New photography vehicle...

So the big blizzard in Denver last Thursday claimed my trusty old Ragner pickup.

Not sure yet if it's going to be totalled out or repaired, but in the event that it's totalled, I'm looking for your guys' advice.

As your photography-mobile would you rather have a light pickup, like the Ranger, or a light SUV like an XTerra? Why?

Thanks Guys.

I'm an SUV fan as I've used it for shelter as well as the covered storage and accessibility of gear. Good Luck!

If I had complete freedom to do what ever I wanted money not an issue, I would get a 4X4 like a Cherokee or Land Cruiser or something like them. Big enough to be comfortable, but small enough to be easy to go places with. The 4X4 and high clearance would allow most reasonable roads and trails to be navigated safely.

I would have it so the rear so that the rear seats would be down most of the time - only my wife and me to carry. I would custom design draws and racks to hold my gear and some clothes. The middle of the back would be open so that between the draws and racks 2 of us could use the vehicle as a place to sleep. The front console area would have holsters for 2 lenses and a secure holder for a camera that can be gotten fast when necessary. A custom inverter for AC power to run a small cooler/refrigerator and battery chargers. Several outlets throughout the rear compartment should be readily accessible.

A custom alarm system that is better than the factory alarms needs to be installed. Of course strong roof racks for extra storage when necessary are a must.

Of course GPS is mandatory, but, frankly, the small portable units are more upgradable with current maps than the built in units.

OK I've rambled enough but it is fun to dream. Hope I helped just a little.

I'd recommend the Toyota FJ Cruiser. With a 3" lift and a more aggressive tire, you'll be able to get to most places you want. Additionally, there are a few companies that produce a locking rear storage box for the FJ which I'd recommend.

No offense to Alex, but in my opinion, I would have to recommend you stay far away from the Toyota FJ Cruiser! I bought a 2008 model and am very disappointed with it.

[mini rant]
The 4WD capabilities are first rate but it has many other problems. You will always have a broken windshield--get used to it. (You can find threats of class action lawsuits against Toyota online for the ridiculously high rate of windshield failures.) Oh, and every time you replace the windshield you have to buy a $200+ piece of trim. Nice! Plan on repainting your FJ within a couple months of driving it off the lot. The paint flakes off at an alarming rate and many FJs look as though they just drove through a sandstorm (see link below). I have over a 100 paint chips on mine and it hasn't even been off-road yet! (And many of the chips are in places that could not have been struck by road debris) If you get one with the cat-back exhaust--buy yourself some earplugs! You'll need them--its LOUD! (Especially if you drive for long trips--after an hour or so of that noise your head will be splitting!) Plan on banging your knee EVERY time you get in and out of the vehicle. The suicide doors are a royal PITA and access to the back seats is difficult (to be polite)! You can't fold the back seats down flat for sleeping back there either. There is a 5 inch difference between the cargo area and the folded seats. What they were thinking when they designed that I couldn't tell you! There are no map lights (you would think that map lights would be handy when driving on back roads off the beaten track--now wouldn't you?). The stock tires might as well be bald--I get absolutely no traction at all! The automatic traction control pretty much eliminates all power when you need it most. Imagine pulling out onto a highway with cars coming and you need to get your speed up quickly and you hit a small patch of sand or gravel. Instead of just pushing though it like in a normal car, the FJ cuts all power and you are a sitting duck! If you tow anything, please realize that the back door is not a hatch! (it doesn't go up--it opens like a normal hinged door). It opens a few inches and then hits your trailer hitch making access nearly impossible. [/mini rant]

You probably think I'm just a grumpy old dude with buyer's remorse. Well, you would be right! Seriously, If I could trade the FJ for an XTerra I would do it in a heartbeat. However, to be fair, I know several people who have FJs and they love them. YMMV. (They are bitchin' lookin' though! )

You can ignore my FJ rant above but, BEFORE you consider buying an FJ, PLEASE spend many hours reading this forum: http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/ I sure wish I did. If I knew half the info in those forums I would be driving a new XTerra!!

(BTW, I also have a 2001 XTerra and have never had a problem with it. It still has its original windshield , has only 12 paint chips (and those were earned!), has been on every kind of road imaginable, has traction, map lights, is quiet, is 4WD capable, the rear door opens upward and clears the trailer hitch (and provides some relief from the rain!), getting in and out of the back seats is comfortable and easy, and the rear seats fold flat!)

BEST ALL-AROUND, DO ANYTHING VEHICLE: There is one type of vehicle that gives you the best of an SUV and a pickup. Several American and Japanese carmakers offer 4-door (4 or 5 passenger) pickups. They have passenger room when you need it, and when you don’t need it that room for people, the space can be used for equipment that you want handy while driving. If you don’t mind using lots of gas, some half-ton or bigger models can be ordered with full-size beds. If you want better fuel economy, most of the smaller sub-half ton models have a shorter bed (4 to 6 feet) than a standard pickup, but it’s much larger than the cargo area of an SUV. You can’t beat the convenience of this setup – “inside” storage or passenger room PLUS “outside” storage for big stuff and things you don’t want to drive with (wet clothes, decoys, blinds, etc.). You can choose a cap to turn it into a giant SUV and even sleep in it, and even put racks on for boats or other gear. Another choice is a smaller, low bed cover to protect gear. Either way, you can remove the cover to haul feed, lumber, or just about anything. If you only have one vehicle, this is the one to get. (Not the best for a long commute everyday, due to gas costs, though.)

Given the choice between those two, I'd go with the XTerra (which would be my choice among the light SUVs). The added security, the ability to sleep inside it, and the better weight distribution between the front/rear tires are some pretty big advantages. The main advantage of a truck is that you can put some nasty stuff in the back and not really care about getting things dirty - but that's hardly useful for photography purposes. It really depends what else you'll be using the vehicle for...

A few years back I took a two month trip to Alaska in a 4Runner, with the back area functioning as a bedroom and kitchen when the weather sucked or the bugs were too bad (ie. 85% of the trip...). Doing that trip with a truck would have seriously sucked. Some other food for thought is that in the 16 000km that I drove that summer, maybe 10km really warranted the clearance/4WD abilities of an SUV (and I went on a lot of nasty logging roads). The rest of the time, my Mazda3 would've been sufficient and saved me a lot of money on gas. Unless you're regularly mud bogging or something equally senseless, a rugged station wagon (or crossover or whatever they're calling them now) is worth considering as a more economical & environmentally-friendly choice.

I really like my FJ Cruiser. Prior to the FJ Cruiser, I was a 4 -time owner (since 1984) of a Jeep Cherokee, I've had my FJ for two years. I've driven it off-road a lot-- in sand, mud, fording streams, and on narrow trails with shrub/ tree branches scraping against the sides. I've had no problem with the finish. In fact I'm surprised at how well it has held up. I'm not aware of the reported windshield problem and I haven't had a problem with mine.
I actually like the suicide doors because I can open the front and suicide door and, standing between the two doors, easily get gear out of the front and back seat at the same time.
The FJ Cruiser is rugged and powerful. I can easily haul a 3000 lb travel trailer when I'm going on extended photography excursions. I've taken the rear seat cushions out, folded the seats down, and built/placed 3/4" plywood shelves in the back. I then have two levels of storage for tripods, blinds, chest waders, camera gear, etc...
The only 2 things I don't like about the FJ are the visibility out the rear side/back windows and the turning radius.

personally my Picks would be somethink like the Nissan Frontier or Ford Explorer Sport for a Pick Up Style Truck, but My 1st Pick over all would be the Jeep Rubicon Wrangler with the Rubicon Trailer to house the Camping gear!.

I know someone who has 4-wheeled pretty hard with his FJ and had some serious issue (and they are not uncommon). There have been some structural issues with the front control arm mounts or shock towers (not sure which exactly) where essentially the truck is ripping itself apart. There is an FJ forum where the issues are discussed.

I'm a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon owner. I've got a 2004 TJ short wheelbase and it has taken me to some wild places. I've run many 8-9+ rated 4WD trails in it and always gotten where I was headed. I like it really well, but you can't sleep in it. I don't think I could even sleep in the new 4 door version. If I were to get one today, it would be a tough call between a 05-06 LJ Rubicon and a 07-current JK standard Rubicon. I don't think I would want a 4 door model unless I specifically needed to carry 3-4 passengers regularly.

There are options for small camp trailers for Rubicons. Some have pretty small footprints and really cool features. But I prefer a tent. I can almost always find a small 3'X6' flat area to set up a tent. Its not always so easy to find a 10'x12' flat spot to park a truck.

jeep wrangler or classic cherokee all the way!

Sounds like pretty unanimous votes for an XTerra, or at least an SUV over a truck. Now to see what my insurance company plans to do.

We are giving serious consideration to the Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with a cap. Toyota comes up here every January to have the engineers test new models them by cold soaking at -45C. They rate very high on JD Power. Even those we know who have bought used are pleased.

Never met a Jeep I liked. A friend has just gone through a second set of power steering lines on a 14 month old Jeep. Everyone I know who has owned one has had some sort of maintenance problem.

I drive several hundred miles a day on my job, sometimes 400+, in all the weather that the Dakotas and Minnesota can offer. I've owned a pretty wide range of vehicles over the years. My Toyota Camry has 540K miles on it, to give you a clue. I too am thinking of a new vehicle. (I'll buy a used one of course since I think new cars are a huge waste of cash.) I own a 2003 Chevy S-10 pickup short bed 4x4. It is excellent off the road, but the standard cab doesn't have much space. I stick my duck boat & decoys in the back to haul it around. The S10 only gets about 20 mpg though, because it has huge tires. Because I drive so many miles I want good mpg. So, I'm ruling out anything that gets less than 25 mpg. That leaves several good choices. I need something with strong roof rack to haul my boat. I'm now looking at 2003 Subaru Forrester. Those have nicer handling than RAV4 and CRV, and the 2003 is less tippy than the earlier models. It's at the top of my list, but very hard to find used because people that have them don't sell them. (The Outback doesn't get very good mileage.) Another thought I had is a Suzuki SX4. Another is an AWD Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix, except they don't handle very well in high wind, and we get that a LOT here. So, I'm leaning towards a 2003 Forrester, I guess. It has lots of cargo room for my lights & gear, roof rack for my boat, all wheel drive, nice handling, decent mileage. Gas mileage is important to me because I remember last summer when it got really high, I was very disgusted and didn't want to go anywhere. I think gas could easily get very expensive again in the future. No way I want to get stuck with something big and heavy. SX4 or Forrester looks like they might be a winner. The Ford SUV hybrid gets good mileage too, but they haven't been out long enough to have cheap used ones yet. No way I'll put a lot of $$ into a vehicle. No way I'd ever get a car loan either for that matter--I pay cash. One vehicle I'd strongly advise AGAINST is a Jeep Liberty. They are extremely tippy. I personally know three people who owned one and each of them rolled it within a year. I won't even ride in one. Do some research on vehicle crash tests and rollover tests before you buy. That's how I narrowed down to Forrester, RAV4, and SX4. Good crash ratings, good mileage, high mechanical reliability, not prone to rollovers.


Kent in SD

I know it's a fairly "butt" ugly vehicle... but I'm beyond that concern in my life (at 32, does that bode well or poorly for my future ). I'm probably going to end up getting a Honda Element. It has ton of room, the rear seats are easily removed or folded up OR to the sides. The inside back is tall and easy to move around in. I'm considering getting one and building a 1 1/2 foot elevated platform for part/all of the back. I will use it as a bed and road trip office, and a place to escape the bugs in the Alaskan summer, perhaps a bear or a moose:) The Element has one of those rabid fan basis, so that says something for the vehicle. It's not a true SUV, more of a SUVan - but it does have AWD that is very highly rated - a big thing for winter driving up here, and the gas mileage is "decent". I've heard of people getting 24-26 mpg.
It's not pretty, but I think it will do a good job for my needs. It also has waterproof seats and a rubber floor, so it's easy to clean up.

I use a Dodge Dakota with a canopy. The back seat folds down for inside storage, and the back is big enough to use as a camper. Great traction; service history, so-so. Tows a trailer well; you can mount rails on the canopy to carry a roof rack.

Given the state of Chrysler motors, today I'd probably get a Toyota Tacoma instead...

Dude, I just spent a week camping in the back of my Subaru Legacy. Best camping car/photography vehicle I've ever come across (besides an RV).

I've owned Jeep Cherokees for over 22 years, I swear by them. The only time I was ever stuck in one of them, my ex was driving and he buried to the axels in the softest mud I've ever seen (after my request that he not drive into it).

I'm hoping to put antique plates on mine, I have had very little major issues with my Cherokees, I have replaced the gear shift knob three times on the one I own now due to a structural defect in the original that came with it. It has taken me across country in the worst & best weather, has a great turning radius and off road handles like a dream.

Disclaimer: When I say handles like a dream, that means with my off road ability, it does every thing I have wanted it to do, your mileage may vary according to your off road skills

I can lay the back seats down when I want to haul some thing big (and I have), have never used the luggage racks, but I guess they could come in handy. Mine is a stick, so I can't trailer as big a load as one that has an automatic transmission.

I am upset that Jeep stopped making the Cherokee Classic but I guess my next purchase of a Jeep would be the Rubicon.

I have also owned a Ford Ranger, given the choice between the two, my Jeep wins hands down.

If you lean towards the FJ Cruiser, remember one thing, Toyota is getting ready to discontinue this vehicle. So, later on parts will be more expensive, and even the price of these will sky rocket.

The Xterra is not bad, but for me, just not enough room in back for everything. If you can, find a nice used, 2000-01 or 99 4Runner. Unless I could get a Landrover, it is by far one heck of a photography vehicle that I would not change for anything. Mine is lifted a total of 3.5 inches, complete redo of my suspension, lockers, and plenty of room to hold everything in back, including sleeping. I have not put my rear/front bumper on yet, (which will contain a winch and in back gas holder. You put an expedition rack on top, and you would be set to go anywhere.

One vote here for the 4runner solution. My 89 has 230,000miles and my 03 has 90,000, just remember to do your oil changes and you're golden. I have only 2 complaints with the 03, the wheel wells won't allow a tire larger than 31" which limits ground clearance to 9.5", 2) automatic transmission is not geared as low in 1st gear-4wdLO range as my 89 manual transmission. Being able to sleep in the back has saved me probably $10,000.00+ in motel, and/or campground fees over the past 20 years.

Thank you, Benjamin - from a fellow Subaru Legacy owner! Love mine, and I take it through all kinds of terrain. Don't rule out a Subaru! Mine has been more reliable than any other car I've owned (including a number of German-made ones).

You could also get a truck, put a big canopy on the bed and retrofit the back with a bed/photo compartments.

Toyota Tacoma Access cab 4x4 with Leer shell. All photo gear in the cab, sleeping platform in the shell and plenty of storage space. Ron

I have a 03 Element w/ 150,000 miles and it's going strong. Remove the back seats for extra cargo or a place to sleep. It has a removable moon roof that I can set up a tripod in, which is nice if you shoot wildlife/birds and need to stay in the vehicle. All wheel drive, easy to clean, reliable.....Just my two cents.

I know it's a fairly "butt" ugly vehicle... but I'm beyond that concern in my life (at 32, does that bode well or poorly for my future ). I'm probably going to end up getting a Honda Element.

Hey I think the element is cool looking. Of course we had 2 Pontiac Azteks at one time. No accounting for taste.

I have 2 votes, a full-size Ford 4-door F-250, and an Xterra.
Well, as far as just using it as a photography platform is concerned, I don't think you can beat a 4-door big pickup. I put my camera gear on the floor between the front seats, right next to me. It's super tall, so I can see right over the top of the bushes next to the road, and yu can stick a camper on the back. It's great. The downside? Not the best gas mileage in the world, but not the worst, either. That's what I used to drive, and I loved it.
As for the Xterra, I remember seeing a long thread on here several years agoe about how they were the absolute best photo vehicle......well..... I'm not so sure about that. We have a 2007 Xterra. First, the good things. Incredible handling on slick, icy roads. I drive it on SOLID ICE roads for at least 5 months each winter. It gets good mileage; 23 mpg in summer, and 21 mpg in 4WD.(It's 6 speed manual transmission) Like so many others, we took the back seats out first thing. We have slept in the back, too, and that worked out OK. The handling is first rate, the visibility is good, and it's got a lot of pep. Oh yeah, they actually made it easy to change your own oil!
OK, now for the irritating things. There is simply not good storage space in the front. There are 2 cup holders and 2 tiny little areas (5" x5" each, or so) to put everything else you might have. Yes, there are holders in the doors, but those just don't work for me. I keep some stuff in them, but it's really easy to have thing fall out of them when you open the door. There's no place to put your sunglasses, the mail you just got, or your camera bag, except on the other front seat. Can't do that when your husband is sitting there and besides, what ever you put there will slide off onto the floor easily. When I put my camera bag on the passenger seat, I strap it inwith the seat belt, and that makes it a pain to get into it quickly. I generally have a bunch of stuff piled up on the floor right behind the front seats. My other gripe is the heating/cooling vents. I swear there is absolutely no heat going onto the floor on the driver's side, no matter which setting you have. Fortunately, I wear knee-high Sorel boots all winter, so that doesn't bother me much. But it also seems that no matter where you put the setting, you get defrost, whether you want it or not. (It does put out a lot of heat, a good thing for Alaska.)
Admittedly, those are small gripes, just irritations, really. It's a really, really well built rig. We don't drive ours off road. Up here, if you are off road, you are stuck. Besides, it's our fancy vehicle!!! Seriously, we are glad we bought it rather than the FJ, which we looked at, if for no other reason than the visibility.

There is a place to get a lot of objective info. What I'm most interested in is crash safety and rollover resistance, and gas mileage. This site has tabs where you can find that and other things too. Here's what the page for Forester 2003 looks like. I pay most attention to the reviews/specs and safety/reliability tab:
http://tinyurl.com/ctfqln

On the safety/reliability page there's a link to JD Powers reliability rating:
http://tinyurl.com/c8oy2f

Ironically, the consumer reviews are the least helpful. What does a review of, "It's a great car, you should get one!" tell me? I want to know what gas mileage they actually got when they drove 80 mph on the highway, and how well it rides. Most of that info is in the "expert reviews" tab. It was largely from comparing crash safety, gas mileage, and ride comfort that I've come to favor a Forester for my needs, and was able to rule out other vehicles that I was initially looking at.


Kent in SD