OT: What car do you drive for your outings?

I'm in the market for a new car! I currently drive a Subaru WRX, and love it. Really really love it, but I can't get to many places with it because of its low clearence. So, because I am permanently moving out west come 2007, I decided on buying a new car that will suit the mountains better.

I'm looking at wranglers, but I want to be able to sleep in the back, which I don't think is possible. Does anyone here own an extended cabin rubicon? Is there room to sleep if I pull out the back seats?

What do you all drive that is good for photography outings/4X4 roads?

Cheers!

I drive a Hotel Tundra. It's pretty crappy on gas (15-19mpg) so it's not my daily driver, but I couldn't be more happy with it for outings. It's actually more comfortable than most hotel beds that I've slept in. Of course, mine doesn't vibrate when you put a quarter in it, but you take the bad with the good...

Upside is lots of room - I'm 6'-0" and can stretch out. Downside, besides gas mileage, is that it won't make it on some of the more extreme 4WD trails; but I'm not much into that so it's no biggie for me.

I'm 6"2 and I can easily sleep in the back of a 99 4-runner (afer taking out two bolts for a seat). Plenty of ground clearance, and WAY more reliable than a jeep (check out consumer reports and you'll see what I mean). Go with the V6. The 4 doesn't get much better gas mileage.

I love my Toyota Tacoma and have 4 friends who drive them too, all of them raving fans.

Guy

I'm one of the raving fans of the Tacoma. I special ordered mine new a few years ago since I just wanted the bare bones 4X4. With the 4 cyl engine and standard cab I have nursed 30 mpg on the flats. Does fine on off-road, though if I were to do it again I might get oversized tires.

I have 2 (yes 2) F-250 diesels. I hope to have both of them running biodiesel this time next year but we'll see how that goes. Both get 17-19 mpg on the hwy unloaded. The powerstroker can tow 8-10000 lbs no prob. but mileage goes down accordingly. I don't like towing so I don't do much of that any more.
I really admire the truck bed campers people have built but that's just another project that's low on my priority list right now.

(I'd like to have a VW Taureg running biodiesel - but I don't envision myself winning the lottery any time soon.)

Roger, I'm no expert but I don't think I'd run oversized tires w/ a 4 cylinder. It might make it totally gutless. I have an old '88 D50 (Mitsubishi) with a 4 banger and a lift but purposely never put on the oversized tires for that reason. But it's gutless to start with on the hwy - different story on the backroads though. It'll beat (dare I say it?) both of my heavy trucks in climbing and beating around in the woods. It's narrow like the older jeeps.

I drive a 97 Explorer with 31" tires and a 1 1/2" lift. It's generally worked pretty well for me, aside from a few mechanical problems. Works as my daily driver, fitting 2 kids in carseats comfortably, and I can sleep in the back without having to remove the seats like those 4Runner folks (yes, I have to remove the kids' carseats though).

Not sure about newer Explorers, but I'm assuming they've since wuss-ified them a little more, and I don't know if there is still sleeping room back there. But it's gotten me where I need to go, even on pretty rough roads in the Maze district of Canyonlands.

Note that I'm just answering the question of what I drive, not what I'd recommend. If I had my choice, I'd probably go with a 4Runner. I'd definitely stay away from a Jeep. I had a CJ7 for a while, so I've got the Jeep thing out of my system. It's cool to drive around with the top down, but I'd rather not leave all my camera gear under a flimsy canvas top when I stopped in town for lunch. You're just asking for trouble.

Based on specs alone, I'd also consider looking at a Hummer H3. Compared side-by-side with a 4Runner, I'd have to give the edge to the Hummer, all things considered. Never driven one, though, so I can't speak to that.

Also, that new Dodge Nitro looks sweet. Not sure how practical it is for off-road, but it sure looks tough.

2004 Jeep Wrangler SWB Rubicon on 33" mud tires. It crawls up stuff that will amaze you. Its also very comfortable for a jeep in my opinion. I've driven out to Moab in it many times.

I'd recommend that you go to this forum if you're interested in stuff about the Rubicon.
ROF
I've been a long time member there, but have to admit, I haven't looked much into the longer wheelbase ones. The new 4 door version should be very promising for what you want to do.

I know that the the latter Jeep grand Cherokees were large enough for sleeping inside and a friend of mine has one with a rear locker, 3 or 4 inch lift kit and 32" tires. Its pretty nice. Make sure you are looking at the WJ or ZJ versions as the newest Grand Cherokee has gone to independent front suspension and is more difficult to lift for larger tires.

I also have a 4 cyl. Tacoma. I have had it about 7 years now and it has never failed me yet.

I had a 6-cylinder Tacoma for about 8 years before I got my Tundra. It was a workhorse, and I never did anything for it other than change the oil and the timing belt at 60k miles. If the bed hadn't been too short for me to sleep in, I'd still have one. Used or new, the 6-cyl w/ the offroad package would be a very capable and reliable vehicle.

I have a 02 Nissan Xterra that I've owned since it had 4 miles on it (it now has 75k and has been extremely reliable - ZERO problems). I have the 5-speed supercharged version, so its got a little extra kick. And it does just fine on all but the very most difficult 4WD trails. There is just enough room to sleep in back with the seat(s) folded down, but I'm 5'11". I don't think it would work if you're over 6'.

I guess the best endorsement I can give is that if it got totaled today, I'd go buy another one.

I went through the same dilemma a couple of months ago. I narrowed down my choices to: older model 4Runner ('96-'02) (wife did not like them ), new tacoma crew cab with off-road package (long wheel-base and virtually impossible to find one with side impact airbags without too many other options), and new Xterra.
I found an Xterra with the right options and right price at Boulder Nissan (the best dealership I ever dealt with!). I got the off-road model with awesome stereo and side-impact airbags. I have driven 3000 miles on it and tested it on some bad roads, and it is amazing. I highly recommend it.

I'm on my 2nd 4runner, a 2003-V8 model with 30" BFG AllTerrains, 10" ground clearance,17-20mpg. I sleep in the back all the time (I'm 5'8", but there's room for a 6 footer) and prefer it to many motels I've had to stay at through the years. My 1st 4runner was an 89, but now my daughter has it and it is still going strong with over 220,000miles on it. The Toyota/Lexus lines are at the top in those SUV consumer surveys for problem areas and reliability, and have been year in and year out for the past 20 years.
Don

By the way, Jon, my daily driver is a 2002 Subaru WRX sedan and like you, I really like it. It is not as convenient for carrying all my gear as the 4runner is though. And reaching into the back seat from the front to pull out a 500 lens is difficult at best, the 4 runner has more room between the front seats and with the back seats down provides a nice flat platform for gear..One other thing the V8 in the new 4 runners runs just fine on regular gas even though the mfr recommendations are for mid-grade, which sure beats the premium needed for the WRX.
Don

I have a Dodge Quad cab, pre Hemi, tons of room, seats 4 adults comfortably, lots of room in the bed (6 1/2 feet long). Plenty of room inside so you can lock your stuff inside to make room for your sleeping quarters. I followed the Rick Dunn method of modifying the bed for sleeping and storage. Look here Works great and it is very reliable nothing but routine maintenance (over 80k on it).

Up until now I've taken the only car I've had - a 1995 Grand Prix. The ground clearance (more so the approach/departure angle) suck of course, but it went a lot of places you wouldn't think it could.

Then about two months ago now I finally got a truck like I wanted from the start. Originally I'd planned to go with a S-10 ZR2, but they stopped making them and I didn't like anything about the Colorado/Canyon. I didn't want a full-size truck because of space and maneuverability, and Jeeps just aren't big enough to sleep in though they're by far the best 4x4 platform. Some people (noteably Darren from here and my Solara driving ex-roommate) got me looking into Toyotas.

I liked the look of the new Tacomas, was very impressed (and disappointed from a buying perspective) with their resale value and implied reliability. So I bought an '07 V6 4x4 Access Cab at the end of September. I haven't really taken it out yet, though I've spent some time in the bed stargazing and it's quite comfortable.

Good luck!

I own a Chevy Avalanche. It's great for most jeep roads ... rated 2nd behind the Tacoma among SUVs for off-roading. But it is pretty large, making narrow roads more difficult. And you may need to replace the factory installed Goodyear tires with ones that don't go flat every 10 feet. There's 8 feet of room to sleep in in the back when you fold the rear seats down. But it can be a bit claustrophobic, since you're legs are under the covered pickup portion of the truck. Toyotas might be a little better, unless you're pretty tall. I'm 6'3" and found the Toyotas a little cramped to try and sleep in.

Wow....we have some real car guys here! I never knew. I really can't see myself driving a pickup, but I'm going to look into the 4runners and the new jeeps (4 door), and the old jeep extended cab. Thanks guys!

2002 Jeep Wrangler with a 3" lift, independent front, rear lockers and 33" mudders. It has taken me to places that you would not believe. I've slept in it numerous times by just tilting the drivers seat back as far as it would go.

I went for the 6 cylinder and am glad I did as it has plenty of climbing power, etc.

is your wrangler a daily driver? how do you find using it for one?

Unfortunatly at the moment I drive a '06 Toyota Sienna, but with two kids I have not been geting out much of late. As for a daily driver I have an STI, which on Hanook Snow Tires, I don't have any problems with the paved roads.

I never thought we would be a three car family but we have been looking somethig inexpensive as a weekend vehicle...

2cents

My favorite vehicle for photo assignments is this 96 Crown Victoria "Police Interceptor". The suspension and handling are superb. The ground clearance isn't too bad, either. I've driven this out to the waterfalls past Lake Irwin and around the Slate River-Washington Gulch forest road loop. Got a lot of surprised looks, too!

Actually, my "serious" vehicle for off-road is our '95 Explorer...

Ken

Quoted from Jon

" is your wrangler a daily driver? how do you find using it for one?"

Mine was a daily driver for a year. My Rubicon is very similar to Ron's setup. I've got 3" of lift, independent front and rear lockers (part of the rubicon package) and 33" mud tires. I found it very nice for a daily driver. I know lots and lots of people who use them as daily drivers with 35 and even 37" tires. Its very comfortable to drive (for me at 6'2"), and I've heard the new 4 doors are even more comfortable.

It is no longer a daily driver for a few reasons.

1) I plan to keep it a very long time and am trying to keep the miles down. Its just about to turn 3 years old and has 21K on it. Thats 3K more than last year and 3K more than the year before that.

2) The 2004 was not the most fuel efficient vehicle with the 33" tires. I get about 16.5 mpg, and don't notice a big difference between city and highway driving. And then of course there's the tires. Mud tires don't get 50,000 miles of usuable tread like a car tire, and they are a lot more expensive.

3) I changed jobs in 2005. My job became 100% travel, and I didn't want to leave my Rubicon at Denver airport all the time. They get a lot of hail out there and company policy for parking didn't allow you to park in the garage. Plus I couldn't have the soft top on it if it was out there.

In 2005, I repurchased my 1995 Accord from my parents. Its now my daily driver again. I've studied the cost of maintenance and insurance on the 2 cars and found that with my new job which I started this May, it would be cheaper to only drive my jeep than to pay insurance on 2 cars. That said, I still have the factor of keeping the miles low on the jeep.

Good timing for this question. I'm looking to replace my 2001 Subaru Forester, which is now up to 288,000 miles. I'd love to trade "up" to a more capable vehicle, but I want to retain most of the fuel economy. It's gonna be a tough choice.

Right now the leading contender is a Jeep Liberty CRD - if I can find one. Since I can't afford an "occasional" vehicle like a Wrangler or an Xterra, my other option is to go out and get a newer Forester (2006-), which offers more HP and better ground clearance than the 2001, and keep walking the tougher trails.

Well i was running my 1992 jeep Cherokee all over oblivion and back until the day it died at the Toyota Dealership where I picked up my Rav4, which within a week I took out and uo Almagre Mountain which is just Southeast of Pikes Peak at 12,224ft up FR379. I parked next to a pretty tricked out and lifted jeep Wrangler which made a pretty cool contrast. The trail was not the easiest but it made a perfect simulation for the road up Robinson Basin above Lake Irwinn near Crested Butte, in fact i think it was harder. It was as rutted as poverty or Rustler's Gulch or as hard as upper Yankee Boy Basin.

This is more what I think of as a hard trail. I've driven all of these trails (and lots of others of a similar nature). The silver Rubicon on the Wheeler Lake link is mine. Sorry that I can't dirrectly link images in my response.

Blanca Peak, CO Rated 9+
Blanca Peak1
Blanca Peak2

Wheeler Lake, CO Rated 6 (easiest of the bunch)
Wheeler Lake

Steelbender, Moab Rated 8
Steelbender

Golden Spike - Moab Rated 8+
Golden Spike

Being able to run all of these trails means that with common sense, there aren't alot of normal trails that I can't run in the Rubicon. You still have to respect the trails and the capability of the vehicle, but it certainly opens access to alot of places to travel. And even then, bad things can and do happen, evidenced by the accidents that have happened in Ouray the last couple years on Black Bear, Immogene and Camp Bird roads. I'm not trying to say that other vehicles are not capable of doing these trails with a skilled driver, but it really is easier to do it without damaging the vehicle in a jeep.

Mel,

Might I mention that some people do not consider the "surface" on which the guy in the Golden Spike picture is driving as a "trail", "road", or other driveable path?

Just sayin'.

Road Schmoad!

(All of the above are legitimate trails, and I don't drive off trail nor advocate anyone else doing so)

Having been up to Behind The Rocks, I've seen what passes for "trails" for some people. It's amazing anyone in the past ever thought about driving some of these trails, but I suppose Uranium is/was a powerful attractant. Same with Gold here in CO.

More power to you for having the skill and patience to drive them.