Capable - Definition of YOUR vehicle!

[Tombie]

So, another thread has prompted me to pose this question!

Based on this quote (snipped):

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/08/768.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/139620-decision-made-post1583374.html#post1583374)
Buy a tidy County 110 and restore it using a 4BD1T and all the good gear you always wished to have. This will be considerably cheaper than a new vehicle of any make, and more capable.


So I pose this question...

Define what makes a 4wd (your 4wd) capable, and your definition there of.
(Competition trucks / pure weekend rock crawlers need not apply)

Examples: Comfort, Towing, Mile munching etc etc...

[numpty]

I love my Td5 Defender for what I bought it for.

A "reasonably comfortable, long distance off road touring vehicle" with the occasional soiree into the wilds for weekends. I have towed loaded car trailers with it on numerous occasions, but dont particularly like to and I am happy with doing 500k per day in it although I have done over 800 on occasions.

It is not fitted with any fancy mods or engine enhancements apart from bullbar, towbar and long range fuel tank. It still has it's original suspension, including shocks and has now completed 145000 k's. I still run the Grabber tyres (yes 2 are original albeit with 120000 on them).

It is as capable as my previous Stage 1 V8 was in 20 years of ownership and I would love to have a 130 of similar vintage.

FWIW.......I reckon your dreaming Brian to build an old truck up cheaply.

[Tombie]

I love my Td5 Defender for what I bought it for.

A "reasonably comfortable, long distance off road touring vehicle" with the occasional soiree into the wilds for weekends. I have towed loaded car trailers with it on numerous occasions, but dont particularly like to and I am happy with doing 500k per day in it although I have done over 800 on occasions.

It is not fitted with any fancy mods or engine enhancements apart from bullbar, towbar and long range fuel tank. It still has it's original suspension, including shocks and has now completed 145000 k's. I still run the Grabber tyres (yes 2 are original albeit with 120000 on them).

It is as capable as my previous Stage 1 V8 was in 20 years of ownership and I would love to have a 130 of similar vintage.

FWIW.......I reckon your dreaming Brian to build an old truck up cheaply.

So your definition of capable is:
- Reasonable comfort
- Decent range
- Adequate frontal protection
- Occasional towing of heavy items
- Suited to touring with 500+ km per day requirements
- occasional 'weekend getaway'

[roverfan]

Capeable is going anywhere you want it to for your purpose.

For me it was about being able to go absolutely anywere and no concern for comfort.

Now its about being able to do long highway drives in comfort, towing my car and probably some very soft offroading.

[Tombie]

My definition (I have 5 minutes)

- Long distance tourer
- Good ground clearance
- Decent range
- Offroad capable for most types of terrain (not pure rock hopping) so pretty much a bit of 'everything'
- Good HEVAC
- Good music
- Towing capacity suited to other hobbies eg. 2300kg Shark Cat
- Good frontal & Sill protection
- Excellent forward lighting
- Comfortable ride : I want to get out after 10 hours feeling like I just got in.
- Able to do the 'icons' - Cape York, Simpson, CSR with confidence.

Both my vehicles meet this... One is Rigid Axles, the other isnt...

[LWB123]

So, another thread has prompted me to pose this question!

Based on this quote (snipped):


So I pose this question...

Define what makes a 4wd (your 4wd) capable, and your definition there of.
(Competition trucks / pure weekend rock crawlers need not apply)
Examples: Comfort, Towing, Mile munching etc etc...


Genghis Khan is famously quoted as saying of the Great Wall of China that "the strenghth of a wall is only as great as the fortitude of its defenders" - he simply bribed the gatekeepers....

I guess in many ways that the capability of a vehicle is as great as the fortitude of its driver. Throw in a bit of skill and determination as well perhaps.

In the 60's my uncles and cousins (plus the odd aunty) were taking Holden and Zephyr utes, A40s, VW beetles etc around paddocks and through creeks that are now deemed "4WD only". Really came down to need and how badly you wanted to get there.

Cheers,

[Tombie]

Genghis Khan is famously quoted as saying of the Great Wall of China that "the strenghth of a wall is only as great as the fortitude of its defenders" - he simply bribed the gatekeepers....

I guess in many ways that the capability of a vehicle is as great as the fortitude of its driver. Throw in a bit of skill and determination as well perhaps.

In the 60's my uncles and cousins (plus the odd aunty) were taking Holden and Zephyr utes, A40s, VW beetles etc around paddocks and through creeks that are now deemed "4WD only". Really came down to need and how badly you wanted to get there.

Cheers,

Great post :)

What I am more trying to ascertain is along these lines...

A Falcodore is a "capable" sealed road average family (2+2) vehicle.
Suited to:
- Taking Dad to work
- Taking Mum to the shops
- Pick up and dropping off the Kiddies
- Traveling interstate with reasonable economy, range and comfort

So is it "more capable" "less capable" or "Just as capable" as a....
4wd? Motorcycle? Semi Trailer? Push bike?

Everyone goes on about "Solid Axles, No electrics etc" but really... Are these needed for 98% of use?

Can we justify trade-offs for that other 2% of the time?

[V8Ian]

Versatility, comfortably able to travel 1,000 km a day regularly with the ability to tow heavy loads and venture into generally inaccessable areas occasionally. Mechanically solid and simple with minimal electronic gizmos and no airbags. My car is 'personalized' but basically unmodified.

[Col.Coleman]

I would define "Capable" as , "will get me to the Cape and Back":D

CC

[BigJon]

Everyone goes on about "Solid Axles, No electrics etc" but really... Are these needed for 98% of use?

Can we justify trade-offs for that other 2% of the time?


Another relevant question: Can we justify spending large amounts of money on a vehicle that isn't used to its full potential 98% of the time?

[Tombie]

I would define "Capable" as , "will get me to the Cape and Back":D

CC

Via which track? :cool:

[goingbush]

Via which track? :cool:

Word is that the Cape Leveque Road is the toughest track on vehicles in Australia, Ive yet to find out. My 80 Series broke 40klm in & hadnt got to the rough part yet. , & that was " No Electrics , Solid Axles "

Lets hope the TD5 fares better than Tojo next trip round.


For me the Defentition "Capable" may or may not be realised after our upcoming 12 month round oz trip dragging a Trakmaster Gibson is completed.

[Blknight.aus]

gotta have bullet proof dependability, gotta be cheap to run, needs to have long legs and needs to be fault tolerant. If it breaks it needs to be quick and easy to fix, even if that means swapping the sub assembly, no sub assembly should take more than 1/2 a day to swap out if working at pace with 2 mechanics.

[PAT303]

Great post :)

What I am more trying to ascertain is along these lines...

A Falcodore is a "capable" sealed road average family (2+2) vehicle.
Suited to:
- Taking Dad to work
- Taking Mum to the shops
- Pick up and dropping off the Kiddies
- Traveling interstate with reasonable economy, range and comfort

So is it "more capable" "less capable" or "Just as capable" as a....
4wd? Motorcycle? Semi Trailer? Push bike?

Everyone goes on about "Solid Axles, No electrics etc" but really... Are these needed for 98% of use?

Can we justify trade-offs for that other 2% of the time?

The bit about solid axles/no electrics gets me.The people that go on about it live in cities or populated area's yet I live in remote outback Australia and have had two electric operated vehicles,one with independent suspension,another no no and have never had an issue.In three weeks I'll be doing my 7th and 8th crossing of Oz through the great central in my puma were's the ''old school boys'' in thier isuzu's will be driving to the shops:D. Pat

[Col.Coleman]

Via which track? :cool:

The good 'ol luddite 8 track:p

Capable to me means "gets me to and from where I want to go, carrying everything I want to carry or tow, without getting bogged, stuck or requiring outside assistance."

I have several personally desirable characteristics which help achieve this, but also different vehicles set up around different uses. Each one is just as capable as the others, just with different paramates and priorities.

My Subaru is just as capable at getting me to a bush walk in Leather bound comfort, as my FFR as a display vehicle, as my 130 at extended off road touring, as my Stage 1 Isuzu is in making me deaf.

CC

[pormpaul]

Genghis Khan is famously quoted as saying of the Great Wall of China that "the strenghth of a wall is only as great as the fortitude of its defenders" - he simply bribed the gatekeepers....

I guess in many ways that the capability of a vehicle is as great as the fortitude of its driver. Throw in a bit of skill and determination as well perhaps.

In the 60's my uncles and cousins (plus the odd aunty) were taking Holden and Zephyr utes, A40s, VW beetles etc around paddocks and through creeks that are now deemed "4WD only". Really came down to need and how badly you wanted to get there.

Cheers,

I once took a 1.6 lt Ford Escort to the Cherry Venture on Double Island Point.

[PAT303]

Another relevant question: Can we justify spending large amounts of money on a vehicle that isn't used to its full potential 98% of the time?

Lots of people will tell you you do need a tonne of crap hanging off your vehicle to take the kids to school,and compensate for for thier little dicks. Pat

[Hoges]

Capability = fit for purpose?

Another thought: Capability doesn't necessarily equate with practicality

Evan Green and Gelignite Jack Murray drove an Austin 1800 and a Morris Mini Minor on a figure 8 loop through the centre of Australia, across deserts etc over 40 yrs ago... in the late 60s my venerable Morris 1100 with heavy winter treads and pumped up suspension went many places deep in winter in the Snowys (couldn't afford a Land Rover:( ).

Given that the Mini survived the desert crossings AND could park in the city where a full size 4WD could not fit...does that make the Mini more capable?

Traditional 4WDs are like Microsoft Office products... you pay a damned lot of money for capability which is rarely...indeed if ever, used ...

I also think it fair to say that this AULRO forum displays virtually none of the HT syndrome (= hoodlum testosterone) prevalent in other places...long may it continue:clap2:

[strangy]

Genghis Khan is famously quoted as saying of the Great Wall of China that "the strenghth of a wall is only as great as the fortitude of its defenders" - he simply bribed the gatekeepers....

I guess in many ways that the capability of a vehicle is as great as the fortitude of its driver. Throw in a bit of skill and determination as well perhaps.

In the 60's my uncles and cousins (plus the odd aunty) were taking Holden and Zephyr utes, A40s, VW beetles etc around paddocks and through creeks that are now deemed "4WD only". Really came down to need and how badly you wanted to get there.

Cheers,

I like this post, a I note few Commodores and Falcons has traversed the Canning and most other "famous" routes.

I suppose that makes them more capable than the 4wd's that didnt/ couldnt make it?

For me a "capable" 4wd will comfortably traverse the majority of tracks available to the public without bottoming out, damaging approach and departure bodywork/mechanicals. Have a range of at least 1000km on road and a load/ weight capacity of a bit more than what I would normally carry. Be built of materials or processes resistant to corrosion and of a standard that will handle continued exposure to the conditions and terrain expected.

cheers

[Sleepy]

Mine are all capable of making me smile.:D










(well......most of the time;))

[wardy1]

Every mod on mine has a purpose:
Lockers front and rear
Bull Bar
Winch
Lift
Roof Bars
Cargo barrier
Long range tanks
LED spotties

What these things allow me to do is tow a camper where ever I want to go SLOWLY when required and not damage the vehicle. It's economical, comfy when pulling the long mile, reliable and yeah, I can go anywhere in it with confidence:D

[roverrescue]

my 130 i define as capable because it has been rolled twice, had a 200kg steel portal frame parked on the roof, has more piston slap than a 1984 laser, a steering box that hoses fluid, a tcase that leaks and dodgy electrics that blow fuses BUT it just came back from cape melville dragging its own boat, helping another vehicles boat throug the soft sand whilst constantly waiting for others to catch up.
It does it all despite its owners best efforts to kill it.

I would literally hate owning a vehicle that cost more than the old fender. I might have to start caring?

[ramblingboy42]

I couldnt care less, I was never going to buy a Land Rover anyway

[Mike_S]

As a relatively new 'convert' to 4WD vehicles, having only had them for the last few years after 20 years of performance cars, I can agree with most of the comments on here. For us, the term 'capable' has been levelled at both my P38 & now the RRS, surprisingly by SWMBO more often than not and comes down to one over-riding statement.

Of all the cars we've owned, they're the only ones 'capable' of doing every job we've ever asked of them.

With the 4WD (and by that I mean the Landie product), we could live easily with just the one car if we had to, just because it's the one car that does every job. Neither of us can see the day when we don't own a Land Rover product, just because of its versatility. Every other vehicle we've ever owned always has something it can't do, necessitating another vehicle.

Tow a 2 1/2 tonne boat
Tow a large caravan
Take all our crap to the dump
Collect large items of furniture someone's just bought
Make the neighbours go "I still cant believe you bought that after owning an M3"
Have the car that makes friends kids & our niece & nephew get very protective over because they love it.
Go shopping and be easy for SWMBO to punt round town / park up
Drive from South Wales 500 miles to Scotland in comfort, in a day
The next day, on the way back, stop off in the Lake District and take it offroad for an hour then resume the 85mph+ journey back home
The following day do a 400 mile round trip to the east of England
Carry more people than it was designed for
Carry me to work and back covering 30-40000 miles a year
Do that reliably
Allow me to drive 100 miles to site, spend all day offroad in it, then drive 100 miles home with all the mud hanging off it. No need to swap into another car when I get to site, I can just drive straight there.
Not cost a bucket in depreciation (I'm lucky in that I paid bugger all for it)
Have a serious turn of speed & handle well when needed
Take in a couple of laps of a racetrack :angel:
Need the minimum of maintenance between services
Be easy to fix when it does go wrong (helloooo internet)

And I've got the 'girly RRS', no doubt one day it'll be replaced with a D4 for the extra space, but until then it does every job we ask.

Now that we've moved to Aus I'm sure it's going to get used in a whole new way and that's one of the main reasons for bringing it out. We're already missing not having it here, somehow her Focus XR5 doesn't quite feel like it's up to the gravel roads....

[Homestar]

Both of our cars are 'capable' for thier desired purposes. The Classic is my weekend car, so doesn't cost the earth to run, the set of muddies is about the only mod on it, so it covers off the requirement to go bush on meduim tracks and through lots of mud.:), and our camping gear fits in the back no dramas for aweekend away. Looks great, and I love driving it, and the kids aren't embarrased to be taken to school/friends places in it.:p Also use this to tow a trailer to the tip, etc.

The L322 (when I finally get it on the road) is for SWMBO to commute to work in when she doesn't feel like taking the motor bike, and to go down to the inlaws place on weekends (300KM each way) with the kids, dogs and luggage in the back. I know a commodore and falcon wagon would probably do this just as well, but not in the same style or comfort:).

[Tombie]

As a relatively new 'convert' to 4WD vehicles, having only had them for the last few years after 20 years of performance cars, I can agree with most of the comments on here. For us, the term 'capable' has been levelled at both my P38 & now the RRS, surprisingly by SWMBO more often than not and comes down to one over-riding statement.

Of all the cars we've owned, they're the only ones 'capable' of doing every job we've ever asked of them.

With the 4WD (and by that I mean the Landie product), we could live easily with just the one car if we had to, just because it's the one car that does every job. Neither of us can see the day when we don't own a Land Rover product, just because of its versatility. Every other vehicle we've ever owned always has something it can't do, necessitating another vehicle.

Tow a 2 1/2 tonne boat
Tow a large caravan
Take all our crap to the dump
Collect large items of furniture someone's just bought
Make the neighbours go "I still cant believe you bought that after owning an M3"
Have the car that makes friends kids & our niece & nephew get very protective over because they love it.
Go shopping and be easy for SWMBO to punt round town / park up
Drive from South Wales 500 miles to Scotland in comfort, in a day
The next day, on the way back, stop off in the Lake District and take it offroad for an hour then resume the 85mph+ journey back home
The following day do a 400 mile round trip to the east of England
Carry more people than it was designed for
Carry me to work and back covering 30-40000 miles a year
Do that reliably
Allow me to drive 100 miles to site, spend all day offroad in it, then drive 100 miles home with all the mud hanging off it. No need to swap into another car when I get to site, I can just drive straight there.
Not cost a bucket in depreciation (I'm lucky in that I paid bugger all for it)
Have a serious turn of speed & handle well when needed
Take in a couple of laps of a racetrack :angel:
Need the minimum of maintenance between services
Be easy to fix when it does go wrong (helloooo internet)

And I've got the 'girly RRS', no doubt one day it'll be replaced with a D4 for the extra space, but until then it does every job we ask.

Now that we've moved to Aus I'm sure it's going to get used in a whole new way and that's one of the main reasons for bringing it out. We're already missing not having it here, somehow her Focus XR5 doesn't quite feel like it's up to the gravel roads....

I think this may be the best response I've read yet...

[Chucaro]

My most capable vehicles were the Peugeot 504 and the 505.
Very comfortable,
Excellent handling, and safe on the road at any speed.
Suspension and brakes superb,
Cheap to run ,
Able to run with the gearbox almost dry if in emergency,
Able to go almost every were (superior to the legendary 203 and 404 well proved in the outback)

[flagg]

Most of the places I like to go with my county (off road) I found with my Fiat 131. I learned a lot about wheel placement with that car!

Now, Capability is a) starting and b) not likely to get a defect from plod. (county fails at both :( )

Until I finish my firewall replacement my county is only capable of:

- Removing all the skin from my knuckles
- Getting rid of all that annoying money from my bank account
- Taking up the whole workshop
- Allowing me to learn so much stuff about cars and giving me the satisfaction of doing something that I never thought I would be able to do!

And that last one is priceless.

[The ho har's]

Comfort: great on long distances as well as short.

Towing: Handles the car trailer with a landy on superbly:)

Mile munching: with the Camper on we regularly get 12lt /100k,s

Enhancements: heavier sway bar, (no good for off roading, it is a tourer;))air bags in the inner rear springs, EGR valve removed and a chip:D winch for if we get stuck on an outback track:(, HF radio for the same:D

I think that is all:)

Mrs hh:angel:

[pfillery]

My definition - if it is able to pull a dead S3 109" the same weight as itself, up a muddy wet grass slope, in 2wd high range, with near bald rear tyres and with limited riding of the clutch, no run up and not even bat an eyelid - then it is capable.

Closest thing my S3 has done to being "off road" in 12 months.

[Vern]

because it's the one car that does every job. I think this somes it up Tombie:)

[B92 8NW]

I think this somes it up Tombie:)

Perhaps for some, but there's no way I'd say my own D1 is one car for every job. I've built mine for off road and its approaching a point where I will need to buy a normal car soon and reserve the Disco for 4wding.

It's lifted so it's no good for underground or multi storey carparks.
It's got Centipedes on it so handles like crap on tarmac, especially when wet.
The tyres are probably too large for the factory gearing, it gets 14.5 to the hundred and needs a boot load and a half to get moving.
It certainly isn't the vehicle if you need to impress anyone. Have had to chauffeur an international airline executive worth millions complete with wet carpets from smelly Kinglake water. Way to market oneself as a complete bogan:D.

Sure you can set a vehicle up to be jack of all trades, but it wouldn't be a master of offroading then

[Mike_S]

Each to their own, you've built it for the purpose you want and that's great.

Mine is my everyday car and I have no alternative, it has to be reliable and there to use so I (perhaps) wouldn't subject it to the same extremes. It's still 'capable' of doing probably 90% of what you do with yours though.

There's also the value of the car to be taken into account. I'd be far less concerned chucking a couple of grands worth of Disco or Defender into a deep river than I would be taking my RRS or a new D4.

Horses for courses and all that :D

[superquag]

The one that gives you the best sleep....the night before you do Interesting Driving , never even questioning whether it will get there & back or if/when anything is going to fail.

- Where 'maintenance' is the car having a planned event due to accrued mileage, - not 'cos its broken, and a "Repair" is something done to a puncture...

All about your confidence in your vehicle, regardless of the marque's reputation.

(Even better if your faith justified !:p)

[superquag]

Have had to chauffeur an international airline executive worth millions complete with wet carpets from smelly Kinglake water. ....

You sure he was'nt secretly envious of your laid-back lifestyle ?:p

[Beckford]

Define what makes a 4wd (your 4wd) capable, and your definition there of.

Out of the box;

Good clearance
Good departure and approach angles
Solid Axles
Light
Low range
Low gearing (6 speed)
Centre diff lock
Traction Control
Good vision
Torque / power
Gearing matches engine
Long legs 10L / 100km (diesel)
1,000kg payload
250kg ball weight / 3,500kg load towing ability

Aftermarket:

Good tyres
Recovery points
Winch bar
UHF

[Tombie]

Out of the box;

Good clearance
Good departure and approach angles
Solid Axles
Light
Low range
Low gearing (6 speed)
Centre diff lock
Traction Control
Good vision
Torque / power
Gearing matches engine
Long legs 10L / 100km (diesel)
1,000kg payload
250kg ball weight / 3,500kg load towing ability

Aftermarket:

Good tyres
Recovery points
Winch bar
UHF

Good list...

So why the "solid axle" bit?

Everything else screams capable long range tourer..

The solid axle screams legacy handling.

Unfortunately (sic), on almost every hard trip I've been on a Playdo or Cruiser walks through the same terrain.


"Where the Desert meets the Sea"
'Did I mention some great 4WDriving is just 5 minutes from home?'

[blitz]

Perhaps for some, but there's no way I'd say my own D1 is one car for every job. I've built mine for off road and its approaching a point where I will need to buy a normal car soon and reserve the Disco for 4wding.

It's lifted so it's no good for underground or multi storey carparks.
It's got Centipedes on it so handles like crap on tarmac, especially when wet.
The tyres are probably too large for the factory gearing, it gets 14.5 to the hundred and needs a boot load and a half to get moving.
It certainly isn't the vehicle if you need to impress anyone. Have had to chauffeur an international airline executive worth millions complete with wet carpets from smelly Kinglake water. Way to market oneself as a complete bogan:D.

Sure you can set a vehicle up to be jack of all trades, but it wouldn't be a master of offroading then

Very much like mine, the other half hates driving it (phew) it's really not practical in the city for the same reasons, even with every thing I have done to it there is still heaps more I will eventually for it's off road capabilities. A Disco series I is really to small for a good tourer although I have and will again, what I will eventually end up with is an off roader that is capable of being driven on the bituman and now that I have a new job with a car supplied by work - a commuter as well.

My ultimate tourer / off road 4wd would be a decked out with all the fruit OKA pop top (when I win lotto)

[GregTD5]

What makes my D2 capable, for me, is that it achieves so many things.

As we all have to work, it is a great daily driver to get me to work and back.
Easy to drive around suburbs and into city.
Easy for wife to drive.
Good fuel economy.
Comfort.
Can easily tow camper, to get away.
Can easily tow my 2.5 ton trailer with Mini Loader.
Has great off road ability.
With tyres and a lift, better off road ability.
Am able to sit in it all day and travel across country, comfortably if needed.

No doubt theres a few more things, i'll remember later, but it's a bit like a Swiss Army knife for me.
A great multi-tool, that does everything I want.

Greg

[jonesy61]

Capable?

I never intended to find out the single most capable aspect of my latest edition. A beautiful stock standard D2 update TD5. For nine months she punted my family around Melbourne, carted hay to feed my kids equine habit, carted and towed all manner of aquisitions and gave me some me time on the odd weekend away from the truck and all with a minimim of fuss with the only problem being those dreaded three amigos until....11/11/11 at 10.07 on the Pacific Highway...she was spun across the road at speed by one of my brethren into the face of unsuspecting couple traveling south...my goldie died saving my family. A horendous crash that resulted in fatalities...my two little girls just hopped out of their side of the car with just one scratch between the two. My wife sustained a stable fracture in her back and my son got extensive leg fractures. All are now home with me because of the strength of my landy.

Full chassis and the luck of spinning a full 180 before impact saved my family.
.....that's capability!

[uninformed]

for me it is to be as capable on road as it is off....no mine isnt. (thanks to engineering/legal restrictions). I would take my base line vehicle as the original RRC (early 70's 2 door) . Portals and rearsteer would allow for more.....

[scarry]

Capable?
Must be,ultra reliable
Easily maintained
Reasonably cheap to run & service
Can do a long run,say 1200k's(two drivers),very comfortably
Comfortable around town,easy to park(wife loves it)
Must have a good set of A/T tyres(my pet hate is tyre trouble)
Must be capable of going anywhere without major modification(Cape trip OTT track)
Cargo barrier & frontal protection for safety
prefer solid axles(Tombie,not to interested in better road handling & ride,pretty good as is,less parts to wear out & cause issues)
Good wheel travel with traction control
Doesn't depreciate like a lead balloon
Not overly full of electronics
Good towing vehicle
Security alarm
Good A/C system
Good ground clearence,permanent 4WD,with transfer case & CDL
Roomy enough for trips to remote areas

as above the D2 ticks all the boxes ATM

[bidds]

Able to take me and my family anywhere we want to visit, comfortably, with the gear we need and without having to worry about the terrain or conditions.

This translates into:
-good approach/departure/rampover angles;
-good ground clearance;
-able to drive through about 700-800mm of water with no preparation;
-enough interior space;
-constant 4wd & traction control (means little mucking around to keep moving - only have to select Low &/or lock the centre diff);
-good, confident, comfortable handling on and off road while maintaining a good pace (I like to get to where I'm going);
-plenty of range ~700-800km over varied terrain (low fuel consumption and enough fuel tankage);
-ABS/EBD brake system;
-good lights (incl fog lights);
-enough power to maintain highway speeds at all times;
-reliable/trustworthy/failsafe; and
-smart looking when cleaned up (for the town bit).

Independent v live axles: For my purposes I don't really care - there's usually a way around most obstacles when trying to get somewhere (as opposed to just playing around off road). But I do consider independent, air suspension a la D3/D4/RRS/L322 to be far more capable for off road use - the vehicle can have much better clearance than a live axle vehicle and not require 35"+ wheels + no diff pumpkins to smash on rocks.