Hello from a Newbie

[HingLaw]

Just want to say hi to everyone here and to show that I'm no robot, spammer, con artist, or you name it ...

A bit more about myself. I'm over the North Jersey area and getting warm to overlanding which in turn I look as a means to allow me to explore, at least, the North American continent.

The 'newbie' thing is not a matter of modesty as I'm by all senses a newbie who doesn't even have a car. The current idea is to get a Toyota 4Runner Off Road on which I could start the build. Thus there'll a lot of questions and more than often hand holding.

Thanks in advance for all your help. Stay well and safe through this pandemic.

Cheers,

 

[Road]

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Well, hey, @HingLaw, good luck to ya!

It's a great path to go down, and lots of good people here and on other adventure forums to advise and recommend a variety of options to help you on your way to exploring North America; my favorite continent.

There is a lot to explore on these forums, too, and a ton of folks willing to voice opinions. The trick is determining which advice applies to you.

Reach out when you need help; let folks know what your plans are--from rig to future adventures--and let us all know what you've been up to!

.

 

[Motomikeca]

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Well, hey, @HingLaw, good luck to ya!

It's a great path to go down, and lots of good people here and on other adventure forums to advise and recommend a variety of options to help you on your way to exploring North America; my favorite continent.

There is a lot to explore on these forums, too, and a ton of folks willing to voice opinions. The trick is determining which advice applies to you.

Reach out when you need help; let folks know what your plans are--from rig to future adventures--and let us all know what you've been up to!

.

Very well said!!!

 

[Kent R]

Just want to say hi to everyone here and to show that I'm no robot, spammer, con artist, or you name it ...

A bit more about myself. I'm over the North Jersey area and getting warm to overlanding which in turn I look as a means to allow me to explore, at least, the North American continent.

The 'newbie' thing is not a matter of modesty as I'm by all senses a newbie who doesn't even have a car. The current idea is to get a Toyota 4Runner Off Road on which I could start the build. Thus there'll a lot of questions and more than often hand holding.

Thanks in advance for all your help. Stay well and safe through this pandemic.

Cheers,

Here is a good place to start asking questions once you get a rig;
Overland Vehicle Build Threads

 

[HingLaw]

Thanks for all the encouraging words.

I may say I'm starting from scratch, not even having a car. Exploring the North American continent should be a bit overblown but, hey, that's always the possibility. We're just so lucky to have this wide open space with all world class locales to reach.

Then, the kind of overlanding I have in mind should more be like off-the-asphalt rather than boulder-climbing or so. My thought is to reach the vast land currently off grid maybe up to a few days before we come back to civilization. The ability to traverse over trails covered with gravel, mud, and snow should suffice.

The first hurdle is I can't do the build myself as I don't have the know-how to do so nor the space such as a garage to work in. That means I need to locate a garage, outfitter, or whatever it may call to work on the intended Toyota 4Runner Off Road. Would there be any around the Tri-State area I could look up?

 

[Road]

Thanks for all the encouraging words.

I may say I'm starting from scratch, not even having a car. Exploring the North American continent should be a bit overblown but, hey, that's always the possibility. We're just so lucky to have this wide open space with all world class locales to reach.

Then, the kind of overlanding I have in mind should more be like off-the-asphalt rather than boulder-climbing or so. My thought is to reach the vast land currently off grid maybe up to a few days before we come back to civilization. The ability to traverse over trails covered with gravel, mud, and snow should suffice.

The first hurdle is I can't do the build myself as I don't have the know-how to do so nor the space such as a garage to work in. That means I need to locate a garage, outfitter, or whatever it may call to work on the intended Toyota 4Runner Off Road. Would there be any around the Tri-State area I could look up?

.
Oh, even exploring the tri-state area around you or venturing a bit further into other surrounding states is exploring North America!

The only outfitter I have personal experience with near you is OK4WD, whom I've met at Overland Expo East a few years back. They have a showroom, do upfits and outfitting on vehicles, and all around seem to be a straight-up operation.

There is also The 4x4 Place, though I have no experience with them.

I'm sure there are others, and that you'll start finding who they are, what they do, and how they fit into your scheme of things as time goes on and you get a vehicle and start working on it.

Good luck to you!

 

[HingLaw]

Thanks so much for the information.

 

[JDGreens]

If you are getting a TRD 4 Runner, the only up-grade I would do is some great tires and rock sliders to replace flimsy running boards. Get your tent, cookware and go out and enjoy! Even if it's not a TRD The rig will impress you and take you to places you would never see in a regular vehicle. You will find the vehicle is much more capable then you are currently and no need to spend much more on it for at least a season. Then with time you will learn from other yota friends the good, the bad and the regrets of money spent on mods and make wise decisions from that.

 

[HingLaw]

If you are getting a TRD 4 Runner, the only up-grade I would do is some great tires and rock sliders to replace flimsy running boards. Get your tent, cookware and go out and enjoy! Even if it's not a TRD The rig will impress you and take you to places you would never see in a regular vehicle. You will find the vehicle is much more capable then you are currently and no need to spend much more on it for at least a season. Then with time you will learn from other yota friends the good, the bad and the regrets of money spent on mods and make wise decisions from that.

Thanks very much for the idea.