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Nuts & Bolts
4-Wheel & Off-Road
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Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515
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Question: I work at a ranch for troubled youth in the middle of Illinois. On campus we have four staff that like to go off-roading. There are three Jeeps and my '88 4Runner. We like to take the boys out and have a little fun. They seem to love it. We are trying to build an inexpensive off-road course, something that we can go out on and have a little bit of fun and something that we can teach them how to drive on. The land that we own is all flat with one mud creek. What are some things that we can build that would make the flat land fun?
Lenny M.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: Not everyone is lucky enough to live close to some backwoods wheeling or world-class rockcrawling trails, but that doesn't mean you can't find or make some challenging off-road obstacles in your neck of the woods, or neck of the no woods. For example, I have to live in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, but I can still go wheeling within minutes of my warehome. Whether it's a loading dock to try and climb, a drainage ditch to flex out in, or a rain culvert just big enough for a Suzuki Samurai to squeeze through, there is plenty of off-roading, it's just not all completely legal.
So if you were wanting to build your own off-road course on a flat piece of property, there are many things you can do. However, you may need the help of some local construction companies or farmers. What you want to do is build an obstacle course with as many different types of challenges as you can fit. Remember that you want to challenge both drivers and vehicles.
Maybe get some logs, concrete barriers, an old train car, a big steel storage container, and some giant old tractor tires. These are all good things to climb on, but be cautious of sharp steel that can cut tires. Then see if you can get someone with a backhoe or bulldozer to come dig a few holes and build some mounds to crawl up, over, and through. Also set up some forms to build a set of concrete stairs to climb on. Then contact any local concrete companies and explain that if they have trucks with half loads they need to dump somewhere, you are looking for donations.
Next plant some wooden 4x4s or fence posts into a tight course that drivers must weave through. Want to add a challenge to it? Put an egg or golf ball on each post and tell the drivers that they can't knock any off. Need a challenge for the passengers as well? Have the driver blindfolded and make the passenger give him driving directions through the course. We recommend the vehicle be in low-range First Gear for that one. Of course you can always flood an area for a mud bog, or bring in a few dumptruck loads of boulders for a rock course, but that's been done before.
If you start looking around for items no one wants anymore, and you can find a way to get it hauled to your property for cheap or free, then you'll quickly have a place to go play. Let us know when it's all done; maybe we'll come wheeling with ya.
Question: I need advice. I'm looking for a killer road-trip vehicle. Ideally, it will have:
* High clearance, 4WD, and locking rear differential (for rough roads, trails, and beaches in Mexico, Alaska, and in between)
* A low rooftop (for easy access of the bikes, kayaks, skis, and such on the roof rack)
* Rear seats that fold down flat, and enough room behind the front seats for impromptu sleeping (6 feet or more)
* Four doors (for when we drag our friends along)
* Good fuel economy (for long highway hauls)
* Great reliability (for peace of mind when traveling in the backcountry)
My wife and I can scrape together up to $30,000 for something new or used. Whatever we buy will also have to serve as her daily driver. I've considered a crew-cab pickup with a bed-topper, and looked at a few SUVs, but I've yet to find the perfect solution. Do you have any suggestions?
Robert Kemp
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: This is an awesome question. I love road trips, and taking your 4x4 to explore our continent is one of the best types of vacations I can think of. I even have a goal to drive an old Jeep from Alaska to Florida with the top down the whole way, but I doubt that is the type of vehicle you are looking for. Your requirements makes me realize there is no single vehicle that covers all these goals easily, and you will either need to make some compromises or build the vehicle you want, so here is my input. As for fuel economy, I would consider a small vehicle with a four- or six-cylinder gas engine or a diesel such as a Dodge, Ford, or Chevy fullsize truck with an extended cab and a cap on the back. However the diesels are currently only available in the 3/4- or 1-tons and these can be a lot of truck for some folks, especially if this is also your wife's daily driver, so also look at the diesel Jeep Liberty. Not the manliest vehicle, but still a cool little road tripper with great economy and with many aftermarket options available. I did see a super-secret diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee at Moab last year, but I doubt it's going to cost less than $30,000 when or if it is ever available to the U.S. public. Other great gas-powered options include the Nissan Xterra or Pathfinder, Hummer H3, used Land Rover Discoverys or Range Rovers, and Toyota 4Runners, quad cab Tacomas, and Land Cruisers. Nearly all of these are available with a rear locking differential or adequate traction system, but only the Rovers and Cruisers have solid front axles. However, an older diesel Chevy Blazer could also be built into an awesome traveling vehicle on your budget and have all the aftermarket lockers, tires, and axles you want along with nearly 20 mpg. In the reliability circle I've found that every single vehicle has proponents and opponents, so no matter what you end up with also buy a good bag of tools, an auto club membership for towing, and a proper service manual in case you need to fix it yourself.
If it was up to me I would find an old series Land Rover station wagon like those you see on African safaris because I like the style and aluminum bodies. Then I would drop a long-lasting Cummins diesel in it from a Dodge truck, with a manual transmission for reliability and, of course, dual lockers in some hefty 1-ton axles. That project would be pushing the limits of the 30-grand budget. If you want a nearly stock 4x4 that the wife will love to drive when you get home, I think I would have to recommend either a small to midsized SUV or truck...though an old Flatfender towing an Airstream trailer up over the great divide would definitely make for a road trip you'd never forget.