If the wilderness is calling, you’ve got to answer. Prep one of these three SUVs for your overlanding adventures and spend days or weeks in the wilderness.
Overlanding is a deeper and more hardcore version of off-roading. Most off-roaders spend a few hours or the weekend in the wilderness and then come back to civilization. Those who prepare vehicles for overlanding adventures desire to spend more time in the wilderness and less time in civilization. With the idea of truly getting away from the grind for most of your time, these are the top SUVs for overlanding builds.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Right from the factory, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is built for driving deeper into the wilderness than most other vehicles. This Jeep SUV has standard front and rear locking differentials, an electronic sway bar disconnect, off-road shocks, and 33-inch all-terrain tires.
In addition to the quality off-road components, the list of Jeep features to customize your ride for overland travel is pretty extensive. You can purchase rooftop tents, create a wilderness-ready trailer that can become your home away from home, and set up the Wrangler Rubicon with all the gear you need for some long-term fun in the wilderness.
Land Rover Defender 110 SE
One of the top SUVs for overlanding has to be the Land Rover Defender. This luxury-laden SUV is a great place to spend time when you’re not tackling obstacles in your path. This new Defender was launched in Namibia, which is a sandy and dusty country with dirt flying everywhere. Despite this fact, the Land Rover kept the dirt out and made the drive more pleasant.
The Defender brings an impressive 8.9 inches of ground clearance with the coil suspension, but that figure increases to 11.5 inches when equipped with the air suspension. If you add a snorkel, this SUV can ford through deep water, making it easier to travel where other SUVs typically don’t go. Like the Wrangler, several impressive accessories are available to make the Defender the right SUV for deep forest adventures.
Toyota 4Runner
It’s hard to have a list of overlanding vehicles without the Toyota 4Runner in the mix. This rugged, tough, and spacious Toyota SUV can be the perfect vehicle for your long-term off-road adventures. There’s ample room in the enclosed cargo area to fit a large bed, making it one of the most comfortable SUVs for your time in the wilderness.
The 4Runner might have a dated design, but that’s not a bad thing. The TRD Pro trim packs the off-road features into the mix, making it easy to tackle some of the toughest trails you’ll find. The only negative of the current 4Runner is the antiquated powertrain. If you want the new hybrid model instead, you’ll have to wait for the next-gen 4Runner to arrive.
Ford Bronco
The latest version of the Ford Bronco can be one of the top SUVs for overlanding adventures. This SUV provides incredible power and everything you need right from the factory. In some trims, you’ll find a winch at the front and extra off-road gear, giving you the equipment to handle some of the toughest trails found during your ride.
The Ford Bronco returned to the market to challenge the Jeep Wrangler. So far, it’s done an amazing job of becoming one of the best choices among off-road SUVs. The Bronco comes in several trims with various levels of capability and equipment for your fun on the trails in the wilderness.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Although the Toyota FJ Cruiser isn’t a new vehicle, it’s still one of the best overlanding SUVs you’ll find. In fact, it’s likely you’ll find this Toyota SUV already set up for some fun in the sun with everything you need to stay away from home for several days or weeks.
Many versions of the Toyota FJ Cruiser came with a snorkel for water fording, a steel front bumper for a winch, and a large roof rack that’s perfect for your gear or a rooftop tent. Right out of the box, this Toyota SUV is almost ready to handle all of your overlanding fun. All you’ve got to do is figure out how you’ll use it and where your gear will fit.
These are some of the top SUVs for overlanding, made to handle the challenges of the wilderness with very few modifications. With the foundational elements in place, it should be pretty easy to fit everything you need into one of these SUVs as you get ready to get away from the grind, get off the grid, and leave the concrete jungle behind for a while.
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