How To Build An Unsuitable Overlander

• Custom parts that can't be directly replaced with standard ones
• Alloy radiators and header tanks, or radiators with plastic ends / plastic header tanks
  • Copper/brass can be easily repaired with a heat source and some solder
  • Plastic basically can't be repaired at all
  • Alloy can be filled with putty or TIG welded but repairs are tricky and fragile
• Alloy wheels
• Wheel spacers
• Insanely heavy duty shocks / springs / bushes so you crack your chassis or mounts
• Huge winch & buumper
  • Loads of added weight + cost
  • There's always another vehicle or another way to recover (a bunch of locals and some planks or rope, or a passing elephant, etc.)
• Massive overloaded roof rack
• Heavy complicated storage systems
• Super custom solutions that are single-purpose and inflexible
  • Built-in water/fuel tanks rather than just some universally portable jerry cans
• Expensive compliated and over-the-top electrical systems
  • Most things can run from 12v, why carry a 2kW inverter to run a power strip to charge a laptop that can run on a 12v supply.

Gets its own whole section!

Andrew St Pierre White's 4xOverland channel has a very good breakdown of this topic.

• https://forums.lr4x4.com/topic/102912-1989-110-rebuild/
  • You will notice that I used to have double front shocks. These I got rid of as the design puts stress into the spring hanger and I had to have both front spring coil spring seats welded up in Namba as they had cracked for about 3/4 of the length of where they attached to the chassis.
• https://forums.lr4x4.com/topic/110215-how-to-prepare-and-maintain-a-car-for-a-50000-mile-road-trip-around-the-world/?do=findComment&comment=1009595
  • Chassis cracked due to HD springs

Bonus - Added heavy duty suspension, cracked the axle:

• https://forums.lr4x4.com/topic/113199-need-a-new-refurbed-salisbury-axle/#comment-1056991
  • My rear axle casing cracked, I had it welded up, did another 3 months in Africa, but it cracked again.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq5knyKlvGU
  • Fitted HD suspension & wheel spacers & every accessory possible, snapped the end off the axle.
  • Also somehow managing only 20mpg from a TDCi

And just finding out that aftermarket fancy shocks & modified mounts are a pain in an overlander:

https://forums.lr4x4.com/topic/79997-who-said-it-has-only-two-legs/?do=findComment&comment=685326