Hi guys first post on this website but been searching around here for a while and been on other sites for a while. This is also on expidition portal website as an introduction. Just love seeing what Pirate4x4 guys do and build so putting it here too. I'm an active duty Marine currently stationed in california. Wanting to build an expo rig but don't know which rig to build. I have an 08 GMC duramax that is about to get traded/sold for a reg cab duramax. My problem is this. Do i build my 4door 08 jeep wrangler for an expo rig/rock crawler/dd or build a newer reg cab diesel for a expo rig?

The 2500hd diesel already has the drivetrain and engine and frame to handle the gear and also can get a truck cap or hard tonneau to store gear securely. Plan on a rooftop tent like an ARB/Maggiolina style. Figure 37's and gears on a BDS hi-clearance lift and RCV axles for the front of the duramax just for security. Problem with this route is the size/weight of the rig but properly geared it will get better mpgs than the jeep (which sucks anyway) and could have up to a 95gal extra bed mounted tank for long trips. Already has dual batterys but the problem comes in with armor. F/R bumpers and rock sliders would be difficult to have made the way i would like them. The big bull bars that are made for the 2500hds are just way to bulky and heavy. Also skid plates would have to be custom made.

The 4door jk is an awesome rig that already has bumper/winch and lifted but the engine is horrible. Best i've found is 10500 for a hemi swap and that would have to be followed by f/r axles and dana 60's are about 10k too! Again the goal is to run 37's safely in back country and get some kind of descent mileage so i don't have to carry 5 gerry cans. But the positive of the jeep build is the fact that EVERYTHING is available for it. Except for a diesel...

So what would you guys build? Reg cab or JK? I still would like to take whatever vehicle to MOAB and Rubicon trail to wheel it and use it as a camping/expo rig. Thanks for hearing my long rant and all ideas/options will be appreciated.

And before anyone asks funding will be from selling the loaded out SLT duramax and buying a reg cab plus military moving money so either option won't be putting me in a financially risky situation. I do need to tow my 24ft car hauler back to SC in a year or so; so either way i'm getting the reg cab duramax. So limiting the potential expo duramax rig to 37s. Thanks guys.

Jordan

Also i'm keeping the jeep AND the reg cab either way just deciding which to build.

Suprised no one on here has posted. Someone has to have an opinion.

opinions are like assholes....

opinions are like assholes....

Everyone has one, and most of em stink :D

duramax all day long unless you have a plan to rock crawl or do a lot of tight trails with it.

find a small local fab shop to build the bumper you want. i would do extended cab or crew though. travelling in a regular cab truck sucks to me..

duramax all day long unless you have a plan to rock crawl or do a lot of tight trails with it.

find a small local fab shop to build the bumper you want. i would do extended cab or crew though. travelling in a regular cab truck sucks to me..

http://defiant.blogdns.com:5002/emoticons/yup.gif

You know my opinion.. I gave it to you on ExPo when you posted this same question. IMHO, keep the 4 door dmax and run with it.
Scott

Thanks guys. Especially you scott haha. You aren't the editor of overland journal are you?

What is a good price for DOM bumpers for F/R and rock sliders for a duramax? Never had anything fabbed up before always just bought jeep bumpers. Hopefully that won't get me hammered on here for not being a master welder haha. Want to learn but i'm a pilot and welding even with good helmets scares me. Plus the Corps probably wouldn't be too happpy if i fucked up my eyes after 3 years of flight schools...

Thanks guys. Especially you scott haha. You aren't the editor of overland journal are you?

Nope, that would be an awesome job.. but I don't have it LOL!

What is a good price for DOM bumpers for F/R and rock sliders for a duramax? Never had anything fabbed up before always just bought jeep bumpers. Hopefully that won't get me hammered on here for not being a master welder haha. Want to learn but i'm a pilot and welding even with good helmets scares me. Plus the Corps probably wouldn't be too happpy if i fucked up my eyes after 3 years of flight schools...

A good quality welding helmet will completely protect your eyes. Just make sure you have a dark enough shade for the welding amperage you are using. Welding manufacturers sites have charts that list what shade you need for different amperages. Most electronic helmets are adjustable, but you still need to know what shade level to set it on. Thats where the charts come in handy.

A good quality welding helmet will completely protect your eyes. Just make sure you have a dark enough shade for the welding amperage you are using. Welding manufacturers sites have charts that list what shade you need for different amperages. Most electronic helmets are adjustable, but you still need to know what shade level to set it on. Thats where the charts come in handy.

I've been wanting to take classes. I know there is a lot of info out there. I've been told it's not that bad but if it's going on a rig i'm taking out into the middle of nowhere i want it to be 100%. Plus some of my senior officers didn't think it was a good idea while i was learning to fly jets that i take classes learning to weld. I love flying planes (now the F-18) but jeeps and trucks are my passion. Just doesn't look good to be taking college classes while still learning to fly the hornet. And once i get the fleet (be heading to MCAS beaufort this fall) i'll have even more responsibilities and Marines to lead haha so probably won't have any time.

Maybe i should just put the jeep body on the dmax frame with a built suncoast tranny and trent nells new triple turbos haha.

I've been wanting to take classes. I know there is a lot of info out there. I've been told it's not that bad but if it's going on a rig i'm taking out into the middle of nowhere i want it to be 100%. Plus some of my senior officers didn't think it was a good idea while i was learning to fly jets that i take classes learning to weld. I love flying planes (now the F-18) but jeeps and trucks are my passion. Just doesn't look good to be taking college classes while still learning to fly the hornet. And once i get the fleet (be heading to MCAS beaufort this fall) i'll have even more responsibilities and Marines to lead haha so probably won't have any time.

Maybe i should just put the jeep body on the dmax frame with a built suncoast tranny and trent nells new triple turbos haha.

I envy you. i would have loved to fly fighter jets, but my eyesight was too poor even at the tender age of 18 to qualify for flight in any of the .mil branches. I ended up in the Army, rolling in vehicles rather than flying aircraft :( I did have the opportunity to fly both an F/A18 and an F-22 in simulators though. Not video games, mind you, but the real deal like you no doubt flew before getting in a real plane (It was at an ITSEC conference in Florida). I got shot down in both, but not before I got some kills :D I also got to fly the fully hydraulic, wraparound view AH-64 simulator. That one was cool, the pilots seat is about 12 feet in the air, supported on long hydraulic cylinders, with a bubble shaped screen wrapped around you, including below you. The computer projects images on the entire interior screen surface, and the hydraulics move the cockpit to simulate the motion the helicopter makes during maneuvers. It was about as close as you could get to the real thing. Best part was, it was all free :smokin:

I envy you. i would have loved to fly fighter jets, but my eyesight was too poor even at the tender age of 18 to qualify for flight in any of the .mil branches. I ended up in the Army, rolling in vehicles rather than flying aircraft :( I did have the opportunity to fly both an F/A18 and an F-22 in simulators though. Not video games, mind you, but the real deal like you no doubt flew before getting in a real plane (It was at an ITSEC conference in Florida). I got shot down in both, but not before I got some kills :D I also got to fly the fully hydraulic, wraparound view AH-64 simulator. That one was cool, the pilots seat is about 12 feet in the air, supported on long hydraulic cylinders, with a bubble shaped screen wrapped around you, including below you. The computer projects images on the entire interior screen surface, and the hydraulics move the cockpit to simulate the motion the helicopter makes during maneuvers. It was about as close as you could get to the real thing. Best part was, it was all free :smokin:

Max simulators are sweet because you can just hop in and don't have to study for years haha. Plus you don't have to worry about dying for real! My dad though he was so cool when he landed on the aircraft carrier in the sim his second try. I told him go to the real boat solo and try it haha. That 800ft carrier looks small at 130kts. But max let's be real...ground guys are the MAIN effort in any war. I know my place in the world and that is just the fact that i am expensive artillery haha:evil:

I've been wanting to take classes. I know there is a lot of info out there. I've been told it's not that bad but if it's going on a rig i'm taking out into the middle of nowhere i want it to be 100%. Plus some of my senior officers didn't think it was a good idea while i was learning to fly jets that i take classes learning to weld. I love flying planes (now the F-18) but jeeps and trucks are my passion. Just doesn't look good to be taking college classes while still learning to fly the hornet. And once i get the fleet (be heading to MCAS beaufort this fall) i'll have even more responsibilities and Marines to lead haha so probably won't have any time.

Maybe i should just put the jeep body on the dmax frame with a built suncoast tranny and trent nells new triple turbos haha.

Most every Marine base I have been stationed on has a well supplied Auto hobby center and people who know how to weld :D

I am building my JK as my "everything" rig and building a trailer for my living space.

. But the positive of the jeep build is the fact that EVERYTHING is available for it. Except for a diesel...

they have diesels for jeeps, my aunt bought a bone stock diesel jeep patriot from a dealer like 2 years ago


. Maybe i should just put the jeep body on the dmax frame with a built suncoast tranny and trent nells new triple turbos haha.


Dont ever do this, then instead of having 2 nice rigs you would have 1 rig put together that aint supposed to be together, in my opinion i would make the dmax into a expo,maybe make a nice expo trailer too and pack all the gear in the trailer and sleep in the bed of the truck just like a little camper

If people put 1/10th as much effort into actually going on "expeditions" as they do into discussing what does or doesn't make an "expedition" or an "expo rig", every trail in the world would be a parking lot.

Wanna go on an "expedition"? Take whatever's in your garage right now, throw a sleeping bag and a change of clothes in it, and go for a drive. :grinpimp:

they have diesels for jeeps, my aunt bought a bone stock diesel jeep patriot from a dealer like 2 years ago

The Patriot? I think the guy meant there are no REAL diesel Jeeps :laughing:

Either would work in stock form. I live in "adventure wheeling expo car camping what ever you call it" paradise of central Nevada. I can put 100+ miles on in the dirt and never see a soul/ am some times 50 miles from the chance of "help". The 3 things I would look for are Ride quality, reliability, and comfort.

It's not unusual to put on 100+ miles a day in the dirt here and about 95% of the trails can be driven in a stock rig. If you are out wheeling alone do you really want to get into hard trails where you are miles from help? If you are wheeling in BLM land of the west usually you can find some sort of bypass to get around a real rough spot.

Keep it simple, stock parts "usually" give less issues than aftermarket parts when tire size is kept in check.

Ride quaility is huge, the faster you can go the more ground you can cover. Chevy trucks with torsion bars suck for ride quaility. Hit an unexpected "wash" at the bottom on a revine in a chevy truck it's going to hurt, hit the same wash at a higher speed in my stock '97 4 runner and it barely hurts.

Comfort ac, an enclosed cab, and tunes make my day a lot more enjoyable. Drive 75 miles in the dirt in a cj5 with just a bikini top vs. a rig with ac and decent tunes you are a lot less worn out at the end of the day. Ride quality also contributes to comfort. Suspension seats are also a big help.

That's my oppinion...