What is necessary for overland travel?

[Sifu]

Hi,

I just purchased a 100 for camping and hiking, but also for getting to remote areas for rockhounding, and for various future expeditions. Back surgeries mean that long distance backpacking is now out for me, so I will be relying on my LC to get me to wild places, mostly in the American/Canadian West. I don't want my vehicle to limit where I can go. I am also planning to accompany and support my brother on some trips who will be on his Triumph.

Right now, I am stock - though I just took off the running boards. I know from my own past experience I will need better tires, and so will upgrade to 33s when I get a chance. I will also be putting in stiffer suspension components, as that's a personal preference, and will also help when we are loaded down. And I'll have to figure out a way to extend range, maybe with some extras fuel cans.

But beyond that, can those of you with more experience tell me what you think is really needed? Steel bumpers? Winch? Lift? What have you found yourself wishing you had, after you ran into some difficulty?

Thanks.

 

[1leglance]

Take all your backpacking kit you already have.
Get a better sleep pad (I love the Exped Mega Mat 10 for in vehicle as I have a bad back/hip/amputee)
Get a small air compressor (MV50 off amazion or such will work for now) and a tire gauge to air down & up
Get a tire repair kit (extreme outback makes the best all around kit for the money)
Get a snatch strap and a couple of d-rings (extreme outback also has that stuff)

Fill the tank, pack you food and go somewhere....

Let your experiences teach you what you NEED vs what you WANT....oh how I wish I had all the money I have spent on vehicle mods over the years.
With my current build of a 1970 Suburban I bought it last November and that same afternoon went 130 miles of dirt to bring it home...had a blast. Of course I had a buddy follow me in his rig just in case but since then the build as been super slow as I have been letting the rig teach me what is needed.

Of course I put on tires, but I went with tall skinny as they don't hurt the mpg and they work great.
I know that a fridge makes a huge difference on our outings so that went in....and they a dual battery setup to help with the fridge and other modern electronics.
And that has been it so far.

Now I have had it painted but that was just a personal thing.
I am going to swap axles, but that is so I can go from drum to disc brakes and I talked myself into lockers since I was doing axles anyway. Even though I know I won't use them but once a year if that.
I am putting in on board air but that is because of the lockers and I love to use the air hose to blow out dust, inflate the sleep pad, dust myself off, clean electronics & my air filter in camp, and inflate tires.
The roof just got a rack I built for my Hannibal awning (best thing for shade here in the desert) which also has zip on walls which makes the wife happy. The rack also holds a FrontRunner table (that is pure glamper joy as I could have lived the rest of my life with my simple cheap table) and a solar panel (also not NEEDED but I love to run my fridge 24/7)


Make sure you post up some trips reports so we can all evolve with you and your build....but most important make sure to spend more time playing than building.

 

[southpier]

axe. you're gonna need a axe.

 

[jim65wagon]

axe. you're gonna need a axe.

Seriously?

 

[zimm]

Seriously?

hes ********** around. christ.

 

[zimm]

Hi,

I just purchased a 100 for camping and hiking, but also for getting to remote areas for rockhounding, and for various future expeditions. Back surgeries mean that long distance backpacking is now out for me, so I will be relying on my LC to get me to wild places, mostly in the American/Canadian West. I don't want my vehicle to limit where I can go. I am also planning to accompany and support my brother on some trips who will be on his Triumph.

Right now, I am stock - though I just took off the running boards. I know from my own past experience I will need better tires, and so will upgrade to 33s when I get a chance. I will also be putting in stiffer suspension components, as that's a personal preference, and will also help when we are loaded down. And I'll have to figure out a way to extend range, maybe with some extras fuel cans.

But beyond that, can those of you with more experience tell me what you think is really needed? Steel bumpers? Winch? Lift? What have you found yourself wishing you had, after you ran into some difficulty?

Thanks.

before you read about everyones equipment theory, do a physical check and make sure you can complete vehicle recovery with your back situation.

moving rocks
shoveling
winching
jack manipulation
tire changing in odd places

etc.


if you cant do that, stick to maintained roads.

my back isnt the best, and i can say, some of the stuff ive had to do with changing tires on rims and other crap, has had my back crying at nappie time. with a good pack i can go all day. its the burst of power while in odd positions that can get ya.

 

[Bretthn]

Oregon Delorme Gazetteer. Start looking for and exploring some back roads. Your Land Cruiser is more capable than many modified vehicles from the factory. Wear out the factory tires then upgrade. The more you explore the better idea you will get of your needs.

 

[abruzzi]

The big question you need to answer first if what kind of roads you intend to drive--that will impact what mods the vehicle needs. Here in NM you can drive to just about any part of the state on semi-maintained county dirt roads. You vehicle stock will make it through all of those. If you want to get into the tougher stuff, you may need a small lift and larger, more agressive tires, but remember, the more extreme you go on mods the less qualified the vehicle will become for longer hauls. (look at the hardcore section of ih8mud.com to see how far that can go.) Next you should think about protection and recovery. If you drive in densely forested parts of the country (or here, if you drive through areas heavy with mesquite scrub brush) you may want to protect the vehicle with bumpers, brush guards etc. Recovery--if you get stuck do you have the tools to get unstuck? Recovery tools can be shovels, jacks, winches, etc. If you want to take on more difficult areas, these may be helpful, but they can also be a waste of money, if you stay on trafficked graded roads.

At that point you will have the vehicle sorted, the rest is easy--sort of. The rest is exactly the same as backpacking except you don't have to so anal about weight. Food, stoves, tents, sleeping bags, something to store it in, etc.

Geof

 

[mep1811]

You need to buy and only wear Ex Officio clothing. You want to look that part.

 

[Sifu]

Ha, this is a pretty snarky forum. I've spent a lot of time on backroads and out of the way places in the PNW with other vehicles. And frankly, a stock 100 is good for 95% of that. What I am really wondering about is whether a stock configuration will be equally adequate in the places I am not familiar with, but plan to head out to over the next few years: Colorado, Wyoming, southern Utah, northern California, northern BC, Alaska. Getting somewhere and then realizing that you are missing something vital really stinks.

Thanks for the tips so far....and yeah, I already have my axe(s).

 

[Rot Box]

For one I think you have a great rig for just about anything you can throw at it. I had a coil pack go bad in my 100 series and it went from intermittent misfire to total failure in about 30 miles. Because this seems like a fairly common issue (and there are 8 of them) I would recommend buying a high quality code reader and a spare coil pack. I would also invest in a high quality battery--honestly make that two batteries with some form of isolator for one of them. Something as simple as leaving your key on (ask me how I know) can ruin your day in the back country. There are several dual battery options from budget to exotic out there for your rig. Beyond that make sure you are up on maintenance: oil changes, spark plugs, filter changes (keep at least one spare fuel filter on hand), timing belt, hoses, belts, water pump, spare tire in good shape, cv boots not torn etc etc.. Something in the back of my mind is the starter motor. Because of the location it's a big job to change one and they don't last forever--depending on mileage you may want to consider having a new one installed for peace of mind.. That's my $.02. I probably sound like a broken record to some but I always recommend meticulous upkeep over any accessory or add-on. Hope this helps

Fill the tank--hit the road and don't forget to share the pics

 

[lugueto]

A Land Cruiser, a will, a good travel partner, and a camera

 

[4x4tripping]

.
What is necessary? Ask yourself!
.
Look how others explore the world. At sample this couple:
.

.
http://herbiesworldtour.com/press/
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Ask yourself if you are able to drive through the US backroads and remote tracks with your stock Land Cruiser, when others had explore the world with an old vw beetle.
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Necessary for overlanding is a car, a tent and some camping gear. All other stuff is just about - how you like to travel.

 

[zimm]

youre asking an opened ended question.

on my lx470, i kept my height stock for stability off camber, added 33's, sliders and skids fpr rocks, bumpers for approach and departure, front a rear winches, drawers for recovery gear and tools, a roof rack for stuff, if i need more stuff, one can never have enough stuff.

communication, go with HAM. you may need help.

a high lift jack gets used once a trip for something. the wheel hooks and plastic base are really handy.

tire puncture kit

first aid kit

toilet paper in a ziplock bag.

a book of local biology which wont get looked at.



that may not be all ill have depending on the trip. the RTT goes on and off. spare fuel maybe, but most of the east coast has gas stations. garmin with maps, paper maps, varying levels of water, maybe a shower, etc. but, the list above is what WILL be on every trip.



if youre looking for physical changes to that rig specifically

1) proper tires
2) ditch the bumpers and anything that still there that wont be if it catches a rock/branch.

 

[mep1811]

Don' t forget good (expensive) boots and a hat. Just buy whatever the Overland Journal says to.