By the time OVR’s Land Cruiser 100 Series build neared completion, it had already done its job: proving that an over two-decade old, 300,000-mile truck could be turned into a capable, reliable overlanding vehicle on a reasonable budget. But for our next project, we decided to pivot. Same off-road spirit, different direction.
Enter our 2017 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG. We’re still keeping one foot in the world of real-deal off-road performance, but now we’re adding a dose of modern refinement and daily-driver livability.
The G63 is our latest platform for exploration—a more luxurious take on the adventure rig, but no less committed to tackling trails. Instead of building something for extended, months-long trips into remote terrain like the OVR LC100, the G63 will be tailored for shorter, weeklong escapes and spontaneous weekend getaways.
And yes, it still needs to fit inside a standard garage.
A New Kind of Mission
Our G63 comes with less than 40,000 miles on the clock and is mechanically solid, which makes it an ideal candidate for our next project build. Unlike the well-worn, budget-conscious Land Cruiser, the G63 starts with a much newer, much more powerful, and much more premium foundation.
But make no mistake: this isn’t just a luxury SUV. The G-Class traces its roots to military service, which gives it a unique advantage when transitioning to off-road and overlanding use.
Originally developed in the late 1970s as a military utility vehicle—at the urging of the Shah of Iran, no less—the G-Class was designed to handle rugged conditions around the globe. Its ladder frame construction, solid axles front and rear, and locking differentials were born out of military necessity. While the civilian G-Wagon (short for “Geländewagen,” meaning “terrain vehicle”) debuted in 1979, its military DNA remains intact even today.
Our 2017 G63 AMG takes that rugged framework and adds a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8, good for 563 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque. It might wear AMG badging and come clad in quilted leather inside, but underneath all the luxury is a truck that was engineered to ford streams, crawl over rocks, and haul gear across deserts.
Our goal is to tap into that heritage and give it purpose beyond the paved roads of posh neigborhoods.
Garage-Ready Adventure
One of the challenges with modifying the G63 for off-road use is our commitment to keeping it garage-friendly. The Land Cruiser had no such constraints—it could ride high and carry all the rooftop gear we wanted without ever seeing the inside of a parking structure. This time, things are different.
We chose the G-Class in part because of its boxy shape and manageable wheelbase, which make it ideal for tight, technical trails and practical around town. But the real challenge lies in managing height. We need to select every component—from roof racks to suspension systems—with an eye toward keeping the overall height within standard residential garage limits.
That means low-profile roof storage solutions, compact lighting, and suspension modifications that improve off-road geometry without significantly raising the center of gravity. Tire size will also have to be carefully considered. Do we stick with a slightly taller all-terrain setup, or go full off-road and risk brushing the garage door? It’s a delicate balance we’ll explore in real-time.
We know plenty of overlanders deal with similar issues. Maybe you live in an urban area and have to squeeze your rig into a tight parking structure. Or maybe your partner isn’t thrilled about giving up the driveway to your trail rig. Either way, the challenge of building a capable off-roader that doesn’t tower over everything around it is one we think many readers can relate to.
Expert Help, Fresh Perspective
While we’ve spent years getting familiar with Toyota platforms like the 100 Series, the Mercedes G-Class is new territory for us. We’re going into this one with open eyes and a long list of questions. Thankfully, we’ve teamed up with a few specialists to help navigate the world of G-Wagen mods.
As with our Land Cruiser, we’ll be working with RPM Off-Road Garage and SBW for their expertise and hands-on help. These shops understand what it takes to turn a solid vehicle into an adventure-ready platform. But for this project, we’re also bringing in the folks at Jack Wagon Overlanding—G-Class specialists who know exactly how to adapt this unique vehicle for overland travel.
Jack Wagon Overlanding will help us dive into the technical side of G-Wagen ownership, including common pain points, parts interchangeability, and smart upgrades that improve off-road function without diminishing daily usability. Whether it’s unlocking more wheel travel, dialing in suspension geometry, or figuring out which skid plates actually fit, they’ve got the experience to guide the way.
We’ll also be keeping a close eye on what works—and what doesn’t—so readers can apply those lessons to their own builds, whether they’re working with a G-Wagen, a Jeep, a Land Rover, or anything else.
What Makes the G63 Special
You might be wondering: isn’t the G63 AMG overkill for an off-road vehicle? After all, its MSRP when new was well into six figures, and it comes loaded with features that seem more suited for Rodeo Drive than rocky ridgelines.
But here’s the thing—underneath all the chrome and carbon fiber, the G63 still has the essentials that make it a solid trail performer. It’s one of the very few modern vehicles still offering solid front and rear axles, which provide strength, articulation, and durability. That alone puts it in rare company. It also features three locking differentials—front, center, and rear—making it one of the most capable 4WD systems available in any stock vehicle, period.
The short wheelbase gives it a tight turning radius and excellent breakover angles. And even in AMG trim, the G-Class’s rugged, body-on-frame construction makes it more than capable of taking a beating. Add in the torquey V8 and its inherent low-range gearing, and it starts to make sense as an adventure platform—if you can resist the urge to keep it spotless.
Yes, it’s a luxury vehicle. But it’s one that can handle a trail. And if we do our job right, it’ll handle them even better once we’re done.
What’s Next?
In the months ahead, we’ll be transforming this G63 from a polished pavement prowler into a true trail explorer. Suspension tuning, wheel and tire upgrades, compact recovery gear, storage, lighting, communications, a dual battery system and more—all of it will be on the table. But each choice will be weighed against practical needs and our self-imposed garage-height restriction.
We’ll be tackling one phase at a time and sharing the full process—what worked, what didn’t, and what surprised us along the way. Whether you’re a die-hard Toyota fan or have always been curious about the G-Wagen’s off-road credentials, this build is for you.
We’re not looking to build a mall crawler or a show queen. This G-Wagen is headed for the dirt, the desert, and the mountains. While we don’t plan on any hardcore rock crawling, we want it to be able to get us by the occasional rock garden when necessary. And we’ll prove that just because it wears an AMG badge doesn’t mean it can’t get dusty.
Follow the Journey
You’ll be able to follow our G63 build both online and in the pages of OVR Magazine. We’ll document the upgrades, report on trail shakedowns and important lessons learned. If you’ve ever considered the G-Class as an off-road or overland platform—or if you’re just curious about how a luxury 4x4 can be adapted to the real world—you’ll want to stay tuned.
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