Modifying an SUV or a pick-up truck only does half the job of making it a capable overland vehicle. If you're not sure where to start, there are a few basic mods that would increase your 4x4's capability without spending too much.
However, if you ask off-road experts, the most important of all is choosing the best possible base platform, to begin with, something that would be sure to get you where you want to go without ever breaking down. That also includes exceptional build quality, ruggedness, and of course, the proper payload capacities to haul your trail stuff.
8 Land Rover Defender
One of the most iconic British SUVs, the Land Rover Defender was made with dependability, practicality, and versatility in mind. In fact, the outgoing model was in production from 1983 to 2016.
We like this version over the newer model that was introduced last year, mainly due to the fact that the L316 Defender sat on a ladder frame with solid axles mounted to a coil-spring suspension. The newer L663 Defender may be more poised in on-road manners thanks to its independent suspension, but when it comes to off-road durability, nothing beats the toughness of the live-axle ones on the L316.
7 Toyota FJ Cruiser
We're sad that the Toyota FJ Cruiser was taken out of production, and we think we have some valid reasons why it should be brought back. It was such an enthusiast-minded vehicle with its retro styling borrowed from the original Land Cruiser FJ40, and a host of features that make it a capable overland vehicle.
It shared much of its underpinnings with the Toyota 4Runner, and is powered by the rock-solid 1GR-FE V6 engine. In stock form, it could already wade through 30 inches of water, and its short overhangs mean its approach and departure angles are perfect for offroad use.
6 Suzuki Jimny
Don't let its size deceive you, the Suzuki Jimny could roll with the best off-road vehicles, and even put the much more expensive ones to shame. Suzuki designed this vehicle for the outdoor junkie.
Its funky retro design, off-road capability, and its host of standard equipment make this mini 4x4 stand out in a market dominated by luxury SUVs and established nameplates. You just gotta live with its size-limited ergonomics, and you're all set.
5 Jeep Wrangler
Think of the Jeep Wrangler as America's Land Rover Defender. It is such an iconic vehicle, that its design hasn't changed much since the Americans landed on the beaches of Normandy in France in the second world war.
Now, it's more practical as it has gained an additional two doors, it still hasn't lost the off-road capability that it became known with. It just so happens that it managed to keep up with the times. In a world of crossovers and road-based SUVs, the Wrangler is a refreshing sight.
4 Toyota Hilux
With lifestyle trucks becoming increasingly popular, the Toyota Hilux has kept up with the latest trends with its refreshed model. It now has creature comforts such as heated seats, a JBL audio system, and a smartphone-friendly head unit.
Even more so, the ride has been retuned to make it a bit more comfortable when driving with an empty bed. With that being said, it hasn't lost a bit of its ruggedness and its reputation for being indestructible. Toyota even obliged in naming one of the Hilux models Invincible.
3 Ford Bronco
Ford's returning nameplate, the Bronco, may be based on the Escape, which is a crossover platform, but it retained the off-road capabilities of the classic one, with 224mm of ground clearance and rear diff locks being offered as a standard option.
In the looks department, it is not too far off with the retro styling that made the FJ Cruiser and the Suzuki Jimny such a popular vehicle for off-road enthusiasts, and Ford just simply followed this formula.
2 Nissan Patrol GQ/GU
If getting a new 4x4 for the trail is not an option, then the GU and GQ series of the Nissan Patrol would be the ones worth taking into consideration. Live axles, ladder-frame chassis construction, and sturdy engines make the Patrol such a capable overland vehicle, even in stock form.
A simple suspension lift and proper tires would make you conquer almost any terrain you could possibly have with the Patrol, and in terms of reliability, this Nissan SUV was built like a tank and could take some serious abuse. It is right up there with the likes of the Toyotas made for off-road use.
1 Toyota Land Cruiser
They don't call the Land Cruiser nameplate the off-road king for nothing, as every generation of the full-size SUV was known to have unmatched reliability and impeccable off-road capability.
It is Toyota's longest-running production car and serves as an example of what made the Japanese marque famous. Producing durable and reliable vehicles that could take serious punishment and still transport its occupants in comfort and luxury.