Ike,

I love the JKs, *but* as an Expedition Rig the MPG makes them a poor choice. As you know, I'm planning to take a trip into the very remote bush of Canada next summer. 400 miles between fuel stops. I hope to do similar trips in other parts of the world in my future. I spoke with a well known company that builds aftermarket Jeeps and invited them on the Canada trip. Even they thought the JK was a poor choice for that sort of trip. I want to buy a vehicle that can be my Expedition rig for many many years. Something that I can build up to be able to take me on long trips, short trips, trail runs, and anything else I can dream up.

I love the JKs, and have been considering them hard for a while now. If they put a fuel efficient diesel in one I'd definitely consider one (Note the Rubicon Unlimited was on my original list).

Oh, and they are out of my budget right now.

As part of the equation, ask yourself how much time do you want to spend in your carport, as compared to spending that same time on the road? Builing a vehicle, (not just adding a few aftermarket goodies) can consume great amounts of time.

Yes, an older vehicle built piece by piece, by you, is known to you so can be repaired by you, if you have a spare part with you. A new vehicle with electronics might be a mystery to you, until you repair a part that failed.  I have found I get to know a vehicle part by part as they "ask" for help. I agree with an earlier post that you might not want to give up all the "electronics", as they can help give better MPG, and sometimes better reliability too. With a Scangauge, and a good manual, and some common sense, most road "failures" are really parts swaps, not parts rebuilding. Guessing which parts to bring is pretty much the same game with or without electronics.

Brian

I know I'm late to the discussion but...

Most reliable overland Vehicle. Pretty easy, 70 Series Landcruiser. Nothing on the planet has this kind of capability combined with this type of reliability. It's no hype, I've wheeled them in Australia and they really are the cream of teh crop world wide. The only thing that comes close is a G-Wagen.

I know there are alot of Rover guy's here and I really love Rovers, but, well... they're just not that reliable when compared to the Big T. Toyota is the benchmark by wich all others are measured.

Cheers

Dave

Edit: if this is specific to N.America then the answer is either a Tacoma or an older Toyota Mini-truck or a 60-Series Cruiser.  If you want big/camper-esque tehn either a Volvo C303/TGB1111 or a Mog is what you want, but in terms of an every-day vehicle that is easy to find parts for then again you simply cannot beat a Toyota of some sorts.  My current rig has over 240K on teh clock adn the ony thing that rattles is the stuff I carry in it and the driver hahahahaha.  Yep, I'm that guy... I LOVE Toyotas.

This really is a great thread.  The diversity is amazing. Craig, what ever choice you make I,m sure after looking at your truck, it will be an amazing ride that will take you into areas not yet explored by present day explorers. GOod luck in yuor quest for the ultimate rig.

Ryan

If AEV puts a simple diesel in one of these, and I had the money, I'd be all over it.  I love this concept.  It reminds me of the X-panda RTT that I want to put on a 100" Defender.

Who am I kidding.  Unless it is a custom 100" TDI Defender I'm never going to be happy.  I've clearly already made up my mind, it just took this thread to convince me I wasn't completely crazy.  Anwya, some pics of the Jeep, the X-panda, and the truck I really want.

I went to Rover Hybrid's web site and there's a page devoted to the D100 build-up.  I was wrong about the donor vehicle.  I thought they were going to use his D90, but see they actually built the D100 starting with a SIII 88".   http://www.roverhybrids.com/D100_build_up.html

All this talk about bio-diesels is great.  BUT, if you are serious about doing the backcountry in Canada, you'll discover that there aren't a lot of McDonalds out there where you can pick up that used, filtered cooking oil.  I think that Expeditions West Crewcab Tacoma pulling the Adventure trailer (or whatever brand it is) looks like the way I'd go.  Parts for it everywhere in the world.  If you have the service manual/parts number, you can walk into any Toyota dealer anywhere and they can get you the part.

Neither of my Rovres ever left me in the dirt, but I was always a bit uneasy about having something break far from home.  There aren't too many Rover dealers near Fishtail, MT.  Where's Fishtail, you say?  Easy.  If you draw a triangle based on the towns of Absarokee in the north, Roscoe to the southeat, and Nye to the southwest, You'll find Fishtail right in the middle! 

p.s. If I had the money, I'd love to make you an offer on that DII of yours, Craig.  Very nicely setup rig!

Dale,

I'm very serious about doing back country travel in Canada, as well as south/central America, Alaska, and hopefully one day other parts of the world like Mongolia (cheers Dan).  I'm not looking for Straight Vegetable Oil, I'm looking at bio-diesel. By simply replacing a couple of hoses you can run bio-diesel or plain diesel in any diesel engine.

I just did a quick google search and the closest Toyota Dealer to Canol, NWT is 1,154 miles away.  I'm starting to think that a dog sled team or a mule is the only real way to go. 

The one thing I might do different than the 100" Defender in the photo above is to put a Mercedes 617 diesel in, instead of a Rover TDI.  The Mercedes 617 is probably the most reliable small diesel in the world.  Dual timing chains, and could probably burn peanut butter in a pinch.

Craig