That's why I'd run the box 'burb with a D-max/allison with a tune geared for economy. I'll gladly take that 50 gallon fuel tank and 25mpg on the highway. You could run a (relatively) tall gear set with the 2-spd transfer and massive torque of the diesel still be able to wheel offroad.
In reply to Bobzilla:
I'm in! You won me over!
Great.... now you build it and I'll borrow it for a few weeks a year.
Great.... You front the money and I'll build it and let you borrow it a few weeks a year
octavious wrote: www.expeditionportal.com Forums are broken up into specific vehicle makes and the builds are from mild to extreme.
...and since you are going to be there anyways, might as well waste the rest of the day reading this unreal story of a couple who really hung it out there!
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/50799-Democratic-Republic-of-Congo-Lubumbashi-to-Kinshasa
In reply to Trans_Maro
Uhh sorry I offended the 4X4 purists because I was thinking of using something other than a jeep or toyota. I was planning on somethign to go up into northern michigan and the UP for a week or so, I had just seen a few older escalades for challenge price and thought it would be fun to build that as opposed to a suburban which is what I was looking at. I guess since I'm just "beating around the bush" I won't call it an expo vehicle. I just simply thought of all places GRM may appreciate the strange choice, so I suppose I meant a capable camping rig.
Not offending anyone man, just trying to figure out what you want.
By "around here", I didn't mean the GRM forums, I meant my area of the country which is the PNW. A lot of bigger rigs don't fit between trees all that well.
I don't go wheeling anymore so my opinion probably doesn't matter but you'll probably find smaller is better.
FWIW, I ran an IHC scout.
No matter what you chose, make sure you don't mind dents, gouged paint and busted glass because it WILL happen sooner or later. That's why a pretty escalade or navigator might not be a good choice.
If you think the "Jeep driving down a leafy, smooth trail in new england" is 4-wheeling then anything you pick will be fine, even a Subaru Justy.
In reply to D_Howard:
Hey, anyone taking an Escalade into the woods is a friend of mine!
Great starting point. And it'd be nice to see a lift and aggressive tires on one for a change! Bonus points for caving in a door or tearing off a mirror squeezing between trees!
How about something smaller....say a Suzuki Samurai? Simple, easy to work on (couple wrenches and a screwdriver and you can fix anything), aftermarket support, easy on gas, VERY capable off road. I have 31 BFGs on mine, 6.5 transfer case gears, CV carb, gm alt and its very reliable. Wouldn't be able to camp IN it though.
In reply to asetech:
If I was alone or just the wife and I, I'd be driving my Samurai to this day!
CUCV, please. That is, a Mil-Spec K-Blazer.
In reply to EvanR:
Dang it... ANOTHER good suggestion! Add a turbo to the Diesel and you're good!
In reply to Trans_Maro:
I've been wheeling man. I've had plenty of jeeps, currently have a 94 xj country. I'm aware it's not riding down a leafy trail in New England. I need a bigger truck a bigger rig to fit my ol girl and my dog. (Great Dane/bullmastiff) thought it'd be cool to have a luxury SUV scuffed up with full roof rack, light bars, pulling my dirtbikes.
In reply to D_Howard:
It would be!
In reply to D_Howard:
Cool, sounds like you're well on your way then.
Sorry if I came off like a dick. I didn't mean to.
When I was active, we had a few folks sign up for a trail ride and try to bring their new BMW soccer-mom suv along.
There was much wringing of hands until they finally parked the damn thing and rode along with one of us.
Kinda ruins the day.
I was thinking Kamaz at first but we don't really need anything that big. 
aussiesmg wrote: I raise you Tommy
Needs more roofrack. Awesome otherwise
If you want to build a expedition escalade, build a expedition escalade. Especially with the aftermarket available as a result of platform sharing. IMHO for it to be cool, functionality needs to be the focus (winch, beadocks, snorkel, a rooftop tent and armor), not huge (maybe 33"s) and, no bling.
It's all possible, and mostly the deciding factor as to what can be done is....you.
Whatever you do, don't ask Richard Hammond.
In reply to carbon:
That's exactly what I was thinking, I have plans drawn up already for a custom rooftop tent. I was thinking custom steel bumpers with winch, possibly painted to match body. Also thinking of solar panels on the top of roof tent for small jobs, (fans, phone charging, etc). Mainly I'm just wondering if a tahoe lift would be a direct bolt on or would it need fab work. I'd like to run 33"s an all round tire oh and of course it's all budget based.
No idea on if the Tahoe lifts fit the Escalade, I assume they would but I never did the research to find out. Again I assume F250 lifts would fit an Excursion but its not something I ever looked in to. I do know that the F150 lifts have been put on Expeditions.
If you look up some of the larger lift companies, (and I'm not suggesting you use any one company) such as Rough Country, Superlift, Old Man Emu, Skyjacker, etc. They should have part numbers to show what lifts can cross over to other vehicles.
I don't see a difference between using a Escalade over using a Range Rover. Both are big heavy vehicles with lots of creature comforts like a/c and leather. Are they perfect offroad vehicles? Asking a question like that will get you a zillion different answers.
You can't make everyone happy all the time. I say do what makes you happy. But take pics so we can follow along.
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