TheVagabondMBA
Observer
I’ve been visiting this site for about a year, but never joined or posted. I decided today was the day to change that. (Also, not sure if this should stay in this Toyota sub-forum or in another vehicles sub-forum...)
My wife and I are musicians with a passion for the outdoors and geology. Over the last 5 years we’ve traveled the country playing music, hounding for rocks and camping in the most remote locations we could get to. For awhile we were traveling in a 1996 lifted Dodge B Van named Delores. She was equipped with a modular bed, storage, refrigeration and solar as well as a 2” lift and 30” firestones. As great as Delores was, she only averaged about 10MPG w/o gear.
Last year we ended up selling Delores and using the cash to purchase a 2008 Highlander Sport from the original owner, my dad. The Highlander was not my first choice for a new vehicle, but my dad was in a hurry to sell and we needed a vehicle that met our touring needs:
• Seats at least 4 adults, a dog and lots of gear
• Gets over 20 MPG
• Can tow a trailer/toy hauler/ camper
• Reliability of a Toyota
After driving the Highlander for about a year I seriously considered trading it in for a 4runner, Tacoma or even Sequoia. But each time I would go to look at one the dealer would lowball my trade-in offer or the loan terms were never quite right. Long story short, I decided to just keep the highlander and see just how expedition-worthy it can be. I know it’s not the best platform for building an off-road rig (it’s basically just a tall Camry with 4WD), but it still has a lot of things that I was looking for in another vehicle plus I’ve already paid it off.
I’ve decided to name the project The Brolander and I’ve been working on it for the last 2 weeks. So far all I’ve done is rhino-line the bumpers and fender wells, installed a roof rack and installed some recovery tow hitches.
I’ve also ordered a set of King Springs 40mm lift springs, Monroe extended travel shocks, bull bar, Hella Rally lights, Black Oak LED Bar, roof rack canopy and gas tank mount for the rear hatch. (Check this thread in a few weeks to see what it looks like when all of this is installed.)
Other plans for the Brolander include:
• Modular bed with storage and a slide-out cooktop (going in place of the 3rd row seat)
• Fabricate an aluminum skidplate
• More lighting
• Larger roof rack that can support a tent and more toys
• Downsize 19” wheels to 17” wheels with 255/75/17 A/T Tires
Not 100% sure how to do photos, but here are some photos from our first week-long rockhound trip to Wiley Wells and Quartzsite. The other photos are the rhino-line bumpers and TRD recovery hitches. The last photo is a Australian Kluger with the same King Springs Lift and 255/75/17 A/T Tires.
My wife and I are musicians with a passion for the outdoors and geology. Over the last 5 years we’ve traveled the country playing music, hounding for rocks and camping in the most remote locations we could get to. For awhile we were traveling in a 1996 lifted Dodge B Van named Delores. She was equipped with a modular bed, storage, refrigeration and solar as well as a 2” lift and 30” firestones. As great as Delores was, she only averaged about 10MPG w/o gear.
Last year we ended up selling Delores and using the cash to purchase a 2008 Highlander Sport from the original owner, my dad. The Highlander was not my first choice for a new vehicle, but my dad was in a hurry to sell and we needed a vehicle that met our touring needs:
• Seats at least 4 adults, a dog and lots of gear
• Gets over 20 MPG
• Can tow a trailer/toy hauler/ camper
• Reliability of a Toyota
After driving the Highlander for about a year I seriously considered trading it in for a 4runner, Tacoma or even Sequoia. But each time I would go to look at one the dealer would lowball my trade-in offer or the loan terms were never quite right. Long story short, I decided to just keep the highlander and see just how expedition-worthy it can be. I know it’s not the best platform for building an off-road rig (it’s basically just a tall Camry with 4WD), but it still has a lot of things that I was looking for in another vehicle plus I’ve already paid it off.
I’ve decided to name the project The Brolander and I’ve been working on it for the last 2 weeks. So far all I’ve done is rhino-line the bumpers and fender wells, installed a roof rack and installed some recovery tow hitches.
I’ve also ordered a set of King Springs 40mm lift springs, Monroe extended travel shocks, bull bar, Hella Rally lights, Black Oak LED Bar, roof rack canopy and gas tank mount for the rear hatch. (Check this thread in a few weeks to see what it looks like when all of this is installed.)
Other plans for the Brolander include:
• Modular bed with storage and a slide-out cooktop (going in place of the 3rd row seat)
• Fabricate an aluminum skidplate
• More lighting
• Larger roof rack that can support a tent and more toys
• Downsize 19” wheels to 17” wheels with 255/75/17 A/T Tires
Not 100% sure how to do photos, but here are some photos from our first week-long rockhound trip to Wiley Wells and Quartzsite. The other photos are the rhino-line bumpers and TRD recovery hitches. The last photo is a Australian Kluger with the same King Springs Lift and 255/75/17 A/T Tires.