By Tony Konovaloff
Just what makes the perfect rig? Depends on a lot of factors. Is it a trail buggy? Do you need to tow a trailer? How many people will be with you? Lots of things to consider so we all have different ideas about our own ideal rig. What’s listed here are some of the things that make up the perfect rig for me. Some of it is the rig and some is add ons, nothing is in any particular order mostly thinking out loud.
A middle of the road sized rig.
Room for at least 4, sometimes 5 and the dog.
Load carrying capacity. Have to fit more than people if you want to go camping. Room for tools. Extra fuel.
Reliability. I think Landcruisers pretty much have this one covered.
Road worthy, long highway trips in a short wheelbase rig are not fun.
Decent fuel mileage. At least 20 mpg.
Lockers, preferably selectable.
A refrigerator. For overnight trips mostly but hot day trips are much nicer with something cold and not having to mess with ice is a huge bonus.
Stereo for the road/trail with some sort of way to play an Ipod or MP3 player.
CB for talking with your fellow wheelers.
Dual batteries with a switch to isolate them from each other.
Mild lift. I don’t like tippy.
Capable of pulling a small trailer.
Winches, front and rear.
Manual transmission. I used to run an auto but I really like the stick. Hand throttle on the stick for wheeling.
Air compressor. For airing up tires and running the air lockers.
Rock sliders, quarter guards and skidplates.
Low gears for the rocks but decent gears for the highway as well.
Probably some things that you may want to add or delete on yours but this works for me. It all comes down to just how you want to drive your rig. I use my rig for all sorts of stuff not just crawling around on the rocks in sunny weather so many of the things I want don’t relate to your rig. I use my rig as a daily driver and it has never seen the top side of a trailer.
I guess that when I think about it I am already driving my perfect rig, a 1982 BJ 60 that I brought down from Canada. About the only thing I would like to change on my wagon is the number of dents (far less of them that is).
