Outdoor Adventure USA

Vehicles are a tool that allows Outdoor Adventurers to reach a wide variety of destinations. Uses of the vehicle as an Outdoor Adventure tool have a broad range including, and certainly not limited to:

+ Providing transportation to and from the point of entry into the outdoors

+ Shuttling the family and the gear to a favorite drive-in campsite

+ Serving as the "pack mule" for carrying people and gear into remote, off-pavement campsites

+ Serving as the home-way-from-home for days, weeks, months, and possibly years at a time.

The range of vehicles that serve Outdoor Adventurers is as wide and variable as the Outdoor Adventure options in the USA, and that is plenty broad.

The goal for the net tonight is to have net participants talk about the vehicle that they currently and primarily use to engage in Outdoor Adventures, and not just here in the USA, but anywhere in the world the participants' travels take them.

Tonight's net does not feature a Speaker with a formal presentation. Rather, tonight's net features a facilitator (WD6USA) to coordinate the participation of multiple net participants in talking about the vehicle that facilitates their interactions with the great outdoors.

Tonight's net will be as good as we all make it. In the next post there is some guidance to participants for contributing to tonight's net.

Let's check out some vehicles to get the discussion going!

Here is an outline for discussion of your outdoor vehicle. For each major heading in Blue, there's a few bullet points "+" suggesting content to cover. Shoot for 5 to 10 minutes of discussion, including questions.

My Outdoor Vehicle
+ Make
+ Model
+ Year
+ Include a Photograph if possible

Vehicle Customizations to Accommodate Your Outdoor Use
+ Suspension/Drivetrain
+Tires
+ Safety/Recovery
+ Storage
+ Electronics

Why You Chose Your Outdoor Adventure Vehicle
+ Pros
+ Cons

If I Had To Replace My Outdoor Adventure Vehicle, Here is What I'd Go With Today

Questions?

My Outdoor Vehicle
+ Jeep
+ Wrangler (TJ), Sahara (6cyl)
+ 2002 Vehicle Customizations to Accommodate Your Outdoor Use
+ Suspension/Drivetrain
* 4" Rubicon Express Long Arm Lift, Bilstein Shocks
* Eaton E-Lockers Front and Rear, 4:10 Gears
+ Tires
* BFG Mud Terrain, 33x12.50x15
+ Safety/Recovery
* RockHard 4x4 Cage Enhancements
* SmittyBilt Front Bumper, Warn Winch
+ Storage
*RockHard 4x4 Swing Gate/Tire Carrier/Gas Can/Cooler Rack
* D/P-Side Gas Can Racks
* Steel Shelf in lieu of rear seat
+ Electronics
* Yaesu FTM400XD 2M/70CM radio
* Cobra 40 Channel CB

Why You Chose Your Outdoor Adventure Vehicle
+ Pros
* Great off-road performance when stock, even better with enhancements
* Very good factory and aftermarket parts support
* Outstanding aftermarket customization parts support (suspension, drivetrain, body, storage, wheels, tires, etc.)
* Proven and generally reliable vehicle
+ Cons
* Small inside, highly limits the amount of gear that can be carried
* Rough on-road ride
* Poor gas mileage (~13.5 MPG uphill, downhill, on-pavement, offroad, engine on, engine off)
* Low security and noisey with the soft-top

If I Had To Replace My Outdoor Adventure Vehicle, Here is What I'd Go With Today
Ford Super Duty, Supercrew, Tremor Package, Aluminum flat bed, Four Wheel Camper Questions?

My Outdoor Vehicle
+ Make Ford 4x4
+ Model Expedition
+ Year 2004

Vehicle Customizations to Accommodate Your Outdoor Use
+ Suspension Stock
+Tires Agressive all Terrain 'snow' tires
+ Electronics
100 watts solar mounted on top, pwm charge controller, power meter totalizer, connected to house and charging system.
top aluminum rack
80 amp hour house battery
DC distribution with power poles front top middle and back
Inverter AC piped throughout for charging HT, Video games for kids etc. 800 watts.
Radios: connected to 14.0 volt buck boost
Icom 7100 with 80-6, 2m 440, and GPS feed in.
LDG 200 auto tuner 200 watts
Kenwood d710 with 2 way GPS
TYT 1.25 meter
AREDN 2.4, 5.8 and 3.4 ghz mesh network, external 20dbi antenna folds horizontal when moving
thanks to the nifty bracket that Kevin KJ6DGL made for me.
Raspberry Pi server for camera system, also caching time server
Front and back cameras via raspberry pi Zoneminder software
OBD2 scantool.net bluetooth connectivity to Torque softwae on tablet, used for display of vehicle params,
fuel air temps and pressures, timing, misfires, engine load etc. Tablet also allows QRZ access for logging and
general internet usage (WAZE etc) while stopped or underway.
Part 15 wifi network with ubiquity power beam to reach out to hot spots, range 10+ miles
Laptop computer for Winlink and digital modes, remote desktop capable, allowing radio operation remotely via network.
(auto tuner facilitates band changes without visiting the vehicle to tune the new band.)
At least 2 HT drop in chargers plugged into the AC network.
Why You Chose Your Outdoor Adventure Vehicle
This is why. So Dave doesn't have to pull me out of the sand again. + Pros
BIG, massive space, seating for 8, will accomodate a full size air mattress
idles on 0.4 gallons per hour, 2 days of capacity if needed.
reasonable fuel economy 17 on the highway.

+ Cons Wont fit in garage, 5 antennas, wont go thru car wash.

If I Had To Replace My Outdoor Adventure Vehicle, Here is What I'd Go With Today
4x4 VAN

Questions?

My Outdoor Vehicle


+ Make: Toyota
+ Model: FJ Cruiser
+ Year: 2007
Vehicle Customizations to Accommodate Your Outdoor Use

+ Suspension/Drivetrain:

• Toyota's proven 4.0-liter 1GR-FE DOHC V6

• Icon Vehicle Dynamics Stage 2

• Electronic rear locker and Toyota's Active Traction Control (A-Trac)

+ Tires:

• Cooper ST Pro MT 285/70/R17 providing 33 in GC

+ Safty/Recovery:

• Demello Single Hoop Bumper with Warn winch

• Garmin (Delorme) inReach SE emergency satellite communicator

• Hi-Lift Jack

+ Storage:

• Expedition One Trail Series Rear Bumper with Smooth Motion Tire Carrier System and Geri Flat Pack Mount for 2 Rotopax 4 gal gas containers

• DIY roof gas can holder for 4 5 gal Sceptor gas cans

+ Electronics:

• Dirty Parts duel battery system

• Yaesu FT 8800 Duel Band Ham Radio

• Uniden Pro 520XL CB

• ARB Fridge

+ Navagation:

• Gaia GPS running on iPad connected to a bluetooth Dual GPS receiver

• Garmin Oregon 650 backup GPS

Why Did You Chose Your Outdoor Adventure Vehicle

• In 07 when the FJ was introduced Toyota Corporate took a stock trails version through the Rubicon Trail without incurring and damage. This was a key selling point for me

+ Pros:

• Toyota Reliability

• IFS has a better ride and handling than solid axle

• Outstanding off-road capabilities stock and even more capable with after market parts

• Proven platform: Engine, transmission, and drivetrain are legacy components. Engine used in 4Runner for years. Xmission is from V8 4Runner

• Tons of aftermarket upgrades and parts

• Resale value

+ Cons

• Suicide doors are hard to open in tight parking lot

• Back seat is only suitable for children. Limited leg room

• Stock gas milage is about 20 mpg combined. 14-16 mpg with aftermarket parts

• Milage decreases above 70 mph due to square frontend shape

If I Had To Replace My Outdoor Adventure Vehicle, Here is What I'd Go With Today

• If i had to choose today probably a 4Runner but the new Toyota 2022 Sequoia might be an option, but based on prelim pictures it might be in competition with Excursion or Suburban in size.

Questions?

My Outdoor Vehicle
+ Toyota
+ Sequoia
+ 2006 (1st Gen)

For most of its life, I attached a roof top container when needed for longer trips.

Current configuration with roof rack, primarily to get gasoline and propane outside of the cabin. If there’s a change I’d like to make it’s some kind of variable suspension to raise the rear a bit when fully loaded.

Vehicle Customizations to Accommodate Your Outdoor Use
+ There have been no major vehicle modifications. Replaced most lights with brighter LEDs.
+ BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 LT 265/70R17 (larger than standard; maximum size without requiring vehicle modification)
+ Recovery strap is all I carry.
+ Storage - The rear area has been converted to hold Milwaukee Packouts for storage.
+ Electronics - DIY evolved over the years to its present state with mainly West Mountain Radio components.

Why You Chose Your Outdoor Adventure Vehicle
I previously had a two-wheel drive Toyota 4Runner which got stuck in sand too much, so wanted 4WD after we retired the 4Runner. The 4Runner never failed to get me home, though I mainly stayed on power line and forest service roads.

We wanted to get a vehicle that was comfortable for extended family-of-four trips which usually included a mainly highway miles, with limited off-road. I left the selection up to my wife as it was intended to be her daily vehicle, though required that whatever it was had to have 4WD. She drove it for a week, caved in the rear bumper on a low, unseen parking bollard, then told me that it was too big for her.

+ Pros

• Large, comfortable interior
• 4.7L V8 power

+ Cons

• Large vehicle, large turning radius
• Weak rear door latch mechanism; mine has broken twice while taking trips; very difficult to access contents without opening the rear door!
• Poor gas mileage (4.7L V8)
• Relatively small fuel tank (22 gallons)
• Limited aftermarket vehicle modifications

If I Had To Replace My Outdoor Adventure Vehicle, Here is What I'd Go With Today

Well, maybe not “today”. I haven’t yet figured out how to attach the roof-top tent.

https://jetsonaero.com/ Questions?

MY OUTDOOR ADVENTURE VEHICLE

Hummer H2


WHY THIS VEHICLE

full size 3/4 ton chassis w/ full welded boxed frame
huge roof area for rack and 100 watt solar panel
heavy duty factory roof rack rails
14 inch rear diff
4:10 gears
generous room inside for passengers and storage
reasonably large V8 (365 CI)
stock 35 inch tires upgradable to 37s w/o modification
2300 lb. payload
reasonable wheelbase (given it's size (122 inch)
fuel tank - 32 gallons
max fording depth - 40 inches
approach angle 40 degrees
departure angle 40 degrees
capable of towing 5000 lb, trailer
capable off-road


CUSTOMIZATIONS


Way, Way too many to mention, but....

super heavy duty under carriage protection
permanent mounted Extreme Air Compressor
dual battery set up with controller
permanent mount solar panel
large one piece welded roof rack
Air Raid Intake system
permanent mount Fridge Freeze refrigerator
37 inch BFG ATs
solid computer mount
on board battery charger
In cab solar controller
one piece welded gas can racks
antenna mounts for Ham radios (VHF, UHF, HF)
wind turbine mount
heavy duty rear springs
high output alternator (220A)
1750 watt inverter


REPLACE????

Sadly, all vehicles reach a point where finding a replacement becomes necessary. The bottom line for the Hummer is:

Total miles traveled = 261.000+ and still running strong. While I believe in the wisdom, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", it is becoming increasingly evident that fixing it will soon not be an option. AM General stopped making replacement parts for these Hummers over a decade ago, and even the most insignificant break may not be fixable without factory parts. I'm not there yet, but I see it coming. At the moment there are no body panels, interior panels, seat belts, grilles, and a whole lot of other stuff that AMG no longer makes. When the critical parts are no longer available, when the bone yards have no such parts, or when I cannot make (or have made) what I need, then it will probably be time to turn the H2 into 3 or 4 Toyotas.

Here is the current front runner in the replacement field: Ram Power Wagon.

My Outdoor Vehicle
+ Toyota
+ 80 Series
+ 1996
+ Include a Photograph if possible

Vehicle Customizations to Accommodate Your Outdoor Use
+ 6 inch lift from Slee; Coil springs all four corner;
+35" BFG Mud Terrains
+ 12.5 electric winch;
Winch bumper
Swing arm rear bumper for tire
Roof rack
Rock sliders
Second Batteries
+ Storage
Plywood on two 2x12's

+ Electronics
Power Welder
York compressor
Solar panel

Why You Chose Your Outdoor Adventure Vehicle
+ Pros
Something I could afford
body on frame
Solid front axel
coil suspension
Four doors
Availability of parts
wheel base of 104 inches (didn't get it)


+ Cons
112 inch wheel base
Under powered engine

If I Had To Replace My Outdoor Adventure Vehicle, Here is What I'd Go With Today
Toyota 300 Series

Questions?

Please check in Randy KF6KOC and Becky KF6RGR
thank you

Please check me in tonight.