4x4 & Rock Crawling Trends - Low is the new "Massey"

RamToy

Wickha Wickha Wa
Location
West Jordan, UT
As far as what is next. I dont know. I dont do this enough to create the next best thing in rockcrawling / offroad. I just copy what works and apply it to my application. Seems to be the easiest. The low CG was a big step for me though.
 

krazz1e

Registered User
baja and rock buggy? I don't know. I think the terrain is just so different it's hard to have it all. You either are a master in 1 or just good in all.

if you want it all, you must have 3 rides. Rockbuggy, Mudbogger and an Expedition Wheeler :)

rockcrawlers want to be exp wheelers, exp wheelers want to be rockcrawlers and mudboggers, well no one wants to be them!
 

Bart

Registered User
Location
Arm Utah
Bart as for the scratches, Rattle can paint job it is the only way to go or Rhino line it.

Yeah, that's not going to happen. It's too nice. I'd rather sell it and buy a buggy, and come out money ahead. I just lose the expedition stuff, but I don't do much of that anyway.
 

78mitsu

Registered User
I think the next evolution will be the commercialization of rock-crawlers, the street-legal tube chassis based rig with replacable aluminum panels, full glass, high end axles, chevy powertrain, AC/heat, removable fenders with all the crawling goodies for ~$32,000, 3yr/3000 mile warranty. Buy it from the dealer and wheel it on the way home.
 

78mitsu

Registered User
You mean like a grunt?:ugh:

yes, but *more* commercialized like a chevy-corona or a dodge-whatever. The sport is becoming popluar enough that I bet you could move 6000-7000units/year. I'm pretty sure that I would never buy one, but a lot of people would buy a factory built rig over a $30,000 jeep then add $10k for aftermarket goodies, and the warranty may apply.
 

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
I think the next evolution will be the commercialization of rock-crawlers, the street-legal tube chassis based rig with replacable aluminum panels, full glass, high end axles, chevy powertrain, AC/heat, removable fenders with all the crawling goodies for ~$32,000, 3yr/3000 mile warranty. Buy it from the dealer and wheel it on the way home.

I don't know about street legal, but it sounds like you're describing a Terra Cruzer-

20060830110158_1.jpg


http://www.terracruzer.com/

You can get them with a Cummins 4BT. :greg:
 

ID Bronco

Registered User
Location
Idaho Falls, ID
That is way cool. Wow.

In the disclaimer it says it is a trailer queen. Not to be driven on streets. No specs on drivetrain, but the diesel would be cool.
 
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Houndoc

Registered User
Location
Grantsville
Terracruzer is very cool. Needs to be street legal, however.

Based just on posts here (not just this thread), I would agree that increased versitility is big. I.E. expidition/camping but still highly capable crawler and street legal to get to the trails. The big tire/less lift idea fits into that, as does the 'guilty pleasure' thread that is almost entirely mid-size to full size rigs.

No one vehicle is perfect at everything, and people are learning to accept that.
 
I think it's funny how quickly this hobby changes, I have no idea what's coming next. Seems like a lot of the technology trickled down from the competition scene, but those vehicles have become so specialized that those rigs (mostly Moon buggies) are no fun for the average trail. I don't know that the competition guys have much else to offer to the average wheeler.

The trend for a low CG and still running big 38"+ tires is neat, it only makes sense. It's amazing how long it took everyone to figure that one out. I don't know that my TJ will qualify as a 'low' rig, but at least it's not going to be sporting 8" of lift like many others have.

I'd like to see more 'dual sport' rigs... whatever brand you prefer, but something that could handle driving down the beaches of Baja one weekend, wheelin in Moab the next, and hitting the highway in comfort at 80 MPH in between. I'd love something like that... matter of fact, I have my own plan. mabey I'll post up about it. :D Thread here.

Hmmm...by the time I get mine running I'll be back in style.

EZ's scrambler got 17mpg the last time he drove it to the Swell, at 75mph. 37's, locked and all that. He could do the beaches of Baja and the rocks of Moab, along with the forests of Tillamook.

When the Green is done (and the tow rig paid off) I'll focus on a built 4dr JK Rubi...that will do most of the stuff I like to do. In my mind, a JK with 37's is kind of where evolution has brought the sport. Low, big tires, comfortable and capable.

Where's it gonna go next? Towards rigs that can do it all...as specialized rigs get better, the carry over continues.

That's what I think, anyway.
 
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ricsrx

Well-Known Member
Well its been 3 years since this thread stopped, how far off, right on, or do we still have the same dilemma in the search for the perfect rig...
 
Same dilemma....kind of.

First: Weird to read through the thread, then read my own post, and then realize that it was 3 years ago. Super funny to read Bart's stuff :rofl:
Second: While I still want a 4dr JK, I'm not in a big hurry to get one. X almost paid off, but when it is, I am more interested in paying off other junk. The Green gets driven to work a couple days each week, the X gets driven on the weekends (cabin, towing jeep, camping). The two rigs are keeping me pretty happy (and tire-poor)

Oddly, the first post in this thread describes how I built the Freak in the first place: slapped on 38's with the least amount of lift possible. I slowly added lift until I quit dragging in the middle. Now, ironically, it's too high.
 

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
I'm trying to make my pile more streetable with the 40" MT/Rs. Detroit Locker coming right up.


Oh.....I just put "crusher" type corners on it. I LOVE how it looks without flares. I don't know what to do as I REALLY don't want flares on it.
 

rockreligious

NoEcoNaziAmmo
Location
Ephraim
the future I see is , gas or natural gas powered motor that powers a hydro trans, each wheel powered individualy like some heavy equiptment, hydro steer, coilover suspension with hydro adjust ride(like stumps) hydro wheelbase adjustment, hydro sway lockup, so you could go from crawl to baja, fully adjustable rig packaged in a completely streetable, safe rig small enough for most trail large enough for four passengers.
 

Max Power

Bryce
Location
Sandy
It is funny to revisit the past. I know people that have tried to build dual purpose rigs and have regretted it. The only way to be truely happy with your different hobbies such as rock crawling, expedition or weekend camping is to have different vehicles built for different purposes. Everyone I know that has dumped their rock crawler to build a dual purpose rig has regretted it. For the future I see more people getting back into building affordable rock rigs that they are not afraid to scratch. I predict that people will get tired of the backcountry expedition wheeling fast and return to the rocky trails where you see more action.
 

BCGPER

Starting Another Thread
Location
Sunny Arizona
Strange you should mention that....

Two things I swore I would never do is have a green Jeep, or one of those butt ugly four door Jeep wanna be's.

(I'm so ashamed now) :D


Same dilemma....kind of.

First: Weird to read through the thread, then read my own post, and then realize that it was 3 years ago. Super funny to read Bart's stuff :rofl:
Second: While I still want a 4dr JK, I'm not in a big hurry to get one. X almost paid off, but when it is, I am more interested in paying off other junk. The Green gets driven to work a couple days each week, the X gets driven on the weekends (cabin, towing jeep, camping). The two rigs are keeping me pretty happy (and tire-poor)

Oddly, the first post in this thread describes how I built the Freak in the first place: slapped on 38's with the least amount of lift possible. I slowly added lift until I quit dragging in the middle. Now, ironically, it's too high.
 
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