Rather than expedition, how about a weekender?

[geocrasher]

I have no delusions of grandeur when I say I want to build a rig for "expeditions". I just want to get around the Nevada desert reliably for 2-5 days at a time without incident. I want to build up an 80 series for this. I don't know if I'll want lift or not, lockers or not, or what. So far I'm thinking 2.5" OME HD with an ARB in the back, 315's and some bumpers and perhaps a winch and CO2.

Can anyone recommend a place to start for research? I'm willing to spend the $$ to make it happen but I don't want to spend it twice ya know

Thanks for any suggestions and guidance!

 

[Bogo]

Try the 80 Series section here.

 

[gahi]

I think your plan sounds like a pretty standard setup that alot of people use. 285's might be more common then 315's so its doesn't effect gearing as much. Lockers if you can find one, they're awesome and can save your butt too.

common setup:
2.5" lift
bumpers and sliders (you may not need any armor?)
tires 285's and up

 

[skidplate]

"Expedition" is subjective. I've been on 2 week long hunting trips that were meerly "outings" and gone shopping with my wife that were truly "expeditions" No, but seriously, you are on the right track. What you have planned will be good to go. Go ahead and add a Hi-lift jack to your list.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Here is a good local resource;
NV- Battle Born Cruisers of Northern Nevada

a couple of us have rigs built for just the kind of stuff you describe.


In addition to the 80 section here you might want to check out this forum

Toyota: Land Cruiser

The 80 series is a pretty capable rig right out of the box, there are a ton of trips you can do with a stock rig in this area. Maybe you should find a truck then do a few trips and see what kind of trails you like then build your truck for those conditions. I drove my 100 series basically stock for a year before I did anything with it. We covered a few hundred miles of back country roads in that year.

 

[geocrasher]

Hey Dan, I think we used to wheel together back when I had my FJ55, then Matt Weikel bought it and then I bought it back... maybe a different Dan? I was looking for the BBCNN page and didn't see it. I'm glad I did! Thanks for the pointer to it.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Different Dan, at one time we had four active members named Dan.

The site is still there but the forums link back to the club section here on Mud.

Battle Born Cruisers

 

[geocrasher]

Right on thanks. Bookmarked

 

[cody c]

There is no more camping anymore, its called expeditioning now.

Better check the "building an expo rig" thread!

https://forum.ih8mud.com/expedition...ou-need-know-build-your-expedition-truck.html

 

[geocrasher]

Cody c, I'm sure glad you posted that. I am going to save up for retirement and spend it on a [STRIKE]camping[/STRIKE] expedition 80. I'm pretty serious, so I'm going to go for a Snorkel too.

At this point I'm thinking "F IT" and buying an old suburban or blazer to beat around in the desert/woods. Those things go stock pretty much anywhere I want, and they can be built cheap. I've owned two Suburbans (an 86 and 87) and they were good trucks. On to the next one...

 

[rusty_tlc]

Cody c, I'm sure glad you posted that. I am going to save up for retirement and spend it on a [STRIKE]camping[/STRIKE] expedition 80. I'm pretty serious, so I'm going to go for a Snorkel too.

At this point I'm thinking "F IT" and buying an old suburban or blazer to beat around in the desert/woods. Those things go stock pretty much anywhere I want, and they can be built cheap. I've owned two Suburbans (an 86 and 87) and they were good trucks. On to the next one...

and I covered a lot of the state in a 93 GMC PU with a Caravan shell on the back. You could do a lot worse than a domestic truck. With the current gas prices we are even considering a smaller Cross over SUV.