Overlanding
Overlanding is really popular out West where there is a lot of open space and public land, not as popular on the East Coast. Me and Robyn are currently on our first overlanding adventure in the Redneck Convertible, my 1985 Toyota 4Runner, which is my dream truck. We started on US Highway 31 in Montgomery and drove to Huntsville to Monte Sano State Park to camp. The truck has done well thus far, but we still have a fairly lengthy trip back to Montgomery so fingers’ crossed.
So far, I’ve rebuilt the engine, rebuilt the transmission, upgraded the brakes, installed a convertible top, and done a lot of little repairs and upgrades. The new engine leaks because I didn’t get the oil pan sealed up good. I’m repairing it this week. I want to do a bunch of other upgrades including a roof rack, a roof top tent, a mild life, improved steering, and traction adders. It’s a cool little truck and I get tons of compliments on it and everyone always wants to buy it.
This is the fourth Toyota truck that I’ve owned. I bought my first one in probably 2002 and turned it into a rock crawler complete with gear reduction, traction adders, and a bobbed bed. I wished that I never would have sold that truck because it was super cool. I also owned an ‘86 4Runner, a ‘93 Hilux, which I just sold, and of course, the Redneck Convertible. Hell, I even worked for Toyota for a couple of years.
Alabama is a beautiful, interesting state and overlanding is a good way to see it. We went from flat, dusty, hot Montgomery to the cool, crisp mountains of Appalachia in a matter of hours. So many little shops and eccentricities along the way, and this time of year, plenty of places to get green plums. I love this state. I used to say that I love this state in spite of itself, but the truth is that I really just love the state and it’s weird idiosyncracies are part of the charm. You just gotta look at it with the right eyes.