Yeah,sure,..like there is such a thing. My old clunker is getting ready to crater,so,I am looking for the perfect ride for photography in Colorado and the Colorado Plateau in general. I will purchase used. In the opinion of you that live and photograph in this region what is a good compromise vehichle. Is 4x4 a must? High clearance? Good compromse on gas milage...6 or 8 cylinder...Brands and models you like? Pickup or SUV? I dont want to get WAY off road, but, dont want to be limited to pavement or freshed graded either. Please, help a flatlander friend.
I'd definitely recommend 4WD. It'll get you more places. I prefer an SUV for sleeping in the back, like many of us do. I don't have to go outside to start the vehicle and warm up in the morning. Size and model will depend on how big you are and how much space you need/want.
I'm sure you'll get quite a few passionate recommendations on make and model. I'm on my 2nd Nissan Xterra. I put 140K miles on the first on (an '01) and found it to be a great balance between off-road capability, highway speed comfort, reliability, price, and fuel economy. My second is an '09 and I like it even better - especially the 4L V6 engine. I sleep in the back very comfortably, but I'm an average size dude at 5'11 and 165 lbs.
I only have answers to two questions. 4x4 and high clearance? Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!!!
I love my Nissan Frontier Hotel, I sleep extremely comfortably in the driver's seat (yes, really). I'm 6'1" and the seat reclines enough that I can sleep on my side and my feet extend through the pedals so I can lock my knees. The relatively small size of the truck (compared to the Silverado I got rid of to get this) is perfect for tighter places, and its off-road capabilities are as good as I'll ever need. Same with Scott's xTerra, although I found sleeping in the back of my ex's 2000 version a bit tight for my needs. (Plus, there was no inside latch for the tailgate, so you had to exit through a side door. Hopefully they corrected that in later models.)
Yes on the 4x4 and clearance. Good to have at least limited slip also. My vehicles since '76 have been regular cab long bed pickups with a shell on the back. I have a bunk with foam pad set in back, so camp is quick and mobile. Since I am single, I have had no need for a crew or extra cab for family needs.
I'm pretty sold on my Toyota Tacoma 4X4. I have a regular cab and the 4 cylinder engine, which gets maybe 28 mpg on easy highway driving and has be extremely reliable. It probably has an off-road advantage compared to larger vehicles with it's short wheel base and turning radius and has always gotten me where I want to go. I've not found the engine to be especially underpowered. I have a small tool box for protecting gear when travelling, but you could sure go with a shell. My only complaint is the limited seating capacity, but I guess it's hard to have everything and went with the regular cab for better gas mileage.
If you can afford it, high clearance and four wheels will give you a lot of peace of mind for exploring, definitely nice to have. And the sleeping in the back option is great too, makes for really low-effort camping when you're out bouncing around solo (or double if you don't have too much gear). But if you're coming from street cars, you should be psychologically prepared for higher maintenance costs. The first time I went to replace a set of good SUV tires was a nasty surprise.
My 4Runners have treated me very well. I'm actually quite a bit more fond of my old beater '87 4-cylinder than the "newer" 1993 version. If I got lucky enough to find one of that generation in good shape, I grab it in a hot second; good mileage for an SUV and sleeps better than the newer one.
I did make it to an awful lot of places in my old ('88) Subaru. But it could be nerve-wracking; road descriptions don't generally describe much middle ground between "street cars okay" and "high-clearance", so I often started down roads not sure what I was getting into. High clearance and four wheels have their costs, but again, peace of mind is worth something.
I'm the proud (and lucky) owner of a '99 Toyota 4Runner (after much input from fellow photographers), and I heartliy agree with everyone that 4 x 4 and high clearance will free you to wander just about wherever you want to go.
Having the ability to convert whatever you choose into a 'rolling motel' is important for for having the optimum flexibility in traveling to sunset/sunrise locations.
I have an 07 Toyota FJ with about 173,000 miles on it. It is very dependable (only thing that has broke is the catalytic converter, and the vehicle was still totally functional), something I value highly, as I go off-road by myself almost all the time. I had a 97 Jeep Wrangler before that and the FJ is just as capable off-road, if not more, than the Jeep. It has plenty of room inside, and is very comfortable to drive for long distances. I also have a roof rack to stow extra gear. I installed a metal storage box with lockable sliding drawers in the back of the FJ to store my extra photography gear if I go backpacking and don't want to bring all my gear. I also installed a second battery and 2 extra 12v power sockets (it comes standard with one 12v and one standard electrical outlet) so I can charge batteries, laptops, etc even when the vehicle is off and have a spare battery if the main one dies. It has a range of about 300 miles and I typically carry a 5 gallon gas container and a 5 gallon water container when I go off-road. I also have a winch/air compressor as a back-up if I get in trouble.
Having a 4WD high clearance vehicle is definitely the way to go to give you access to almost anywhere, and it doesn't hurt during snowstorms, etc. either.
Joe, I have a Jeep Wrangler - 2009 - and I love it. It goes anywhere practically and isn't too bad on gas. The downside is the size...very small.
I also have a 2008 GMC Yukon. I can sleep in back with the seats down and there is lots of room. The ride is very nice. It is 4x4 so it will go in the mountains but not where the Jeep will go.
I would recommend either of these vehicles based on my experience.
I recommend a Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab w/ a shell on the back. You can build a sleeping platform in the bed making it easy to pull up somewhere and sack out for the night w/o having to set up a tent. Also good for stealth camping in national park parking lots. It's a ridiculously capable 4x4, carries a lot of gear, comfortable ride, decent gas mileage for what it is and it's a Toyota, so it'll never let you down when you need it most.
Having said that, I own a Toyota FJ Cruiser and it's also a great vehicle for this region. But, I traded in a Tacoma for it and I really wish I hadn't because I liked the room the truck offered. I'll be getting a Tacoma next year to replace the FJ, simply for that reason. Oh, and gas mileage on the FJ sucks!
As the others have said, high clearance and 4x4 will be nice. Especially to get off roads and through winter and really get to the worst road conditions. However, if you think you are more likely to be on rough roads, Forest Service Roads, winter snow etc, you can probably get by with a Suburu or another AWD vehicle.
Having said that I am driving a 4WD Honda Element and have never been let down by it. Or to put it another way, it has gotten me every place I would ever want to take my own vehicle. Snow, ice, mud, and rough roads. I have done the 55 mile gravel-rough River Road in Big Bend. My Element would float over the loose stuff my buddies big Ram 4x4 would start sinking in. Very muddy Forest Service roads in Colorado- no problem. In Monument Valley last winter after two days of snow and then melt, I was able to get all around the valley floor loop and back out easy. Then I watched the next 4 cars and trucks get stuck in the muck. No it is not an offroader but for rough roads like in parks/Forest Service- it works great for me.
Plus-I also get 25mpg on the highway (and 22 in town) making it pretty easy to do a trip.
It also has practically the perfect photographer interior. Both rear seats can be taken out. Or the front and rear seats can be folded together to make a bed. At 6'4" I can more than fully stretch out and very comfortably sleep in it. The moonroof is in the rear so you can star at the stars when sleeping in it. Very roomy. I can easily keep all my gear in it and still sleep in it (and I have alot of gear since I shoot large format and a DSLR). Plastic floor is easy to clean.
When I was looking in 2004-5 I went into the car search with the Xterra or Grand Cherokee as the vehicles to beat. It ended up being the Pilot or Element. I thought I must be crazy getting a "soft roader" but it is awesome and if I needed a new SUV today I'd buy another.
Good luck!!
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on May 28, 2011 at 11:52 PM
Joe, we have an 09 Jeep Liberty and it works great as an everyday around-town car, and our road trip car. The gas mileage is good for a 4x4 and the ride feels like a luxury car. I wasn't sold on this car until I drove it (it's actually JR's car, but I drive it any chance I get!). He went to get an Xterra, but I said he couldn't buy it until he test drove ONE other car. This car was at the dealer next door and he didn't hesitate to buy it! One really nice thing for sleeping is that the front passenger seat folds down completely flat, so if you are tall, you will absolutely be able to stretch out sleeping. The back trunk area has a cover so if you have some gear back there you can cover it easily (I know most SUVs have this, but my last two haven't...). Happy hunting!
Posted by Howard Cihak on May 29, 2011 at 12:42 AM
Joe, I'm not a local, but let me put in my recommendation for the Nissan Xterra. I just finished 6,000 miles in 16 days trip (DC to Moab and back, with plenty of meandering) and I'm glad because that driver's seat never once gave my bad back a reason to complain. My Xterra is a 4x4 6 cylinder, and I averaged 20 mpg over the entire trip. Off road? My Xterra made an easy trip out of my descent into Dinosaur National Monument to Echo Park, a round trip of 26 miles down 2600 feet in altitude over moderately rough dirt trail.
Well, as was said earlier, everyone has their favorites... I have an '06 Jeep Liberty with a 3.7L V6. Mine sits on 16" rims and 235 tires, which allows it to sit a fair bit higher than the usual Liberty with 15" rims.
I'm a little shorter than average, so I can sleep in the back of the Liberty with the rear seats folded flat.
The gas mileage is pretty bad...I barely get 16mpg around town, but it does break 20mpg on the highway.
It's a very capable 4 wheeler, and has gotten me out of anything I've thrown at it so far. Last week after a particularly hard rain, I drove up Rampart Range Rd, and the road was VERY slick with mud that had the consistency of axle grease. I encountered a pickup truck that slid off the road, and one of it's rear wheels was in a ditch. I was able to hook a tow strap to it, and pull it out of the ditch with out sliding into it myself (I used 4-lo).
Regardless of what you get, you may want to invest in some skid plates. One attempt at Tin Cup pass without skid plates was almost a disaster. Luckily, OEM skidplates for the Liberty are reasonably priced and easy to install.
This is sort of like asking what tripod/ball head combination is best. You know the old saying about opinions....Everyone has one and everyone else's stinks. But here's my 2 pennies...I've replaced 2 vehicles since the 1rst of the year. My everyday ride is a Dodge Nitro. Built on the same platform as a Jeep Liberty, I found out during the Spring Fling that it's a pretty capable 4 wheel drive vehicle though I wouldn't want to try any of the really intense trails with it. Plenty of room for me to sleep in (I'm between 5'9" and 5'10" depending on my posture) if so inclined.
The common thread, though, is 4X4 and high clearance. ABSOLUTELY must haves. And I echo the opinions about small pickups. I just replaced my 89 Toyota pickup which was murdered by a drunk driver, with a 91 Toyota Extra Cab. They're tough as nails and get better gas mileage on the road than the larger pickups. Gotta find me a weather tight lockable shell and I'm set for flowers and aspens in Crested Butte.
Best photography tool I ever bought: '05 Tundra 4x4 with a topper and a DIY sleeping platform/gear storage. Nice thing with the pickup as opposed to SUV, particularly on longer trips when there's more gear to pack, is that I don't have to move stuff around to recline the seats for sleeping. Here's a link to the whole project. Storage under the platform for food, clothes, etc. Camera gear stays up front. Lots of 12V outlets for recharging batteries, laptop, etc.
This has a V8, though my old V6 Tacoma had plenty of power and better mileage; I went with the Tundra for more sleeping/storage space since my wife typically joins me. Have fun shopping!
I took my Subaru to the San Juans once and couldn't go get to the trailheads I wanted because of clearance issues. Therefore, I bought a Wrangler which solved that problem. Now I'm looking for a Cherokee for the extra cargo room. Mind you, I'm also into offroading for the sport which is why I'm sticking with the straight axle in the front. If you want more comfort on the paved roads, I'd recommend a SUV with independent front suspension as that will soften the bumps.
Posted by Pam Colander on May 31, 2011 at 10:43 PM
Whatever you get, make sure you've got great tires, ie, 10 ply vs 4 ply or you will get flat tires on rocky rough roads.
Posted by Phillip Noll on June 3, 2011 at 10:12 PM
Coming in late to this discussion. There are several similar discussions here on NPN. Here is one where I give my opinion of my FJ Cruiser. After owning both the FJ and an XTerra, I would recommend an XTerra! Or a Tacoma or Tundra. Good luck!
Discussion
21 repliesJoe Rogers
I'd definitely recommend 4WD. It'll get you more places. I prefer an SUV for sleeping in the back, like many of us do. I don't have to go outside to start the vehicle and warm up in the morning. Size and model will depend on how big you are and how much space you need/want.
I'm sure you'll get quite a few passionate recommendations on make and model.
Good luck with the search!
I love my Nissan Frontier Hotel, I sleep extremely comfortably in the driver's seat (yes, really). I'm 6'1" and the seat reclines enough that I can sleep on my side and my feet extend through the pedals so I can lock my knees. The relatively small size of the truck (compared to the Silverado I got rid of to get this) is perfect for tighter places, and its off-road capabilities are as good as I'll ever need. Same with Scott's xTerra, although I found sleeping in the back of my ex's 2000 version a bit tight for my needs. (Plus, there was no inside latch for the tailgate, so you had to exit through a side door. Hopefully they corrected that in later models.)
My 4Runners have treated me very well. I'm actually quite a bit more fond of my old beater '87 4-cylinder than the "newer" 1993 version. If I got lucky enough to find one of that generation in good shape, I grab it in a hot second; good mileage for an SUV and sleeps better than the newer one.
I did make it to an awful lot of places in my old ('88) Subaru. But it could be nerve-wracking; road descriptions don't generally describe much middle ground between "street cars okay" and "high-clearance", so I often started down roads not sure what I was getting into. High clearance and four wheels have their costs, but again, peace of mind is worth something.
Having the ability to convert whatever you choose into a 'rolling motel' is important for for having the optimum flexibility in traveling to sunset/sunrise locations.
Having a 4WD high clearance vehicle is definitely the way to go to give you access to almost anywhere, and it doesn't hurt during snowstorms, etc. either.
I also have a 2008 GMC Yukon. I can sleep in back with the seats down and there is lots of room. The ride is very nice. It is 4x4 so it will go in the mountains but not where the Jeep will go.
I would recommend either of these vehicles based on my experience.
Having said that, I own a Toyota FJ Cruiser and it's also a great vehicle for this region. But, I traded in a Tacoma for it and I really wish I hadn't because I liked the room the truck offered. I'll be getting a Tacoma next year to replace the FJ, simply for that reason. Oh, and gas mileage on the FJ sucks!
Having said that I am driving a 4WD Honda Element and have never been let down by it. Or to put it another way, it has gotten me every place I would ever want to take my own vehicle. Snow, ice, mud, and rough roads. I have done the 55 mile gravel-rough River Road in Big Bend. My Element would float over the loose stuff my buddies big Ram 4x4 would start sinking in. Very muddy Forest Service roads in Colorado- no problem. In Monument Valley last winter after two days of snow and then melt, I was able to get all around the valley floor loop and back out easy. Then I watched the next 4 cars and trucks get stuck in the muck. No it is not an offroader but for rough roads like in parks/Forest Service- it works great for me.
Plus-I also get 25mpg on the highway (and 22 in town) making it pretty easy to do a trip.
It also has practically the perfect photographer interior. Both rear seats can be taken out. Or the front and rear seats can be folded together to make a bed. At 6'4" I can more than fully stretch out and very comfortably sleep in it. The moonroof is in the rear so you can star at the stars when sleeping in it. Very roomy. I can easily keep all my gear in it and still sleep in it (and I have alot of gear since I shoot large format and a DSLR). Plastic floor is easy to clean.
When I was looking in 2004-5 I went into the car search with the Xterra or Grand Cherokee as the vehicles to beat. It ended up being the Pilot or Element. I thought I must be crazy getting a "soft roader" but it is awesome and if I needed a new SUV today I'd buy another.
Good luck!!
I'm a little shorter than average, so I can sleep in the back of the Liberty with the rear seats folded flat.
The gas mileage is pretty bad...I barely get 16mpg around town, but it does break 20mpg on the highway.
It's a very capable 4 wheeler, and has gotten me out of anything I've thrown at it so far. Last week after a particularly hard rain, I drove up Rampart Range Rd, and the road was VERY slick with mud that had the consistency of axle grease. I encountered a pickup truck that slid off the road, and one of it's rear wheels was in a ditch. I was able to hook a tow strap to it, and pull it out of the ditch with out sliding into it myself (I used 4-lo).
Regardless of what you get, you may want to invest in some skid plates. One attempt at Tin Cup pass without skid plates was almost a disaster. Luckily, OEM skidplates for the Liberty are reasonably priced and easy to install.
Joe Rogers
The common thread, though, is 4X4 and high clearance. ABSOLUTELY must haves. And I echo the opinions about small pickups. I just replaced my 89 Toyota pickup which was murdered by a drunk driver, with a 91 Toyota Extra Cab. They're tough as nails and get better gas mileage on the road than the larger pickups. Gotta find me a weather tight lockable shell and I'm set for flowers and aspens in Crested Butte.
This has a V8, though my old V6 Tacoma had plenty of power and better mileage; I went with the Tundra for more sleeping/storage space since my wife typically joins me. Have fun shopping!
Joe Rogers
I'm about 6'3" and have slept in the front seat more than once. Not the most comfortable...but it does the trick.