Dating all the way back to the Neolithic Era, humans and their descendants have climbed aboard their Mammoths and ridden off the beaten path, or something. In recent years, Overlanding and Off-Grid camping have seen a massive rise in popularity as more and more people are modifying their vehicles to allow them to get away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan areas and unplug and relax in all the glorious places the world has to offer. In reality the biggest tangible thing that stops people from living their Overlanding dreams is their budget. I can't build an Overland vehicle I don't have $40,000 for a truck and another $20,000 for accessories. Stop it, stop it right now. There is not an income level required for to enjoy Overlanding. So in the spirit of Budget Overland lets talk about some of the most obtainable vehicles for Overlanding on a Budget and a few select modifications that can add to the reliability, capability and comfort levels while enjoying your time away. As a requirement these vehicles will be under $10,000. So what are some features you want when you start searching for an off-road/overland type of vehicle. As a general rule lets start looking at features/traits the vehicle should have that aren't cost effective to add later.
Availability - When searching for the best overland vehicle for you, availability is ultimately going to determine both the price and ease of finding a healthy specimen to meet your needs. This often determines aftermarket support levels as well.
AWD/4WD - In order to safely traverse many off-road areas even with very mild terrain it is both safer and more efficient to be able to self recover and simply have more control over the vehicle. While 4WD is more preferable there are many examples of capable AWD systems some of which might be mentioned in this article later. As an extremely basic explanation of AWD vs 4WD, AWD systems are generally controlled by the vehicle and typically default to FWD until the computer determines it needs to transfer power to the rear. 4WD is a driver controlled system that when engaged, sends full power to both axles.
Ground Clearance - While naturally this can often be altered due to equipment installed on the vehicle (lower the available clearance due to weight) this characteristic of the vehicle is generally a good indication of it's capability to traverse rough terrain or obstacles. (a change in tire size or suspension may improve clearance as well)
Sustainability - This is something that truly can be forgotten about when it comes to the excitement of your new build. You've found something that fits everything you need and your first trip out, you break something. Now you can't find parts. For our list we think it's fair to mention and should be expected that you will need to repair your vehicle at some point and parts availability is a deciding factor in whether that vehicle is right for you.
Now some of the more plush features that you may want to consider but aren't mandatory for your rig are some of the OEM tech upgrades.
Descent Control - Each manufacturer has their own name for this feature but they all typically function in a similar manner. This system will use some combination of computer controlled brake applications and engine braking (locking the torque converter and maintaining a lower gear "higher rpm" scenario to drag the speed down).
Crawl Control - This is something that will likely only be present on newer vehicles and we really only are mentioning it because there may be some high mileage vehicles coming down into this price range and we want to be inclusive of things that might be considered.
THE BEST BUDGET OVERLAND VEHICLES (sub $10,000)
Toyota 4Runner (1990-2010)
The 4Runner has been an off-road and overlanding favorite since the beginning of time. Highly available, featuring 4WD and great aftermarket support means this is a strong contender.
PROS
Body on Frame design (rugged/durable) pick up truck durable
Reliability is well above average
Huge Aftermarket Support, almost everyone makes parts for these
Great Interior Cargo space, this will keep all your gear clean, dry and warm
CONS
Above average price
Not particularly fuel efficient
Earlier years are down on power
Toyota Tacoma (1995-2010)
The Toyota Tacoma is a staple of the off-road and truck market. Known for excellent reliability and it's ability to simply soldier on in the face of absolutely inhumane treatment that would destroy lesser vehicles.
PROS
Body on Frame design (rugged/durable)
Strong record for reliability
Tons of Aftermarket Support, everyone makes parts for these
Truck Bed utility, this helps with cargo storage in a cramped cabin
CONS
Very Slow, even more so once you load them up with
Average Fuel Economy, expect it to go down when you add tires and gear
Limited Cabin Space, this can be somewhat compensated for with the truck bed
Subaru Outback (1995-2016)
The Subaru Outback is a stalwart in the automotive world for both safety and mild off-road capability. With a few simple modifications it's supremely capable.
PROS
Reliable and very stable in adverse weather conditions (Symmetrical AWD)
More refined ride than body on frame vehicles
Fuel Efficient
Loads of interior cabin space
CONS
Less extensive aftermarket options
Does not have a selectable 4WD system but does have AWD
Unable to supply the same clearance and approach/departure angles as the truck based options on the list
Mitsubishi Montero (1991-2006)
The Montero is the most obscure choice on our list but it simply falls into the list because it's a budget friendly and very capable option. The Montero even managed to carry Mitsubishi to a ton of Dakar Rally victories during it's time in the spotlight.
PROS
Later models had part-time 4WD and beefier unibody
Affordable pricing
Racing pedigree
CONS
Poor parts availability
Reliability is fair at best
Availability of vehicles is not ideal
Subaru Crosstrek (2013-2018)
The Crosstrek is one of the newest vehicles on our list and makes a strong showing as a daily driver and overlanding budget rig. With typical Subaru reliability (non turbo) and Symmetrical AWD it's a strong offering. (We limited model year to 2013-2018 to stay in the price range but there are plenty of newer ones as well)
PROS
Reliable and very stable in adverse weather conditions (Symmetrical AWD)
Most fuel efficient vehicle on our list 28mpg city and 33mpg hwy
Almost 9" of ground clearance on a unibody crossover is outstanding
Good aftermarket support and still in production
CONS
Unibody construction not as rugged as body on frame choices
Limited payload and towing capability
Low on power and no low-range gear box
Nissan Xterra (2005-2015)
The often forgotten Nissan Xterra is a phenomenal addition to the list as the Pro4x option included additional factory lighting, had an option of automatic or 6 speed manual transmission, skid plates, locking rear diff and descent control.
PROS
Body on frame durability
Options of Manual or Automatic transmission
Good Cabin storage space
Hill Descent mode on Auto Trans models
CONS
Poor Aftermarket parts availability
Poor fuel economy
Mediocre reliability
Toyota Tundra (1999-2013)
The Tundra is an easily distinguishable truck and overlanding vehicle. With previous generations utilizing the venerable iForce V8, it isn't uncommon to see Tundra's exceed records of one million miles on the odometer.
PROS
Excellent OEM quality parts available in the form of TRD upgrades
Tons of aftermarket support from various companies
V8 Power and Sound (Mash that skinny pedal)
Reliability is the best on our list
CONS
Newer models are LARGE making some smaller trails difficult
Fuel economy that you would expect from a V8
Lower ball joints are made of wet noodles
Toyota Land Cruiser (1990-2004)
The Land Cruiser is an absolute staple of the overlanding and off-roading world. Solid axles and tons of interior space mean you have the capability to get where you need with all the gear you want.
PROS
Toyota reliability
Great aftermarket support across the year range
Solid Axles
CONS
Abysmal fuel economy
Heavy
Ford Excursion (2000-2005)
The Excursion is an absolute battleship of a rig. There is quite literally room for your entire family, the dogs and all your gear inside the truck. It's simply enormous. It is both the largest and heaviest on our list. It's quite literally a Ford Super Duty that has it's bed converted to more cabin space.
PROS
7.3 and 6.0 Diesel variants have massive torque and respond well to mods
Solid fuel economy +20mpg particularly for the size
Excellent towing capacity
Massive interior cabin space
CONS
Higher prices due to the desire for diesel SUV's
HUGELY heavy, nearly 8000lbs curb weight
Massive exterior dimensions, smaller trails are not your friend
Jeep Cherokee XJ (1984-2001)
The Jeep Cherokee XJ is the last vehicle we have on our list however, it's certainly not the least. With a generational span that even Toyota would be proud of, from 1984-2001 the XJ (Experimental Jeep) was built and a legend was born.
PROS
Abundant supply of vehicles and parts
Super reliable 4.0 engine
Decent storage space
CONS
Weak tie-rods
Door hinges have been known to droop
If you made it to the end, hopefully you took a few notes and have a better idea of some prospective overlanding vehicles to go hunt for. If you decided you liked this article let us know. We just wanted to be able to show you that overlanding is not exclusive to people with higher incomes. It can 100% be done with a craigslist second vehicle or even your daily driver if it has some of the desired traits.
- Overland Industries