My favorite overland rigs are those that provide maximum comfort in the smallest possible footprint. Recent examples of this winning combo include this 1993 Mercedes Puch 230GE High Roof Camper, a Toyota Troopcarrier, and a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78. These rigs are easy to drive, capable, relatively economical, and will fit in a shipping container. Yet they are big enough to stand up inside of and provide everything required to live comfortably on the road during all four seasons. Today’s 1987 Comanche is another great example, featuring a long list of premium modifications, a well-equipped camper, and a pop-top roof. If you’d like a better idea of the vehicle layout then check out this excellent full-tour of the rig on the Tiny Home Tours YouTube channel. The Comanche is also very capable as demonstrated on the TFL Classics Youtube channel in their video, Is a Cheap Jeep Comanche Better Than A Brand New $55,000 Gladiator? At $52,000 this is not a budget option, but it’s good value for a completely bespoke and proven expedition truck that has already driven “from Idaho to Alaska and down to the end of Baja and back.”
From the Seller:
“Well, it’s finally time to sell our Jeep Comanche. I built this in 2019 to travel the United States and try to convince my wife we could do the Pan American [Highway], but life had some other plans. Please feel free to ask any questions or send me a message—even if you’re not interested in buying it and want to chat about building something similar. The truck is a 1987 Jeep Comanche. I purchased a 1997 Cherokee and swapped over the doors, fenders, grill, full interior, and the newer ‘high-output’ engine.”
1987 Jeep Comanche
The Comanche is fitted with a 4.0-liter “high-output” motor that produces 190 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. Today’s seller states that the camper returns an average 11-13 mpg and will cruise comfortably at 65-70 mph on the highway. Once the tarmac ends, the Comanche is also very capable thanks to 4WD, high and low range, Warn locking hubs, rear limited-slip differential, and more.
Distinguishing Features
- Bilstein shocks, Rubicon Express 3-inch lift front coils, and rear 1-ton leaf springs with airbags
- Custom front bumper with Smittybilt winch
- Method wheels with BFGoodrich KM3 tires
- Snowmaster fridge, 85-liter
- BattleBorn battery, 100-amp with a second 100-amp hour battery and 200 watts of solar
- Arctic Tern windows with bug screens and blackout shades
This 1987 Jeep Comanche Pop-Top Camper is listed for $52,000 and is currently located in Bend, Oregon. Check the full vehicle specifications via the original Expedition Portal forum post here.
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