Planned Improvisation
Richard and Ashley figured they should keep it simple for their first adventure. They craved freedom. But before they could go anywhere, there was a lot to figure out: destinations, routes, gear and, most importantly, their vehicle.
A Family Favor
Modded to be Stock
Richard and Ashley tried to leave the truck as stock as possible so they could easily find replacement parts on the road if needed. First, they replaced the springs and shocks with beefy Old Man Emu parts. Next, they rebuilt the 2.4L 22RE engine. Then, they added bumpers and rock sliders for off-road protection.
Hitting the Road
Their first month on the road was spent exploring the west coast of the U.S. Then, it was on to Baja in Mexico. By the time the two finished with the Baja Peninsula, they really hit their stride. Each day brought different territory, and the unbridled enjoyment of their newly found freedom.
Every change to the Toyota was made for a purpose: to get them as far away from home as possible, with the strength to bring them back. That function-over-form mindset ended up taking Richard and Ashely all the way from Vancouver, BC, to the end of the road in Ushuaia, Argentina, and back again.
Time for a New Rig
After spending two years living out of the rooftop tent, the couple purchased a 1993 Mitsubishi Delica 2.5L Turbo Diesel 4x4. The goal was to build an adventure mobile that would let them camp in the mountains year-round. “Also, I’m a sucker for project vehicles, so I was stoked to have a turbo diesel 4x4 to wrench on,” says Richard.
Advice From the Globetrotters
