Canadian 4x4 Routes

Hi!

I live in the UK but I'm going to be over in Canada for a good while soon, and as most people know something that Canada possesses is vast amounts of amazing wilderness!

I was just wondering if anyone can recommend any good quality 4x4 driving routes as I'm undecided on whether to fork out to have my Navara shipped over with me!

Cheers.

Note: I'll be based around Vancouver but willing to drive fair distances.

Hi mate,

I highly recommend you to do this, me and my friends took it upon us to go on a road trip with all our 4x4's and thought where would be best? And we chose Canada, awesome place people are very friendly and loads to see. What type of trip are you going for? to explore or test your Navara to the limits? if it is the second option i highly recommend you to modify your vehicle with a toe bar and new clutch and more depending on how much mileage your vehicle has already done.

Hi TC5 cheers for the reply!

I've always thought it looks a great country which is why I want to do this, its very cool that you've done it too, what did you drive?, I want to explore first and foremost but obviously testing the vehicle to its limits is always good! What quality are the tracks over there? Would I be likely to get any damage? I want the Navara to be prepared but I'm not in a position where I can spend thousands on it!

No worries pal,

I drove the Toyota Hilux around Canada, not sure about the tracks but i here they are awesome, we just went through the mountains mostly when we went so we was always driving our cars to the limits! Erm its one of those things mate you could go and not get a scratch or you can go and get stuck in a ditch lol. I would recommend new brakes, pads, toe bar etc, not to say the ones Nissan provide aren't good cause I'm sure they are its just to be on the safe side to get new stuff or just to take some spares just in case the standard ones break.

By tracks I meant the mountain/forest tracks, not race tracks but cheers anyway mate very helpful and nice to have an experienced head like yours around...

My only concern is cost, I did a similar thing around Spain a few years back, obviously that's very different terrain to the Canadian mountains but it cost a bomb back then so I'd like to do this on a smaller budget without underpreparing.

Cheeky I know but I don't suppose you could point me in the direction of some good quality parts providers, the amount of which prices can vary is ridiculous and I don't want to overpay!

Nah its not cheeky at all, its the whole point of a forum I suppose,

I'm at work at the minute mate and ive got some sites at home you could look at so ill get back to you.

Really? How was Spain? I think our next quest will be around Europe.

Cheers mate can't wait for that!

Spain was amazing thanks, I wouldn't call it an off road drivers dream, but theres definitely some interesting terrain, the weather was great and we had loads of fun, very interesting seeing the areas of Spain you don't often see in the tourist brochures, although the odd lie on the beach was quite a relief too!

Yeah thats the main reason we want to go there on our trip around Europe, to see bits of the country you dont usually see in the holiday brochure. And to do plenty of this with the locals haha

Well you'll be pleased to hear that Spanish wine has improved enormously, but is still relatively cheap. Gone are the days where it was like paint-stripper, nowadays even the cheapest 'plonk' in 2 litre plastic bottles isn't plonk any more. Okay, obviously there is much better around in proper glass bottles, but I've never had a bad cheapie yet ... at least I can't remember if it was bad???

Nissdan: You remarked, "I wouldn't call it an off road drivers dream". Well all i can say is you haven't being going to the right places. Okay, I agree it can't compare to the deserts of North Africa or a sub-tropical Asian rainforest, but it's still heaven to me. Here are a couple of shots of Spain in the north and south:-



















Above - spot the Landy! Yep, it's that white dot!

I rest my case!!!

A few more

I recognise that rock ... and the termite mound! Happy days.

wow that looks amazing i cant wait to go!! What are the locals like around there?

Wow, some real awesome pictures there Tom MC, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its a bad place to go off roading, in fact I really loved it, soaring planes and bumps, some great views too!

I was simply trying to provide a balanced view, I know a lot of people's ideas of off roading heaven is being sat at a 45degree angle in a muddy bank battling through tree's and other overgrowth...which I have nothing against either!

nissdan wrote:

Wow, some real awesome pictures there Tom MC, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its a bad place to go off roading, in fact I really loved it, soaring planes and bumps, some great views too!

I was simply trying to provide a balanced view, I know a lot of people's ideas of off roading heaven is being sat at a 45degree angle in a muddy bank battling through tree's and other overgrowth...which I have nothing against either!

Take your point nissdan, it was just an excuse to dig out some memories.

TC5 - I've always said that I prefer the Spanish Pyrenees to the French side of the border, predominately because of the locals. They don't whinge like the French, and providing you adhere to their signage (don't ignore signs such as PRIVADO, etc.) then there is no problem. As I've said many times before, the French will let you drive a track, and at the end of it make you turn around and give you a rollicking for being there because it's private. Well why didn't you erect a soddin' big sign to say it's private then???

The fact that most things in Spain are cheaper also helps, but it really is the lack of hassle that draws me south of the border.

Very awesome looking memories they are too Tom MC!

On the note of French/Spanish locals, I found the Spanish very friendly, never been to France but you're definitely not the first person to tell me the French aren't particularly nice!

Right mate, im not sure if your still looking for any places to get parts but i get all mine from http://www.milneroffroad.com/ and there at good prices and have never gone wrong for me pal. Sorry for late reply something popped up.

I second that, Milner Off Road are an excellent company.

Yh they are a great, just about to purchase a tow bar off them now actually, before the wife finds out haha

Hi, just joined the forum, so first post (besides intro). I am from Canada and lived in most regions there, so have some experience. First question is what part of Canada are you going to? It is a rather large place. It doesn't really matter because most regions have great 4x4 available. About 75% of Canada is Crown Land, which means public owned. In the summer months you can literally drive thousands of miles of old logging tracks, remote dirt roads and off road to your hearts content. The last place I was living before coming over to the UK was Calgary with the Rocky Mountains on my doorstep. Great times there, but have also lived in Ontario, Manitoba, B.C. and spent periods in the Maritimes. So, if you have any specific questions I would be happy to help. James