Me and some friends are tackling most of the trail next year, but I don't think we can get the full trail in due to limited PTO. We are building two vehicles, one is being built specifically to be a fun off road vehicle, and the other... not so much.
I'm adamant that 90% of the trail can be completed in a vehicle that doesn't have 4x4 capabilities, just so long as you have a skilled driver and enough ground clearance. To prove this, I'm taking my (almost finished) 1987 Pontiac Sunbird on the trail. It's 95% stock as far as drivetrain, with only upgraded wheels and an aftermarket fuel system. I'm debating giving it a VERY modest lift just for the trail, but I'll only do that if I get to a place that I simply cannot traverse, and I'll do that with one of those cheap hockey-puck spacers, something I can remove easily once it's need has passed.
Of course, I'm not going to just plow through the Trans American Trail in a stock 80's economy car without some help! I'm helping my friends build up a lovely 1989 Suzuki Samuri specifically to be a trail car, but still be street legal. They will be my support vehicle for if/when I get stuck. The Sunbird is almost done, but the Samuri still has a ways to go before it's ready to be driven, so the plan is to tackle the trail next September or October. We intend to capture footage of the trip from both vehicles
P.S.
I'm certain the Sunbird will be fine on the trail for quite a few reasons, but here are the primary ones:
1: It is a very light vehicle
2: It has very low overhang in front of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels
3: It already has a higher-than-average ride hight
4: all of the electronics are high up on the engine, there is almost nothing below the spark plugs that can get damaged by water
5: It's an old school motor with very little to go wrong with it, and ialmost everything on the car is fairly easy to service
6: I have upgraded to the "GT" wheel package that was offered for that year, giving me wider tires than stock. Stock is 185, these are 205
