1958 Dodge Power Wagon and a Cummins 4BT Diesel: What more could you ask for?

Scrolling through the posts on bringatrailer.com and I came across this beautiful specimen. A Cummins powered 1958 Dodge Power Wagon Ambulance. This machine was restromodded by none other than Legacy Classic Trucks in Jackson Wyoming so it is no surprise that both inside and out this Power Wagon is bordering on perfection.

As previously stated the guys at LCT fitted the Wagon with a legendary Cummins 4BT diesel engine mated to a five speed NV 4500 transmission. Power is transferred to the axles via an Atlas Transfer Case. The axles weren't left alone either. They were upgraded with 300M RCV shafts and disc brakes on all 4 corners. The transformation was then rounded off with some 37 inch BF-Goodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires.

Since LCT doesn't like to do anything half-assed, they upgraded the interior as well. They fitted a Vintage Air A/C and Heat system, put in all new fabric for the seats and carpeting, and upgraded all of the gauges. Continuing to the back they transformed the ambulance area into a sleeping area for 4 making this Power Wagon not only good for daily driving but an overlanding beast as well.

Given that normally you would expect to pay upwards of $100,000.00 for a restomodded Power Wagon from LCT it is extremely shocking to see that this Power Wagon is currently on sale for a measly $50k. I'll take 2 please.

Apparently Unicorns do exist, and it can be found in Phoenix Arizona

One thing that any Jeep Cherokee (XJ) enthusiast will tell you is how much they love their 4.0-liter inline six engine. There is no denying that the 4.0 is a good and reliable engine. Right now the fad is swapping in big V8's like the LS1 or small block 350's. Of course if you want to do any serious off roading or even rock crawling you need that low end torque that comes with diesel engines. That is why the Cummins 4BT is a fairly common engine swap found on the XJ. But what if you could get an XJ, with a diesel, that had been factory installed? What if you could go and purchase that vehicle right now? What if said XJ was still looking like new and cost less than $9000? Yeah, I know. I would buy it too... if it wasn't on the other side of the country in Phoenix, Arizona

Unfortunately the auction ended, but it looks like the vehicle did not sell, at least not on Ebay. What you are looking at is a very rare 1986 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) with the Renault-made 2.1-liter SOHC turbodiesel 4 cylinder engine. Originally from the factory this engine put out 85 HO and 132 lb. ft of torque. It puts power to the wheels with an Aisin-Warner 5 speed manual transmission. That power gets distributed to the four corners via the NP207 Command-Trac transfer case that had manual lock in as opposed to the vacuum actuated MP228/229 versions from later years. This particular example also has a Trac-Lock limited slip rear differential. All of this is great, but the most amazing thing here is the 34 MPG the owner claims to have gotten on his most recent 1,800 mile trip he took it on.

The interior is no slouch either. When I said that this thing was in like new condition I wasn't blowing smoke. The gold interior is exceptionally clean and is completely stock except for the radio head unit and aftermarket coin and cup holder. To look at this XJ you would never know that it has over 133k miles on the clock (although about half of those were racked up from being towed behind an RV). One owner has had this XJ and has lovingly taken care of it since it was sold in 1986, and it shows.

My first Jeep I ever owned was a 1998 Cherokee XJ. She was rough around the edges and beat up but she was reliable and never left me feeling like I wasn't going to get to my destination. There is no doubt that the XJ is one of, if not the best, Sport Utility Vehicles ever made. I miss mine and would love to have one like this in my garage. What do you think?

Anyone in the market for a sub $5k Willy's Jeep FC-170?

Scouring the forums looking for unique vehicles I found this guy. A 1963 Willy's Jeep FC-170 that served it's younger days as a Fire Department Support Vehicle. Currently sitting with less than 20k on the odometer this Forward Cab Willy's is a steal for $4900. Sadly the original 226ci Super Hurricane inline-six engine is frozen due to sitting unused for so long but it is included in the bed of the truck. The owner says that the FC is running very well with the fully rebuilt engine that is currently in it. As is the original 3-speed gearbox and 4WD system. The interior is in pretty rough condition and has some minor issues, but it is ready to ride.

The Willy's Jeep Forward Cab chassis' are my white whale. When I am looking for one I can't find it, and when I'm not looking I find listings like this. I just may have to bite the bullet and drive to Vermont... Who know's maybe next time I write about this FC-170 it will be in a personal build thread.

Who says decommissioned military vehicles can't make decent dailies?

With the passing of each new year the list of vehicle available for import into the United States gets steadily bigger. Because of that we are starting to see more and more unique vehicles on our city streets and highways. This 1990 Mercedes Benz 250GD is a perfect example. Anyone who knows a thing or two about off roading and overlanding knows that while they may not be the most practical of vehicles, the Mercedes G Wagon's are more than capable when it comes to going off of the beaten path. Why else would they be one of the most common military vehicles around the globe?

Located in New Hope, Pennsylvania this 250GD is for sale on ebay with a Buy It Now price of $36,000.00. Compare that to the $100k+ pricing of a new G Class and it doesn't seem like too much to pay. According to the seller this vehicle has just under 36k miles on it.

Out of the many customization's to this vehicle one thing that has remained intact is the parachute rings. You know, just in case you need to be air dropped into some remote area... Also still intact is the original power plant. This G Wagon has the original OM602 engine, which is a 2.5-liter inline 5 cylinder diesel that puts out a whopping 84 HP and 113 lb. ft of torque. It's younger, and much larger brother, the new G550 has the 4.0-liter biturbo V8 pushing 416 HP and can do 0 - 60 in 5.8 seconds. Although the seller does claim that you can comfortably get up to 75 MPH, that doesn't really matter in this vehicle.

The interior is listed as leather, but by the looks of it I am going to say that it is actually MBtex but does that really matter? The rear seats sit noticeably higher than the front seats which may not be an issue with the top open, but if you are tall and sitting back there it may feel a bit cramped if the top is up.

The only real downside I can see to this vehicle is the maintenance hassles. Being a grey market vehicle getting parts from your local Mercedes dealership could be difficult since Mercedes is pretty strict about selling parts to vehicles that were never meant to be in the US. Either way, whether you are cruising down the highway or overlanding to your favorite remote spot, this is definitely a unique vehicle.

EcoDiesel confirmed for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler (JL).

Along with some spy shots of a heavily camouflaged Wrangler which the sources assume are of the 2018 JL platform wrangler, it has been confirmed that America will finally be getting a diesel option for their Jeeps!

Photo courtesy of Truck Trend and SpiedBilde

It has been confirmed that the 2018 JL will have the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel as an option. While no numbers have been mentioned, if it is anything like the Ram 1500 then there won't be anything to complain about. The current 3.0 EcoDiesel puts out 240 HP and 420 lb-ft of torque. That is more than enough to get you moving through those backwoods trails. The Ram 1500 gets 29 MPG on the highway so maybe we can look forward to a Wrangler that gets decent gas mileage? 

                                                                             Photo courtesy of Truck Trend and SpiedBilde

One thing that we can tell for sure from the photos is that there is 100% solid axles in both the front and rear so we can put that IFS rumor nonsense to bed. The most notable differences that can be seen in these photos is the sharper angle on the windshield slope and the wider front fender flares, although it is hard to say that this will be what the final iteration looks like. 

Photo courtesy of Truck Trend and SpiedBilde

Photo courtesy of Truck Trend and SpiedBilde

I personally can't wait to get into one of these when they come out! Especially when you consider that when the diesel is available so will the Pickup version. See you at the dealership!

Mercedes-Benz Messwagen: A one of a kind creation

In 1960, Mercedes-Benz designed and built a one-of-a-kind mobile test lab called Messwagen, a German term that loosely translates to “measuring car.”

The Messwagen was a 300 that was made into a station wagon in order to carry the heavy equipment that recorded information such as how much horsepower an engine was generating, how much fuel it was using, and how hot it was getting. Basically the Messwagen was a mobile DYNO. The rear bench was tossed out in order to make room for the equipment, but Mercedes installed a pair of wicker chairs so that engineers could monitor the testing process in real time.

The process began by hooking up sensors to the car being tested. Wires taped together ran out of the test car through a window and were secured to a purpose-designed roof rack, and they ran into the Messwagen through a hood scoop located right above the front seats.

The Messwagen was powered by a 3.0-liter straight-six engine tuned to generate about 160 horsepower at 5,300 rpm. The car being “tested” in the pictures below is an automatic 220S, which uses a 2.2-liter straight-six that makes 110 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. Both cars have a top speed of 103 mph (165 km/h).

Jeep: More patriotic than Baseball.

With the current state of affairs in our country following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, I found myself thinking about America and what it means to be an American. Which of course got me thinking about the Fourth of July because there is nothing more American than Baseball and the Fourth of July right? Wrong.

1963 Jeep Wagoneer

In 2013 a New York based firm, Brand Keys, conducted a survey of 4,500 consumers on what brands were the most American to them. Each item was scored on a scale of 0 to 100 representing the emotional engagement to each brand. Surprising, or maybe not, depending on how you look at it, Jeep took the number one spot with a score of 98%. Jeep beat out such brands as Coca-Cola (#3 with 97%), Levi Strauss and Disney (tied with 95%), and even Harley Davidson who was surprisingly low on the list at number 13 with 89%.

As a matter of fact Jeep was one of only two auto manufacturers on the list, Ford being the other at 16th. Chevrolet didn't even make it on the list despite their heavy patriotic marketing that they have done in the past. Other surprisingly low brands on the list were Budweiser at 14 with 88%, Smith & Wesson at 18 with 85%, and John Deere at 20 with 82%.

1940 Willys Quad

Whether you are a long time owner of that beat up old XJ or a brand new owner who just purchased your first KL one thing is certain, you love your Jeep. You know that no matter what your conditions are, your Jeep will get you to wherever it is you are going. It is dependable, tough, and capable. Even if you are in the traditionalist camp and feel that FCA has tarnished the brand with the new Cherokee (KL) and the Renegade (BU), you cannot deny that underneath it all it is still at least a cousin to the Jeeps of old. It may only be a distant relative, twice removed on your mother's side of the family, but they still get invited to the family reunion each year. No matter how much animosity you hold towards those cousins, you still end up having a good time. That to me is what it means to drive a Jeep. You are part of a family. Part of something bigger than just yourself. It doesn't matter if you are born and raised in America like the CJ's and XJ's, or an immigrant finding a home here like the KL's and BU's. You have a home here in America, and underneath it all beats the heart of an American.

That is what it means to be a Jeep owner, and that is what it means to be an American.

Here is the top ten from the list:

1. Jeep - 98%
2. Hershey's - 97%
3. Coca-Cola - 97%
4. Levi Strauss - 95%
5. Walt Disney - 95%
6. Colgate - 94% (really?)
7. Zippo - 93%
8. Wrigley's - 92%
9. Ralph Lauren - 91%
10. John Deere - 91%

So there you have it. Jeep is more patriotic than Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and everything else from 'Murica.

Wouldn't it be awesome if your ATV could take to the skies as well?

Well look no further because now it can.

The SkyRunner MK 3.2 will do just that. Using a Rotax engine, lightweight construction, and a ram-air parafoil wing the MK 3.2 will reach speeds up to 70 MPH on the ground and 55 MPH in the air. It's top cruising altitude is 10,000 feet so you can definitely get some sightseeing done in one of these.

While it isn't a switch on the fly changeover, converting from ground running to flight takes only a few minutes. Due to it's lightweight design the MK 3.2 has much smaller take-off and landing needs when compared to other air craft in the "sport" category. The MK 3.2 will set you back $119,000 but requires a sport pilot license to operate in the skies, so you may want to get that taken care of before writing that check.

Love it or hate it, no one can deny that the MK 3.2 looks like it would be a lot of fun. I could definitely see myself in one of these. Check out the video below of the MK 3.2 in flight.

Check out these Extreme Sand Racers.

What do you get when you have more money than you will ever be able to spend, a lot of open desert to play in, and a desire to kick up some sand? Well these guys from United Arab Emirates decided to go all out and create some insane vehicle. Some of the 6-cylinders are pushing over 1500 hp, and the big V8's are throwing out even more! Watch this incredible drag race over the sand in these suped up SUV's.

Edit 1: Full volume is highly recommended.
Edit 2: To be fair these are more like time trials as opposed to drag races. But still fun to watch.

Enjoy

Watch this Hellcat hit 170 MPH on Ice

I can't imagine that having 707 hp on an ice track would get very good results. But with a little help from some studded tires the Hellcat took first place in it's class at February's Speed Week in Arsunda, Sweden.

So grab your red key fob, strap in with the 5 point harness and watch this Hellcat On Ice!

What does it take to kill a Jeep Cherokee (XJ)?

The answer is a whole-freaking-lot. In the video below a group of guys take their XJ that was used to help build their off road trails and put it to the test after it is no longer road worthy. After broken wheels, run ins with trees, rolling, and a bevy of other torturous events, this XJ just keeps going and going and going.

This video is living proof that the Jeep Cherokee (XJ) is the ultimate post-apocalyptic vehicle to own. The 4.0-liter i6 is truly bulletproof. Forget your Timex watch, the XJ can take a licking and keep on ticking.

My own personal trip down the Jeep rabbit hole.

I would like to take a moment to share with all of my readers the Jeep that made me fall in love with the brand.

This is the 1998 Cherokee XJ that I used to own before I handed it over to my step son when he needed a reliable mode of transportation for work. I traded a 1998 Ford F250 with a rusted out frame for this XJ. Both had almost identical miles and mechanically were in the same condition so it was a straight up trade. When I took delivery it was a bone stock XJ with about 135k on the clock and a severely sagging suspension.

The first thing to go was the broken and ugly side molding. When I took the Fender flares off the screws in the brackets broke as is the way of their people. So rather than fixing it, I figured I would leave them off and see how I liked the look.

The next stage was a completely homebrew lift. Up front I went with ZJ coil springs but I sadly do not remember exactly what shocks I went with. In the rear I went with HD leaf springs for a 2 inch lift (although it ended up giving me more due to the stiffness) and skyjacker shocks. I upgraded all of the bushings and dropped the t-case 1.5 inches to compensate for the added angle on the drive shaft. I made my own brake lines and called it a day.

Once that was all said and done the brakes got a complete overhaul. Everything from the lines to the pads were replaced. Everything that stopped the vehicle was brand new. Of course while I was under there I replaced the steering stabilizer and shortened the exhaust (who needs a muffler anyway!)

Under the hood I got rid of the factory airbox and replaced it with a Spectre cone filter that amazingly fit right onto the stock intake hose. The oil blowoff hose was replaced with an even smaller Spectre filter, because why not? All plugs, wires, the distributor cap and rotor were replaced and the vacuum ball inside of the bumper was relocated to between the battery and fuse box. the fuse box, vacuum ball, and fan shroud were painted the same OD green as the front grille and wheel centers for effect (although I'm not quite sure what the effect was).

While I was under the hood I decided to replace the non working factory fog lights. I wired in a new toggle switch to go with the back up light over ride (more on that in a minute). The fog lights that I used were nothing special, just a pair I picked up on clearance at Advance Auto Parts. I mounted those in the same spot as the factory lights.

In this picture you will see 3 toggle switches. the big one at the top is for the fog lights. the middle one was currently unused, but was going to be for my fan over ride that I never got around to wiring up. The bottom switch was my back up light over ride. As is the case in the XJ, my Neutral Safety Switch was going bad. So what I did to counteract that was wire up a switch that had two different functions. Firstly it would allow me to turn on my back up lights in the event that they didn't come on on their own but would also allow me to turn them on without the vehicle being in reverse if I needed to be back there for some reason. Sadly I never got around to installing the upgraded lights back there...

So that is it. Other than basic maintenance and a few sensors needing replaced that was my first Jeep "build". I hope you like it, I look forward to getting work started o my Commander. I have quite a few ideas now I just need the time and extra money to get them started.

Just how capable is the Mercedes Benz GL(S)?

This past June I was sent to Birmingham, Alabama to spend 3 days with Mercedes Benz at their facility. One of the things that we did while there was get driven through an off-road course that showcases just how capable the GL (now the GLS) actually is. The course was broken up into two separate segments. The first was a typical ORV path complete with steps, puddles, rocky climbs, and sharp bends. The second part was more of a mountain trail with steep inclines that wove themselves through thick forest while traversing over slippery roots, mud, and rocks. The whole course culminated in a 75% downhill slope on a gravel covered trail.

To start we went up a small hill with steps carved into it and while it was (obviously) bumpy, the GL had no issue climbing itself up the steps. After that we went onto the offset trail that is designed to make sure that at all times the vehicle is only on 3 wheels. This is to show exactly how rigid the unibody design of the GL is. At one point, with one wheel high up in the air, our driver stopped the vehicle and opened his door to show that there is no body torque or other pressure twisting the vehicle.

The next part of the first segment was all slippery slopes covered in rocks, muddy inclines, a quick jaunt through a simulated water crossing, and a rather tight rock covered U-bend. I have to admit that the turning radius of that U-bend was pretty small and my old Jeep Cherokee XJ would have had a hard time cutting through it. The GL, however, had zero issues making that turn.

The second part of the course was, as stated above, just a twisty hill climb through thick forest, the end of which was a very steep downhill slope. Check out the video below of our descent.

While I wouldn't expect anyone to be doing any rock crawling in their GL450 it is still an extremely capable off-road vehicle. I most definitely was surprised at what it was able to do. To be fair 99.9% of GL owners would never even consider going anywhere that wasn't paved, it is nice to know that they could if they wanted to.

Just another BAD ASS Power Wagon!

Just bringing you guys another offering from the guys at Legacy Classic Trucks. This time I wanted to show a range of vehicles from them. The first is what they do best. Power Wagons.

Then to follow up here is a Toyota Expedition Land Cruiser. While it isn't their normal work, it is still a well built machine.

Battlewagons for the win! Subaru vehicles are the third most off-roaded vehicles.

In a 2013 J.D. Power study it was found that 29.5% of all Subaru's sold were used for off-roading purposes. To be fair anything not on pavement is taken into account, even a dinky little two-trail. Regardless, it is still a pretty impressive number and Subaru isn't behind by much. The two brands ahead of Subaru for off-road use is Ram in second with 30.2% and Jeep with 31%. To put everything into perspective, Land Rover is all the way down the list at a mere 20%.

What makes all of this even more interesting is that when you look at just Subaru's, the Outback by itself has an off-road use of 34.7%. This doesn't seem like much but when you look at just Jeeps the standout vehicle (according to the study) is the Grand Cherokee* at 21.1%.

In an interview with Autoblog Michael McHale, Director of Corporate Communications for Subaru, said "Subaru owners are 190 percent more likely to do outdoor activities..." .

So there you have it. As a current Jeep owner and previous Outback owner I can honestly say I am not all that surprised but to see it officially acknowledged is pretty great. I know the folks over at /r/battlewagon won't be surprised either but I am willing to bet that /r/4x4 and certainly /r/Jeep and /r/cherokeeXJ will disagree. Either way one thing I have learned over the years is that while you will have elitists in every group, the off-road community as a whole is just a great thing to be a part of.

*data collected is based on new vehicle sales

credit for video goes to /u/PitBullTherapy on reddit.com/r/battlewagon

Top nine vehicles for Overlanding (in no particular order)

What exactly is overlanding you may be asking yourself. To put an actual definition on it I would call it a self-reliant travel to a remote destination where the journey to get there is more the goal than the actual destination. Think of it as a road trip but without the roads, or at least without paved roads. What separates overlanding from off-roading is the core activity itself. Generally speaking when you are off-roading you are with a bunch of your friends and their rigs and making a day out of it. When you are overlanding you are going somewhere. To quote Doc Brown, "Where we're going, we don't need roads."

When you scour the internet looking for overland rigs most of what you will find is well above the $10,000 mark and some rigs can get well up into the hundreds of thousands. What I have done here is put together a list of vehicles that can, for the most part, be obtained and outfitted for overlanding with a budget of $10,000. They are in no particular order, just a list for you to think about.

Jeep Cherokee (XJ) 1987-2001
If any of you have read any of my other posts you will undoubtedly know that I am a Jeep guy. My daily driver is a Jeep Commander and I had a nice Cherokee XJ that I sold to my son. There are two things that any Jeep enthusiast will tell you. One, the Jeep 4.0-liter Straight Six engine is a bullet proof work of art. They are reliable and easy to work on should the need arise when you are out and about. Two, "It's a Jeep Thing". There aren't many places that you can't take a Jeep and Jeep lovers will take any chance they can to let you know exactly where they have gone. Depending on where you live a stock XJ can run you anywhere from $500 to $6000 based on the current condition and mileage. The nice thing about any Jeep really, is that there are no shortage of parts available to customize and outfit your rig. You can spend as little as $400 piecemealing a lift together or you can drop $4000 on a lift kit. Either way you can get the job done.

Suzuki Samurai 1985-2001
The Suzuki Samurai is another all terrain vehicle that has no shortage of after market parts available. Although small, this "cute ute" is very capable. A quick search shows that these can be found for as low as $1000 while some that were already built up had a price tag of over $20,000. It is not uncommon to see a Samurai that has been stripped down to nothing more than a frame with a steering wheel, engine, drivers seat, and transmission zipping through trails and or sand dunes. Much like the XJ, the Samurai is another vehicle that has a very devoted group of owners.

Ford Ranger XLT 1998-2011
Unless you get one through a site like Craigslist or one that has been ridden hard and put away wet, expect to get into one of these machines for just under the $10k budget. Because of their popularity and ruggedness, most Ford trucks hold their value quite well. Available with a 2.5-liter SOHC i4 or a pushrod 4.0-liter V6, the Ranger had any option to meet your needs. While the i4 may not have had the power of the V6, it had a slightly better gas mileage for those long overland trips. As with any of the other pickup trucks on this list, the availability of a cap for the bed was perfect for when you needed a place to sleep on your trip and didn't want to bust out the tent.

Toyota 4 Runner 1995-2009
1995 to 2009 covers both the third and fourth generation of the Toyota 4 Runner. Sharing a chassis with the Land Cruiser Prado, the third generation 4 Runner was available with either a 2.7-liter i4 or a 3.4-liter V6. Both engines were more than capable to get you through whatever terrain you are wanting to go. Much like the Cherokee, the 4 Runner in stock form is highly capable for all of your overland needs. That does not mean you won't have a good choice of after market upgrade options at your disposal.

Subaru Outback 1994-present
Some of you may be thinking that since the Subaru Outback doesn't belong on this list because it is not a truck. I assure you that, and anyone who has owned one can attest to, the Subaru Outback may be able to perform right along side any of the vehicles on here. Sure, it won't have the suspension travel necessary for rock crawling, but how often are you really going to need that much travel? I miss my Outback. If there was any vehicle, other than my Jeep that I had the utmost confidence in when it came to off road capability, it was my Outback. While the after market lifts for Subaru's aren't as plentiful as for say, a Jeep, they are out there. If you have any doubt as to what these things are truly capable of take a trip over to Battlewagons and see what can be done. Subaru;s hold their value pretty well so while you may not be able to find a new one for under $10,000 you can definitely find an older model well within that price range.

Toyota Tacoma 1995-2004
Admittedly I don't know much about the Toyota Tacoma other than the very rabid fan base they have. Affectionately referred to as Taco's, these are just as plentiful in my area as Cherokees, just as nicely priced. While the Toyota Tacoma is quite adept at traversing all terrains in it's stock form, you would be hard pressed to find one (at least in my area) that isn't already outfitted for off road use. Known the world over as the Hilux, the first generation Tacoma is available in the US with a 2.4-liter i4, a 2.7-liter i4, or a 3.4-liter V6. Just like the Ford Ranger, one of the things keeping the Tacoma in the top tier for overlanding is the bed.

Isuzu Trooper 1991-2002
The second generation Trooper was a complete redesign to keep up with the changing landscape of the SUV market. Pre 1996 the Trooper still used a part time four-wheel drive system requiring the manual locking in of the hubs. Next to the Vanagon, the Trooper is one of the more rarely spotted vehicle in my area making the prices when you do find them for sale relatively high. Stock from the factory the Trooper is pretty capable for whatever you need it for.

Toyota Land Cruiser 1984-2015
Starting in 1984 the J70 was introduced. Much like Jeep's war-time pedigree, the Land Cruiser was created as an all around Utility Vehicle. Offered with everything from a soft top version to the troop carrying military version. What ever version you are lucky enough to have in your garage there is no doubt about the rugged capability it offers. Out of every vehicle on this list, the Toyota Land Cruiser is the only vehicle that truly needs no after market mods to make it better. Regardless of the low price tag you can find these for the Toyota Land Cruiser definitely keeps it's own against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz G Wagen, and the Land Rover Discovery.

VW Vanagon 1979-1990
Much like the Subaru you may not feel that the Vanagon belongs on this list. At first glance it appears to be a slightly lifted Mini-Bus but throw a set of snow chains on the Vanagon and it will get you pretty much anywhere you want to go. A quick search on autotrader.com only brought in 12 results country wide under $10,000 but there were some offerings as low as $3000. The biggest difference between the Vanagon and the Mini Bus was the fact that the engine was water cooled which means that it had a heater that actually worked. This is a key piece of hardware to have functional in your overland rig for those long winter treks.

So there you have it, my top nine (in no particular order) best vehicles for Overlanding. What do you think?