Ignition to Adventure: Starting My First 4x4 Overlanding Journey
After years of tagging along with friends on trail runs and dabbling in off-road adventures, I finally decided it was time to get a proper 4x4 of my own. No more just riding shotgun or watching others air down their tires—I wanted a capable vehicle I could build into a reliable overlanding rig.
In this post, I’ll share why I chose the Land Rover LR3, what I like and don’t like about it so far, and most importantly, how I’m spending my first $1,500–$2,000 in upgrades to get the rig ready for real adventures.
Why the LR3?
I didn’t just buy the first 4x4 I saw. I spent months searching all across the U.S. for the right vehicle. I wanted something well maintained, reasonably priced, and already in good enough shape that I could confidently build on it without starting from scratch.
Another big factor was seating. I needed a rig that could seat at least six so I could take my family along for trips. That automatically ruled out a lot of the smaller Jeeps and other five-passenger options. The LR3, with its third-row seats, gave me the flexibility I was looking for.
When I found the right LR3, it wasn’t perfect—but I knew what I was getting into. Some items needed attention before I could take it off-road, but they were all things I identified during my inspection and test drive. For me, that was part of the appeal: buying a rig I could immediately start improving.
First Time Off-Road: Realizing the LR3’s Weak Spot
After my first off-road run up an easy Grade 2–3 trail with OnX, it didn’t take long to see where the LR3 struggles. Suspension clearance is going to be the biggest area of improvement. Right now, I’m bound up in the back and sitting at only 6.5 inches of clearance from the lower control arms and exhaust pipes. The rear end is notoriously low on LR3s, and I felt it immediately on the trail.
On top of that, my rake is actually backwards at the moment. To fix both issues, I’m weighing whether to just replace the rear suspension or go for a full suspension upgrade. My current plan is to install new 2-inch lift coilovers in the rear, add a 1.5-inch spacer up front, and run 32"–32.5" tires. That setup should net me about a 2.5-inch lift in the front and close to 4 inches in the rear, restoring a proper 1.5-inch rake and dramatically improving clearance all around.
Getting this dialed in feels like the best-case scenario for making the Landy trail-capable without overcomplicating the build.
The Downsides of an LR3
No vehicle is perfect, and the LR3 has a couple quirks worth mentioning.
The first is the electronic parking brake. Off-road, I’ve always liked having manual control of an emergency brake to ease down drop-offs or dips. With the LR3, that’s not possible. To make matters worse, the e-brake in mine doesn’t work at all—these systems are notorious for failure. For now, I’ll rely on the LR3’s descent control system, which is designed to handle braking automatically. I haven’t tested it on technical terrain yet, but I’m confident it’ll be a learning curve.
The second issue is wheel size. The LR3’s brakes and rotors are massive, which means you can’t fit wheels smaller than 18 inches without doing a full brake swap. Even then, it’s tricky. Ideally, I’d love to run 15s or 16s for more sidewall cushion, but that’s not realistic without major modifications. For now, I’ll stick with 18s—not ideal, but workable.
These aren’t deal breakers, just quirks that come with the platform. The LR3 is still a solid base for an overlanding build, and I’m excited to see what it can do.
First $1,500–$2,000 in Upgrades
Buying the rig was only the start. My next step is investing in some upgrades to make the LR3 trail-ready. Here’s how I’m planning to spend my next $1,500–$2,000 after suspension:
1. Wheels and Tires – $850 (with $1250 back from selling current set)
The vehicle came with 19-inch wheels and mud tires, but that setup doesn’t fit my plans. I picked up a set of 18-inch wheels with BFG KO2s—four for just $400 on OfferUp. They’re about 75% tread, which is more than enough to get started.
I’ll also sell the current 19-inch mud tires. With about 90% tread, they should bring in around $900, which helps offset the cost of everything else.
2. Rock Sliders – $850
Heavy vehicles like the LR3 can do serious damage to their rocker panels on the trail. Rock sliders are one of those upgrades you don’t want to skip, so I’m budgeting $850 for a solid set.
3. Skid Plate – $600
The gas tank skid plate on my rig is rusted out—no surprise since it spent years in New York and Washington where salt and moisture take their toll. I’ll replace it with an aluminum plate for $600. It’s lighter than steel but strong enough to handle the hits.
4. Fluids and Maintenance – TBD
Before I put too many miles on it, I want all fluids flushed and replaced—engine oil, transmission, differentials, transfer case. I don’t have a final estimate yet, but it’s worth the investment for peace of mind.
Altogether, these upgrades put me right in my $1,500–$2,000 budget range and give me a much better starting point for trail use.
Future Plans for the Build
Of course, this is just the beginning. As my site RYDOverland.com grows and generates more revenue through affiliate partnerships, I plan to keep reinvesting in the rig. Some of the upgrades on my wish list include:
Steel front winch bumper
Aluminum front skid and full belly plate
Rear swing-out spare tire carrier
Three-quarter roof rack with mounts for shovel, axe, and traction boards
Auxiliary fuel tank where the spare tire used to be
Onboard air compressor under the hood
Hood-mounted solar panel with trickle charge to a secondary battery
Updated interior charging ports in place of the ashtray and cigarette lighter
Eventually, a repair of the electronic parking brake
It’s an ambitious list, but that’s part of the fun. Overlanding rigs are never “done”—they evolve with your needs and trips.
Wrapping Up
The LR3 isn’t perfect, but it’s exactly what I was looking for: a capable, family-friendly platform with tons of potential. My first trail run showed me that suspension and clearance are the biggest challenges to solve, but that’s just part of the build process.
With my second round of upgrades—tires, rock sliders, and skid plates after the suspension overhaul—I’ll have a solid foundation to start exploring. From there, the build will grow as both my adventures and RYDOverland.com expand.
For now, I’m just excited to finally be behind the wheel of my own rig and ready to take the next step in my overlanding journey.