Sub-Compact Overlander

[life_w_vagabonds]

Scott, BTW I really enjoyed your MongolRally thread. It reaffirmed my theory that this Overlanding thing could "lighten" up a little. I have seen some very crappy cars carrying lots of people and mass quantities of potato's on some horrible roads in Romania. Everybody likes LandCruisers with big tires but is it all necessary? Rock crawling is a sport not a mode of travel. Fuel is not getting any cheaper and the economy stinks. We have to start getting by with less. My Subaru is so cheap to operate, that we can afford to go camping every weekend. Or we can drive where ever we want on vacation. It is actually one of the easiest cars to work on I have owned. Our limiting factors are ground clearance, low range.

So, Is this thread going to turn into a build?

 

[SafariPacific]

I could see myself taking a trip or two in a sub-compact. Would definitely keep the purpose of the trip to the locations and people and not so much the vehicle. After bulking up for my current adventure, I see the sub-compact as an easy going and fun way to travel.

 

[kcowyo]

Don't know it counts a "sub-compact", but the ECamper, based on the Honda Element, really appeals to me as a, 'less is more' set up that could handle a large majority of trips is North America.

Add some burly lookin' off-road farkle and it really stands out IMO -

Or just load & go. Nuthin' wrong with that!

.

 

[007]

There could exist some possibilities with the mini 4wd cabover style trucks also...

 

[Wilbur]

Don't know it counts a "sub-compact", but the ECamper, based on the Honda Element, really appeals to me as a, 'less is more' set up that could handle a large majority of trips is North America.

Add some burly lookin' off-road farkle and it really stands out IMO -

Or just load & go. Nuthin' wrong with that!

.

I agree completely. I think had I know what I do now, I'd would have bought a element over the FJ cruiser.

If they would just produce a pop up for FJ that worked in similar fashion, I'd be set.


I think the person to talk about sub compact 4wd's in in aspect would be Tim Hardy. He is the macguyver of zuki's and I swear that's all he has ever owned.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

We have a guy over here on base with one. He likes it other than it being underpowered.

 

[Patman]

I've always loved the idea of sub compact expedition vehicles. Tim Hardy's ttc rig with trailer was awesome in its capabilities, and the trailer more than made up for the size.

One of my long term dream rigs is a 4 door high roof sami built up as an expedition rig. Vw tdi with toy tcase and minitruck or cruiser axles for reliability. Put it on 31s and go anywhere with 30+mpg

[IMG]http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx227/lphultin/4deurs.gif[/IMG]

 

[life_w_vagabonds]

Oh don't get me daydreaming about a Samuri w/ a VW diesel. Biodiesel, hardtop, maybe 1" or 2" OME lift, and a sturdy roof rack...

Fits in the garage easy too!

 

[life_w_vagabonds]

Found this one on CL.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/1935277230.html

Of course no affiliation. Kinda pricey dont you think? It is an 87 and I would probably loose it in the forest with that fancy paint job. I found a few others but they had been converted to more severe use.

 

[Backroad Explorer]

My ExPo Samurai in progress

Adding a drawer system, upgrading roofrack and a New set of 30x9.5x15 BFG KM2S with 2.5 BS rims :smiley_drive:

 

[Toyotero]

These are kind of old now, but I'm a big fan of the Toyota Blizzards/Diahatsu Scat/Taft and 4track/Rocky. They are tiny machines, the older ones similar in size to the Suzuki Samurai with a classic styling.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35085&page=2

 

[Patman]

My ExPo Samurai in progress

Adding a drawer system, upgrading roofrack and a New set of 30x9.5x15 BFG KM2S with 2.5 BS rims :smiley_drive:

Great looking rig, all it needs is a foot added in the middle!

Sent from my SPH-M900 using Tapatalk

 

[Christian P.]

Scott, BTW I really enjoyed your MongolRally thread. It reaffirmed my theory that this Overlanding thing could "lighten" up a little. I have seen some very crappy cars carrying lots of people and mass quantities of potato's on some horrible roads in Romania. Everybody likes LandCruisers with big tires but is it all necessary? Rock crawling is a sport not a mode of travel. Fuel is not getting any cheaper and the economy stinks. We have to start getting by with less. My Subaru is so cheap to operate, that we can afford to go camping every weekend. Or we can drive where ever we want on vacation. It is actually one of the easiest cars to work on I have owned. Our limiting factors are ground clearance, low range.

So, Is this thread going to turn into a build?

Funny you ask that....Scott and i have been indeed discussing this possibility this weekend. We are thinking of a low budget but complete build. Possible candidate would include the Vitara, Rav4, Rodeo, Pajero, etc. Perhaps something for less than $5k total...

 

[Viggen]

Oh don't get me daydreaming about a Samuri w/ a VW diesel. Biodiesel, hardtop, maybe 1" or 2" OME lift, and a sturdy roof rack...

Fits in the garage easy too!

Find one of these with a VW TDi. THAT would be awesome. The aftermarket is brimming with Samurai parts and options. VW TDi, Toyota trans, spring over and some decent tires, thatd be pretty cool. A little too small for my 6'4" but cool nonetheless.

I vote a first Gen Amigo build. Always liked them. I had a 91 Rodeo that I built up with a 3" lift, 32" Mickey Thompsons, 4.30 gears, locker rear and 5MT with the little GM V6 and it was pretty damn tough with a lot of room inside.

 

[stevec]

I too would love to see the new Jimny's in the U.S. - didn't realize the low range was so high, but they sell the Jimny in many, if not most other countries, so it wouldn't surprise me if lower gears could be found (there are plenty of options out there for Samurai's nowadays.) I don't know of any newer vehicle that would compete with it for economy and offroad worthiness.

Regarding the LWB's, most of the Canadian ones are '86's and '87's. Starting next year, the '86's can be imported to the U.S. without any hassles at all, as they will be exempt from EPA and DOT requirements. Being fairly close to the border, I expect to see a lot more of them next year.

My "overlanding rig":

Only 41 hp, but it only weighs 1600# dry, and it gets 25-26mpg with the shell on, and loaded down with camping gear. Top speed on level ground is around 70mph, and it likes 55-60 much better, but I usually don't need to go any faster than that anyway. Low range is 2.6:1, but I'm looking for the 3:1 t-case gears out of the convertible SWB models, which is plenty low for moderate 4WD trails (the above pic was on the Whipsaw Trail in July.) I'm hoping to do an extended trip to Alaska in it in the next few years.