XMtnman02193
Test Drive
- Location
- US
To quote naturalist John Muir, "The mountains are calling, and I must go."
I was born and raised in Southeast Ohio for about 13 years, until my family decided to move to Southeast Idaho. We lived there for about 6 years, and due to unfortunate circumstances, had to move back to Ohio. The one thing I missed more than anything, has always been the mountains. I loved taking the forest service and blm roads in my old Jeep. I would spend my weekends in the mountains until the snowfall would make them impassable unless by snowmobile. Anyway, after moving to Ohio, I got my uncles 1986 Toyota 4runner, and used it to explore some of the backroads in our area. Then after 230xxx miles, the original head gasket gave way.
Enter my 1997 Jeep Cherokee, dubbed "The Yeti".
3 inch lift, 31s, and a few other things here and there. The original plans were to began a slow overland type build. But unfortuanately, it came to an unfortunate demise.
Got rear-ended while I was waiting for a car to turn off the road by some one doing 60mph plus. I was the only one in the vehicle, and crawled out the passenger side. Apart from neck and shoulder pain and a few cuts, I was ok.
Enter the 2000 Subaru Legacy Gt wagon.
Began planning a little unconventional overland rig build with this. 2 inch lift, roof top tent were the big plans. Owned this for about a year, and took it on the first big trip, up to the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. What a trip it was. Amazing and beautiful area. It has me hooked to keep coming back.
Dolly Sods Wilderness
Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia.
So after leaving and coming home, about two days after the trip, the Subaru started overheating and I didn't feel like messing with it, and decided it wasn't really suited for the Overlanding I wanted to accomplish. So enter the 2001 Xterra.
Not even 24 hours into owning it, and had it on a trail.
Oh how much I missed the trails.
First "mod", removing side steps and lower mud flaps.
Then another backroad run.
Plans are:
-snorkel
-lockers
-sliders
-roof top tent
-front bumper & winch
-rear tire carrier
-gobi hatch ladder
-rear drawer system
-upgraded shocks
It has the ground clearance I'd like to have already, and also has 31s on it already, so I'm fine with that. I'm hoping to come back and pick up where I left off with my overland Cherokee build plans. This is going to be a slow build, pending funds are they become available, so bear with me!
I was born and raised in Southeast Ohio for about 13 years, until my family decided to move to Southeast Idaho. We lived there for about 6 years, and due to unfortunate circumstances, had to move back to Ohio. The one thing I missed more than anything, has always been the mountains. I loved taking the forest service and blm roads in my old Jeep. I would spend my weekends in the mountains until the snowfall would make them impassable unless by snowmobile. Anyway, after moving to Ohio, I got my uncles 1986 Toyota 4runner, and used it to explore some of the backroads in our area. Then after 230xxx miles, the original head gasket gave way.
Enter my 1997 Jeep Cherokee, dubbed "The Yeti".
3 inch lift, 31s, and a few other things here and there. The original plans were to began a slow overland type build. But unfortuanately, it came to an unfortunate demise.
Got rear-ended while I was waiting for a car to turn off the road by some one doing 60mph plus. I was the only one in the vehicle, and crawled out the passenger side. Apart from neck and shoulder pain and a few cuts, I was ok.
Enter the 2000 Subaru Legacy Gt wagon.
Began planning a little unconventional overland rig build with this. 2 inch lift, roof top tent were the big plans. Owned this for about a year, and took it on the first big trip, up to the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. What a trip it was. Amazing and beautiful area. It has me hooked to keep coming back.
Dolly Sods Wilderness
Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia.
So after leaving and coming home, about two days after the trip, the Subaru started overheating and I didn't feel like messing with it, and decided it wasn't really suited for the Overlanding I wanted to accomplish. So enter the 2001 Xterra.
Not even 24 hours into owning it, and had it on a trail.
Oh how much I missed the trails.
First "mod", removing side steps and lower mud flaps.
Then another backroad run.
Plans are:
-snorkel
-lockers
-sliders
-roof top tent
-front bumper & winch
-rear tire carrier
-gobi hatch ladder
-rear drawer system
-upgraded shocks
It has the ground clearance I'd like to have already, and also has 31s on it already, so I'm fine with that. I'm hoping to come back and pick up where I left off with my overland Cherokee build plans. This is going to be a slow build, pending funds are they become available, so bear with me!