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.)

[Jim]

What are some potential options, for a car with higher ground clearance? Anyone know anything about the Buick line-up?

[juliachaos]

I just can't see a 6'1 person sleeping in the back of a Subaru comfortably with gear/crap.

A 6'1 person can do it (in an Outback), with modifications. It helps not to have anyone else in the car, however.

Modifications would include things like: pushing the front seats forward, putting a pack or two in the footspace behind the front seat, and laying a sleeping pad over the pack (used for head support) ... or, sleeping diagonally. Just for example.

[outdoor_lover]

@PatrickL@juliachaos
I don't own a Subaru, but I'm too short for my Vehicle as well....I just sleep with the Hatch open and let the air mattress/legs hang out...I even can set up a Tarp in case of Rain, so I can do it then too...I just put all my gear in the Front Seats and on the Front Floors...Easy....

[PatrickL]

I like the option of a truck with a camper shell with one of those set ups that has the sleeping platform over the wheel well and storage underneath. Ready to go without any work when it's raining outside.


Jim, are you still hiking Wheeler Peak next month? Maybe you could get that car on the drive through Albuquerque.

[Jim]

I am, but I don't want to car shop, and I would like to drive one. I haven't been in a Subaru in 2.5 years, and it was a 2005. I could have one of those Family Queen Truckster moments: If you think you hate her now, well, wait til you drive her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAPraL1f_C4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTaTitRENDM

BTW, I had my oil changed at the gas station where Clark was ripped off by the "corrupt sherrif". It's the Alon in Kayenta. Looks like Clark was pulled over in Colorado on a road that dead ends: the La Plata Canyon Road.

[SuperstitionGuy]

I just can't see a 6'1 person sleeping in the back of a Subaru comfortably with gear/crap.

Ya, your elbows alone would leave dings in the doors...

[CannondaleKid]

Anyone know anything about the Buick line-up?

I don't believe any of their cars would be suitable and their SUV's appear to be of the boulevard cruiser type. The smaller of the two is the Encore (new they run mid $20k+) and the larger is the Encore (easily into the $40k range).

[Jim]

I miss my '91 Skylark. As junky as it was, it was a tough car, with a fair amount of clearance and it did well off road, at least back east on sandy flat areas. Got hung up on some old abandoned rail road tracks, though. My civic was never as comfortable to drive, as the Buick was. Civic is way better, in other ways. I would sort of like a car like that, a sedan or station wagon, not a pick-up or SUV, and one with a slightly heavy suspension, a decent clearance, and comfortable to drive. Something I could take the family in to Wally World.

[Chuy]

I miss my '91 Skylark. As junky as it was, it was a tough car, with a fair amount of clearance and it did well off road, at least back east on sandy flat areas. Got hung up on some old abandoned rail road tracks, though. My civic was never as comfortable to drive, as the Buick was. Civic is way better, in other ways. I would sort of like a car like that, a sedan or station wagon, not a pick-up or SUV, and one with a slightly heavy suspension, a decent clearance, and comfortable to drive. Something I could take the family in to Wally World.

Maybe a Crown Vic with posi-lock in the rear? They seem to do really well off road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYIJpzo2RVY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&featu ... HvXi_HejnI

You can make any car into a camper with a roof top tent. They already have a mattress built in and all you need are Thule bars

[Jim]

Say, anyone have an FJ Cruiser or experience with one? I was in one back in September of 2008, and it was pretty nice. I road in it for about 40 miles, so 2 to 4 gallons of fuel, but boy was that a fun vehicle to ride in.

[nonot]

A FJ cruiser is a very capable vehicle, even stock, but there are some drawbacks - poor gas mileage, poor rearwards visibility, relatively small internal cargo capacity in comparison to other 4x4s. That said, they are very nice vehicles, and can be modified to make them more capable.

[Jim]

So, I might look at the FJ just for fun, but I ruled it out for cost. So far, I test drove an Outback, and Forester, and a CR-V. Despite not really liking with the CR-V, I took one home for the weekend as a "borrowed" vehicle. Ironically, it is having the opposite affect, as I feel more inclined to purchase an more expensive Outback (it has 0% financing). Anyone think the back up camera is really all that important? It's a nice toy, but kind of hard to get a feel for using.

[paulhubbard]

The CRV seemed very 'breakable' to me. But then again, I am a truck guy...

[Jim]

I find a truck to be too expensive, I wouldn't use the "utility", and I have driven a number of them as a forester and just don't see the benefits to cost analysis working out in favor of buying and driving one as a vehicle, which still has to be a logical commuting and basic shopping vehicle. As far as off-road capability, well, I won't get into that.

Well, continuing my CRV borrowed test drive, I find more I dislike than enjoy. I do not know how the Subaru would compare if I had one to use similarly, but I still prefer the Outback.

If I were to purchase a CR-V, I would only want to buy a 2WD, and preferably the less exotic model, just to keep cost down, as it really isn't that great as a off road vehicle judging by the ground clearance, and I can't see paying a lot for what basically amounts to a civic station wagon which is slightly more upright, an inch higher, and has larger wheels. Ground clearance is way worse than I thought when I looked under the car. It looks great from the side and behind/ in front. You have to lay next to it to see how bad it is. Just behind the front axle and in the middle of the vehicle, is a heat shield or some other thin metal plate to protect the catalytic convert. It sits only 6.5 inches off the ground. Then, on either side of the bottom of the vehicle, running parallel to the exhaust pipe, are 2 plastic protection casings. They are loose, and so would probably rip off exposing whatever is being protected, and they are just under 7 inches off the ground. More over, I could very easily see these things being ripped off the vehicle if I took it on a road even as sedate as the Shelf Road from Lake City, CO to Handies. I had to crawl along in my civic in 2008 when I drove to Grizzly Gulch, and I don't see how I could do much better in the CR-V. With AWD, I see this more or less as a compact min-van that is built for people to drive in 6 inches of snow, not really drive slightly to moderately rough roads. It is too low to do that.

I don't find it very comfortable, either. To have the seat at a comfortable level for driving, I have to duck or hit my head getting in- no change from the civic. I find the seat only a little bit comfortable: no lumbar support and not as nice of a seat compared to the OB. It isn't very deep, and there is minimal padding, opposed to the Subaru. The Steering wheel is low, like the civic, and reminds me of the civic, which always felt like a go-cart. Also, the radio is way far forward and away from the drivers seat. I like the back-up camera, but I can do with out. There are some other comfort issues, but that wouldn't affect issues related to "hiking vehicles".

Could it drive the Rim Road, the road to East Pocket, Lockett Meadow Road and most other forest service gravel roads? Yes, absolutely. Could it make American Basis in Co? No way! Could it drive the Elden Look out Road? No! Could it get all the way to the trailhead for Hesperus Mountain? No, I doubt it very much. If mud and dirt, or snow, were the main issues we faced, it would probably be very capable, but AWD is less what I am after than increased clearance. I could have destroyed my civic going up to the Secret Canyon TH in Sedona a few years ago, strictly due to low clearance. A few more inches and I would have been able to drive over instead of around rocks in the road and therefore I would have had no issues. I don't see the CRV as having what would have been necessary to graduate to the next level of comfort on that road. At nearly 9 inches, I feel the OB does. Hopefully, the vehicle will not prove me wrong.

Updated to say: Looks like I may be picking up a New (Male) Subaru Outback tomorrow. Provided the details final price work out, I should be driving home in a new one by this time tomorrow. Going to Albuquerque to get it, so a 6 drive on the 25th, just for a car.

[SpiderLegs]

Can anyone chime in about Nissan XTerra's? Starting to look for a hiking vehicle and my S.O. really wants an XTerra. Not planning on doing any major off roading, just car camping, transporting a canoe or kayak and possibly doing a little light towing.

[Jim]

XTerra may be more than you need. I knew someone with an Xterra a few years back. It was small inside and the MPG was quite low. It competed more with the FJ Cruiser, so it's a serious small off road vehicle as opposed to the not-really-for off road CRV and RAV4. I was interested in the X until I looked at fuel economy.

BTW,
I picked up my new outback in Albuquerque yesterday.

[azbackpackr]

XTerra may be more than you need. I knew someone with an Xterra a few years back. It was small inside and the MPG was quite low. It competed more with the FJ Cruiser, so it's a serious small off road vehicle as opposed to the not-really-for off road CRV and RAV4. I was interested in the X until I looked at fuel economy.

BTW,
I picked up my new outback in Albuquerque yesterday.

Yay, Jim! Glad to hear you finally bought one! From what I hear, it will fit your parameters well.

[hikerdw]

Does this qualify as a Hiking vehicle? Anyone know where this might be?

[juliachaos]

@hikerdw
Is that the one off of Route 66, in Painted Desert/Petrified Forest?

[hikerdw]

@hikerdw
Is that the one off of Route 66, in Painted Desert/Petrified Forest?

I am not sure. My wife saw the picture on her Facebook page and asked if I knew the location, which I didn't, but I thought someone on HAZ may know. Thanks for the reply.

Here is a picture of the car off rt. 66 which is different.