Off-roading in a 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero

To Kevin, otherwise known as @itsaboutfam, offroading is not about the vehicles, the modifications, or hardcore rock-crawling. It is not even about the offroading destinations.

It is easy to overlook the value of nature while we are all living in the era of addictive technologies, high-density cities, and long working hours. Yet, as a society, there has never been a higher emphasis on protecting our natural environments. Ironically, our way of living has never been further disconnected from nature. Of course, this begs the question…

How can future generations value and protect nature if they don’t experience and understand it?

For Kevin, the answer to this question presented itself in the form of a rare 1998 Generation 2.5 Mitsubishi Montero / Pajero / Shogun nicknamed ‘Groot’. The vehicle manifested as a way of reconnecting the family with nature, all the while creating new memories together. Building ‘Groot’ into a light overlanding vehicle would provide Kevin with the confidence to venture down unmarked trails, opening up a new world of raw untouched nature.

There are many four-wheel drive capable SUVs available in the United States market.

Purchasing a 1998 Mitsubishi Montero is certainly not a common overland build in the United States where less than 10,000 models were sold between 1998-1999. To explain why Kevin purchased a Mitsubishi Montero, we need to travel back to the early 2000s.

Mountain Ranges in the Philippines? No Problem!

Back in 2001, Kevin flew from his home state of Florida to the Philippines to visit family. 

An uncle of Kevin's owned a 1996 Generation 2 Mitsubishi Pajero, otherwise known as the Mitsubishi Montero in the United States and the Mitsubishi Shogun in the United Kingdom. The Pajero was the main mode of transport during the holiday, tackling all sorts of mountainous terrain on the way to local sightseeing destinations. While the Pajero did not immediately capture Kevin’s attention, it soon proved its value by overcoming the sketchy mountainous and rough roads expected in a rapidly developing nation. 

Impressed with the Pajero’s performance, Kevin remembered the vehicle as a reliable, capable, and dependable SUV, a strong impression that would lay dormant for close to twenty years! Despite owning several Mitsubishi’s, including a Galant VR4, Lancer Evolution, and Mitsubishi Endeavor, Kevin never needed an off-road capable vehicle.

However, this all changed when Kevin welcomed a son and daughter into the world. Requiring a larger vehicle, Kevin purchased a newer 2002 Montero, sticking with his trust in the Mitsubishi badge. 

Rediscovering the comfort and dependable nature of the newer 2002 Montero, it was not long until Kevin started to reminisce about the older 1996 Montero his uncle drove in the Philippines. 

Over time the new 2002 Montero became his wife's daily driver, meaning that Kevin needed a vehicle of his own. Naturally, Kevin wanted to find a Montero closely resembling his uncle's 1996 model. 

Kevin found himself preferring the slightly newer 1998 Generation 2.5 Montero which featured distinctive blister fenders. More precisely, Kevin narrowed down his ideal selection to the limited edition 'Winter Package' model trim featuring a rear differential lock and adjustable suspension.

Close to twenty years after the Montero was originally sold in the states, however, precious few 1998-1999 Montero’s remain, with far fewer in a serviceable condition. Unfortunately, Kevin had little luck finding any worthwhile Generation 2.5 Monteros in Florida, let alone any models in 'Winter Package' trim. 

Months passed, with even less luck. 

Pressure to purchase a vehicle started to mount, eventually forcing his hand. Kevin settled on a purchase of a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport XLS, otherwise known around the world as the Mitsubishi Challenger and Shogun Sport. 

Although a solid performer, the Montero Sport proved to be a little too small for the size of Kevin’s growing family and work requirements. More significantly, the Sport was never going to be the Montero he dreamed about back in the Philippines. It was time for Kevin to cut his losses and continue the search for a 1998 Montero... But this time, the search would extend past Florida and across the United States.

The hunt was back on!

Kevin soon discovered a 1998 Montero 2.5 in white, with minimal rust, and including the limited edition 'Winter Package' (including headlight washers, heated seats and side mirrors, fog lights, factory rear locker, and adjustable dampening suspension).

But, there was just one catch…

The vehicle was parked in a Washington dealership 3,063 miles away (4929 km) from Florida. The vehicle was too far away to inspect, and too risky to purchase sight unseen. Kevin thought he may miss out on this opportunity... But, Kevin remembered he had a friend who lived in Washington. So Kevin gave him a call, and thankfully, he was willing to inspect the vehicle on his behalf!

Despite an odometer reading over 200,000 miles (321,869km), the vehicle only had one previous owner, no accidents, and a long history of maintenance records. Other than a transmission leak, the Montero was in great condition, driving perfectly considering its age and mileage. A negotiation with the dealership followed with Kevin using the transmission leak as leverage to bring the price down from $3,400 to the accepted offer of $2,000. 

The Montero was then loaded on the back of an auto-delivery truck to cross over 3,063 miles (4929 km). A couple of anxious weeks later and the keys were safely in Kevin's hands. With the vehicle now dripping oil in the driveway, it was time for Kevin to get to know the vehicle and see what he was truly dealing with.

Phase 1.0; Maintenance and Reliability

Being quite handy with the wrench after years of tuning Mitsubishi Galants in his spare time, Kevin knew that the key to reliability with high mileage vehicles begins with maintenance. 

Kevin did not waste much time drawing up a list of maintenance tasks. After all, there is a lot of maintenance to do before a twenty-year-old vehicle is reliable and dependable enough to get you to the trails and back. 

First up, the Montero had developed a lifter tick issue as the vehicle had been sitting idly at the dealership for quite some time. There was also the aforementioned transmission leak making a mess on the pavement. The lifter tick issue was solved with an oil change, and the transmission leak was eliminated with the replacement of a new OEM seal. 

On to the next step, Kevin wanted to improve the baseline level of reliability and performance of the vehicle. This was achieved by sweeping through the vehicle and replacing all plugs, seals, gaskets, filters, belts, hoses, brake pads, and even the water pump. 

Not stopping there, Kevin also changed all fluids before moving onto a series of supporting modifications to open up performance modifications later on in phase 2.0 of the build. Kevin started by replacing all the front steering components with Sankei 555 parts, including upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods, and pitman arms.

To fit 33” mud-terrain tyres in the future, there are a few highly recommended supportive modifications. Namely, the steering idler arm needs to be replaced with a new OEM Mitsubishi part, as well as an upgraded kingpin from Adventure Driven Design. This replaces the OEM plastic bushings and idler shaft with brass bushings and a Chromoly shaft, which is far more durable and capable of running the larger and heavier tyre size.

With a lot of the work completed with access to a friend’s mechanical repair shop, RDM Motorsports, the Montero was driving like a new car with confidence to boot. Wanting to continue returning the vehicle to its former glory, Kevin thoroughly cleaned the interior out and replaced worn-out and tired parts such as the driver's side door panel, air vents, and damaged pillar trim.

Reliable, dependable, and aesthetically refreshed, phase 1.0 was complete. 

Phase 2.0; Overland Build

Kicking off phase 2.0 of the build are modifications designed to transform the vehicle into a light overlander.

'Groot' the Montero has to be able to confidently tackle light to medium difficulty trails with ease and comfort. As such, Kevin has planned out a list of offroad performance, durability, and recovery modifications. 

Starting with the fastest method of increasing offroad performance, Kevin replaced the highway tyres with new mud-terrain 32x11.5r15's by RBP Repulsor. Larger tyres with deeper tread provide greater traction, allowing the vehicle to find grip on dirt tracks, climb higher and roll over larger obstacles. JDM 3 piece Work Deerfields (15x8-13 offset) were also added for a better look!

While working on the wheels, Kevin replaced the stock automatic locking hubs with manual hubs by Aisin. Manual hubs completely disconnect the front tyres from the four-wheel drive system, reducing long term wear and tear, increasing fuel efficiency, and adding greater offroad durability.

Armed with larger mud-terrain tyres, manual locking hubs, and the factory rear locker, ‘Groot’ now had more than enough capability to handle light trails. However, the vehicle is not bulletproof, especially when it comes to unfriendly encounters with unseen obstructions on the trails such as sharp boulders. Characteristic of the landscape in Florida, many trails also consist of soft sand that becomes sticky sludge when wet, trapping and rendering many vehicles tractionless and stuck.

The next set of modifications would therefore provide insurance against both of these situations which can easily stop a vehicle in its tracks. Installing an aftermarket Pajero skid plate, with the help of Kevin’s son, provided ‘Groot’ with greater undercarriage protection from unseen obstructions out on the trails.

Providing the vehicle with even more protection up front, Kevin sourced a rare lightweight Jaos front bar from Asia. The lightweight bar offers protection from impacts to the front of the vehicle, such as track scrub, animals, and 'touch parking' in malls. With Kevin interested in wheeling on easier trails, rather than heavy rock crawling, a winch was not a necessity for the build. 

Moving up to the top of the vehicle, Kevin increased the vehicle's storage space by installing a steel roof cage by SoFlo Bumpers with Yakima mounts holding basic recovery gear including X-Bull Traction Boards, a long handle shovel, and a Fiskars Axe, should the vehicle ever became stuck on light trails. If the vehicle couldn’t be recovered with basic recovery gear and needed to be snatched or winched out, Kevin installed a rated shackle hitch receiver by Vault at the rear and a rated recovery hitch by Luso Overland at the front.

As many four-wheelers know, stock tow hooks and tow bar receivers are not safe for use offroad and pose a significant injury risk. Replacing these with a rated shackle hitch receiver and recovery hitch is an inexpensive and easy modification all four-wheel drivers should invest in. 

Next on the agenda were significant modifications to the Montero's lighting systems. 

Older vehicles missed out on modern LED technology, and in many cases are incompatible with modern globe options. Retrofitting older four-wheel drives with new globes and systems can dramatically reduce driver's fatigue on long drives through trails with minimal artificial lighting, and also increase the visibility of roadside wildlife to reduce potential collisions. 

Kevin has always preferred the Pajero, the version of the Montero sold in the Japanese domestic market (JDM). The JDM Pajero models came with different side indicator lights, and taillights than the American Montero. As such, Kevin ordered the stock JDM Pajero front corner indicator lights and side fender indicator lights and aftermarket crystal JDM spec taillights from Japan. Once they arrived in Florida, there was little difficulty installing the JDM Pajero crystal headlights and front corner indicator lights on the American Montero. 

The new side fender indicators, on the other hand, required a little more effort and persistence. The American Monteros were sold with a side reflector decal, while the JDM Pajero had a functioning side indicator light. Kevin needed to remove the reflector decal and then run through new wiring beneath the blister fenders to accommodate the new indicator sidelight.

Moving to the rear, Kevin also replaced the stock tail lights with new taillights by Leibao, a Chinese-made variant of the Pajero. Kevin finished the headlights and taillights by installing new LED globes by PIAA Platinum improving light output. 

Rounding off upgrades to the lighting systems were the addition of 7 inch LED spotlights by OEDRO, LED egg foglights by Samlight, LED side shooters by YitaMotor, and LED reverse lights by Nilight.

Spotting roadside wildlife, cutting through thick fog, and setting up the campsite at night is now no issue for ‘Groot’!

Secondary to performance upgrades, Kevin wanted to make ‘Groot’ stand out from other Monteros around the world.

Kevin went with a few aesthetic changes by adding an aftermarket bug shield to the hood, weather shields by Well Visors to all windows, and an aftermarket rear spoiler above the tailgate. Disliking the original chrome features, Kevin moved through the vehicle blacking out the rear taillight brackets, rear bar, front frill, rims, and skid plate. 

Although these aesthetic changes are subtle, it goes to show that a few tasteful modifications can completely transform the look of a build.

Modification Summary:

Tyres: RBP Repulsor mud-terrain tyres (32x11.5r15's)
Wheels/Rims: JDM 3 piece Work Deerfields (15x8 -13 offset)
Headlights: PIAA Platinum series LEDs
Front Corner Indicator Lights: JDM Pajero
Side Fender Indicator Lights: Pajero OEM indicators
Foglights: Samlight Cree LED egg pods
Hoodlights: YitaMotor LED side shooters
Spotlights: OEDRO 7 Inch LEDs
Turn Signals: LED with relay upgrade.
Tail Lights: JDM lights with LED upgrade & Nilight LED floodlights.
Bullbar: Jaos front bar
Skid Plate: Aftermarket Pajero steel skid plate
Roof Cage: SoFlo Bumpers steel roof cage, Yakima mounts, and X-Bull Traction Boards
Hubs: Aisin manual locking hubs
Hood Shield: Aftermarket bug shield
Weather Shields: Well Visor
Recovery Hitch: LUSO Overland recovery point hitch
Shackle: Vault shackle hitch receiver
Spoiler: JDM aftermarket rear spoiler
Brakes: Upgrade to performance brake pads
Rotors: New OEM rotors
Steering: Sankei 555, new OEM idler arm, and Adventure Driven Design kingpin kit
Spare Tyre Bag: Trasharoo bin bag
Custom Plates: ‘Buken’ is a variation on the Japanese word ‘Bouken’ meaning ‘adventure’

Florida’s Best Kept Secret.

With ‘Groot’ set up for reliability, durability and offroad performance, it was time to hit the tracks with newfound confidence. 

Kevin hit unmarked trails close to his workplace testing out the new performance upgrades through soft sand and mud. As expected, the vehicle felt more than capable enough to tackle trails through wildlife conservation areas. Confident that the vehicle was reliable, safe, and comfortable, Kevin thought it was about time to start getting his children involved in some offroad adventures. 

Since early fatherhood, Kevin has had an incredible drive to reconnect his children with the natural environment otherwise unseen and forgotten in modern suburbia. Exploration through new scenery would create an understanding of how nature functions, which Kevin hoped would translate to greater respect and value for all living things, including other people. 

But involving the family in four-wheel driving was not as easy as initially expected. With no reference points for the outdoors other than school camps, the children may have needed a little persuasion to get excited and involved. 

Kevin's son was the first family member to hit the trails, and as an avid fan of nature, he wanted to search for eagle and hawk nests. So, one weekend they headed out to local wildlife management and conservation areas armed with binoculars. 

While no eagles or hawks were spotted, they did see a lot of wildlife, and even stumbled on the tracks of the elusive Florida panther. It was not too long until the father and son escapades became more and more interesting to Kevin's daughter who wanted to be a part of the action! And with all the kids involved, Kevin’s wife was also tagging along and exploring the wilderness.

Many more weekend adventures followed with no unmarked road, wildlife conservation area or national park safe from a family adventure. At this point, it was clear that overlanding was a new family pastime.

Since offroading has become a family activity, Kevin has observed a few key changes in his children's perspective of the world. Although they understood that protecting wildlife and the environment was important, they never really grasped the reason why. 

That is no wonder - we tell our children to protect the natural environment - but we seem to do everything we can to keep them away from it. From modern life in high-density suburbia, excessive homework, video games, and social media, when do children get a chance to experience and therefore value nature?

Since being exposed regularly to the wilderness, Kevin's children have now been able to connect the dots. Now they are disappointed when they see littered environments and new developments destroying wildlife habitat. An empathy is extended for the wildlife that once called those areas homes. It is an easy transition for that empathy to be applied to recognise adversity experienced by family, friends, and members of the community who also need protection and resources.

The best family adventure so far in ‘Groot’ has been to Ocala National Forest. Ocala National Forest is a sandy coastal lowland with pine scrubs and conifer forests, and a huge diversity of animals from black bears, panthers, alligators, deer and many others.

Sandy and muddy terrain tested the Montero at times, but nothing could stop it on the trails. The family did, however, discover that the vehicle could be upgraded to be more practical and comfortable for future camping trips.

The Future is Near; Phase 3.0

‘Groot’ is a well maintained and capable overlanding vehicle, regularly tackling the trails in Florida with ease. 

But like most builds, the modifications are never quite finished. Rather, they are tweaked over time to suit evolving daily requirements, longer trips, and new adventures. 

‘Groot’ is no exception, with improvements in the pipeline to make the vehicle more practical for longer camping trips with a custom draw system, pull out table, full suspension upgrade, and even more subtle aesthetic parts. 

When phase three is completed, Kevin is planning to take the Montero on a family trip up to the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, some 738 miles (1187 km) away from Florida.

Mitsubishi; It Runs in the Family.

Having owned a 2002 and 1998 Mitsubishi Montero, two Mitsubishi Gallants, a Mitsubishi Endeavour, and a Mitsubishi Sport XLS, it is fair to say that Kevin has a passion for Mitsubishi’s.

When asked why Kevin keeps buying Mitsubishi's, he proudly stated that they have never left him stranded or posed any major reliability issues. They have also protected his family in a prior road accident. Mitsubishi’s seem to run in the blood, with many of his siblings owning Montero’s, and even the children becoming extremely fond of ‘Groot’. 

Kevin’s son has even submitted an official request to own ‘Groot’ as soon as he is old enough to drive, with Kevin's daughter also posing a similar case to own her mother’s 2002 Montero too. With the kids vying for the Monteros, Kevin is thinking he might build another Generation 2.5 Montero with a turbo-diesel engine, or even pursue his other dream car, a Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution. 

In the meantime, there are plans to turn his wife’s 2002 Montero into a light offroader, as she also wants to hit the trails!

Tag along with the Fam.

Offroading is better enjoyed with friends and family, right? Tag along with Kevin and his family and witness phase 3.0 of the build come together ahead of the Appalachian Mountain trip in 2022! 'Groot’, and Kevin's family adventures, can be followed on Instagram at @itsaboutfam.