Vehicles that can handle nearly every terrain are some of the most admired vehicles in the world. Yes, it’s cool to drive a fast, loud and powerful race car on a track that has been smoothed out and perfected to give the racers the best chance of a great run, but when the terrain is not to be trusted and the ride can be rough there are only some vehicles you can use. Whether you want to make a desert run or take your vehicle on some of the trails in your area to find a remote location and sit on top of a mountain there are some vehicles that make the job much easier.
Toyota Land Cruiser – Not only is this a large and in charge vehicle on the paved roads but it makes for one of the most impressive off road monsters ever made. The 5.7-liter V8 gives you 381 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission to be able to handle 1,320 pounds of payload and tow up to 8,000 pounds behind the vehicle to get where you need to go.
Volvo XC70 Cross Country – This nameplate has been the wagon of choice that now looks more like it is a small SUV than a wagon. Not only will you love the awesome safety of the Volvo but with AWD this wagon can give you plenty of drivability and a massive cargo capacity while you do still enjoy good fuel mileage. This makes for a great choice when the next fuel stop is unknown.
VW Beetle – We aren’t talking about the cute Beetle you see on the road now, but the ones from the original era that were transformed into Baha beasts that could easily tame the desert. These cars were fun because they were so easy to upgrade and enjoy for just about any owner. Even though there wasn’t a lot of horsepower these cars were efficient and capable to give you a car that is a lot of fun.
Subaru Forester – Subaru is the king of the AWD system and when you add the reliability factor of the Forester this is a vehicle that will take you anywhere. Using the 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission the 8.7 inches of ground clearance and good suspension travel can make short work of a desert or a forest floor, whichever you happen to be faced with.
Hummer H1 – While this monstrosity is no longer made it is one of the most capable off road vehicles ever made. Standing a full sixteen inches off the ground and riding on 37-inch tires this was one vehicle that could handle rolling through a river or for taking on the desert dunes. Originally built for the US military the Hummer has been one of the most reliable vehicles that is ready to take a beating.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited– Nearly every version of the Jeep Wrangler has been at the top of the list when it comes to travelling over treacherous terrain. The perfected entry and exit angles of the wheel base make it a hard vehicle to strand, which is a great benefit when you need something that can roll over boulders or move through a swamp.
Toyota Hilux Pickup 4WD – This model that was built from 1971-1985 is one that was one of the most durable and reliable 4WD vehicles ever made. With this beauty you could handle nearly everything in your path. This truck rode high and had strong leaf springs to handle the suspension needs in some of the worst conditions you could imagine taking a vehicle and being able to survive.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class – Even in a market filled with rounded corners and no sharp edges the G-Class continues to look like someone cut it out of a cardboard box. This is a vehicle that has been trusted by those who had miles of desert to travel in the Middle East, making it a vehicle that has proven its worth. One of the most popular variations has six 37-ich tires to roll on in the G63 model.
Suzuki Samurai – For many years Suzuki made some impressive small SUVs and this is one had a wheelbase of a little less than eighty inches which made it hard to get stuck anywhere. With a light weight and a good set of tires this was one of the most agile vehicles on the road that carried a reliable 4WD ride and could make the run across a desert or a canyon ridge with ease.
Ford Raptor – This vehicle is made for the desert but is perfectly happy tackling other rough terrain as well. The suspension allows for eleven inches of wheel travel up front and thirteen in the rear. Using the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 that is matched with a ten-speed automatic this truck feels like it belongs anywhere except on the road, which is perfect for your rough terrain travels.
Land Rover Defender – The entire Land Rover lineup was born to be great vehicles that performed perfectly on farms and ranches around the world, which means that even since 1948 these beasts were meant to be off the paved road. The Defender has been the name of the largest and most heavy duty of these vehicles for many years and it hasn’t met a terrain it couldn’t quickly tame.
Isuzu Trooper – This beast of burden could handle the job and carry you and your passengers. The suspension on this big SUV offers an independent front and coil spring setup in the rear. The wheel travel was perfect for driving in the desert or on any rough area of the world. The later models used a four wheels drive system that made this vehicle capable of nearly every challenge on the planet.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4WD – Even though this is a cargo van it could actually make a drive across the desert and bring lots of supplies along the way. Using 4WD for control and offering a payload of 3,000 pounds there isn’t much you couldn’t put in the van. The suspension lift will surprise you and give you a ride that will make sure you get from one side of the plains to the other with minimal issues.
Ram Power Wagon – This is the name given to one of the most capable trucks in the off road areas. This nameplate was used more than ten years ago and the new one gives you an awesome 4WD to give you the power and the capability you want. With the massive 6.4-liter Hemi V8 you can have 410 horsepower and massive 33-inch tires underneath this is a fun truck to take on your travels.
Mitsubishi Montero – As the Montero grew it gained more space and capabilities to eventually be more than adequate to make a run across some rough riding areas of the world. Using adjustable shocks you could choose your ride quality which would make it so you could have a soft, medium or hard ride depending upon the rugged terrain you have chosen for your Montero.
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