CrispyCracker
Roamer
So I've spent a lot of time in the forums the last couple of months researching an ideal expedition vehicle. I plan to use the truck to visit local state parks, camp and do some exploring, and I have more larger plans to take it to Western Canada, California, etc. on some extended trips (along with a buddy and his wife) to national parks and whatnot. I get my kicks in my son's XJ with its big lift and tires, but I have a vision in mind here: plush seats and sound system, smooth ride on highways and back roads, capable performance on trails, room for adequate camping/exploring tools. No rock crawling, no deep mud, no jarring suspension...but able to handle mild-to-moderate offroad challenges.
I don't have the free cash some the resident heavyweights do since my budget is split between other hobbies -- most notably a love of backcountry fishing -- so I had narrowed down my focus on an early Gen 3 Mitsu Montero and a 1st Gen Xterra (with a 3rd Gen 4runner lingering on the edges). The new truck fund has been further diminished by damage to our home by Hurricane Irma, so the older vehicles just make sense. Both are great platforms -- and I'll probably end up buying one or the other as a fun-capable tow vehicle, regardless. But each morning and evening I walk past my wife's ride -- a 2003 WJ Overland -- that I had never considered as an expedition option. Maybe it's the reverence for Japanese vehicles in overlanding circles, maybe the lingering influence of the invincible old LandCruiser I learned to drive in on a Central American farm, or maybe it's just that I always viewed the WJ as "the wife's ride" so I never considered it in this light. But seeing some of the WJs in this joint I'm changing my mind.
The reason I'm excited about the WJ is some advantages it has over the Japanese options. I love the uniqueness and relative rarity of the Montero, its comfortable cabin and its overbuilt profile, but the 3.5 and 3.8 motors offer less-than-impressive weight-to-power ratios and parts can be tough to source. I love the lines and overall character of the old Xterras and the fact that they're easy to source parts for, but their VG33 motors are also relatively weak and their truck-like ride raises question marks for a long-distance vehicle. My WJ, by contrast, has a beastly 4.7 HO power plant that provides addictive acceleration and power, solid axles, a tough Dana 44 rear axle, and the Quadra-Drive tranny that seems to be held in high regard by many. I've taken good care of the truck since it totes my wife and little one around and tows my skiff, but the few times I've taken it into the sticks it's been surprisingly capable. Parts aren't tough to find domestically, and I've invested time and money into it already (plugs, new radiator, new starter and alternator, etc.) So, given that it's now a contender for an expedition build, I have some questions for the local pros:
• Do you consider the WJ Overland platform (and the 4.7 motor and QuadraDrive tranny, specifically) as reliable as the aforementioned Japanese options?
• Given my goals, what sort of basic suspension components would you recommend? Is there are complete kit that would do the trick?
• What maintenance items are critical to this WJ platform, and what would you repair or replace before undertaking long trips?
A list of essential mods would be a supremely useful starting point for me.
So it's said, I've done my homework and researched many of these issues in here already, but I see differing opinions on lifts, maintenance, etc. so I'd like to field them here. Also, know that I'm fairly handy but no mechanical wizard. That is, I've installed stuff like starters and radiators and brakes but many of the folks in this forum make my technical skill set seem almost childish.
I'll be very appreciative of any and all replies.
- John in Florida
My stock WJ:
I don't have the free cash some the resident heavyweights do since my budget is split between other hobbies -- most notably a love of backcountry fishing -- so I had narrowed down my focus on an early Gen 3 Mitsu Montero and a 1st Gen Xterra (with a 3rd Gen 4runner lingering on the edges). The new truck fund has been further diminished by damage to our home by Hurricane Irma, so the older vehicles just make sense. Both are great platforms -- and I'll probably end up buying one or the other as a fun-capable tow vehicle, regardless. But each morning and evening I walk past my wife's ride -- a 2003 WJ Overland -- that I had never considered as an expedition option. Maybe it's the reverence for Japanese vehicles in overlanding circles, maybe the lingering influence of the invincible old LandCruiser I learned to drive in on a Central American farm, or maybe it's just that I always viewed the WJ as "the wife's ride" so I never considered it in this light. But seeing some of the WJs in this joint I'm changing my mind.
The reason I'm excited about the WJ is some advantages it has over the Japanese options. I love the uniqueness and relative rarity of the Montero, its comfortable cabin and its overbuilt profile, but the 3.5 and 3.8 motors offer less-than-impressive weight-to-power ratios and parts can be tough to source. I love the lines and overall character of the old Xterras and the fact that they're easy to source parts for, but their VG33 motors are also relatively weak and their truck-like ride raises question marks for a long-distance vehicle. My WJ, by contrast, has a beastly 4.7 HO power plant that provides addictive acceleration and power, solid axles, a tough Dana 44 rear axle, and the Quadra-Drive tranny that seems to be held in high regard by many. I've taken good care of the truck since it totes my wife and little one around and tows my skiff, but the few times I've taken it into the sticks it's been surprisingly capable. Parts aren't tough to find domestically, and I've invested time and money into it already (plugs, new radiator, new starter and alternator, etc.) So, given that it's now a contender for an expedition build, I have some questions for the local pros:
• Do you consider the WJ Overland platform (and the 4.7 motor and QuadraDrive tranny, specifically) as reliable as the aforementioned Japanese options?
• Given my goals, what sort of basic suspension components would you recommend? Is there are complete kit that would do the trick?
• What maintenance items are critical to this WJ platform, and what would you repair or replace before undertaking long trips?
A list of essential mods would be a supremely useful starting point for me.
So it's said, I've done my homework and researched many of these issues in here already, but I see differing opinions on lifts, maintenance, etc. so I'd like to field them here. Also, know that I'm fairly handy but no mechanical wizard. That is, I've installed stuff like starters and radiators and brakes but many of the folks in this forum make my technical skill set seem almost childish.
I'll be very appreciative of any and all replies.
- John in Florida
My stock WJ:
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