me]

Oh yeah, I would trade my jkur for a series 70 troopy any day of the week, especially if it were an Aussie spec troopy!

 

[marcall]

How many expedition vehicles are fully stock? No bumper, tire or intake changes? Can one be driven off the showroom floor, loaded with gear and head into the bush? I know that there are dealerships that will install and warranty AEV installations, which includes a motor swap.

I love my Jeep, but it is a Grand Cherokee, so does that even count as a Jeep?

NHSTA is ruining vehicles of all types. So many standards are set that force car companies who want to sell in the US to do things they may not want to do. Like was mentioned earlier about the Land Rover Defender I believe, they wouldn't put in airbags so no more US sales or imports. We have ever more stringent restrictions on emissions, mpg's and safety features that cars are becoming more ambiguous. The next Wrangler may have IFS simply to drop weight up front to help with these restrictions.

Is your Grand Cherokee a WJ or a ZJ? Then yes it is a Jeep. Remember that the Grand Cherokee zj and wj have the same basic suspension as the TJ , same drivetrain and motor , the ZJ had coils first. so I'd say up to the last WJ's of 2004 would be Jeeps (solid axled fronts) 2005 and newer Wk's and the v6 . well that's anybodys call :sombrero:

 

[Viggen]

We all know the ultimate travel vehicle is the Toyota Corolla. They are EVERYWHERE.

 

[K2ZJ]

Is your Grand Cherokee a WJ or a ZJ? Then yes it is a Jeep. Remember that the Grand Cherokee zj and wj have the same basic suspension as the TJ , same drivetrain and motor , the ZJ had coils first. so I'd say up to the last WJ's of 2004 would be Jeeps (solid axled fronts) 2005 and newer Wk's and the v6 . well that's anybodys call :sombrero:

I wheeled with these guys 2 weeks ago. :Wow1: Jeep or not?

 

[UK4X4]

http://www.toyota-gib.com/English/VariantDetails.aspx?ID=588

1000kg payload- buy and drive around the world

http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/lr/defender/explore/hard-top/#__selection_top

1000kg payload- buy and drive around the world

http://www.iveco.com/en-us/press-room/kit/Documents/Modelli_attuali/Massif_pdf.pdf

Italian.....buy and drive around the world...

MB gwagon, seemingly can't find the basic version

all have the payload- international spares- backup support.

I'd take the troopy !

 

[kojackJKU]

I wheeled with these guys 2 weeks ago. :Wow1: Jeep or not?

More of a jeep than anything from the T dealer that is for sure. hell, in our neck of the woods, they were buying back Toyotas left right and center because of cancer of the frame. NICE. you should have seen the pile of rusty crap at the dealer.

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

If you look outside of North America Jeeps are more of a luxury toy. The video used as an example is in China where the super wealthy own Jeeps as play toys. These aren't people with limited budgets building these, or Jeeps that are being used as a multi purpose vehicle like they are in North America. Over seas it seems like the top off-road vehicle in terms of reliability, popularity, and reputation are Toyota FJs and Hilux pickups for the average person, and for the wealthier they are using the newer Tacoma style (not sure what they are called outside of NA), and Land Cruisers.

I wanted a cool looking good 4 door 4x4 and not an pickup, I got the little more expensive 2013 Rubicon unlimited 10th anniversary with standard European plastic bumpers. I like that I can put so much stuff on the bars. My jeep fits my garage, landrover and toyota might not fit they are higher. I dont have any other vehicle.

2 persons can sleep in it

My 4x4 had to have a spare wheel at the back as old school Jeeps

So here is Jeep expensive but still cheaper than other proper 4x4 out here in Sweden in that size. A ordinary Volvo and adding some stuff to it is probaly more expensive compared to a Sahara.

I looked at other vehicle

But prices are roughly like this, SEK is Swedish crownes

Toyota FJ are not for sale in Sweden, I dont think it is at all for sale in Europe

70 series land cruiser do not sell in Europe

Toyoya Hilux (dont want a cab) D-Cab manuell transmission cost 280 000 SEK (most expensive one D-CAB SR+ aut cost 355 938 SEK)

Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited with airbags, air condition, better stereo with sub, heated seats etc cost from 314 900kr, My 10th anniversary with leather, NAV, lockers etc about 363 000 SEK

Landrover Defender 110 Stationwagon from 338 000 SEK, add air condition cost 18 500 SEK about 2572 dollar. Front center console 2000 SEK. Side protection runners 6000 SEK, rear wash wiper 2000 SEK

A Volvo XC70 from 345 000 SEK

Landrover Discovery LR4 486 900 SEK

Toyota Landcruiser 150 (Prado maybe????) 499 500 SEK

Land Cruiser V8 777 900kr



I think offroad bumpers, roofrack, winches, bigger tires looks awesome but cost a fortune here and do I need it, no I dont for my camping trips. Cost much more in fuel, aint cheap here. I wanted coolness, proper 4x4, high ground clearance, some luggage space and I got that in my Rubicon stock.

So my stock super expedition overlanding camping vehicle

Watching amovie before sleeping in Wrangler

Studded winter tires

Camping

Fishing

Installing Dually D2 led lights in nature when camping

Front runner interor rack

 

[David Harris]

I hear you. Toyota needs to look at the U.S. market and offer the 70 series. It seems they have ignored the 4x4/overlander in the U.S. My hope is that Jeep will continue to listen to it's users and develop even greater vehicles. My deal is that overlanders need to put their dollars into a company that is going to listen to them or our lifestyle will be unattainable for the working stiffs of the world.

The 70 Series is soon going out of production everywhere, FWIW.

 

[toylandcruiser]

http://m.motoring.com.au/news/2013/...iser/new-toyota-70-series-‘under-study’-39967


"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788