halfbreedinkc
Member
- Joined
- February 28, 2013
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Overland Park, KS
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2004 4WD
Just joined about a week ago for the purpose of picking y'all's brains.
I'm looking to build a MILD overlanding/expedition rig - nothing extreme, no rock-crawling, uber-hardcore offroading, more along the lines of back trails, logging/fire roads, etc., want it to be as self-sufficient as possible without going overboard, may be out for a week to 10 days at most.
I know the above is more than a little vague, but I haven't nailed down specifics at this point, for example, camping out of it = not sure about a RTT or an offroad trailer, amongst other things.
I've owned several Jeeps, 3 XJ's (not a fan of the unibody) and 1 TJ (too small - no cargo space), and looking for something different. I'm down to the following;
1) Ranger Supercab
2) Explorer 2 or 4 door
(might also consider an F150)
I've been researching for some time and understand the Rangers & Ex's are solidly built (body on frame), and there were so many of them made parts will be readily available for years to come (U-Pull-It is your friend), where the XJ supply is slowly beginning to dry up (not much...yet). The reason I began considering the Explorer is related to my recent research, they seem to be a pretty beefy platform from the factory, even more so than the Ranger.
Will lift it, but it'll be mild, no more than 4", less than that more than likely - my biggest aim is to beef up the suspension to make it as bullet proof as possible, and yet keep it within factory parameters, so in a catastrophic failure I can scavenge parts from another vehicle and limp home (something you can't do when you start cutting and welding and modding).
Other requirements are open - 2WD vs. 4WD is one for example. 4WD would be optimal, but isn't a deal breaker. Engine is another that's open, as is transmission.
So, thoughts? Input? Don't hold back, all opinions from you folks "in the know" is why I'm here.
I'm looking to build a MILD overlanding/expedition rig - nothing extreme, no rock-crawling, uber-hardcore offroading, more along the lines of back trails, logging/fire roads, etc., want it to be as self-sufficient as possible without going overboard, may be out for a week to 10 days at most.
I know the above is more than a little vague, but I haven't nailed down specifics at this point, for example, camping out of it = not sure about a RTT or an offroad trailer, amongst other things.
I've owned several Jeeps, 3 XJ's (not a fan of the unibody) and 1 TJ (too small - no cargo space), and looking for something different. I'm down to the following;
1) Ranger Supercab
2) Explorer 2 or 4 door
(might also consider an F150)
I've been researching for some time and understand the Rangers & Ex's are solidly built (body on frame), and there were so many of them made parts will be readily available for years to come (U-Pull-It is your friend), where the XJ supply is slowly beginning to dry up (not much...yet). The reason I began considering the Explorer is related to my recent research, they seem to be a pretty beefy platform from the factory, even more so than the Ranger.
Will lift it, but it'll be mild, no more than 4", less than that more than likely - my biggest aim is to beef up the suspension to make it as bullet proof as possible, and yet keep it within factory parameters, so in a catastrophic failure I can scavenge parts from another vehicle and limp home (something you can't do when you start cutting and welding and modding).
Other requirements are open - 2WD vs. 4WD is one for example. 4WD would be optimal, but isn't a deal breaker. Engine is another that's open, as is transmission.
So, thoughts? Input? Don't hold back, all opinions from you folks "in the know" is why I'm here.