SUV Question

[danalwyn]

So, I'm looking for a reliable, tough, and fairly no-frills (and hopefully low-cost) SUV or light truck with significant off-road capability. This is not for me to buy (more for personal knowledge), but I'm trying to find a cheaper alternative to a Humvee. Do any of you have any sort of vehicle to recommend?

Comments

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

What size range do you need? Does it have to have a capper? What kind of off road conditions are we talking about? (Because different vehicles do better on different terrains.) While Land Rover and Jeep are often considered luxury items these days for example, the older models had a tough reputation for a reason. Jeeps are pigs on fuel though, and Land Rover has it's own issues. When I was driving the 4Runner for work I could take it places that I wouldn't take my current Chev truck. Depends.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

I was thinking two to four people plus a thousand pounds of cargo, plus the option of towing a fairly heavy trailer. Also I was hoping to find something with a fairly heavy frame (low fuel efficiency there). For terrain it varies, but mostly dry, arid and rocky; frequently driving across the Kalahari desert (where I would prefer not to have a mechanical breakdown) and also through the mountainous terrain surrounding some areas of the Orange river, so encounters with narrow ravines, steep slopes, and rock-strewn terrain. Also a rainy season that will probably turn everything into mud.

Just as a note, I'm not planning on actually doing this myself.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

Jeep Liberty, second generation Izuzu Trooper, Range Rover. There's a ton of others (the VW Tuareg or the Toyota Tacoma for example), but there's also another consieration: getting parts to fix the vehicle when it breaks. In that part of the world easiest access is (so far as I know, I may be wrong and/or out of date) vintage Jeep or Land Rover.

Just as a note, I'm not planning on actually doing this myself.

It wold be interesting, though. I intend to make a proper trip to west Africa at some point (though it sadly doesn't seem practical right now). My primary goal would be wildlife viewing of course; Namibia, Botswana, that sort of thing. One day in the not too distant future, provided that part of the world doesn't go utterly mad.

I was poking around a little trying to verify that I wasn't giving you crap information (large grain of salt, por favor, I'm extrapolating from my limited experience) and I found this (http://www.sahara-overland.com/). *drools* Damn. If I suddenly vanish from the internet you know where I've gone.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good mix of vehicles. I wasn't actually expecting people to spend time on this, I was just sort of looking for limited experience. I also have the Toyota Hilux on the list, although I don't know how easy replacements would be. They manage it in northern Africa, but I don't know about southern Africa.

It might be an interesting trip, but I'm more of a green-terrain sort of person, so I'll leave it to you, although going out in the savanna would be interesting. I'm also not terribly fond of the heat, which would sort of doom me. Though Botswana seems relatively stable, and hopefully the tourist business will keep it that way. I never know about Caprivi though.

I was looking up prices too, but that's a pain. Most of the features that the Range Rover, Liberty, etc. come with are probably not what you want out in the bush. Unfortunately the only sites I can find with prices are clearly geared toward Americans.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

I knew there was another one bouncing around in my memory, but I couldn't pinipoint it "Land...Land...Not LandRover...". So I asked in the coffee room over lunch, since I work with offroad/adventure travel savvy people. Much entertaining discussion ensued (just like if you were to ask about the best rifle for elk hunting -- 5 people, 12 opinions. :D).

The concensus? Land Rover and Jeep, 100%. Also the one I couldn't bring to mind because I was stuck on "Land Rover" -- the Toyota Land *Cruiser*. I feel dumb now. Everyone agreed that they would go with those, because they can do the job, and because when they break you can get parts locally. Of course the word from this cabal is not official as we're sadly not in Africa.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

But your particular cabal does have a great deal of experience, which is what I was looking for. I have to confess to getting Land Rover and Land Cruiser messed up all the time. But Land Rover and Jeep, eh? Sounds like a good mix. Thanks.

I just wish the sites that sold them around here didn't only sell the luxury models.

[aries-ascendant.livejournal.com]

Unimogs aren't cheap, but they meet all your other requirements. http://www.unimogsales.com/

My friend'd dad owns several; he uses them to go off-roading out west. He's since moved to Alaska (very rural Alaska)but I'm not sure if he can use them there or not.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

Those look like impressive vehicles, especially for off-roading. Thanks.