Originally Posted by salmonaediot

I guess I have a slightly different spin on expedition/overlanding. My obsession is "to go where there isn't anybody." I know this might make me sound like a whacko hermit to some, but I really enjoy taking my little family (wife, 17 YO son, dog) to secluded places in the mountains/desert/elsewhere where you run into few, if any other people. This means a couple of things.

First, I have to be completely self reliant. That means the appropriate gear, recovery equipment, tools, parts, etc. so that if I run into trouble, my chances are very good that I can handle it without help. I also carry a fully equipped expedition first aid kit, emergency rations, satellite phone, "survival stuff" and so forth. Besides equipment, there are necessary skills also- navigation, first aid, wilderness survival, etc. The attitude is to depend on only yourself, and prepare for the worst.

Second, to go where you seldom see other folks means there has to be a degree of difficulty in getting there. Easy traveling equates to crowds. The higher the degree of difficulty, the fewer people you cross paths with.

We did several multi week trips this year where we went 5-6 days without seeing another person. We had camps above tree line at 12,000 feet and at less than 5,000 feet on fairly large waterways. The common ingredient to our destinations is that they just aren't real easy to get to.

I am not a rock crawler per se, but I have had to do some pretty intense rock crawling from time to time to reach these areas. So a modest 2.5 inch lift and 35" MTs have served me well in that regard. I also rely greatly on my winch and don't hesitate to use it when things get dicey.

Please don't think of me as anti social. I am in a very socially intense business. Getting away to places like I am describing gives me balance. If I go too long with out getting a bit of solitude in beautiful country, the wilderness starts tugging at me. i told my wife last night I really wanted to go camping and her response was "Honey, it is 18 freaking degrees out right now!" True, but I know we won't run into any crowds!

Originally Posted by AcidRaiN

Nice looking rigs!!! This is the direction that I want my built to take!

I'd like to be able to go anywhere, in case the zombies come!

Originally Posted by GJeep

The Camel Trophy is a meticulously staged promotion for Rover.
The obstacles are staged to allow this specific vehicle - LAND ROVER DISCOVERY Tdi - to go through, and look dramatic on TV.
Throw real life unexpected obstacles at it, and it's stuck....
Please don't make the mistake of taking a well-staged TV series seriously.

Originally Posted by Mark Doiron

This is a really great question. I hope in my answer below that I don't hurt anyone's feelings or gore any sacred cows. Heck, we all build our own rigs as we want them to be, not as some hoser (me) wants it to be. And we all enjoy different things in what we do--rock crawling, expeditions, trips to the hunting cabin, getting the wife and kids safely to work and school, or just mall crawling. So, please take what I offer below with a big grain of salt--it's a reflection of what I enjoy about my Jeep, which may be entirely different from what you enjoy (though if you're reading this thread, I hope you appreciate where I'm coming from). So, with that ..

Originally Posted by Mark Doiron

Let's just agree to disagree. Please, by all means, build the rig of your dreams. And I'll build the one of mine. Mine is based on my experience wheeling with Land Rovers that were equipped more poorly than the Camel Back Trophy series trucks. They are quite capable vehicles. For expedition/overlanding. Not for rock crawling. From your writing, that seems to be where your interest is. Please, have fun doing it. As for me, I have a great many miles on my Jeep (114K), and at least half a dozen trips each year for the past seven doing the type of off-road travel I enjoy (and quite a few miles of rock crawling, as well). So, please don't act as if you know what suits me, and I will return the favor. I answered the original question, and in my very first paragraph (please see below) I asked for understanding if anyone felt I was goring their sacred cow. I now repeat that request: Please respect my opinions and experience (it's why I included the videos and photos).

Originally Posted by Dlampe

Mark, do you take a Pull Pal or something like that with you when you go on these trips? I am thinking about adding one. I can"t think of a time when I would be alone but I can think of plenty when I might be in front of the line. It might even be handy if you were stuck in the snow!

Originally Posted by Mark Doiron

Yes, it is difficult to get away from civilization here in the States, but difficult isn't impossible.

Originally Posted by salmonaediot

I guess I have a slightly different spin on expedition/overlanding. My obsession is "to go where there isn't anybody." ... I also carry a fully equipped expedition first aid kit, emergency rations, satellite phone, "survival stuff" and so forth. Besides equipment, there are necessary skills also- navigation, first aid, wilderness survival, etc.