Operation: OVERLAND VX

[Ala5ka]

I have recently gotten into overlanding since I went to some EXPO events with the guys from Expedition Portal. I have decided to do one part Camel Trophy, one part VX madness. This may take me some time as I am an underpaid gunsmith. The plans, Roof Top Tent, OME lift, custom build rear door w/tire carrier, drawer system w/water, compressor, and fridge, tube bumper to match my tube bumper, Lightforce lights, shocks, limit straps, hydro bump stops, sliders, rear locker, reupholstered seats.
Also I'm stripping all of the unnecessary weight from the vehicle to mitigate mechanical failure.

I know this sounds ambitious and I'm not sure when it will all come to fruition but most of the work can be done by yours truly. The tube work, and upholstery I can do (dad's an upholsterer) I will post as much as I can when I can but this will be the all en companying build thread.

I am starting out with an almost stock 99' Astral 58Kmi. Hoping to make it a super reliable off road truck that I can launch adventures and hunting trips from for years to come.

[workmeistr]

This could get intetesting. Good luck and I look forward to following this.

[Marlin]

Very cool, I am doing a trailer setup, I just don't think the VX has the space as an expedition setup. If I were going full boat on the vehicle, I would find a nice 2nd gen trooper. The 3.2l is more reliable and no pesky TOD electronics to worry about failing. A trailer on the otherhand, you can leave behind if you had to, and no worries about breaking down the tent in order to move the vehicle for whatever reason.
I am ordering a max coupler (marketed by Kilby) allows crazy rotation on 2 axis and regardless of trailer orientation relative to vehicle. I am starting with a Lifetime Sahara trailer, sitting in my garage right now


Adding some VX rims with 30" tires, will move the fenders as needed, evaluating new leaf springs to raise the trailer further above the axle, but I may not need to.
10 Gal RV water tank above the axle, flexible solar panel kits are getting cheaper. I was thinking of using a projector screen style retractor or an outdoor blind retractor as the storage device, then just pull em out when needed.

This will be my summer project, coupled with the VX bumper.
I wish you luck and will be glued to this project thread!

[Ala5ka]

found a local Tepui tent retailer so I'm getting a cheaper lightweight rig, traveling down to Homer to maybe pick one up soon

[spaceCADETzoom]

Please take pictures; I've been eyeing that Tepui this very last week. Funny how I find interest in things on this forum works in batches, independently.

[VXorado]

I was looking at some tents a while back and found a pic of VX with a roof top tent. Kinda killed the dream because the tent footprint seems too big for a narrow VX roof.

Looks like a big square box on the roof. Maybe they make smaller versions.

[BigSwede]

While I'm not a big fan of overlanding trailers, I think Marlin has a point - for the space-limited VX it might be a good option...a RTT on a VX just seems wrong anyway

Either way I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

[Ala5ka]

Did some stuff...

[CoastieCosta567]

Love the cutting table, great idea. And the black hood .

[RabidPony]

Looks great man. If I may, I'd make one small suggestion. Move the support line for the table top to that inner corner to give yourself more room to work. If necessary, you could add one in the same spot on the opposite side and still have more room.

[bigblock8396375]

Looks great!!! Very creative.

[Ala5ka]

Thanks for the encouragement guys, the string is temporary until I figure put a better way to hang the board. We are for sure going down to San Diego next April in it. The roof top tent comes next week and the vinyl wrap should be done in a couple weeks.

[VXorado]

I like the Hellas.


Have you picked out the vinyl wrap yet?

[Ala5ka]

The wrap will say VEHIcrossAmerica with a mountain scene, and a list of the sponsors, it is being wrapped by Chance of MobiNet Designs one of my sponsors

[JoFotoz]

SWEET.....

We are for sure going down to San Diego next April in it. .

..please come visit

Jo