What do you guys prefer for off roading?

[DirtCheapFrank]

Like the title says. What do you guys prefer for stuff like light rock crawling, rough terrain, stuff like that? Beetles? Baja bugs? I know lots of people use busses. Things? Just wanting to know your guy's opinions[/quote]
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Save the Super Beetles

Instagram @super.slammed

[oprn]

Sand rail.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[Schepp]

Baja Bug. Forest trails, Rallycross, grocery getter.

[ORANGECRUSHer]

Lots of people I know can't afford a bus let alone offroad it
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[trilogymac]

I'm in the process of building a full fender oval into a light/moderate off road car.
lift spindles
adjusters
large nut reduction boxes
synchro tranny
seat belts
215 75 15 tires so far.
skid plates

Once thats done, we will go to phase 2.

[DirtCheapFrank]

[Mal evolent]

Thing is too expensive to risk off road IMHO.
not the best use of a bus
buggies can be thrashed, broken, set aside. repaired when you get around to it. you don't have to keep them roadworthy as a second vehicle for work and shopping trips
Bugs are expendable. bugs are useful as a road vehicle. bugs are capable off road.

for me, it comes down to a full roll cage and the fact you don't have to keep it running, versus the fact that I can use the bug to chase parts for the daily driver.

if I built a buggy I would make it a 4 seater here in central NM. off roading here is fire roads, not rock crawling
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73 Beetle Baja, Ghia front brakes, Type 3 rear brakes, 2220 ( 94 X 80 ), Weber Progressive, Bosch SVDA, '97 Mustang seats

Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index

[trilogymac]

[Wulfthang]

We cruise old mining trails and explore ghost towns in Southern Arizona in my Rat Rod Trail Rail. Powered by a Ford V6.
https://imgur.com/a/T2XYAZD
https://imgur.com/UHpuYAo

[oprn]

The question was about a car for off road use. Dual purpose cars are a completely different animal. To me the tube frame rail is king because it is lighter than a full bodied one to start with. If you get stuck it takes less effort to pull out. You can hook on the tube frame and pull from any angle. There is no sheet metal to bend, no paintwork to scratch. With a decent skid pan you can slide over rocks and stumps with impunity. The tires are your width limits not the fenders. If you need firewood for the camp just stick a log through the frame anywhere it fits and go.

For hunting you can drag a deer across the front frame by yourself or drape one over the roll cage if there are two of you and drive out. Put a hitch socket front and back and you can pull something or be pulled. Rig up an electric winch to fit that socket too.

Really the only vehicle more useful off road in my experience is a tractor with a bucket. With that you can clear new trails.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[racecougar]

If we're sticking to VW-powered/based vehicles here: sand rail.

[Schepp]

For me and where I live a dual purpose vehicle a must. Tiny house, tiny garage and 2+hrs from any decent off road spots. Being able to drive safely on the highway legally is a must. I envy you guys with rails, property and easily accessible trails.
You don't need a big expensive truck and trailer to have fun if you have a street legal vehicle.
The creature comforts of an enclosed cab are nice too. You stay cleaner, dryer and warmer.
I totally get purpose built vehicles. A lot of the rails on here are badass! Just not practical for real world weekly use. With all the work and money we put into these vehicles, I want to be able to enjoy mine as much as possible!

[racecougar]

As detailed in my thread, rails can be made street legal in many States.

[oprn]

[Wulfthang]

So it's legal enough to flat tow it on the road but not drive it?

[oprn]

You got it!
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[indianpeaksjoe]

I have to be honest, I just cruise dirt roads, double track and a bit of slick rock in my baja.

Anything more than that and I have Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. Which I use to get to remote trailheads for hiking or biking.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[ORANGECRUSHer]

I have both a baja and a tube frame buggy. Sometimes I wonder why I need the two. The baja I keep plated and drive it to work all the time. Ive done that with the rail too, but it's not as enjoyable for those tasks. I also don't feel as good about giving the baja the beating I can give the rail. I have trailered both in the past. The baja I can drive somewhere to offroad, but then there's the question of what to do if you break down and still need to get home. That's where I have to change my driving habits depending on the situation. If I trailer I have a recovery vehicle available. If I'm with other buggies I can get a tow out of the woods/dunes and then trailer home.
I've sunk my baja in a small pond at the dunes before. Filled the engine with water. Had a truck pull me out by the winch I had. I pulled all the plugs and had them pull me with the baja in gear to pump all the water out of the chambers and then drove it out of the dunes and immediately drained the oil and put new from the local store in and drove 50 miles home and then drained and filled again. The motor lasted a few years after that surprisingly.
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[Crogg]

What kind of off road in a VW is best is a strange question. Its all great! The question is what can it handle. My first baja taught me a lot. With big tires it killed the power so i made sure i got a bus trans setup.
After putting on thing spindles on my first i hated the suspension and i put a link pin warrior beam on the front of this one.
As you explore and test its limits you realize it needs more... longer arms, more clearence (body lift) it all just gets better...
Its just great fun even driving to the store...

[indianpeaksjoe]