So anyone actually 'Overlanding' in an NAS D90?

LRNAD90

Well-known member
The Internet is a fabulous rabbit hole for everything, and as such, I sometimes find myself fantasizing about taking my ST NAS 90 and exploring, whether it be easy treks like some of the Back Country Discovery routes, or the Trans American Trail, or something more challenging like recreating a Great Divide Expedition.

Beyond the realities that I probably have neither the time nor funds to actually take an extended vehicle based excursion, I wonder if it is even really a good idea in my Soft Top 90. So I was curious who here is actually doing (or done) such adventures in a D90, and what were the limitations/things to consider/etc..

Everything from carrying enough fuel (god knows the range sucks on an NAS 90)/water/food to packing equipment, and what equipment has worked well for you. Roof top tens (obviously not very viable for a soft top 90) vs ground tents, refrigerator vs cooler, storage drawers vs. bins, you wana talk about it, I'm ready to listen..

Probably just having fun getting caught up daydreaming as much as anything, but would like to hear from those who have actually done it (or are doing it)..

Oh yeah, and how many of you travel with a significant other, and how interested in it are they (or how did you interest them in it)..
 

evilfij

Well-known member
You can mount a roof top tent to roof bars on the cage or obviously a roof rack would accommodate one.

I have not gone anywhere interesting, but I have taken my 90 to events near and far and basically I just sleep in the back (I rip the center cubby out and that’s where my feet go). I just throw down some pads and sleep. Works for me and better than being in a tent in the rain (I was moderately famous for this at rover events having no “camp” to speak of, just a pelican box of stuff I set outside). At one point I was going to do a platform over the passenger side, but I don’t have that kind of time.

I feel like actual overlanding does not exist anywhere on the east coast, we just drive somewhere and go camping.
 

javelinadave

Administrator
Staff member
When I did my 30+ day AlCan trip one of the trucks was a 97 NAS-90. Ed slept on a tent cot but he did spend one night in his 90 sleeping on top of his gear during a massive rainstorm. He also carried four 5 gallon gas cans and did have to tap into them from time to time. It is doable but definitely bigger is better.

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evilfij

Well-known member
There was a family that overlanded everywhere in a short wheel base Series I. As far as fuel, you can remove the passenger seat side tool box and add a second tank. I would much rather have that than cans.
 

LRNAD90

Well-known member
You can mount a roof top tent to roof bars on the cage or obviously a roof rack would accommodate one.

I have not gone anywhere interesting, but I have taken my 90 to events near and far and basically I just sleep in the back (I rip the center cubby out and that’s where my feet go). I just throw down some pads and sleep. Works for me and better than being in a tent in the rain (I was moderately famous for this at rover events having no “camp” to speak of, just a pelican box of stuff I set outside). At one point I was going to do a platform over the passenger side, but I don’t have that kind of time.

I feel like actual overlanding does not exist anywhere on the east coast, we just drive somewhere and go camping.

I don't think I could sleep in the back if I was loaded with gear/food/water etc for extended time away from civilization, simply can't believe there would be room, other than sleeping upright in the driver's seat, and that doesn't sound like a good nights rest at all (even if I had a fancy Scheel-mann dream seat - which I don't, and wouldn't)..

There was a family that overlanded everywhere in a short wheel base Series I. As far as fuel, you can remove the passenger seat side tool box and add a second tank. I would much rather have that than cans.

Yeah, that would probbably be a good solution (I beleive they are 15 gallons, so pretty much doubling capacity), but I don't want to remove the seatbox. I thought about the Safari UK wheel well tank, but its only 7 gallons, and I'm not sure it would fit with my Safari Gard Stage III Shock mounts, or if the 285/75-16 tires would rub (they alreay made light contact with the spring perch prior to installing spacers). And I'm not sure I could bring myself to drill the balance tube line in the bottom of the OEM tank..

In my day dreaming I toyed with the idea of a custom flat pancake tank approx 4" tall in the load area, with a custom drawer system on top. If I remember correclty, the calculation came about to about 17-18 additonal gallons. Of course this also means cutting a transfer line somehow, unless I used it like a giant jerry can and transfered fuel as necessary.

And then there are jerry cans, but how to carry them. Not found of the idea of carrying them inside the truck..

When I did my 30+ day AlCan trip one of the trucks was a 97 NAS-90. Ed slept on a tent cot but he did spend one night in his 90 sleeping on top of his gear during a massive rainstorm. He also carried four 5 gallon gas cans and did have to tap into them from time to time. It is doable but definitely bigger is better.

The SW body affords a lot more storage options on top and hanging off the sides than my ST does. I know I could do a little half rack over the front, but I really don't like them, and don't like racks that much due to the raised cog. I'm already lifted on soft springs (with no sway bars), doesn't seem like a good idea...

Not NAS, but this guy (retired engineer) overlands with his wife in their 90 all around the world.

Yeah, I've seen that. He says he wanted a 110 (LOL), but the 90 was what he could find/afford at the time. I guess there is a way to make anything work, but I really don't want an obnoxious rack like that..
 

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
The ST NAS 90 is an awful overlanding platform. I know--I did it for four years. Everything is a compromise. You are forced to under-carry spares and fuel just to fit some basic camping gear inside.

Speaking of camping gear, you can't sleep inside of it. In my opinion, all pinnacle trucks are large enough and flexible enough to accommodate the driver sleeping flat inside. You will be tenting in the 90 and it sucks if it's raining. RTTs are a bad idea if you do any serious off-roading or exploring.

The V8 setup can be decently reliable for some trucks but others are constantly beset with issues. I finally got sick of dealing with the drawbacks and sold my NAS 90 to build the perfect 3-door 110. I can sleep in the back, the fuel range is over 1,000 miles if I have jerry cans in the fuel lockers, and the 300Tdi is very reliable and easily repaired in the field.
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LRNAD90

Well-known member
The ST NAS 90 is an awful overlanding platform. I know--I did it for four years..

I suppose a trailer is the logical option, but I'm not really sure I want to tow a trailer, or add a hitch that hangs down, and I really don't have a place to store a trailer.

And they are also pricy for turn key solutions. Something like either of these would be great, but I'd never get such an extravagance approved by accounting..


 

pfshoen

Well-known member
Trailer is really the only answer in the case of a 90 ST.
NAS step bumper is receiver style so the draw bar and ball remove and stow out of the way.
The 90 alone allows for serious wheeling. If you park the trailer and explore trails solo, you don't need a trailer that's mega adventure spec. The links are to trailers based around tents, not hard shells. A camp trailer built to U-Haul spec or better can deal with dirt roads just fine. Could change to taller tires. You will have to drive slower off pavement. Most of the quality box trailers I've seen will work. One could be built out for camping, or just carry all the gear you need. Without built-ins, the trailer can be used for other purposes when you're not traveling, and parked outside. With smaller campers, you don't live in them you live out of them. When the wx goes bad, you use them to hide in temporarily. Or as they say in Baja, "When the wind blows, go to town." Once encamped, it's a plus not to have to break camp just to go get ice or take a day trip.
I've used a Caranex tent annex for my 88 and it works well, but hard shells are a definite step up. I plan my trips around good weather, going south in the winter and north in the summer.
 

meatblanket

Well-known member
Keep your eye out for a Sankey trailer and build it out yourself. They have the same bolt pattern and track width as your 90, and will withstand a whole lot of abuse. I built a flip top for mine and put a big ass James Baroud on that. It's super comfortable, even in high winds. I'm into mine for <5k.

As noted the fun is diminished if you have to reverse or do 3 point turns on a switchback. However, you certainly aren't limited to 2wd roads.

I used to "overland" in a YJ Wrangler. Not hard to do, but a ground tent was the only option. Began to hate folding that up wet. The fuel cans went on a swing away rack, as even the 20 US gallon tank on those sometimes isn't enough. To me it's more of a petrol v. diesel thing as much as a tank capacity thing.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
If you are solo it’s easy to do in a NAS 90. A couple is possible, but you will likely need a RTT. The limiting factor with a couple is that, unless one person is very short, you can’t make the driver’s side flat for a platform above the seats because of the steering wheel (this is easy to do on the passenger side).

Go and look at any of the D90 overland builds on YouTube and you will see lots of good ideas. The soft top does not really change the builds much (just need a full roof rack or mount a small RTT to the front cage and then you don’t get an awning.

Like this without the stuff in the top


There is plenty of room in a NAS90 for all the stuff you could want (of course it’s not secure unless in built in boxes) and one can carry a lot of weight.

And I know you don’t want a second tank, but if you need distance on fuel, that seems pretty much a requirement to me. I had a NAS 90 with a second tank (of course I never used it). Just use a transfer pump and it’s pretty simple because it’s a factory location on some ROW 90s (you can do an under seat fill if you don’t want to add a second external filler).
 

LRNAD90

Well-known member
That is cool, wish they would have shown more of how the sleeping platform works..

I could probably do this hammock trip from the roll cage.. This guy has his whole routine of camping in his 90. He has several videos, this is just one..

 
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