Sub-Compact Overlander

[Riptide]

:drool:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983...rs_Trucks&hash=item519662ce8d#ht_10685wt_1216

Man, it's always funny to see a pristine example of something you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting back in the day...

Not sure I want one, but I do have some fond memories of my family of six all jammed into a 1978 Subaru 4WD wagon. My brother and I sat in the back seats, while my youngest brother and sister rode in the cargo area. My dad bought it new after the gas crunch of the 70's. I'm still amazed how we all fit in that thing. What a wacky little car that was. I remember the neighbors coming over to look at it right after my dad brought it home; nobody had heard of a Subaru. Everybody was peering under the hood at the little boxer motor, saying it was a "VW engine with a water jacket". At the time, I didn't know what a "water jacket" was, being all of 12 years old...

 

[Jason124]

I too have a GL wagon, of the ford verity. It is a 1987 ford escort gl with 130 thousand miles. she is my daily driver expo rig. A 2 inch suspension lift is in the near future, and i'm also trying to source a locker, or limited slip for the car. I chose this car for may reasons instead of a 4x4. I will mostly be doing highway traveling so the 31 mpg is nice, cheap parts and easy to work on.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I too have a GL wagon, of the ford verity. It is a 1987 ford escort gl with 130 thousand miles. she is my daily driver expo rig. A 2 inch suspension lift is in the near future, and i'm also trying to source a locker, or limited slip for the car. I chose this car for may reasons instead of a 4x4. I will mostly be doing highway traveling so the 31 mpg is nice, cheap parts and easy to work on.

that's cute :elkgrin:

Come with matching oven mitts?

Haha, jus' kidding, brohemian. I've actually considered getting a MB diesel station wagon after seeing what they use them for over in africa. Tough rigs with some good tires, a bit of lift and some bashplates.

cheers and have fun actually being able to afford fuel to go exploring!

 

[brngk]

Bump for the escorts!! We took ours all over Baja and Sonoran backroads, AZ, and big trips to BC, plus several east-west trips across the US. Love that gas mileage. Finally retired to a busted alternator, and some intractable overheating problem that left us temporarily stranded on a very narrow mountain road. 255K miles, only paid $5k for it. Temporarily driving an oldsmobile ninety-eight, which isn't nearly as versatile.

 

[Warn Industries]

I just picked up this '95 Sidekick a couple weeks ago (my personal project, not a company-owned truck). Has good bones, but will need a few things, as all projects do, to get up to snuff. Then the fun mods can begin!

- Andy

 

[NewFoundFreedom]

I like my Kia might be a little bigger than what you were wanting though. If not they are worth looking at.

 

[Scott Brady]

 

[greg mgm]

I'll take THAT car right now....thank you very much. :sombrero:
It would be my daily driver, stickers and all. I dig it!

 

[Ronct110]

Check out the new 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWD

Test drove one the other day; comfy ride. Now if they just put an engine from the Evo or V6 GT trim - now we're talking (smile).

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-87WfT3SRw&feature=related"]YouTube - Mitsubishi's Baja Adventure[/ame]

 

[Jeff@QuadShop]

I'll take THAT car right now....thank you very much. :sombrero:
It would be my daily driver, stickers and all. I dig it!

They rolled it and didn't finish. Was doing quite well up untill that point though.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Test drove one the other day and it comfy ride. Now if they just put an engine from the Evo or V6 GT trim - now we're talking (smile).

YouTube - Mitsubishi's Baja Adventure

Seems to me the regular Outlander would make a better light ExPo vehicle than the sport, which is considerably smaller.

The Outlander actually has some pretty cool features.

One of the best: A real Tailgate! :Wow1:

 

[4Rescue]

I think a Sub-Compact overlander is a GREAT idea. I've been drooling over a LWB Samurai that I'd LOVE to do a VW TDi swap on. For me I think the move to a slightly smaller and def. lighter/more efficent rig would actually HELP as I'd be forced to re-think my usual habit of just taking everything and not using half of it... I'm a backpacker and a Rafter and most of the good experiences in both realms have been in the last few years when we just took less and could go farther and do more with less exertion. I think a nice compact rig could be very simmilar. NOW, if I could just find a nice LWB Sami I've already got a 1.9 Diesel for it...

Cheers

Dave

 

[Jeff@QuadShop]

NOW, if I could just find a nice LWB Sami I've already got a 1.9 Diesel for it...

Cheers

Dave

:smiley_drive:

 

[bondvagabond]

Non-vehicle specific subcompact overland techniques

The choice of vehicle in the subcompact category is very personal, we could talk about them all day. With a subcompact there will be technique differences from larger vehicles, no matter which subcompact you pick. My own experience with my samurai has led me to use a hi-lift instead of a winch, hi quality German bike pump with ratchet strap to set beads instead of onboard air, 235/75/15 instead of38's. Tire patch gear instead of 2nd spare tire, tow straps instead of chains, good filter and knowledge of terrain instead of large water tank.

What subcompact technique tips and tricks do you use?

 

[4Rescue]

^^^^^ Thanks Jeff... now I'm :drool: -ing all over my keyboard... That is one SWEET little rig there eh. I'd love to swing some Toyota axles under it and throw a big turbo on the 1.9 then blast off into the boonies with my little tractor. There's been a REAL sweet one running around in alot of the magazines, it's painted Kubota Orange (I'm a Kubota man too so I LOVE it) I think it's calle dthe Kubuki or some such thing while it's not an LWB model it's cool as none the less. I love how the little monsters can make 33's look like 40's and go ANYWHERE. PLus you can just get your mates together and pick it up and turn around when you get stuck

Cheers

Dave