Follow up - CHOOSE THE RIGHT 4WD TRUCK. Overland Workshop 

This bloke needs more bloody subscribers. All his content is fantastic.

The "Sir David Attenborough" of overlanding. The Ray Mears of 4x4s. Great job as always

"Just get one and get out there!" The best advice!

Not everyone can afford a dedicated car for overlanding especially if you are starting with this lifestyle. For me in Southern Africa and with a small family a bakkie/pick up is the best option. Reliability and availability of spares throughout the continent is very high on the list. Nothing beats a Toyota in my part of Africa. The Hilux is reasonable comfortable for 4 people and can be used as a daily driver. With a good canopy you can convert it to be an excellent overland vehicle for weekenders. My Hilux is not set up for rock crawling but for long distance driving to remote areas where a 4x4 is required. It has not failed me yet.

This is some of the best content on youtube. I couldn't imagine watching any other youtuber talk into a camera for 36 minutes straight and still be genuinely interested/disappointed that it's over.

Every night I pull up in a new camp spot & when I get home from a trip I give my Patrol GU a little pat on the dash in thanks for the adventure. There will always be a 'better' vehicle, & one day I'm sure I'll upgrade to whatever I feel that may be, but for now I own this one & despite the imperfections I'm very well aware of, it's currently the best vehicle for me & my adventures & I think it's awesome. Good follow up Andrew, & if anyone gives a 'thumbs down' they've missed the point completely.

you are a wealth of knowledge and i'm glad you share it with everyone. thank you, sir.

I‘m happy that the Nissan X-Trail was part of the video. I‘m planning to get one of the 2nd gen. Cheapest „reliable“ and logic decision to get started in Germany. Light offroad, snow, towing, canoe on the roof and camping (sleeping in the car) are my goals/needs.

I really love the sentiment at the end of the video. I've spent quite some time riding bikes around the globe, and whenever people would ask what bike they should take to ride to Argentina/Africa/Mongolia etc. the answer was your current one. People seem to get so caught up in what vehicle they have, and this vehicle being better than that, and getting this piece of gear etc. At the end of the day, you are going to work out what you need to travel, and what you don't... and what type of vehicle you want to do it in. Reliability can be important, but some of the people I've seen having the most fun on bikes were some drunk Norwegians riding 1930's Nimbus bikes through the deserts of South America. Every village they went to they had to find the local welder and machinist to custom make parts to get their bikes to the next village - perhaps not everyones idea of a perfect holiday, but for them it was. Yours will no doubt be different, but you first need to discover how different you would like it to be.

Golden words, and some. You are an absolute treasure to the 4x4 and overland community and thank you for all your advice.

The Toyota 80 series is the all time best 4wd you can ever own !! 40th anniversary edition diesel 😘

Love, love the way you explain things! You hit the nail on the head Andrew! This is why you are one the very best in the Community !

Andrew St Pierre White, your concluding remarks on this video are so incredibly perfect. Thank you!

ANDREW YOU ARE THE BEST,educate us man,great video,great speech!

You deserve a million thumbs up for the first 60 seconds of the video alone, let alone the whole video! Thank you, Andrew.

Brilliant discussion .... you had me glued to my screen the whole time. So much truth in what you say. I've also owned and driven a several 4wd vehicles and can relate to the issues discussed, particularly with owning a fringe vehicle. Popular vehicles are just so much easier to get sorted for getting off the beaten track. Keep up the great work. I really enjoy watching your videos.

always a good watch Andrew, thanks mate

Hi Andrew In the US I have driven a Ford F250 4x4 for work I do a lot of off road driving. The truck is quit heavy with the tools and equipment that I must carry. Over the last 20 years I have had good luck with them. I do keep my truck serviced because it can be miles across thd Arizona desert to get help. Not quit like Canning Stock. For a personal vehicle I love to be able to get a 79 turbo diesel. I like those trucks. Looking forward to seeing you and Kate again next year at Expo West.

I drive a 141 Skoda Yeti 4x4 and I love it. It has gone everywhere I have asked it to go. And yes I admire it, I even photograph it. It's my Betty the Yeti.

I think I learned more from this talk than about any video I've ever seen. Outstanding, fair, well-reasoned take on all the major overlanders. So good.

"Get something and get out there" What a great line :)

Great review! To add, we have two cars in the family, 1) Land Rover Discovery 2, V8 2001 and 2) Nissan Trail, 2007, 2.5 Petrol. Both cars just done over 100,000km's. Both cars regularly serviced. Both cars have been in the family 9 years. Here is what we have experienced down here in Australia. 1) Land Rover - Never broken down or left me stranded. Lot's of 'preventative' maintenance. When i bough the car it required quite a few new engine gaskets to make it dry underneath. Air Suspension - Compressor and Air Bags replaced - Tired and leaking in 2012. No faults since. Apparently quite normal for them to just last 8-10 years. Top Hose, Bottom Hose ,Thermostat, and Radiator Flush, after coolant leaks. 2009 Valley Gasket and Rocker Cover gaskets replaced 2009 - Timing Cover Gasket and Front Crank Oil seal replaced. Had to replace Sump Gasket as part of this. 2009 Put on a new Water-pump when then the Timing Cover was off, again prevention due to age. Brake Fluid Reservoir and Cylinder replaced due to leaking o-ring. 2012 Washer Jet nozzle snapped as it was brittle. New Key Fob as the buttons worn through. Front indicator lens unit, old one the rubber seal dried up and filled with water. Front prop-shaft swapped out for a serviceable cardon joint. Old shaft was OK but I wanted to avoid this joint going due to it's age etc. I've heard that they go and take the transfer case with it. Heard to many stories of them going at 10 years! or over 100k, so panic and replaced... Headlining replacement - Very normal Usual consumables, brakes, tyres, battery as and when required. After the initial issues above, not one thing has gone wrong with the car in the past 5 years. It's used everyday and drives like a dream. It's very very capable off-road and completed some tough tracks. Excellent 7 seater to ferry everyone around. The build quality is good and feels solid. Age is against her as the rubbers and plastics are getting quite brittle at they are now 17 years old and spend a lot of time in Aussie sunshine. Zero rust on the car. No electrical issues, everything works. Most of the parts were imported from the UK Genuine and Aftermarket, so what has been replaced has been cheap. Some DIY some at garage. Overall love the car and want to keep it going as long as possible. 2) Nissan X-Trail, 2007 Extreme ST. 2.5 petrol. Air Conditioning interior fan motor replaced under Warranty 2009 2 Window switches replaced Rear tailgate motor/lock assembly replaced Developed a coolant leak very hard to trace, uses 500mm every 8-10 months. New exhaust (rusty due to beach driving) Number '2' setting on the interior fan stopped working. Living with it but will replace. CV Boot replaced Rear wheel bearing replaced Interior seats replaced. Drivers seat foam collapsed and we're not big people. Cloth interior did not wear well, so we found a donor car at a wreckers and swapped out for a leather set of seats. Much better build. Usual consumables, brakes, tyres, battery as and when required. Overall this car so far has been brilliant, the interior does feel quite cheap with the plastics and seats not built to last. Not as solid as the Land Rover when it comes to interior and fittings. Off-road its very light and capable. However, on rough tracks is squeaks and rattles terrible compare to the Land Rover. Drives more like a car and economical and rear seating is far more comfortable than the Disco, which has very upright seating and like a defender you have to lean forward to see out the window. On long trips we prefer to take the X-Trail - Fuel, Comfort and less chance of any mechanical issues. Disco is quite old now so would not really chance it somewhere to remote. If we did start to overland and drive more remote down here, i'd be tempted to a Nissan Patrol. I've driven them as well as Toyota Land Cruisers and the Patrol in my experience on and off-road would be my choice of vehicle.

I have learned so much from your videos. Please keep the great content coming!

You're the best, thanks for helping an amateur overlander find their dream truck (2015 Jimny) and teach them the ropes with such raw and honest advice. Cheers.

I own a defender that did not leak oil, I ended up drilling a small hole in the sump, just so I could say it leaks oil....Andrew is right about Land Rovers.....Luckily I can work on mine as I am mechanic....love hate relationship.....It was still cheaper than a Toyota at the time when they Defenders were still in production, around $30K.

Didn't even mentioned the Jimny... That's cold Andrew... I feel sad now. hahaha Awesome video ! So much truth and sincerity... Mentioning brands and models BY NAME, and not "Oh that brand, you guys know". Awesome. Thanks Andrew ! Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This is the video I've been wanting you to make for awhile. Answered a lot of questions I've been thinking about. Thanks Andrew.

35:30 I knew i subscribed to your channel for a mighty good reason. I love the candid truth bomb on the fanboys, man i truly appreciate the helpful points you give on your videos. Thanks Man.

As an owner of a leaky Land Rover D2 I

Im Indonesian. I'll buy 2002 Toyota Landcruiser VX100 With Std type. There is coil spring (cheap maintenance), Strong Engine, Coolbox, Sunroof, Difflock, etc.. The most important is, Fun n Save to drive.

You are just awesome Andrew. Genuinly good content. Cant wait to see you build a Raptor in the states and taking it for a long trip! YOU HAVE TO DO IT!

Really appreciate the knowledge you shared, there are hardly any videos like this one having honest reviews .... Thanks again and it really impact on the decision making while owning a new one

I agree whole heartedly with your opinion of the Toyotas being built for their environment vs the light duty Fords. I was a light vehicle mechanic for years on a Iron Ore mine site in WA, and we ran a fleet of Ford Rangers and Toyota 70 series. The Fords weren't suited for the environment. Constant failures in nearly every major component in the driveline and suspension. I have a pic on my phone of a pallet load of dead Ranger engines, and right next to it, a pallet of dead auto transmissions. Toyotas on the other hand, needed regular maintenance, yet no constant failures. Far better suited for the harsh environment. Hence the reason all the mechanics in the shop owned Toyotas.

Nice video! I watched all of it. My body says = Land Rover (comfort) My brain says = Toyota (budget) My soul says = Jeep (history) I’m a US military guy with extensive experience driving Hummers in the Middle East, Africa and Northern Canada. I currently inherited a family owned Land Rover Discovery 2, and I can honestly say that you are absolutely right. It has turned me into a mechanic. Because of its reliability issues and parts constantly breaking down, mostly because of age, I have gotten to know my Land Rover inside and out. This will prove mostly beneficial out on the trail, for the purpose of self recovery, although it’s time consuming. But I do find that parts are, as you say, easy and plentiful to come by. And I do save money by doing most of the work myself. So in that sense, it has become sort of fun and educational. Going on to Jeep. I find that Chrysler’s partnership with Fiat has hurt Jeep in quality and reliability. In fact, many Chrysler/Fiat products are made in Mexico, which is notorious for poor quality control. About Toyota. They are reliable. And that’s part of the problem for me. They just seem to lack character. At least for me that is. Out here in California, I see Toyota’s everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. From the infamous Toyota Prius, to the indestructible Toyota Corolla and Camry, to their dime a dozen pickup trucks. They are everywhere. I guess I just want something unique. Something not everyone else has. I’d hate to think of a monolithic world where everything looked the same, food tastes the same and environment was free of challenges. Anyway. That’s my opinion. And thank you for another great video. Joe

I enjoy my Land Rover Defender as much as I love my patrol and my little Suzuki samurai. Love your review Andrew. You're spot on!

I totally agree my old little xtrail was a great car although too small for my family of 5 so i have changed over to a Gen 4 Pajero which i love also :) like all of your videos Andrew they a informative and entertaining

I own an X-Trail, I was not expecting to hear them mentioned in any capacity in this video haha

I can remember how impressed you were by the 4x4 system in the WK Jeep grand cherokee when they came out.

Excellent rant Andrew!! Love your humour as well. Very entertaining. I agree with everything you mentioned. It just IS what it IS.

Thank you Andrew for all your absolutely amazing video's, brilliant photography and editing, I have really learned a wealth of highly valuable information from them, and have immensely enjoyed watching them,.

"I think Ford sells them the rejects" hahahahahaha

I have a 2007 Nissan Frontier in the U.S. with over 200,000 miles on it. I've found it to be the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned in the last 45 years and I've owned many brands. I liked is so much I just purchased a 2013 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X with 36,000 miles on it. I plan to begin my light overlanding adventures with this vehicle soon. Hopefully, I will experience the same low maintenance and longevity with the Xterra as I did with my Frontier.

Outstanding!!! Balanced and heart felt. I have always thought of you as a good story teller but sometimes you go beyond that with the depth of your knowledge.

We all need to get Andrew more subs. He has some of the best knowledge and delivers it in an entertaining way, with charisma, humour and passion ! I have learned so much these past few weeks looking at his past catalogue, so much so, it was worth the Patreon pledge. Keep up the great work Andrew.

For the most part I agree with your comments about vehicles being suitable for 4x4 touring and get where you're coming from. But, I also think everyone who criticises a vehicle has to realise that most 'new' 4wd's were never built with the idea of long 4wd touring trips because put simply the market is 'tiny' and there's no profit to be had in building those kinds of vehicles anymore. It's probably why Land Rover left the market completely and the same with Nissan. So the idea of having a brand new 4wd (like a 70 series) with solid axles, uncomplicated engines (mostly), electronics and the rest available is dying out and is probably only available because said car company doesn't want to invest the money in updating and modernising their cars. Toyota is the last manufacturer hanging in, but you can see their cost cutting everywhere in the 70 series everywhere such as being too 'cheap' to widen the rear track (completely inexcusable and shoddy engineering if you ask me). No point really to be made or question but I give it 10-15 years before the idea of buying a perfect 4wd touring platform is gone.

Love and respect from all the 4x4 lovers from Pakistan

Hi Andrew, thanks for the video, truly appreciated. Throughout my life I've had the pleasure of owning a Land Rover Series 3 (had it for 12 years and love it, even though it could never hold 3rd gear under compression), a Suzuki Samurai (stock, incredible off roader, but terrible on your kidneys), a Jeep Cherokee (lovely ride, when it was running), and now have a Toyota (may not be the best in any one category, it does well in all, but most importantly it never, ever breaks down :) and that is my two cents

Thank you for an excellent talk,we have had Patrol GQ/Y60s in our family since 2000,now they span 3 generations,never had a failure due to poor build quality,only due to prior owners lack of maintenance, [another story]

Andrew would be interested to see your thoughts on weight after a build. I see too many Patrols, Cruisers and Hiluxs in Oz loaded with every accessory in the ARB catalogue and can't help to think about the loss of braking, economy, performance and even off-road ability from stock.

I’d personal go with the Ford F-250 mate if it’s a possibility. I have one completely set up here in Australia for overland and it’s a beautiful heavy duty truck. It’s build quality is just an over sized land cruiser. Really worth a look I think for your American trip and there size shrinks around you after a short period of owning one. I could never go back to a small mid size truck now, I love the F250. Cheers

Really enjoyed the talk....i'm one of those one eyed Landrover owners and totally agree with all the points you raised...I've driven lots of off road vehicles from the Arctic to the Antarctic and points in between.....and although my preference is the green oval I do acknowledge the other great makes as competent off road vehicles...as you say most of it comes down to the driver and they're skill or lack of! Your comment on the perception of maintenance over major problems is spot on as GO owners tend to know the issues the vehicles have, what will go wrong and roughly when they will fail and carry out preemptive maintenance....we also carry lots of different spares.....keep up the good work I love your objectivity on a very emotional subject.

I m very upset by seeing thumbs down sign on video's. No man can better tell you the truth than this. Always respect his life time experience and finest advice. I m a mechanical engineer and know he tells you truth.

Your final comment exactly sums up my Nissan Patrol - never let me down through the Simpson, Telegraph track and Fraser Island (6 times) over 11 years of hard driving. Have pulled Cruisers and Land Rovers out and seen brand new 200 series Cruisers with blown up turbos and g/boxes. Theres good and bad in all. Sometimes just have to be lucky (or careful). Hamba gahle - love your videos.

Love my Nissan Patrol GR 2.8

Thanks Andrew for your great insight and sharing of your decades worth of overlanding. Loved the last bit of your testimonial, my mom had a Lada Niva 😃 - A happy Hilux owner...

Great video Andrew. Totally agree, I get a 'warm fuzzy' with my 2 door Suzuki Vitara. Keep up the great work on the content. Well done.

FANTASTIC CONTENT!!!! I LOVE YOUR ROLEX SUBMARINER 1680 BTW

I adore Land Rover and love the heritage of the marque. I have a soft spot for them although I have never owned one. The Brigadier from Dr Who drove a LR as did Les Hiddins and the Leyland Brothers. Ray Mears drives a LR too. LR has great history. LR's are cool and have a pedigree which is second to none. Her Majesty drives a LR so that's the ultimate endorsement of the brand. And for that matter so does the British Army also drive LR's. I appreciate and respect Lada and their Niva because they are great off road and always start in minus 30c. They are tough and that counts. Wheel travel like an old range rover, brilliant. So ugly it's cool. Then there's UAZ - Made in Russia. People are proud to own them and I see the value in that. It's respectable. They are made in the same town that Lenin was born in. I forget the name. MB G wagons are great off road too. I used to drive one in the arctic. Reliable and strong. You feel invincible driving a G wagon. And the Isuzu D Max and Mux are super reliable, strong and capable. After 40 years of LC ownership my father prefers the Mux. That's saying something..... They must be doing something right.... And we own a 1974 Nissan Patrol LWB cab chassis with 50000km on the clock from new - tough as old nails. Great farm truck. Nissan patrol was first to cross the SImpson desert. They deserve respect as does the first gear with no synchro. Oh, and I have been fortunate to drive real HMMWV's from insane desert sands to bottomless boggy tropical jungles and this is also a platform worthy of praise although they are so unreliable and are only good at following tank tracks. I've never driven a more capable off road vehicle than a HMMWV. There's lots of fun and love out there for other makes and models. Each to their own and no butts. I'm not one eyed.

Hi Andrew . Thanks for your channel and effort. I really appreciate your practical take to over landing which I have noticed is something lost in our current generation. In the start of your video you said we were allowed to differ on certain topics as long as we specify and keep it constructive more then personal. So I would just like to share my experience regarding Mitsubishi and more specifically the Triton. I have owned mine for more than 3 year now. And have done alot of travelling myself in it. Over 100 000km its currently sitting on 187 000 km on the clock. Now my passion is split between technical 4x4ing (which I do once or more a month) as well as over landing holidays with my family. I have really pushed it regarding 4x4. I tackle grad 4-5 obsticals and just get a kick going for something only jeeps with 35 -37 tires tend to do. Its done baboons pass fully loaded, I have ramped my bakkie numerous times. A couple of times with a full load. And it has really held up well. Im running 33 inch tyres , front locker and 90mm lift. So far I have broken 2 cv's and had to in this month replace my gearbox mounts and 1 of my universals, a. Which I really account to the amount of technically stuff that I like doing , my cv angles as well actually needing to extend my prop shaft to compensate for my 90 mm lift(Which i did now). My brother in law uses his Triton to tow huge loads from SA to Mozam to Zim to Zambia he has towed over 100 000km ( my luck nr lol) between these countries mostly with about 2 ton loads , On occasions he has actually pulled a 4 and 5 ton loads. He is now over 200 000km and only really needed to replace his clutch and universals in that time. I am also part of the Mitsubishi community and on our technical group and social group we have many members with high mileage tritons and pajeros with very very minimal issues. Mosly advice ito services , The only 2 issues that I have noticed repeating are Sunction Control Valve failures on earlier year models( same component shared on nissan ,issuza and toyota) and very very few guys having a problem with there steering racks leaking, And a meen 2 guys. Some guys on the group farm with their vehicles so they are actually working. And some members have over 540 000 km on there 3.2 Pajeros having only replaced the turbo after 400 k . So I have really experienced only the best reliability. I do think toyotas are brilliant and there domination of the market I believe has alot to do with them being alot older in Africa then other brands and Mitsubishi that was only released in the 90's. I also believe using a vechile is the only real why of experiencing it there for you knowledge is so good on the toyotas and landys. If read this far thank you.

Hi ANDREW, I really enjoyed your comments. I condemn LRs whether old or modern. Living in Ethiopia 74 - 76, I had a Russian jeep GAZ 90 - utterly reliable + many clever features, (e.g. believe it or not, a very useful crank handle starter) too many to put here. The LRs in e.g. the Danakil Desert used to break leaf springs and half axles + loads of other problems. I had a half-page article published in the Motoring Guardian comparing my GAZ to the Defenders. British Leyland were upset, but a Brit. army officer who'd tried one of the 1st LRS had made exactly the same complaints 20 years earlier !!! My GAZ ended up in the hands of Eritrean guerrillas, as I was taken hostage for 5 "long" months. Now I'm in Rio. had an X-Trail (great apart from breakdowns due to annoying sensors) till recently, and now have a Toyota Hilux SW4, my dream vehicle !

Up on the east coast, to Cape York etc, it isn't Toyota's so much, but Nissan Patrols, the older models. You see more of them than any other SUVs (Ute's not included).

Big thumbs up from Saudi Arabia. We admire you.

Loved the ending! Perfect answer, but you had me going with so many details of other vehicles :)

very well said , very wise... there is nothing in life like an old man, who has a life time of experience in a specific field ... who is wise, open-minded and also has a good sense of humor! Pure gold !!! thank you for all the videos, the advice and the wisdom.

Thanks for sharing, Andrew!! I really enjoy all your vids and your counsel is always pertinent!! Could you please shed some light on the Toyota KDSS. Is it worth the cost in the long run for overlanding and everyday drive? Thanks in advance!!

Very well said. My heart says Land Rover (currently a Disco 3) , my brain say Toyota, something inside says G _ Wagen & fantasy says Ford Raptor. My name is Nick & I am a Land Rover aholic.

Great videos Andrew, I’m looking forward to the rest of the 101 workshop. I usually see all the videos, comments and reviews about what vehicle is better or which ones stink, but mostly folks have their favorites and are closed off to others (more on that). Thanks for a few words about each of the major makes, and your experiences with them. I wanted to say a few words regarding what I had as a take away from your two "Choose The Right Truck" videos. First thing: Reliability, as a Test Engineer for the US Military this is a major key in EVERYTHING we look at. One of the major keys we use is Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF). I see folks saying this component or that one will last X number of hours, but as you pointed out with the Air suspension system if that system fails you’re DONE (for us we cannot complete the mission). I was watching another video about someone’s adventures on the Trans American Trail and they broke a small plastic sensor and it made their 4wd system almost useless. It does not matter how great your Tires are if your 4wd does not work. Identify the weakest link in the system and plan for it fail, and how you will need to overcome the failure, because once it does…you are doomed. This leads to the next item, WE LOVE OUR TRUCKS, this love can overcome a lot of short comings, just ask our spouses or significant others about our shortcomings and yet they still stair at us across the campfire (maybe planning our demise as well). As you talked about, it’s the love of our truck that changes our perspective from general maintenance to troublesome repairs. I love my Jeep, it has its problems, but I get past that because there is some satisfaction in getting under the hood and turning some wrenches and making it better. I had the same love (maybe more) for my beloved ’86 Toyota 4Runner, I put a lot of time into her and loved every second, well maybe not changing out the water pump because I ended up with a nice cut that required medical attention. Anyway, we get emotional about our trucks, and you can NEVER argue with emotions. The last and most important item that is repeated so many times and it seems to get ignored, because we love our truck so much, is what do you want to do with your vehicle. This is where expert advice gets ignored or we as fan boys take it personal. The old Saying LOVE IS BLIND also applies to trucks. Being an engineer I took it upon myself to remove this bias and developed a check list to really find the best overland truck. What I learned was I was doing it all backwards. WE fans of the outdoors and all things (insert favorite truck) need to be more open minded, and less emotional. My apologies for such a long winded comment, I got carried away and hate to delete after all the work. I wanted to make a few remarks, ask and hope that from the perspective of vehicles you talk about what are the major capabilities are really needed (4wheel drive…etc.…)? Systems that all vehicle need to have in common to make a great overland rig. Thanks for the great videos and the inspiration to get out and explore.

I own a 89 land cruiser and drive it everywhere yes it's loud on the freeway the AC sometimes acts up but it's never ever left me behind and everything that needs fixing I could do it myself I ❤️ it

The inherent problem with the recent Raptor is the payload , at least for the gas engine one . Make your calculations , you will be surprised how little it can carry . That is why i got a AEV Prospector XL based on a Ram 3500 , no payload issues with that .

i say get a single cab heavy duty diesel truck from one of the big 3 and throw a 4wheel camper on it. or an AEV brute TJ not the 4door jk

Andrew, I would love to see you do some more North American travels using North American-focused vehicles. I enjoy your perspective on the overlanding culture and I think Canada and the US have a lot to offer for adventure travel. The travel over here isn't nearly as remote as what you're accustomed to in Australia, but there are some remote and beautiful areas if you know where to look. Also, I do want to hear your feedback on the 4x4's that are prevalent in the North American market. Most of our trucks have gasoline engines, but turbodiesels are starting to become more common in certain trucks. I have a Toyota 4runner, which I believe is based of the global LC Prado platform. The vehicle is very well built and has gotten me through all types of terrain with no problem. The 4.0l v6 gasoline engine, while stout and reliable, is pretty abysmal on fuel economy; I'm lucky if I can get 20mpg on the highway. The new GM Colorado/Canyon with the 2.8l diesel can easily get 30 mpg highway and the big, heavy duty, 3/4 ton trucks with diesels (Ram 2500, Ford F250, GM Silverado 2500) can get about the same highway mpg as what I get. The gasoline engines tend to limit our range over here and a lot overlanders carry fuel cans on their back bumper or pickup bed to extend their range.

You have been quite the inspiration to myself mate, I just bought a new D-Max and am about to put a Rhino Cab Canopy on it. You have given me heaps of ideas for it. So thanks for that!

Nissan Patrol 1989 to 1997. Underpowered but extremely strong especially doing hard cross country travelling

your best vid ever,i have an x-trail 05 and luv it

Very informative indeed mate. I listened to you’re commentary intently and l agree 100% on all aspects. I’’ve owned many brands and models of four wheel drive vehicles since 1978 and yes, they “all have” their pros and cons. Like you, l make my decisions on what brand and model l shall purchase that will “fit my needs and expectations” for the...job in hand, so to speak. In the early years l made some bad choices but l always learnt from my mistakes. My 4WD vehicle of choice, presently, is a Ford F-150 and meets all of “my expectations” with aplomb. I do however, concede that there are better vehicles out there but this suits me down to the ground. Everyone’s needs are different and l am happy with mine. I have owned it for four years now and have no intention of replacing it, for a long time to come...l love my Ford. Peace to everyone.😀

Love your unbiased review, Andrew. I must agree with the final summation you made with which one floats your boat. I personally, have a 2008 Ford Ranger (Mazda BT50}. Having just returned from a weekend trip to Sandy Cape, I was personally elated with the way the vehicle performed both on and off road. It does boil down to personal experience and would also agree with you that Toyotas rock, as I owned a Hilux many years ago. Love your work

Too bad the Jeep Wrangler JL Diesel engine isn't going to arrive in the USA until 2019, the Raptor is still amazing. I'd love to see you build a Jeep in North America, I'm still building out my Wrangler after learning so much from you. Maybe I can invite you to go on an expedition to Yukon or North West Territories one day.

As a Jeep owner (although of an old TJ model, not a JK) I admit you are right. Jeeps aren't great for overlanding (at least by your definition). I love my jeep, and would never sell it, but they just don't have enough space, and if you strap on a bunch of stuff you end up overloading it. I've seen some great setups with a trailer so that avoids overweight issues though. To me however, jeeps are great 3 day/weekend vehicle, but carrying supplies for more than that will get you in trouble.

I don't think I have ever... EVER!... before watched a video on RU-vid (or anywhere else) where it was purely conversation from a single individual (give or take a photo or two) and "hung on every word"! Brilliant comments; absolutely believeable, credible, and understandable. I couldn't help but think of the great Sir Anthony Hopkins; except that this guy was discussing my favorite subject with passion and professionalism. (I have noticed before that it's difficult to get both in the same presentation.) I shall follow onward, Overland. To be continued...

You are absolutely right about looking to your rig and saying WoW, i feel that way looking at my series 80 i can't take my eyes off my lovely truck

From a Nissan Patrol and Hilux owner: Nissan Patrol went down the gurgler when the dropped the TD42 and went to the 3 ltr diesel. What do you think of our Govt buying G wagons for Defence parks/ DELP CFA etc and dropping Landrover 110 and Toyota landcruisers. The only choice new now is a V8 cruiser.

Finally I found a professional honest channel!!! Not these crazy pimping show off people. Thanks a lot for your work and I agree with all the others, you should have 10 times more subscribers. Cheers.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. You are very easy to listen to. God bless you and your family Aloha

I love my battered old 93 Nissan pathfinder. 250,000 miles and still solid and running strong. IF I took it to Africa though, I doubt I would love it as much.. This channel is what started my conversion on the truck 2 years ago but budget and life have yet to se it completed. Thank you Andrew for all you do. Your advice is top notch. Cheers from N.Y.

Disappointed there was no discussion of the MB W460/461 (forget the W463). Given that they are now the vehicle of choice of the Australian Defence Force and the W461 is being sold in Australia, I was looking forward to hearing your views on this genuine old school 4x4 (W461 spec - virtually no electronics, solid axles front and rear, lockers all round, great GVM, well engineered).

I have a 2004 Nissan Xterra, and it's shockingly good. Has low range, so can do trails, and overlanding.

Hi Andrew, love your presentations. Have quite a history in 4WD and Land Rovers (first car I drove, 88 inch Series IIA). On your air suspension gripes, you have a big friend, I have converted a 94 RR Classic to coils (had to do in Colorado, 2,000 km from home!) and I just converted a my 2008 Discovery 3 (LR3 in the US) to coils....using the Atlantic British Ltd., HD OME kit.... On durability, my 87 RRC drove many 5,000 kms round trips to the Rocky Mountains, loaded with autosamplers, fluorometers, climbing gear (obviously) etc etc. gear, working (am a geologist) up to 13,000 ft on very rough mining roads hammering me and the car. It came home no problems every time. (The 94 RRC Air Suspension fiasco happened on flat ground in a great little town called Creede). I also have a '95 Discovery 1 with a manual gearbox....

I note no mention of the Mazda B2500 turbo 5 speed 2003 dual cab. I bought as a 10year old... Glycol coolant, regular filter & oil changes etc and timing belt every 100000km, has performed very robustly - previous owner had big fat tyres which wear very well, it also seems to have been "raised some", slides readily on wet leaves/spilled diesel on bitumen but is magic on dust & gravel. A little thirsty when pushed, but less than 2800~3000rpm in 5th gear (overdrive?) is quite frugal at 10litres/100km on unsealed roads. I agree with you on the old FJ? landcruisers, unstoppable and reliable.

Great video and great advise...

What do you think of the Isuzu dmax, Andrew.

Again though, thank you for taking the time to talk specifics with your trademark honesty. Notes: Air suspension - yeah, I just replaced the rear air springs on my gx470 and while they are great for my needs, I certainly would have done a coil conversion if I was planning on using it like my 80. Its one of those things that works good in a 95/5 environment, 95 city 5 percent not. 200 series - sadly no one is buying 200 here in the US for overland duty on account of their fully loaded status only, here they are stealth wealth machines that, as is typical of many overland vehicles in the US, have their 2nd and 3rd owners that are using them as intended. They can still dance though, the #8155 canguro racing 200 just finished the baja 1000 and in great time too in the stock full class. Tacoma - yes they are more tuned for a lighter duty loading, their payloads as an example are much lower than a hilux, but they generally are considered extremely durable even used off road. 200,000 miles is expected. Navara D40 (Frontier) - Frankly has been a surprise for me, they aren't as good off road as others but man what a bargain, and its been a durable and reliable vehicle for our traveling group. It may not work for long duration travel or less developed country but in the US Its been a very good bargain here that works shockingly well. Jeep - oh man Jeep. There is no better off-roader in the US (or anywhere) for the money but people don't realize how cheaply made Jeeps are. Its not a shock though, right? I mean a V6 dual solid axle 4x4 starting at $24,000 US? Jeep buyers...what do you expect for your money? Crazy resale for some reason too, its not like they are rare or anything. Raptor - have you heard something about a 3.0 diesel Raptor? Because this is literally the first time I've even heard that rumored. Interesting if true. Yes to the F150, but I hadn't heard about the raptor. As for the F150 being too big? it is. It really is too big for many trails in the US, its too wide. As for brand loyalty? Totally agree. Anyone thats being doing this for a while knows that brand loyalties are garbage.

i would take your content and years and years of experience with high regard and trust on your judgement when im going to purchase a 4x4. great video again thanks

80 series landcruiser - best 4x4 ever

Interesting to me that in the U.S. The manual transmission is becoming nearly non-existent. Toyota Tacoma it's available, but it's cousin the 4Runner it hasn't been since 2003. It really is disappointing. I have always preferred the manual. Many of the people I work with don't even know how to drive one. I jokingly tell the story about teaching my wife to drive an automatic as she had only driven a manual. (A humorous story). Now we only own auto gearboxes simply due to availability here in the U.S. We just feel neutered. - thanks for all your videos!

Excellent video. As a Landrover fanboy I recently stepped out and bought a Lexus LX470 and preparing it as an overland vehicle. I love the build quality of this car.

Drove a Avis Safari, Ford Ranger around Zimbabwe, with roof top tents and it was an awesome vehicle

Please look into the Nissan Titan XD with the Cummins Turbo Diesel for a US Expedition vehicle. Best of luck and keep up the great work.

Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9l V8 ? Bang for your buck (second hand) and that Hemi V8 is classic motor. Has any one converted that for over landing. Would have to replace rear axles with Dana 44 if going hard core but I think could be a great vehicle.

My favourite quote relating to this subject is by James May. He said something like: If you want to drive into the backcountry you drive a Land Rover; if you want to drive out of the backcountry you drive a Land cruiser.

I just came across your channel. This is such a priceless resource for anyone planning to drive in the bush.