***New Member Introductions***

[OTG Ben]

@76FJ40 As someone who's owned a number of land cruisers, how do it compare to some of the other ones you've owned?

Somedays I really wished I lived in Canada, then I could import an 08/09 LC79 ute with V8 turbo diesel-- my dream rig!

 

[76FJ40]

All of the Land Cruisers I've owned have had their place. The 40 was built as a rock crawler with 37s, locked f/r, and a 159:1 crawl ratio. The 45 LPB was a resto mod for my wife who enjoyed driving it around town. Every time she came back to the 45 after shopping. she was greeted by someone wanting to know about the truck. The 80 was my wife's DD. I didn't have much respect for the 80's off road capability at the time, but I have since come to see 80s as very capable, but large, offroad vehicles.
The BJ74 is set up for overlanding with 33s, 3:1 xfr gears, locked f/r, PTO winch, drawers, and a sleeping platform. The BJ doesn't have the rock crawling capability of my 40, but it goes wherever I want to go and gives me a place to sleep once I get there.

 

[Kruler]

Hello all, my name is Sergio and my handle is Kruler. My wife and I are both retired and have been camping/hiking for several years, we live in SoCal Indio, CA. We were bit by the overlanding bug, and I recently purchased a 21' Gladiator. I'm running a 2.5 AEV overlanding lift, Bilstein 8100 resi's, 35" Micky T's. We've only done a couple of local trails but look forward to learning from the pros. A bed-rack is coming in the near future along with a RT tent. Until then, were going to make use of all the other camping gear we have. Happy I found you all and look forward to getting at it.

 

[Bascal]

Hey everybody, my name is Alex, aka: Bascal. I was a backpacker before the pandemic, and was getting into off-roading/overlanding as a car enthusiast, but then in August, I moved from Cincinnati, OH to Phoenix, AZ - which has kicked the overlanding bug into overdrive...

I have an old '98 4Runner on a 2.5" lift and 33" MTs w/ full 4x Innovations armor, which I've nicknamed "Tiny". I also have a 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe (nicknamed "Beep") that's basically stock except a roof rack/roof top tent and cooking/camping gear. I use the 4xe as a daily and long distance adventure vehicle, and the old 4Runner for weekend wheeling fun.

Lately I've been exploring the areas around Phoenix, like the Mogollon Rim Road, Painted Rock/Agua Caliente Road, Castle Hot Springs Road, and some of Sedona, but I'm looking forward to utilizing a few routes here ASAP, like the Sonoran/Gila Traverse, Joshua Tree, Sedona Backcountry, and anything around the Grand Canyon area.

I usually travel alone, but sometimes my girlfriend of 8 years tags along when work allows. I added a couple pics of my Jeep and 4Runner out in the desert for fun.

 

[OTG Ben]

Hey everybody, my name is Alex, aka: Bascal. I was a backpacker before the pandemic, and was getting into off-roading/overlanding as a car enthusiast, but then in August, I moved from Cincinnati, OH to Phoenix, AZ - which has kicked the overlanding bug into overdrive...

I have an old '98 4Runner on a 2.5" lift and 33" MTs w/ full 4x Innovations armor, which I've nicknamed "Tiny". I also have a 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe (nicknamed "Beep") that's basically stock except a roof rack/roof top tent and cooking/camping gear. I use the 4xe as a daily and long distance adventure vehicle, and the old 4Runner for weekend wheeling fun.

Lately I've been exploring the areas around Phoenix, like the Mogollon Rim Road, Painted Rock/Agua Caliente Road, Castle Hot Springs Road, and some of Sedona, but I'm looking forward to utilizing a few routes here ASAP, like the Sonoran/Gila Traverse, Joshua Tree, Sedona Backcountry, and anything around the Grand Canyon area.

I usually travel alone, but sometimes my girlfriend of 8 years tags along when work allows. I added a couple pics of my Jeep and 4Runner out in the desert for fun.

Welcome @Bascal Nothing against folks back east, but it's hard to beat the wide open spaces and public access we have out west! Even with 40 million people in California, with a bit of driving, it's still possible to find mountains you have all to yourself if you know where to look (but it's becoming harder and harder!).

If you're not familiar with him, check out Adventure Taco. He does a lot of "overlanding", but his rig is mostly a tool for exploring many places on foot, he he often ventures out into the desert. I think you'll find some inspiration from his writings and photos

Keep an eye on the routes page, as we'll have a new long distance route for AZ published sometime in the next month or so.

 

[aaronq]

Hello!
Obviously new here, moved back to the SoCal area (San Diego) about 2 years ago after 29 years away (born here in 1972, left in 1993, returned in 2022).
Anyways...during our time in Colorado we did a ton of camping and trail runs with a bunch of wonderful people. Now that we are back in CA and things are just about back to a steady state, we are looking to get out and do more camping and exploring in the area. So far we have only done a little bit a one trail in Anza Borrego and a trail run with a local 3rd gen 4Runner group here in San Diego.
We are a family of 5 but our 2 older kids are off and running. Son is in Austin TX, oldest daughter is up in the Temecula area, youngest daughter is in 4th grade.

Here's my wife's '22 4Runner and my oldest daughters '08 Tacoma


My '97 out on a local trail run last summer here in Chula Vista CA


Our older kids on a Moab trip back in 2012 in our '03 4Runner


My wife and the '03 4Runner doing some fall foliage trail runs in CO

 

[OTG Ben]

@aaronq Welcome to the OTG family. We'll see how things pan out, but I may find myzelf down in Anza Borrego (it's that or Mojave NP) in the next few months. By the way, I think you've got 1 too many 4Runners in your garage. I'd be happy to take one off your hands for you

 

[Reasley]

Robert Easley here. No direct relation to Ben but probably cousins on some level. I am new to OTG, but not new to Overlanding. My wife, Terry, and I started over well over 20 years ago with a bay window VW bus chasing mining camps in the Nevada desert. Earlier we called it car camping. We down sized from that to a Suzuki Samurai and built a lite weight offroad trailer pulling it over the Sierras and out to the San Rafael Swell in Utah. While we enjoyed the Sammy we decided it's 4 cylinder engine was too underpowered for long distance overlanding and bought a Jeep Rubicon (v6). The trailer got reworked to track with the Jeep. But then last year we bought a Hiker Extreme Offroad Trailer and discovered that the Jeep was too lite and underpowered so we now own a Toyota Sequoia (V8) to pull the trailer.

As for overlanding experience. We volunteered with the Nevada Site Stewardship program to help preserve and monitor both archaeological and historic sites. That got us hooked on seeking and following the various trails used during the western migration in the 19th century. I've always been fascinated with maps and about 10 years ago I noticed the abandoned Tonopah Tidewater railroad on a Caltopo map and put together a 200 mile trip from Ludlow, Ca to Rhyolite Nv following the route. I told a few friends and before I knew it I had 16 rigs going. Never again! with that many, it was like herding cats. A few years ago with keeping with my historic bent we've now led 4 groups down the California Trail from southern Idaho (this one personal as I had 3 great uncle that came down this trail in 1850), one group on the Nobles Trail across the Blackrock Desert, and twice on the Henness Pass Trail. This last spring we led a group of 8 rigs on what we could find of the Butterfield Trail across Arizona and New Mexico. Most of that trial is on private property so most of the trip was reconfigured on the fly around the Civil War in the West. Last summer we did an exploratory trip along the Hastings Cutoff (the one that got the Donner party in trouble) as well as a portion of the Wyoming BDR. This Spring we are leading a Trails West. org group on a couple of short wagon train trails thru the Sierra and a group of Hiker Trailer owners on a Utah Tour that starts at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff.

 

[RayOwen]

Hi There. My name is Ray and I live in Southern California. I have been backpacking for the past thirty years. Mostly in the Sierra, Cascades, and the Southern California Deserts. I have recently began Overlanding and enjoy it very much but am new to it. I own a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with all the required gear to be comfortable and save in remote regions. I have found the transition from backpacking to Overlanding to be fairly straight-forward ... planning, respect for the environment and conditions, proper gear and communications, safety, and a "take pictures, leave footprints" approach to my adventures. I am looking forwarding to expanding my network of Overland enthusiasts in the area and getting more time in the wilderness!

 

[Vulpes]

Hello OTG community! Just joined as my wife got me a subscription for Xmas.

• Location: I (and my wife) are located in Los Angeles, California. The current fires all around us, (It's hard not to think about it), are a reminder to get out there, because you never know what will happen.
• Vehicle: 2019 RAM Rebel, 5.7 Hemi, Carli 2.5" lift on 35's, extra skid plates
• Favorites: Mojave Road, Death Valley, Big Bear, Anza Borrego
• Planned Trip: The OTG Nevada Blackrock Desert Route sure does look like fun. Planning to go in 2025.
• Ramblings: I had never been camping until 2017, and that trip was a lark to go see the full eclipse in Wyoming. I found camping to be quite enjoyable. Then I bought my first 4x4 in 2020, a stock RAM Rebel, and thought it would be a shame not to take it out and see what it could do, and it just grew from there. We also adventured/camped from Los Angeles out to Arkansas in 2024 to see the full eclipse. I hope to have a lot more off road adventures this year.

 

[OTG Ben]

Welcome @Reasley @Vulpes @RayOwen

I look forward to hearing about your past and future trips! We've been trying to get more folks to post them in the Trip Reports forum

 

[kokomo22]

Hello everyone, my name is Joe.
I've been a long-time lurker and now a subscriber.

I’m currently south of Denver in Highlands Ranch. I’m retired now and have been a camper and overlander for many years.

My first true "Overlanding" trip was 16 years ago. We traveled from Grand Junction, up the Colorado border into Wyoming, and down the Utah side then over to Green River. I've been overlanding on and off ever since.

I did a lot of camping in Colorado early on before heading to the High Desert. I visited Moab in 1996 and really enjoyed the experience. I still make a trip back every year. I’m particularly fond of the southeast Utah area and have done numerous trips there.

I started with car camping, then got a 4x4 to venture off the beaten path. My first 4x4 vehicle was a 1986 Toyota 4Runner. Seven vehicles later, I now have a 2012 Nissan Xterra with a Ruger trailer.

I bought the Ruger trailer in 2019 for a better sleeping experience. During the pandemic, I was able to get out and enjoy myself more. For the past four years, I’ve been doing trips with my local overland group in Utah and Wyoming (Rocky Mountain Overland).

I’m looking forward to joining upcoming adventures with OTG and excited about the great trips ahead.

 

[Grognard]

Hello! I'm Jeff and I live in Sammamish, WA. I am soon to take delivery of a new 2025 Rivian R1T Tri-Max truck. I've had a RAM 1500 eco-diesel for the last 10 years, and decided it was time to jump into the electric arena (not to mention the eco-diesel was a dumpster fire of a vehicle). I love exploring the mountains and deserts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. My only planned trip at the moment is to drive the Snoqualmie North Fork road on the day I get my new truck. At some point I want to do the WABDR. I'm also a Ham radio operator (KE7ZMH).

 

[OTG Ben]

@Grognard congrats on the new Rivian. I've got my eye on the R2S as a town car, but I'm waiting to see the production specs and final MSRP first! Please do share your trip reports, as a lot more folks have been buying EVs and exploring as of late. I'm always curious how far some folks can push these vehicles with the current specs. I'm sure some day in the not so distant future we'll have EV 4x4s with EPA rated ranges of 800+ miles, which should be good for 300+ miles of off road travel through the mountains

 

[joeray]

(not to mention the eco-diesel was a dumpster fire of a vehicle)

I'm curious what makes you want to say this. I've had one since it was new in 2016 and it's been a great truck for me. That little 3.0L pulls my loaded 20' travel trailer at 16 mpg and gives me 25 when it's empty. My only gripe has been the lack of payload capacity. But heavier progressive rear springs and a load leveling hitch solved most of those problems. It also tows my Bronco over the mountains on a transport trailer pushing 7K combined without breaking a sweat. 480 ft lbs and an 8-speed planetary geared transmission. What's not to like?

 

[Grognard]

I agree it tows effortlessly, and it also handles more like a car than a truck. However, I had my truck for about six months when the oil cooler developed a leak (this issue plagued the 2014 models). This resulted in the entire powertrain having to be replaced at a cost of $34K (thankfully under warranty). They had my truck in the shop for two months, no loaner provided. After that, there have been countless recalls and issues.

 

[OTG Ben]

@joeray @Grognard Before I ended up with my Ram 3500 cummins diesel, I spent a decent amount of time looking at the ecodiesel 1500. Based on my research, it seemed like the gen 1 ecodiesels had all sorts of issues, which were supposed to be addressed with the latest version of the ecodiesel. However, the fiat made diesel that powers the Ram 1500 ecodiesel, just seems like it's not built very well, and owners continue to report all kinds of issues. Obviously, everyone's situation is different and it's not like every ecodiesel owner out there is going to have issues. But it was enough to steer me away, which was probably the smart thing given the amount of payload I have now-- enough to throw a slide in or flat bad camper, something that I wouldn't do with a 1/2 ton truck.

 

[joeray]

given the amount of payload I have now-- enough to throw a slide in or flat bad camper, something that I wouldn't do with a 1/2 ton truck.

You and I both know that you're having a love-hate relationship with Big Blue! I don't think all that payload capacity is a bed of roses. Just the other day you said your dream vehicle was another Land Rover.

 

[OTG Ben]

No Land Rover in my future. The Ram is great for certain applications, one of which is NOT tight and technical trails. I’d love a Land Cruiser, Prado/GX, or 4Runner that I can beat out on the trails without having to worry something is going to break! No plans to get ride of the Ram

 

[OutdoorsNoverlanD]

Hi, Im Chris and I live in Kissimmee FL. I love overlanding and wheeling my rig. 5th Gen 4Runner with pretty basic/budget minded setup but always improving. Looking forward to seeing what this places has to offer and maybe even what I can offer and bring to the table.