Up until a few months ago, our adventure rig was a well used, well built, well traveled Xterra. she took us pretty much everywhere we wanted to go, in one manner or another. I'm a DIY kinda guy so I spent countless hours here, and on the theNewX forum gleaning useful information on repairs, and modifications, tips and tricks, and stuff for "overland" or adventure/expedition type travel. Whenever I had an issue, a repair or mod required, or was looking for a new part or concept to bolt on to help solve a problem or make the adventure better there was always 100 folks offering 1000 pieces of well worn true and tried advice.
As our long term focus and life goals have changed, I bid farewell to the trusty old Xterra and said hello to a 2014 Tundra. This will be my new build. The plan is to make it an expedition and adventure worthy self-sustaining rig. I have already replaced all the suspension components added larger (and better) tires and wheels, and have bumpers, sliders, and a winch on their way. Most exciting of all, we ordered a Four Wheel Camper Hawk which should arrive in late winter of early spring.
And here is the thing of interest I've been learning over the past few months. Trucks are different. Full size trucks are more different...and full size truck owners are even more differenter as a whole. The truck seems more a symbol of the USofA, like apple pie and football, than a specific tool used for a specific, or non-specific task.
It has been an interesting journey so far, trying to source information on build queries that I have, as it pertains to utilizing a 4x4 pickup truck as a...well.....4x4 pick up truck. I'm certainly not making a judgement here at all, I just find it interesting that "the truck" has a special place in the USA that isn't necessarily associated with anything to do with off-road travel at all. Further, the modified, lifted, suspended, winched and bumpered up and lit up truck also has less to do with being associated with adventure travel, overlanding, off-roading, exploring, and gravel travel than it does with showing ones individuality in a concrete ocean of other trucks.
It's been an interesting beginning to this new adventure so far.
As our long term focus and life goals have changed, I bid farewell to the trusty old Xterra and said hello to a 2014 Tundra. This will be my new build. The plan is to make it an expedition and adventure worthy self-sustaining rig. I have already replaced all the suspension components added larger (and better) tires and wheels, and have bumpers, sliders, and a winch on their way. Most exciting of all, we ordered a Four Wheel Camper Hawk which should arrive in late winter of early spring.
And here is the thing of interest I've been learning over the past few months. Trucks are different. Full size trucks are more different...and full size truck owners are even more differenter as a whole. The truck seems more a symbol of the USofA, like apple pie and football, than a specific tool used for a specific, or non-specific task.
It has been an interesting journey so far, trying to source information on build queries that I have, as it pertains to utilizing a 4x4 pickup truck as a...well.....4x4 pick up truck. I'm certainly not making a judgement here at all, I just find it interesting that "the truck" has a special place in the USA that isn't necessarily associated with anything to do with off-road travel at all. Further, the modified, lifted, suspended, winched and bumpered up and lit up truck also has less to do with being associated with adventure travel, overlanding, off-roading, exploring, and gravel travel than it does with showing ones individuality in a concrete ocean of other trucks.
It's been an interesting beginning to this new adventure so far.
