@Crenshaw thanks for perspective- can't wait to see what her diagnosis is!... I love the capability, practicality, and simplicity of these light duty classics. I don't need on-board shower, a couch, a TV, or anything else found in these glamping...erm "luxury" overlanding vehicles. I'll go one step further and say I probably couldn't be friends with someone who packs all that into a bloated vehicle and then has little regard for trail integrity.
And yup... old ford Aerostars or dad's old 4x4 ranch trucks were our Earthroamers. For a Chicano kid from the highlands of New Mexico, getting outside to fish, hike, and raise hell with the siblings/cousins was the fun of childhood. Just getting out there, and *doing* it. Isn't that what this is all about?