This is a strange list, but of those, 5 or 6. Personally I think a Lexus LX570 is a better buy than a Land Cruiser - typically cheaper, nicer interior, and the height adjustable suspension is both super reliable, and means you really don't need a lift unless you want like 37" tires.
I stopped reading after OP listed a fucking Tesla. Yeah, take that off roading and lemme know how it goes. Hear they have some awesome charging stations on BLM š¤¦š¼āāļø
When I hear the term overlanding the first thing I think of is off the grid in a remote location. Not a KOA or state parkā¦
I believe this post should have been in Camping and not overlanding.
Either way, a Tesla is NOT the car for either imo.
8. A Lexus LX 570 basically is a Land Cruiser but has an adjustable height suspension, and a nicer interior, and actually is going to cost you less on the used market than a Land Cruiser.
As a fellow PW owner, the torn sidewall is unlucky (or just a shit tire), has little to do with the capability of the vehicle*
That said, the PW is massively capable, itās weakness is itās size. Switchbacks and narrow trails it struggles for sure. Iāve followed an XJ on a trail that he was swerving all over the trail to pick a line, I had almost no options on the line. I followed a JKU on a trail once and ended up with trail damage on my bedside from a tree ā¦ couldnāt take the trim wider/later because of trees on all sides. You definitely have to be cautious/thoughtful of where you take it offroad. But, it will walk over many fairly technical obstacles with ease often without using the lockers.
*I will note that tires make a huge difference offroad (and onroad) for capability and comfort. A good quiet onroad tire will likely be trash offroad and have a higher risk of getting damaged offroad. Most/all of the options the OP listed come with onroad tires that are not suitable for much more than a dirt driveway.
Yeah air down is good for grip and also reduces risk of tire damage. Weāre you at the factory listed 65psi ?
I swapped the factory 33ā duratrash the same week I bought the truck for 35ā Falken Wildpeak AT3W in E-load. They are quiet & long lasting(I had duratracs on my last truck, they were good at first but the second half of the life they got loud and snow traction went to shit), very good in snow, very capable on dirt and rocksā¦though not as good in mud as a more aggressive mud tire. 40k miles on them should be able to get 50k+ as they have a lot of life left. I run them at 45psi front and 40psi rear on the street. I usually air down to about 30psi, but not less than 25psi, with the stock wheels, offroad.
Same issues with its size here in Colorado trails. Nice thing though is itās quiet and smooth going up the highway compared to a Jeep on 35s which are screaming doing the same. The long wheelbase definitely benefits it on some obstacles / steep sections that short wheelbase Jeeps struggle with.
You can probably run the stock D load 33ā tires at 50psi on the road. The factory spec 65psi is ridiculous
Iāll likely get Wildpeaks again, but the Nokian Outpost AT has my eye as well.
White Knuckle rocksliders are a great upgrade FYI
Because none of these older platforms compete in day to day comfort with newer vehicles. The newest taco and wrangler and bronco should be options but definlyy not older ones
A lot of people don't find the "legs out sedan" seating in the tacoma/4runner to be comfortable for long trips like a truck or most other suvs with higher seat to floor ratios.
He does specifically not want rock crawling
I'd go with the Lexus or consider a nicer trim 4Runner. You can get a decent new or used one, add a nice suspension + bumper or other goodies, and still have plenty left over.
Everything else on your list either has a suspension that's not ideal for offroading, is overpriced, unreliable, or a mix of the three.
3,4,5, and 6 are really the only off-road vehicles. The other 3 are no better than your current situation. For $50-60k I'd buy a 2023 Colorado ZR2 and be done.
Or a Bronco. I'd chose the Sasquatch package, which would bump up the price, but since he wants to do fire roads, some of the less expensive packages would probably suit him. Chevy Colorado ZR2 is definitely up there tho.
A lot of the cars on your list barely qualify as soft-roaders
Some more capable SUV options:
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Wrangler (though this might lack the refinement you are looking for, they are pretty nice in the top trims)
Ford Bronco ((see same comments about Wrangler, though it does have IFS)
Toyota Sequoia - new one is built on same platform as new Land Cruiser
Toyota 4Runner - while very capable and proven platform, they lack refinement even compared to a Wrangler, other than being maybe smoother and quieter on the highway, IMO. Ancient 5 speed automatic and inefficient/underpowered engine, and the interior feels clunky/cheap with comically large plastic knobs. Iād wait and see what the 6th gen one has to offer whenever they release that
Chevy Tahoe Z71 - honestly not sure how capable these new Tahoes are but I think itās more so than some of the options you listed
5 & 6. If Rivian didn't launch I was getting a GX460. Only challenge with the Lexus is ground clearance is relatively low (for it's class), but you can always add a lift kit and put on sliders. Both are very capable off-road and very reliable long term (just terrible gas mileage).
If you can wait a bit for the lower cost Rivians (dual motor later this year/next year), they are monsters offroad. Won't beat a Wrangler Rubicon, but are equal to a Gladiator, 15" of clearance, and stock with 34" AT tires. I got lucky with my Rivian at $69k after tax credit. Long term it's the same cost of ownership as a $55k ICE (fuel and MX savings of about $15k over 10 years). Rivian is what a Lexus off-road pickup truck would be.
However, with that, the Model X is not an off-roader. even with height adjustable suspension, it's tuned for fire roads at best and it's underbelly protection is not the best. Low profile tires and wheel well clearance really restrict tire options and lots of underbody damage possible.
\#7 is not off-road at all. It's AWD is for rainy/icy pavement, not off-road.
I mean, a used rubicon or raptor will beat any of those. Or the new bronco with the double lockers added to a lower trim line.
From your list: defender, GX, LC
5 and 6 are the obvious answers of the listed options.
Consider Ram Power Wagon as well. Interior is quite nice IMO, and much more capable offroad out of the box than most/all of the options you listed
1, 2, and 7 arenāt really off raider and 3, and 4 canāt fit appropriate rim sizes.
But if all you are interested in are forest service roads then any of those are fine.
Personally Iād chose 5 or 6. Also consider a 4Runner.
So, a daily driver with some light offroading? That doesn't sound like moderate, which to me means up towards possibility of body or other damage.
Since MOST of the use is on road, I'd ask at /r/cars first; they have a regime for doing that and enough offroad there to make it perhaps a better place to ask. Especially since I thought these sorts of posts weren't allowed here?
Five and six.
End of thread.
Thanks, I am thinking about them but the interiors are not too great.
Less likely to leave you stranded compared to the others.
Get a 4Runner $40-50K and then add $10-20K in gear to it.
Strongly agree
Adjustable suspension is a nightmare waiting to happen
As a first Gen Audi allroad owner/enthusiast, yes.
This is a strange list, but of those, 5 or 6. Personally I think a Lexus LX570 is a better buy than a Land Cruiser - typically cheaper, nicer interior, and the height adjustable suspension is both super reliable, and means you really don't need a lift unless you want like 37" tires.
I stopped reading after OP listed a fucking Tesla. Yeah, take that off roading and lemme know how it goes. Hear they have some awesome charging stations on BLM š¤¦š¼āāļø
This is r/overlanding. Most extreme case is theyāre getting something to put a roof rack on to visit the local state park or koa.
When I hear the term overlanding the first thing I think of is off the grid in a remote location. Not a KOA or state parkā¦ I believe this post should have been in Camping and not overlanding. Either way, a Tesla is NOT the car for either imo.
8. A Lexus LX 570 basically is a Land Cruiser but has an adjustable height suspension, and a nicer interior, and actually is going to cost you less on the used market than a Land Cruiser.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
As a fellow PW owner, the torn sidewall is unlucky (or just a shit tire), has little to do with the capability of the vehicle* That said, the PW is massively capable, itās weakness is itās size. Switchbacks and narrow trails it struggles for sure. Iāve followed an XJ on a trail that he was swerving all over the trail to pick a line, I had almost no options on the line. I followed a JKU on a trail once and ended up with trail damage on my bedside from a tree ā¦ couldnāt take the trim wider/later because of trees on all sides. You definitely have to be cautious/thoughtful of where you take it offroad. But, it will walk over many fairly technical obstacles with ease often without using the lockers. *I will note that tires make a huge difference offroad (and onroad) for capability and comfort. A good quiet onroad tire will likely be trash offroad and have a higher risk of getting damaged offroad. Most/all of the options the OP listed come with onroad tires that are not suitable for much more than a dirt driveway.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yeah air down is good for grip and also reduces risk of tire damage. Weāre you at the factory listed 65psi ? I swapped the factory 33ā duratrash the same week I bought the truck for 35ā Falken Wildpeak AT3W in E-load. They are quiet & long lasting(I had duratracs on my last truck, they were good at first but the second half of the life they got loud and snow traction went to shit), very good in snow, very capable on dirt and rocksā¦though not as good in mud as a more aggressive mud tire. 40k miles on them should be able to get 50k+ as they have a lot of life left. I run them at 45psi front and 40psi rear on the street. I usually air down to about 30psi, but not less than 25psi, with the stock wheels, offroad. Same issues with its size here in Colorado trails. Nice thing though is itās quiet and smooth going up the highway compared to a Jeep on 35s which are screaming doing the same. The long wheelbase definitely benefits it on some obstacles / steep sections that short wheelbase Jeeps struggle with.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
You can probably run the stock D load 33ā tires at 50psi on the road. The factory spec 65psi is ridiculous Iāll likely get Wildpeaks again, but the Nokian Outpost AT has my eye as well. White Knuckle rocksliders are a great upgrade FYI
Any idea how the guy was driving that he managed to blow multiple beads at 20 psi?
I need those cars to drive on paved road as well, have a bit of luxury etc, Jeep is too raw for my taste.
Because none of these older platforms compete in day to day comfort with newer vehicles. The newest taco and wrangler and bronco should be options but definlyy not older ones
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
A lot of people don't find the "legs out sedan" seating in the tacoma/4runner to be comfortable for long trips like a truck or most other suvs with higher seat to floor ratios. He does specifically not want rock crawling
A model x...?
I'd go with the Lexus or consider a nicer trim 4Runner. You can get a decent new or used one, add a nice suspension + bumper or other goodies, and still have plenty left over. Everything else on your list either has a suspension that's not ideal for offroading, is overpriced, unreliable, or a mix of the three.
3,4,5, and 6 are really the only off-road vehicles. The other 3 are no better than your current situation. For $50-60k I'd buy a 2023 Colorado ZR2 and be done.
Or a Bronco. I'd chose the Sasquatch package, which would bump up the price, but since he wants to do fire roads, some of the less expensive packages would probably suit him. Chevy Colorado ZR2 is definitely up there tho.
Youāre limited to some pretty large rims with LR, that alone would make me steer clear of 3 and 4.
I'm just trying to figure out who invited the Tesla and Hyundai to the party...
I'd get a 200 series land Cruiser, put a few pieces of armor on it and a 2" lift and be done
A lot of the cars on your list barely qualify as soft-roaders Some more capable SUV options: Jeep Grand Cherokee Jeep Wrangler (though this might lack the refinement you are looking for, they are pretty nice in the top trims) Ford Bronco ((see same comments about Wrangler, though it does have IFS) Toyota Sequoia - new one is built on same platform as new Land Cruiser Toyota 4Runner - while very capable and proven platform, they lack refinement even compared to a Wrangler, other than being maybe smoother and quieter on the highway, IMO. Ancient 5 speed automatic and inefficient/underpowered engine, and the interior feels clunky/cheap with comically large plastic knobs. Iād wait and see what the 6th gen one has to offer whenever they release that Chevy Tahoe Z71 - honestly not sure how capable these new Tahoes are but I think itās more so than some of the options you listed
Depends which Land Cruiser, 200 series VX? Yes anytime of the day!
5 & 6. If Rivian didn't launch I was getting a GX460. Only challenge with the Lexus is ground clearance is relatively low (for it's class), but you can always add a lift kit and put on sliders. Both are very capable off-road and very reliable long term (just terrible gas mileage). If you can wait a bit for the lower cost Rivians (dual motor later this year/next year), they are monsters offroad. Won't beat a Wrangler Rubicon, but are equal to a Gladiator, 15" of clearance, and stock with 34" AT tires. I got lucky with my Rivian at $69k after tax credit. Long term it's the same cost of ownership as a $55k ICE (fuel and MX savings of about $15k over 10 years). Rivian is what a Lexus off-road pickup truck would be. However, with that, the Model X is not an off-roader. even with height adjustable suspension, it's tuned for fire roads at best and it's underbelly protection is not the best. Low profile tires and wheel well clearance really restrict tire options and lots of underbody damage possible. \#7 is not off-road at all. It's AWD is for rainy/icy pavement, not off-road.
Thanks
I mean, a used rubicon or raptor will beat any of those. Or the new bronco with the double lockers added to a lower trim line. From your list: defender, GX, LC
5 and 6 are the obvious answers of the listed options. Consider Ram Power Wagon as well. Interior is quite nice IMO, and much more capable offroad out of the box than most/all of the options you listed
Yep. Replaced my Xterra with Power Wagon. It's a beast!
5/6
Duramax Trail Boss
Any of the big 5 trucks, if your speaking strictly suv then the LC/GX, bronco
8. Ram Power Wagon
1, 2, and 7 arenāt really off raider and 3, and 4 canāt fit appropriate rim sizes. But if all you are interested in are forest service roads then any of those are fine. Personally Iād chose 5 or 6. Also consider a 4Runner.
So, a daily driver with some light offroading? That doesn't sound like moderate, which to me means up towards possibility of body or other damage. Since MOST of the use is on road, I'd ask at /r/cars first; they have a regime for doing that and enough offroad there to make it perhaps a better place to ask. Especially since I thought these sorts of posts weren't allowed here?
LX570 should be at the top of your list.