The $15,000 Expedition Vehicle: How would you build it?

[colter]

great thread! I've enjoyed reading through all the different ideas here. I've been a lurker for awhile and decided to sign up.

I'm working on this same project for my 85 x-cab yota 4x4 P/U. (got it for $2000) 152xxx miles. I need a rust free bed, but other than that theres no rust on it. Here's the plan-
marlin crawler 3" suspension system with hy-steer $2000
33" M/T's on steel wheels $1200
4.88 geared 3rd's with ARB's, compressor, tank, etc. $3500
Bumpers and armor $1500
Winch with synthetic line $1500
Home built sleeping platform with thick foam mattress in the back
all the other little stuff you need for a buildup $2000
fridge and accessories $1000
and you're still under $15,000

 

[zimm]

01 lx470......


********. i screwed up already.

 

[seriessearcher]

I'll Bite

I am actually building something up now which I'll be able to test this out.

First Purchase is a 1967ish Land Rover Dormobile. it should be here on Wednesday. Total cost so fare with shipping $2500. I'll do a full vehicle report to see frame and engine needs and then go from there. I will be documenting this on me website as well as in the LR thread above.

On the list of mods:
Diesel conversion (Which one still undecided)
Bumpers and sligers as well as rear tire mount from Ike Goss
Updated wiring to support winch, lights, interior comforts (Dual Batteries)
Updated Storage interior as well as exterior.
Possible locking rear diff of some sort.

Once i get my hands on her I'll know more.

 

[spencyg]

Diesel conversion (Which one still undecided)
.

Those Cummins 4BTA's are pretty sweet motors with very little work. I have an issue of Diesel Power magazine which has an early bronco with a warmed over 4BT making 400hp and getting 27 MPG... !

Spence

 

[endo]

inspired

This thread inspired me to take it as a challenge.
I bought a '00 TOD trooper with all of the options (windows/seats/etc...) 6000
Then I bought an Engel 800
I plan to use my m101 trailer (750) with my RTT 900 (Mombasa) for a mobile base camp. I built a lid and added a few odds and ends 400

From here I will lift it 2-3 inches and install 265/75r16 at tires 600 for tires and 800ish for suspension.
I am planning for a bumper and winch so figure 1400

so at this time I am looking at 11650.
I will more than likely come in really close to 15k by the time I add things like lights, radios, batteries and roof rack.

but I think it would be capable enough,

We shall see. I have a multi month trip in the planning stages now that this is being built for.

 

[Jeep]

Her is what I did a few years back

Mint 1976 GM 3/4 ton 4x4, low mileage, no rust 350, SM465 trans, NP205, 14 bolt rear, Dana 44 front $4000

Brand new GM performance 350/290 HP crate engine $1600

4" Skyjacker lift $900

5 Used but like new 35" BFG Mud T/A's with wheels $1000

Detroit locker in rear $500

Homebuilt but nice front bumper with a used but gone through Warn 8274 $600

Threw a Blazer rear tank in for a total of 3 tanks about $200

Nice clean used but older Bigfoot all fiberglass camper $2500

So it cost around $11 000 to get there. I'm a little anal in the details so there was not an old fuel line, rad hose, brake hose, seal, etc left anywhere on the truck..need it or not. The truck was in very good condition to start with as well. I put dual batteries in it, dual 6V golf cart batteries in the camper, 2 solar panels, new alternator and starter, a lot of my own TLC and "free" mods. Now it wasn't the greatest on fuel but it carried lots, had good power, was dead reliable, super easy to fix, and with the lighter camper on it was still fairly capable for it's size. The camper was very comfy for my wife and and I for 3 years. I didn't keep tabs on the little things but it very likely ended up in the $15 000 range but it never cost a cent in maintanence or repairs (other than oil changes) for the next 3 years either. Every time I come across a clean old Chevy for the right price I have this strong urge to simplify and do that again, and they are out there. The brand new GM 350 is now $1500 with a one year unlimited mileage warranty, yeah it's not a diesel but it is cheap enough to offset some costs.......ahhhh don't get me going! Great thread, brings back some great memories! Thanks for the place in cyberspace, great website.

 

[adrenaline503]

Ford Ranger 4x4. They are cheap. and the easiest thing to find parts for. Get a used canopy off craigslist. Have some lightweight tube bumpers and sliders built. Lifts are cheap. Get a RTT and put it on a lumber rack over the canopy. Drive.

 

[Sloan]

I bought my 84 FJ 60 for $1000 with 230,000 miles
Wheels and tires $1000
38 gallon tank $750
Kaymar rear bumper $700
Arb front bumper $500
Warn 8274-50 $700

Total $4650 so far

Still need;
Roof top tent $850 May skip and sleep in the truck
Fridge $700-1000 May skip
Rear storage $200 I'll build
Dual battery set up ???
Re gear to 4.11s
Arbs ???


I just drove her from LA to Pismo and she was averaging 12-13 mpg 60-70 mph depending on the hills. I am going to do the regear the truck in the next week in preparation to drive LA-Portland-Bend-LA over the holidays.

 

[kcowyo]

I bought my 84 FJ 60 for $1000 with 230,000 miles

Pics?

They would be welcome here

 

[Sloan]

There are some pics of my cruisers in the reader's rides in general chat.

 

[ChuckB]

01 lx470......


********. i screwed up already.

See Sig below...

 

[Christophe Noel]

I enjoyed this thread. I think it brings up a fantastic point about what one really requires to do a big trip of any sort. In '98 I helped teach a friend how to ride a motorcycle at her home in the Pyrenees in France. 6 months later she rode a '93 Honda XR650l from Cape Town to Cairo. It was bone stock. She had no clue how to fix a flat, repair anything or really even camp.

You don't "need" all that much to do great things. The proper gear and knowledge sure makes the trip safer and more comfortable.

Heck, I drove from Prudoe Bay, AK to Vera Cruz, Mexico in a '92 Ford Explorer with ZERO mods, a suspect CV joint and a tempermental transmission. Smart? Probably not, but it's what I had at the time.

 

[preacherman]

I like this topic. It's been a good read. I spent two years as a backpacking guide living out of a 5500 cubic inch backpack, some guys idea of "must have's" always cracks me up.

Not to hijack but here is my slant. How cheap could you do it.

truck
FJ60 lets say 3,000 for one not too ragged out
$700 mis tune up/replace stock parts (keep the old ones as spares)
$250 shocks (nothing fancy but better than factory)
$400 new AT tires in factory size (keep the best old one as a spare)
Mods
food storage- $25 wal-mart ice chest (guess what they sell ice all over the world)
cargo system $25 (one word for you "rubbermaid")
sleeping-sleep in the cruiser FREE
Mics recovery tools $150 (high lift, strap, etc...)
Good set of tools and a factory book $200
Total= $4750 That leaves $10,250 for gas, trip costs, and breakdowns...thats alot of coin for one heck of a trip

 

[Sloan]

I agree with Preacherman, I am slowly realizing that stock is better. The only thing I would add is a winch. I have rarely needed one but when I did it was IMPORTANT.

 

[sami]

I'm too much in love with the 1st gen 4runner to give it up... so, my expo rig'll be built off of a 1st gen. (i already have two, one '85 rockcrawler[into it $10k+], and unmolested '86 SR5 in great condition.. picked it up for $600)

I'm thinking an '86-89 for the IFS, and with that going with Total Chaos front suspension for long travel($1,500), good at speed. Then go OME heavy's in the rear. TRD e-locker in the rear, and probably running 4.88s.

32" Maxxis Bighorns on 15-16 wheels w/ rock rings (not beadlocks). $1,000

For engine, 2.7 4cyl out of a tacoma gets great mpg and same HP as the 3.0 $599

I like the idea mentioned earlier in this thread about a custom camper top for the 1st gen 4runner, and retaining the rear seats. One could built entirely their own top, or mod the existing fiberglass top. I'd try to use the factory top, and incorporate a pop up roof system to it.. could even run a roof rack over the cab if needs be for more storage.

I've wanted to build a custom storage unit under the bed (where the stock spare tire location is). Build a box to store longer term storage items like spare birf, u-joint, shafts, who knows.. maybe even incorporate a winch in the rear of it, with the line routed out the rear bumper.

Rear bumper would be custom swing out with 1-2 tire holders, gas, water etc. $1,000

Front bullbar, probably custom or fab onto FrontRange's front bumber w/ winch. Fender guards from the front bumper to the rock sliders. $700 ( i already have the 8k lb winch

Snorkel, GPS, IPF lights and so on..

This is my next rig in a nut shell...

And a quick reasoning on the suspension ie Total Chaos IFS and not a solid axle. I want a rig that will handle the road/expo style trip/ at speed back roads/and slick rock in moab.. i feel this suspension handles it all, giving the rig a capability for anything it encounters. Think, expedition/baja rig capable of crawling some trails in Moab.

A note on the custom top.. i'm trying to map out a plan to add roll-up canvas sides to the factory top. Incorporate that in with a custom pop up roof, and the fact that the whole deal is removable..

-Jason