I've decided that a 90's Trooper is the vehicle I'd like to have as my surf fishing truck. I've seen several in my neighborhood and approached the drivers/owners and asked them about them. In both cases, they were one owner rides with under 100k miles on them. Both immaculate, both with auto transmissions, a must for beach driving.
Early 90's Troopers are probably more studly in an off road sense, as they are lighter and a bit simpler, but the late 90's Troopers (and the Acura version of that ride) are still great off road vehicles.
Troopers are reasonably priced on the used market, and low milage Troopers are not that rare. Parts are still readily available and there are lots of aftermarket accessories. They are almost Land Cruiser like in their off road abilities, and are quite a bit more tolerable on the highway than the FJ60 Land Cruisers of the 1980's, a legendary and much higher priced "vintage" 4WD for which parts are pretty expensive, and sometimes rare.
I quite like the FJ60 series of rides, and would love to have one. But after trying to buy one for several years and not being able to find one that didn't have at least one seemingly unfixable problem, or a bunch of problems, I gave up.
My friends with Troopers have had nothing but good luck with none of the woes of FJ60 owners.
So barring stumbling into some converted 4X4 Van for a good price, the Trooper will be the vehicle that Billy Ray and I seek to create for fishing adventures. There are some decently priced used 4x4 conversion vans out there, but I have not found the perfect one yet.
A 4x4 extended length van would provide options that an SUV trooper cannot, such as extended living and sleeping area and a head, and until we actually find a vehicle, I've got searches going on for 4x4 vans just in case there is a deal in the area where we can check it out before we buy it Apparently there are a number of governmental agencies who use these vans, particularly in snowy and/or mountainous locales.
These 4x4 vans occasionally come up for auction, and are usually well maintained. I've seen several with low miles but out of my reach pricewise.
At a bare minimum, what I plan to do once I find a vehicle is some very minor additions, but ones which will make it beachworthy and hopefully, a very nice ride.
THE VEHICLE ITSELF
I would add a second battery under the hood, since I plan to be driving in remote locales in this vehicle.
I would add some sort of radio with emergency rescue features, like a boat might have, for being in areas where there is no cell service. I'm all for getting away, but frankly, accidents do happen plus me and my pals aren't getting any younger and a med emergency could happen at any time. A rescue copter ambulance might make a big difference in life or death.
Certainly, you need a real backcountry GPS, along with a detailed map of your area. Extra batteries for the GPS and flashlights are a good idea.
ROOF RACK PLUS
I plan to get a basket type roof rack. On one side, it will have a cargo carrier and the other side will be empty for putting rod holders, ice chests or other stuff I want to carry.
ROD AND REEL RACKS: I have an idea for a rod with reel rack using PVC pipes on a wooden frame, and attaching same to the roof rack with bungee cords. It would have a handle so you could carry it in your hotel or condo room, or put it in the vehicle for better safekeeping. Either that or some sorf of rack on the inside roof of the Trooper using suspension to hold multi-piece rods.
KAYAK RACK: The roofrack could also carry open sit on top kayaks for those bay locales where kayak fishing is not as foolish as in the surf. Wild beaches Matagorda Island are great for this kind of setup with kayaks, because you can drive to the other end of the Island and get to the bay and go kayaking and fly fishing there for reds and trout. Then just drive back around to the surf and fish for who knows what.
I don't own a kayak, but both Billy Ray and I have significant time in the water in kayaks, and I have access to a couple.
SAND LADDERS: On the bottom of the roof rack will be carried things called sand ladders. Somewhat reminds me of the ramps you use for loading motorcycles or atvs onto a trailer, but flatter and with bigger flared holes. They are less than $200 and used in many other places in the world for beach, jungle and desert driving with great success for getting unstuck.
CARGO CARRIER: The single side cargo carrier can carry clothes, backpacks, food items, extra shoes or any number of items to keep the interior of the Trooper less filled with stuff.
LADDER: It'd be a nice touch to outfit some sort of ladder to the roof rack on one of the rear doors, like Land Rovers often have, but I'm not sure how the rear door spare tire would affect that. I intend to use the roof rack a lot, and a nice ladder would sure be handy.
Another must have add on is one of the awnings made for SUV roofracks. Similar to those on the sides of RV's, it gives a shady area to hang when the sun is blazing, as it often does in Texas at the beach.
With an awning on one side, the rear back end side and the other side will need to have a mounted high-lift jack and some shovels.
TENT
I want one of the Tent contraptions that attached to the open rear of the SUV and goes out onto the ground with a tent that is about the size of a 6 person tent outside the back of the SUV. They make inflatable air mattresses that are shaped to fit in the cargo compartment of certain SUV's like the Trooper, thus a sleeping and hanging out environment.
When the rain or wind or both are blowing hard at the beach, it's nice to have a place to stretch out and relax and get some respite from the weather. When you're way out on the beach, sitting in the car to escape is ok, but it's much nicer to climb into the rear of the suv and stretch out and get solace from the elements.
GENERATOR AND LIGHTS: It's nice to throw strong beams of light out into the surf, to attract fish. Small outdoor lights on folding tripods and a generator can provide lots of lighting for your camp and projected out onto the water. I myself think that the best Texas surf fishing there is occurs in July and August at night way out on the wild beaches.
TRAILER
I know a cargo trailer at the beach in heavy sand is questionable, but what about a shorter ballon tired trailer? For a great weekend at the beach, you need a few things. A small trailer with a frame that carried a rooftop mounted cartopper fishing boat, the trailer could hold a small motor, oars, ice chest, cooking stuff, outdoor lights and a generator, etc. Fun stuff to have at a beach fishing camp. I have a friend whose Suburban tows a small beach trailer with a metal fishing boat on top and all kinds of gear in the trailer, including a portable air conditioner powered by the generator to turn the back of the suburban into a cool sleeping lodge for three.
A trailer could also hold some jerry cans with gasoline for extended trips up or down the wonderful North and South Padre Islands and their environs. I've seen several vehicles like jeeps and suburbans pulling trailers at the beach with no problems, so I know that with a good vehicle it can be done.
This raises the question of building a very cool lightweight beach camp house structure on a trailer. A camp house on wheels, not unlike the size of a 25' Hunter front sailboat cabin. Carbon Fiber and a great design could lead to a sleeping and lounging chamber at the beach, complete with A/C, a generator and a head. I really think that with the right materials, a lightweight trailer with some big tires would have no problem traversing deep sand behind the right vehicle.
Early 90's Troopers are probably more studly in an off road sense, as they are lighter and a bit simpler, but the late 90's Troopers (and the Acura version of that ride) are still great off road vehicles.
Troopers are reasonably priced on the used market, and low milage Troopers are not that rare. Parts are still readily available and there are lots of aftermarket accessories. They are almost Land Cruiser like in their off road abilities, and are quite a bit more tolerable on the highway than the FJ60 Land Cruisers of the 1980's, a legendary and much higher priced "vintage" 4WD for which parts are pretty expensive, and sometimes rare.
I quite like the FJ60 series of rides, and would love to have one. But after trying to buy one for several years and not being able to find one that didn't have at least one seemingly unfixable problem, or a bunch of problems, I gave up.
My friends with Troopers have had nothing but good luck with none of the woes of FJ60 owners.
So barring stumbling into some converted 4X4 Van for a good price, the Trooper will be the vehicle that Billy Ray and I seek to create for fishing adventures. There are some decently priced used 4x4 conversion vans out there, but I have not found the perfect one yet.
A 4x4 extended length van would provide options that an SUV trooper cannot, such as extended living and sleeping area and a head, and until we actually find a vehicle, I've got searches going on for 4x4 vans just in case there is a deal in the area where we can check it out before we buy it Apparently there are a number of governmental agencies who use these vans, particularly in snowy and/or mountainous locales.
These 4x4 vans occasionally come up for auction, and are usually well maintained. I've seen several with low miles but out of my reach pricewise.
At a bare minimum, what I plan to do once I find a vehicle is some very minor additions, but ones which will make it beachworthy and hopefully, a very nice ride.
THE VEHICLE ITSELF
I would add a second battery under the hood, since I plan to be driving in remote locales in this vehicle.
I would add some sort of radio with emergency rescue features, like a boat might have, for being in areas where there is no cell service. I'm all for getting away, but frankly, accidents do happen plus me and my pals aren't getting any younger and a med emergency could happen at any time. A rescue copter ambulance might make a big difference in life or death.
Certainly, you need a real backcountry GPS, along with a detailed map of your area. Extra batteries for the GPS and flashlights are a good idea.
ROOF RACK PLUS
I plan to get a basket type roof rack. On one side, it will have a cargo carrier and the other side will be empty for putting rod holders, ice chests or other stuff I want to carry.
ROD AND REEL RACKS: I have an idea for a rod with reel rack using PVC pipes on a wooden frame, and attaching same to the roof rack with bungee cords. It would have a handle so you could carry it in your hotel or condo room, or put it in the vehicle for better safekeeping. Either that or some sorf of rack on the inside roof of the Trooper using suspension to hold multi-piece rods.
KAYAK RACK: The roofrack could also carry open sit on top kayaks for those bay locales where kayak fishing is not as foolish as in the surf. Wild beaches Matagorda Island are great for this kind of setup with kayaks, because you can drive to the other end of the Island and get to the bay and go kayaking and fly fishing there for reds and trout. Then just drive back around to the surf and fish for who knows what.
I don't own a kayak, but both Billy Ray and I have significant time in the water in kayaks, and I have access to a couple.
SAND LADDERS: On the bottom of the roof rack will be carried things called sand ladders. Somewhat reminds me of the ramps you use for loading motorcycles or atvs onto a trailer, but flatter and with bigger flared holes. They are less than $200 and used in many other places in the world for beach, jungle and desert driving with great success for getting unstuck.
CARGO CARRIER: The single side cargo carrier can carry clothes, backpacks, food items, extra shoes or any number of items to keep the interior of the Trooper less filled with stuff.
LADDER: It'd be a nice touch to outfit some sort of ladder to the roof rack on one of the rear doors, like Land Rovers often have, but I'm not sure how the rear door spare tire would affect that. I intend to use the roof rack a lot, and a nice ladder would sure be handy.
Another must have add on is one of the awnings made for SUV roofracks. Similar to those on the sides of RV's, it gives a shady area to hang when the sun is blazing, as it often does in Texas at the beach.
With an awning on one side, the rear back end side and the other side will need to have a mounted high-lift jack and some shovels.
TENT
I want one of the Tent contraptions that attached to the open rear of the SUV and goes out onto the ground with a tent that is about the size of a 6 person tent outside the back of the SUV. They make inflatable air mattresses that are shaped to fit in the cargo compartment of certain SUV's like the Trooper, thus a sleeping and hanging out environment.
When the rain or wind or both are blowing hard at the beach, it's nice to have a place to stretch out and relax and get some respite from the weather. When you're way out on the beach, sitting in the car to escape is ok, but it's much nicer to climb into the rear of the suv and stretch out and get solace from the elements.
GENERATOR AND LIGHTS: It's nice to throw strong beams of light out into the surf, to attract fish. Small outdoor lights on folding tripods and a generator can provide lots of lighting for your camp and projected out onto the water. I myself think that the best Texas surf fishing there is occurs in July and August at night way out on the wild beaches.
TRAILER
I know a cargo trailer at the beach in heavy sand is questionable, but what about a shorter ballon tired trailer? For a great weekend at the beach, you need a few things. A small trailer with a frame that carried a rooftop mounted cartopper fishing boat, the trailer could hold a small motor, oars, ice chest, cooking stuff, outdoor lights and a generator, etc. Fun stuff to have at a beach fishing camp. I have a friend whose Suburban tows a small beach trailer with a metal fishing boat on top and all kinds of gear in the trailer, including a portable air conditioner powered by the generator to turn the back of the suburban into a cool sleeping lodge for three.
A trailer could also hold some jerry cans with gasoline for extended trips up or down the wonderful North and South Padre Islands and their environs. I've seen several vehicles like jeeps and suburbans pulling trailers at the beach with no problems, so I know that with a good vehicle it can be done.
This raises the question of building a very cool lightweight beach camp house structure on a trailer. A camp house on wheels, not unlike the size of a 25' Hunter front sailboat cabin. Carbon Fiber and a great design could lead to a sleeping and lounging chamber at the beach, complete with A/C, a generator and a head. I really think that with the right materials, a lightweight trailer with some big tires would have no problem traversing deep sand behind the right vehicle.
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