Hiking vehicles

[rally_toad]

What kind of vehicles do you guys all drive when your going hiking? Im thinking about investing in a 4wd high clearance Jeep or something of the sort so I could get to some places where I definitely couldnt get to with what Im driving now (73 mustang):) I saw a Jeep Grand Cherokee today for $2600 and I was thinking about checking it out. What "hiking vehicle" is easiest to drive and which gets the best gas mileage (even though I know most wouldnt be too fuel efficient.)

[The_Eagle]

@chumley
Ouch. Looks like one of those situations where the following was heard just before the picture was taken???? "Hold my Beer and Watch This"
I'd like to hear the story on this sometime....

[chumley]

"Hold my Beer and Watch This"
I'd like to hear the story on this sometime....

No such luck. Just a little too much speed and not enough space on the Crown King Road.

[outdoor_lover]

@chumley
Ouch, LOL!!!

[Alston_Neal]

It'll buff out..

[RedRoxx44]

I have a Jeep and a Toyota FJ.
FJ good--- comfortable, stable on steep climbs, Toyota tough and reliable. The bad--IFS front and too wide for most Az mining roads. Recommend some good skid plates, I've hit the support for the trailing arm several times and have obtained some cages for them. Poor visibility on backing up. I sometimes open the little back window.

Jeep-- well, its a Jeep. I like Wranglers for the short wheelbase and relatively narrow ( although not like the CJ5's etc) Noisy and rattles a lot. Mines the hard top which is a piece of crap really and only for weather protection. Can't really drive fast with windows down because the top vibrates. Might tend to run hot--my 2000 cherokee did until I got rid of the plastic composite radiator which I put a hole in near the White Ledges and got a 3 core metal one. Unpredictable toughness, great Jeeps tend to be built $$$$$ not made.

I remember Los Coyotes. 4 wheel heaven and some tough stuff. Great wandering around too. Saw my first mtn lion near the border with Anza Borrego. Had thrills and scares in the Bobsled Run, El Hill, Pirates of the Carribean just to name a few. Awesome in the winter snows. Ahhh, the Red Jeep days--I went everywhere in that friggin thing.

[Trishness]

Gotta love my Ford Explorer Sportrac. Third (and best) Explorer that I have owned. Several of you have been around this critter. Rolled onto its side coming back from Cedar Mesa a few years ago. Got it turned right-side up, replaced the spare tire, and drove back to Page. Hard core.

I recall this truck as pretty sturdy on those backroads around Chaco.......through all that sand too.

[Trishness]

I have to chime in and say I love my X-terra. Now I have a 2WD but have taken it places it had no business being in (aka 4WD roads in Utah and as I recall one deep creek at Punkin Center). However, I am seriously looking at the 4WD PRO X-terra but am probably going to wait a few months if I decide to buy one.

Pam, I had to laugh at your Escape pics because my vehicle was covered in mud after my last trip to the Rim. I had to take it for my oil change last weekend and didn't have a chance to wash it. The guys took one look at it and said "all that mud is like a badge of honor! Just where the heck did you go this weekend?" I was out on the town boys, I was out on the town. ;)

Personally I love the X-terra. It's rough & rugged.....the V-6, 261 hp engine is nice enough to get UP a steep climb. No bells and whistles...it doesn't have satellite radio or a GPS but it gets me where I need to get.

[AZLumberjack]

@chumley
I've gotten a lot of use out of my '02' Ranger, too bad Ford decided to quit building them. Mine's still going strong.

[kevinweitzel75]

Not a big Ford fan, but I had a 92 Ranger years ago. I beat the hell out of it and it kept on running. Hellofa little truck. Got an F150 after that I had for 3 years and sore off Ford forever. POS! I will never waste my money on any Ford unless it's a mid size.

[Alston_Neal]

Our 82 Bronco put my mechanic's kids through college.

[kevinweitzel75]

I did have a 79 Bronco, first vehicle. That Ford was alright as long as I didn't go on paved roads. Went any where off road, and I mean OFF road. As soon as I started driving on a paved road, it would shake rattle AND roll if I didn't have a good grip on the steering wheel. And holding on the steering wheel was a workout, no power steering.

[kevinweitzel75]

That's weird. Posted twice. Stupid iPhone.

[beterarcher]

no power steering.

That's called "Power Steering by Armstrong". It came standard, right along with the "Factory Air" that you got when you rolled down the windows. ;)

[azbackpackr]

I still love my mountain bike.... I bought a seatpost rack for it so now I could (if I wanted to) carry hiking gear to a trailhead, take off my clippy shoes and put on my hikey shoes, hide and lock the bike, and do a hike. This wouldn't be too safe in a populated area, though. I think the bike might get stolen. But up here that's very unlikely to happen.

[Hippy]

I personally rock my 1999 Subaru Outback, only 8 inches clearance i think but she gets the job done...Subarus can climb trees ;) and she gets 22-25 mpg which isn't too bad for a '99!
She's only an AWD (I try not to remind her when all the big jeeps are around) but she holds a TON of cargo and I can fit 6-8 ful loaded backpacking packs in her trunk along with my 4-5 passengers. which is what i personally need for my adventures. good luck on picking your perfect sherpa!!

[CannondaleKid]

I am seriously looking at the 4WD PRO X-terra but am probably going to wait a few months if I decide to buy one.... the V-6, 261 hp engine is nice

When researching a new or replacement vehicle, while horsepower (& torque) is nice, it's only part of the equation.

So when I started looking for something to take the place of the Samurai, I began by looking into the pros and cons of a host of vehicles including the Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Nissan (early) Pathfinder, Xterra, Frontier p/u, as well as the Jeep Cherokee & Grand Cherokee, other than the first-generation Pathfinder and Jeep Cherokee, they were all too big and/or too heavy.

Comparing power to weight ratio it didn't take much for me to choose:
16.1 lbs/HP = My 2001 Pathfinder (which I am selling along with the Samurai) 240HP at 3870 lbs
16.5 lbs/HP = Xterra's may have 261 HP but they drag around 4300 lbs!
16.7 lbs/HP = FJ Cruiser at just over 4,000 lbs
20.0 lbs/HP = Grand Cherokee also at 4300 lbs!
15.7 lbs/HP = Cherokee at 3,000 lbs with only 190 HP still has the best power to weight ratio.

Of course to get a Cherokee I had to buy a 12+ year old vehicle, but at least I'm not lugging 1,000+ lbs of extra weight around. I'll admit they are not as reliable as the Toyota/Nissan group but in a few weeks the drive-train will be better-than-new and as a former auto tech I can deal with the other stuff.

[writelots]

Subarus can climb trees

I can't say enough wonderful things about my 2003 Baja, either. Once, driving out from the Bass Trailhead after a spring snow shower/melt, I made it out when 2 much more powerful, larger and heavier 4bys didn't. Of course, I like to put at least some of that to the skill of the driver ;)

That's where I honestly think that you have to take all of the stats with a grain of salt. So much of the success of one car over another depends upon the skills of the driver, rather than what's under the hood or on the ground...

[CannondaleKid]

So much of the success of one car over another depends upon the skills of the driver, rather than what's under the hood or on the ground...

I agree completely. I never had a 4x4 vehicle until a few years ago, and even winters in MN and AK I never got stuck in snow... my shop truck was even 2WD and I pulled many 4x4's out of the snow banks.

But then my point wasn't to compare drivers. When it's the same driver comparing the vehicles, that's when the varying capabilities of the vehicle show up. And IMHO light and nimble trumps big and brawny.

P.S. Hippy, Liz (juliachaos) and other Subaru owners may note... if I wasn't planning on driving over large boulders, fording deep streams and driving through trees (well the tree was growing in the middle of the road!), a Subaru would probably be at the top of my list.

[CannondaleKid]

First time out with the Cherokee after the 5.5" lift kit installation.

Lifted Cherokee

[te_wa]

Cooper tires FTW! made in Ohio. Im getting the AT/3 soon.