r/4x4

Hey guys,

The lease on my 2023 Mazda CX30 is coming to an end next spring, and I am starting a new career here soon that will have me driving a Ford Transit van Mon-Fri. I would still need a personal vehicle, of course, and there aren’t really any new cars being made today that I am interested in, or that I think have much of a “soul” without spending $50k+, so I am looking to the past. I have always admired old, capable, unbreakable off-roaders and have been looking at a lot of the 1980-2000 Japanese off-roaders.

I am looking at the:

- Toyota Land Cruisers (60, 70, and 80 series)

- 1st gen Nissan Pathfinder (specifically the 2-door 3.0L V6)

- 1st gen Toyota 4Runner (1985 - 1989 22RE or 3.0L V6 (?))

- Isuzu Trooper

- Nissan Hardbody KingCab (3L V6)

- Toyota Pickup (N50 all the way to the N110)

While not Japanese, I am also looking at the:

- Range Rover Classic (3-door 200TDI or 300TDI)

- Land Rover Defender 90 (200TDI or 300TDI)

- 2nd gen Jeep Cherokee (4L I6).

Since my transit van would technically be my daily driver, this would be my personal vehicle for running errands and going out (I’m not running errands and getting groceries in a transit van!). I consider myself pretty mechanically inclined, however I have only ever had new cars. I do really want to get into camping and start visiting some state and national parks, so I would like this vehicle to be good (enough) on the highway and comfortable enough to make 10+ hour road trips (while I do enjoy comfort, consider I am in my 20’s so am okay with roughing it a bit. Please also consider that I live in Houston, Texas, where going anywhere requires getting on a highway or freeway). I have no interest in going bogging, mudding, or rock crawling. If anything I would maybe do a lite-overland build to support the camping/trail-riding/national-park itch.

I would say the most important things to me are reliability, dependability, being roadtrip capable, and being easy to wrench on (was also looking at the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero, but read they are electrical and wiring nightmares). And like I said, I live in Houston, so highway-comfort and A/C is important as well.

What I’m really hoping to get from this post are thoughts/opinions/recommendations of the different engine options of these models, and personal experiences with owning them (maintenance, comfort, road trips, etc.)

Thanks in advance!

I know this is a slightly unusual question, but I want external opinions before I dive way too deep into a project of mine.

I'm currently working on building an off-road recovery vehicle, I'm about a year and a half into planning and a handful of months into actually putting the thing together. I have an engine getting assembled in my garage, but I'm trying to figure out transmission and everything that goes with that at the moment.

My goal for this is simple to say, but incredibly complicated to do: and off-road recovery truck that is both entirely trail capable, and also able to be a daily driver. The daily part is what's confounding me with the doubler the most, because if this was strictly a wheeling rig it would be much less of a problem.

The current plan for driveline is a TH400 coupled to an NP205, with 4.10 geared Ford F350 axles. Doing some rough calculations - the TH400 has a first gear ratio of 2.48:1, and the NP205 has a low gear ratio of 1.96:1 - I would have a maximum low range gear ratio of about 20:1 at the wheels. What I'm not entirely sure of, though, is if I would need to go more. I'm mostly in the Northeast, so more forests and mountains than sand and cliffs.

I have a handful of ideas on how to increase the gear range, and I'm leaning towards one of these but don't want to invest dozens of hours into this abhorrent creation if it would just be a waste of my time to do so

So these guys wanted to camp before they had an accident on the trail does anyone know if that is even possible iv read that you can’t camp in Moab only on camp grounds. Maybe they where headed to a campground.

https://youtu.be/Z2MxuwkphMU?si=219bdD6p75YBB\_JO

I’m looking at getting 33x10.5x15 to fit my 15x10 steel wheels. I was originally going to get 33x12.5 but think will be a little too large for my truck.

Will be getting bfg ko2 truck is used mainly on road and light off-roading occasionally.

Looking for other photos of people who run this setup! thanks!

Hey everyone

I’m looking to buy my first **portable camping fridge/freezer** and would really appreciate some real-world feedback before I pull the trigger.

**My use case:**

* Occasional trips / **SUV camping**

* Main goal is **freezing meat (-18°C)** and keeping drinks/food cold

* Will be moving it in and out fairly often, so portability still matters

**What I’m looking at:**

* **Minimum 50L capacity**

* Compressor fridge (not a cooler box)

**Brands / options I’m considering:**

* Alpicool 50L (budget-friendly option)

* SnoMaster 50L (mid to premium range)

* National Luna 50L (seems like one of the top-tier options)

* Flex (also comes up often as a recommended brand in SA)

From what I’ve seen, these units typically run proper compressors and can hit around -18°C to -20°C, which is what I need for meat storage.

Questions:

1. Is 50L the right size for SUV camping, or should I go bigger/smaller?

2. Are budget brands like Alpicool reliable long-term, or do they give issues?

3. Is it worth spending more on brands like National Luna or SnoMaster?

4. Any experience with Flex fridges?

5. Any brands/models you’d strongly recommend (or avoid)?

I’d rather buy once and be happy, but also don’t want to overspend for something I’ll only use occasionally.

Appreciate any advice

What was the moment you knew you wanted to own an off-road vehicle — and what did you end up buying?

I have a 1989 Jeep Comanche Pioneer 4x4. I have been wanting to build this truck up for a few years, and I am close to pulling the trigger and starting the process. If anyone here has swapped MJ/XJ before and has advice I can use all I can get. I want this truck to be nice. Mainly on road with occasional trails, although I want it to be capable if I ever decide to do any gnarly trails. Occasional rocks, but I am NOT building a crawler.

5.3L LM7 from junkyard

Rebuilt factory AX-15 trans

Rebuilt factory NP231 Tcase

Novak's 'essential' swap kit

Ford 8.8 rear with Chromoly shafts with locker, axle tubes welded (possibly trussed)

D44 front (if I can find) with Chromoly shafts with locker (possibly trussed)

35" tire, possibly 37" tires

4.88 or 5.13 gearing, undecided atm

--I doubt the factory D30 even trussed with chromoly shafts would hold up if I ever put 37s on it. Other recommendations for front axles)

1-Ton steering setup

Frame stiffeners

Rusty's offroad 6.5" or 4.5" long travel lift kit, undecided atm

Complete front clip conversion from a 2001 Jeep Cherokee

Novak recommends engine accessories from a LS1 engine due to clearance issues. Holley makes a mid-mount complete accessory kit for the LM7 that I think should work, if I cannot source junkyard LS1 parts easily.

One of my biggest questions that I have asked is axle strength under 37's. Some people say a built 8.8 and built 44 will hold and some people say it won't. Like I said I do not rock crawl, the trails I ride are dirt with some small to moderate sized rocks. I want this truck capable to use overland, on unknown trails but still able to drive it up the highway at 60-65mph. I am probably going to run 35's but would like the option to go to 37s and not do another axle swap.

So I want to buy a car, I want it to be 4x4, but I do not need it for very heavy off-roading. And I will use it as my daily since it will be my only car.

My budget is not that high, around 6-7000€. I would like the car to be as reliable as it can(obviously). I would also like it to be a bit comfortable. That is why I am considering either a Dacia Duster or a Suzuki Grand Vitara(max 1.9 engine size since taxes are way higher for above 2.0 where I live).

I saw dusters from around 2015 with 7500, and 2010 for 5000(I heard versions before the facelift are not that great) and Vitara from 2012 for 4000 with some exceptions for the Vitara, being cheaper.

I also am looking for a car that is at least Euro 5 since I am thinking about the diesel.

I understand that maintenance cost is cheaper for the Duster and I don't think I will be using the complete capabilities of the Vitara, but only time will tell:), also Vitara seems more comfortable.

So overall, Vitara seems cheaper for the purchase, but maintenance will bring me in the same range, with the leftover money I could modify some stuff to the car.

What do you guys suggest?

https://preview.redd.it/u7pnurxcdyvg1.jpg?width=404&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ba8cbf3a61d21de59dd2d784e7cb67e626e28ade

Hi everyone,

I have a 2021 Nissan Xterra TITANIUM 4X4 (known as the Nissan Terra in some markets), and I’m looking to set it up for long-distance travel and desert camping. Since I live more than 800km away from the coast, my primary focus is desert driving, with occasional beach trips.

I’m aiming for a reliable "Family Overland" setup, but I’ve run into a few dilemmas and would love your expert opinions:

1. Lighting: I was originally going to buy a "telescopic pole light" (fishing rod light), but a friend suggested a magnetic LED light with a fabric base to protect the car’s paint from scratches. I really liked this idea.

2. Electrical: To keep my warranty safe and the car reliable, I’m planning to install a completely independent wiring harness for all accessories instead of tapping into the factory loom. Does this sound like the best approach for a new vehicle?

3. Water Storage: This is my biggest challenge. I’m considering a U-shaped underbody water tank that fits around the spare tire. However, friends warned me that "sloshing" (water movement) when the tank is half-full might negatively affect handling. They suggested an internal tank, but since this is my primary family car for 3-hour road trips to visit parents, I cannot afford to lose any interior cargo space for suitcases. Any creative solutions for water storage?

4. Air Compressor Placement: I bought a portable compressor with an auto-shutoff feature and some automatic tire deflators. I wanted to mount the compressor under the hood, but there’s zero space. I found some room between the front grille and the radiator, but I’m worried it might block airflow/cooling or get damaged in a minor front-end collision. Where is the best place to mount a compressor on this model?

5. Awning Setup: I’m planning to get a retractable roll-out awning. Should I mount it permanently to the roof rack, or is it better to keep it detached and store it inside the car when not in use?

6. Rear Entertainment: Do you recommend installing headrest screens or a ceiling-mounted entertainment system for the kids in the back ?

7. Multimedia & Heat Issues: I previously bought "CarPlay AI Boxes" (Carkit) from AliExpress to watch Netflix and YouTube on the factory screen, but they failed twice due to the extreme heat in my region. Should I try a higher-quality brand, or would hiding the unit behind the dashboard trim and just extending the USB cable help with the overheating?

I’ve already made up my mind on a few things, but I’m open to any additional suggestions or gear recommendations you might have. Maybe I missed something or there’s a better way to do this.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for your help!