Love the Defender!! I’ve always wanted one, but they are very hard to come by here.
My 1988 Toyota Hilux 4x4 is now worth more that twice what I paid 10 years ago. 230K miles on the original 22RE engine and just won’t quit! I did have to rebuild the 5 speed manual transmission as the PO had trashed it. It’s been on some pretty dodgy forest service roads
If I hadn’t gotten my RAV4 AWD in 2017, I wouldn’t have been able to access many of the summits I’ve activated since then. Many of the roads I’ve traveled to get to trails heads and such would not have been kind to a sedan ;-). The recent addition of all terrain tires also has helped. I am envious of those who have motorbikes and snowmobiles. If the SUV can’t drive it, then it’s hiking boots/snowshoes/ microspikes for me.
The funny thing is that 106 miles took all night, but in the meantime John Candy (I think) managed to answer the question “where are you?” with “We’re in a truck” and various other memorable scenes. I got a photo of myself next to the version with the speaker on the roof, at Warner Bros in LA, 2005. (And another next to the Delorian from Back to the Future). Ah, the memories!
Its 185mm groung clearance along with its AWD and selectable Low Speed gearset have helped me to get through amazingly steep and rough mountain tracks.
73,
They did sell the Hilux here, but they called it the ‘Pickup’. In North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck.
Mine is the last year of the 4th gen body. Absolutely indestructible vehicle, and very capable off road.
Working from smallest to largest (it’s all relative… ).
Trail Limo - I have had three run-ins with law enforcement officers due to this car being far, far away from it’s native paved roads! Note the Appalachian Trail blaze on the tree in front of the car.
Mibo Royal footbike with 20" wheels. It can be folded into a bag and taken on a bus, photo after GI/SM-017 activation. Using the front rack just for camping gear, it feels too bumpy for a radio, so it goes into the backpack.
Not SOTA, but this was Bulgaria on LZ/RO-001 - I left the radio on the snowmobile so it was disqualified but when I checked we hadn’t hit the activation zone either.
Must say 2m of snow on a snowmobile was a challenge however!