Off Road Podcast 455 – Hypothetical Rigs from Copart

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This episode of the Off Road Podcast is Sponsored by Colby Valve.

Tonight, Aaron squeals, Coy teaches his dog to fly, & Ben Recovers a jeep

Welcome to the off-road podcast. A podcast about everything off-road. We cover the news, review products, and interview people in the off road industry.  Your hosts tonight are Aaron, Coy and my name is Ben.  Welcome to the show.

Coy – camping, ufc 300 and throwing my dog from the top rope

Aaron – Painted my trailer. Gonna wash it and probably paint more.  Frontier & Avalon both need brakes.

Ben – Went to 

Listener Feedback

Lifted Xterra wrote:

Only been listening for a few weeks, but by far the best podcast I’ve come across. Andy is funny as hell. Keep up the good work guys. Also, I can’t remember who the Nissan guy is, but us 1st gen Xterra (WD22) owners need help! We’ve only got a small handful of companies to choose from when getting aftermarket parts which doesn’t make sense as there is a decent following for the platform. The 2nd gens (N50) seem to get all the love and support. Help us get more companies involved in making the goodies we need.
Patriotpatch.co 
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News brought to you by Colby Valve

• News of the 6th Gen 4Runner has dropped.  We’ll be doing an episode on it in a few weeks.  Stay tuned!!
• Carbuzz Nissan Xterra Could Return As True Offroader
• Autoblog Nissan considering Xterra revival; ‘it’s got to be authentic’
  • There are a growing number of options when it comes to picking an off-road vehicle. The fan favorite Jeep Wrangler gets serious competition from the likes of the Ford Bronco and new Toyota Land Cruiser. There are trucks in the mix, too, with the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota Tacoma. Nissan doesn’t plan to miss this trend, which could mean the return of the Xterra.
  • The Nissan Xterra hasn’t been sold in the US since the 2015 model year when the company decided it no longer fit with the brand’s lineup. That was nearly a decade ago and a lot has changed. Not only are there more off-road vehicles, there are even off-road trims like the Wilderness lineup from Subaru or the TrailSport from Honda. It’s a good time to bring back the Xterra.
  • While the Xterra isn’t confirmed, Nissan Americas Senior VP and Chief Planning Officer told Autoblog that there’s something in the development. He acknowledged that the company is looking at adding an off-road vehicle to its lineup.
  • This wouldn’t be just a Pathfinder with beefier wheels and slightly higher ride height, which would be fine, but wouldn’t exactly compete with a Bronco. Instead, this would be a true off-road vehicle with genuine capability
  • Bringing the Xterra back would be a great way for Nissan to reintroduce a much loved vehicle from the past with all the modern technologies of today’s off-road champs. Could the Hyper Adventure concept car that debuted late last year give a hint at what we might see in a new Xterra?
  • It’s an EV with a high-capacity battery to make camping out easier. All-wheel drive is standard and it’s aerodynamic to help improve range. There’s a funky door setup with rear doors that lift up to provide better access and a set of stairs that deploys from the back, so you can climb right inside. It’s a funky and futuristic design that would make for a brilliant new Xterra
• Autoblog Toyota FJ Cruiser reboot rumored to sit on Hilux Champ chassis
  • Toyota took a concept called the IMV 0 to the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, a small, chassis-cab pickup designed to lure buyers in emerging markets by being rugged, versatile, and inexpensive. A production version entered the Thai market a month after the show with the name Hilux Champ, at a price equal to about $13,000 U.S., that price achieved by selling buyers a truck that’s 70% finished, the remainder being in the use-specific upfit the customer needs (and pays for). Despite at least one reviewer calling the truck “perfect,” and several commenters writing some variation of, “I’d buy it right now,” the Hilux Champ has almost zero chance of making it to the states. According to Japanese outlet Best Car (translated), however, the Hilux Champ’s ladder frame might visit our shores underneath the body of the reborn FJ Cruiser. 
  • As a refresher, gossip about an FJ Cruiser left off with a shadowy image during Toyota’s presentation last August for the new Land Cruiser. When automaker exec Simon Humphries discussed making the Land Cruiser more affordable and more accessible to people around the world, a slide showed three silhouetted vehicles, the vehicle on the upper left looking like an evolved version of Toyota’s Compact Cruiser EV Concept from 2021 — that concept a flirtation with the revival of the FJ Cruiser. The teased image sat higher off the ground and on much larger tires than the concept, and wore a spare wheel on the tailgate. The dimensions also looked grander than the Compact Cruiser. 
  • Back to the Hilux Champ, front fascia and front fender looks, as well as dimensions, are where it overlaps with the FJ Cruiser in the Venn Diagram. The Champ comes in at either 185.2 inches long in 108-inch short-wheelbase form, 70.3 inches wide and 68.3 inches high. The 2014 FJ Cruiser was 181 inches long on a 106-inch wheelbase, 75 inches wide and 72 inches high. So far, this part seems eminently doable, although Best Car’s anticipated specs for the reboot presage an even smaller off-roader, at 177.2 inches long on a 108-inch wheelbase, 72 inches wide and 72.9 inches high.
  • The question is whether this potential Land Cruiser FJ on this particular architecture will make it to the U.S. market, or if Toyota has a different vision for a North American model. Our FJ has been predicted to be an upscale model at the opposite end of the rugged spectrum than the Hilux Champ, one that might be better served by the TNGA-F platform that the new Lexus GX and U.S.-spec Land Cruiser sit on. Whenever the new FJ debuts, no matter the market, Toyota is certain to be swamped with enough questions about a U.S. arrival that it will offer something better than rumor. 

Main Topic  

Talk about what Copart is:

Copart is a leading online vehicle auction platform that connects buyers and sellers worldwide. They specialize in salvaged and used vehicles, offering a wide range of options from cars and trucks to motorcycles and even boats. With an extensive network of locations and an easy-to-use online platform, Copart facilitates the buying and selling of vehicles for individuals, dealerships, and businesses.

Talk about the park:

https://merusadventure.com/trailreconchallenge/

Location Merus adventure park

Park Size

Linear Acreage 5,412 | Actual Usable Acreage 7,500+

Measured as the flat linear surface from survey marker to marker the park measures out at 5,412 Acres with no account for elevations.

Measured out with the calculations of the huge total elevation gains throughout the land, which gives a measurement of actual usable terrain the park, measures out at over 7,500 acres of actual usable land.

There are 8 plateau peninsulas on the property besides the main canyon that create massive privacy, a much bigger feel of the land, and countless hidden places to explore. At this time, we’ve only explored about 50% of the property.

Millions of years of erosion have created incredible colors and a variety of surface materials.

As you explore the park you’ll traverse Sand, Sandstone, Red Dirt, Rock, Stone, Clay, and more in rapidly shifting environments. This creates a very unique experience on the trails that’s hard to find anywhere else.

The signature terrain is the red dirt floor of the canyon. If you’ve never wheeled the red dirt, you are in for a real treat by mixing all the elements to constantly challenge your skill and be in awe of the beauty of the canyon.

WHAT IS THE TRAILRECON CHALLENGE?

The TrailRecon Challenge is an off-road/ overlanding challenge created by MERUS Adventure™ park owner Dirk van Reenen and Brad Kowitz of TrailRecon.

This is an incredible 3-day 2 night journey to test your skills and equipment in one of most beautiful canyons in North America, Palo Duro Canyon. The challenge can be run on one of two routes; The Challenge or the Extreme Challenge.

You will descend 850 feet into the earth and navigate through 4 geological layers of exposed dirt, sand, rock, stone, and the legendary “red dirt” and face more obstacles than you can count along the way with some of the most incredibly beautiful scenery in Texas through Palo Duro Canyon.

When you complete the challenge you will receive your one-of-a-kind SERIALIZED Coin and Badge to show the world that you completed one of the most epic off-road challenges in America. These are high-quality metal and stand out compared to other badges in size, color, and quality.

One thing we constantly hear at Merus from visitors from across the country is how much their skill improves from running our trails for 2-3 days. We have designed and built these trails to be a fully engaging experience. Our trails have obstacle after obstacle after obstacle to keep the fun and adrenaline flowing and create a one-of-a-kind experience.

Both routes take 3 days and 2 nights to complete with a total trail running time of around 15 hrs for the Challenge and 19 hrs for the Extreme Challenge.

Running either one of these challenges will greatly increase your level of skill and experience due to the vast number of obstacles and challenges along the way.

You can choose to camp along the route overlanding style or you can stay at an RV site, Glamping site, or Cabin. If you don’t want to haul all your gear on the trails and run lighter, choose to set up a base camp on the Rim of the beautiful Palo Duro Canyon. We also have full hookup RV spots available on the rim.

We allow 10 rigs to run the TrailRecon Challenge each weekend on either a Thursday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday timeline. You can also opt to “run with others” and we can connect individuals together to run the routes together (which is recommended) to be able to spot each other, help with recoveries, and build some epic new friendships.

The vehicles we chose:

Aaron:  https://www.copart.com/lot/40681354/salvage-2020-ford-f150-raptor-tx-houston-east

Ben: 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR MOJAVE

https://www.copart.com/lot/39372864/2021-jeep-gladiator-mojave-tx-houston-east

Coy:

https://www.copart.com/lot/49566894/clean-title-2005-lexus-gx-470-sc-spartanburg

Next Week:  West Virginia Overland

Closing Statements

Thanks everyone who listens to us weekly and also to those who watch us live on YouTube.  We really appreciate you.  Please share us with your friends and help us grow.  God bless America!

Don’t forget to visit Patriot Patch and join the Patch of the Month club. Check out our Gaia affiliate link for up to 40% off. Also, don’t forget to head over to Warn, Colby Valve, and 4Patriots to see all of their great products. We are a proud part of the Firearms Radio Network. Got a question or comment?  Send it to us through our Linktree account or by searching for Off Road Podcast.  Also, you can listen to us live at overlandradio.com Mondays at 7 pm Pacific.  When off-road please remember to have fun, tread lightly, and be safe and courteous. Thanks for listening.