Backcountry Vehicles

Springbar makes a really nice and very portable canvas awning that fits most vehicles, as you attach it to your roof rack. It's easy to carry around and inexpensive.
 
SKLund said:
I told the local Toyota dealership to let me know when the 4Runner goes from body on frame to Unibody. When that happens I'll get one if I can choke up the $$$.
Click to expand...

Curious as to why? Unibody wouldn't be my first choice for offroad/4x work.
 
Wanderlust073 said:
Curious as to why? Unibody wouldn't be my first choice for offroad/4x work.
Click to expand...

I don't think Unibody can be as functional as a body on frame vehicle for offroad. They may be functional enough, but you would not see one past Teapot Rock in the Maze without getting torn up. No aftermarket products that I know of can increase the function. I would not take my Xterra past Teapot either but I can upgrade it so that I can.
 
Hey, I just checked the Springbar site, and I see a different awning from what I bought a few years ago for about $100. I don't know if they still offer that type - if you go to this website and scroll down a bit, you'll see it, it's way simple:

https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/kirkhams-auto-truck-canopy.19599/

The new one looks a lot more complicated and costs 2x as much, but is probably worth it, as their stuff lasts forever. Just a FYI.
 
regehr said:
Yes, ugh, I hope this doesn't happen, 4runner is one of the last SUVs on the market useful for this kind of trip.
Click to expand...

The problem is two-fold. CA omission standards make body on frame vehicles less profitable than they used to be with the big exception of pickups because enough of them are sold. Second, unibody vehicles are cheaper to produce and the profit margin is higher along with no separate production line needed.
 
Rockskipper said:
Hey, I just checked the Springbar site, and I see a different awning from what I bought a few years ago for about $100. I don't know if they still offer that type - if you go to this website and scroll down a bit, you'll see it, it's way simple:

https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/kirkhams-auto-truck-canopy.19599/

The new one looks a lot more complicated and costs 2x as much, but is probably worth it, as their stuff lasts forever. Just a FYI.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I looked at the Springbar site. I need a waterproof awning since my recent experience in Utah.
 
Example. Chevy made a big deal about how they were bringing back the Blazer. Here is what you're going to get:

https://www.chevrolet.com/upcoming-vehicles/all-new-blazer

...it's just another crossover. The way it works with corporations is they want to market to who will have the money, not necessarily who has it now. Millennials are where it's at and the companies are trying to get into their future pockets. Full function, high clearance, SUV's are just not as popular as they used to be.
 
SKLund said:
Example. Chevy made a big deal about how they were bringing back the Blazer. Here is what you're going to get:

https://www.chevrolet.com/upcoming-vehicles/all-new-blazer

...it's just another crossover. The way it works with corporations is they want to market to who will have the money, not necessarily who has it now. Millennials are where it's at and the companies are trying to get into their future pockets. Full function, high clearance, SUV's are just not as popular as they used to be.
Click to expand...

... and it's true that most people shouldn't be buying a tippy, inefficient truck-based monster to go get the groceries in. But anyhow it would be nice if the 4runners would stay real for a few years longer, I was hoping to get a new one in a few years once one of my kids is old enough to take my '06 4runner off my hands.
 
I would hope there's enough 4runner/Off-road enthusiasts to keep up enough demand for body on frame style of the 4runners. Not as much of a community as Jeep has, but still hopefully enough out there to make it worthwhile to Toyota to not make such a significant change to such a good thing they've had going. Even then, I'm the kind of guy who tends to pay cash for older used cars still in respectable shape and anticipate the same when I'm done with my current 4Runner which still feels new to me. :)
 
There's no way Toyota would go unibody on the 4Runner anytime soon. That's what they have the RAV4 and Highlander for. They take the off road aspect more seriously than Ford or Chevy with all of the TRD stuff. Which is good, because they're far more reliable than a Ford or a Chevy. Just my $.02.
 
Nick said:
There's no way Toyota would go unibody on the 4Runner anytime soon. That's what they have the RAV4 and Highlander for. They take the off road aspect more seriously than Ford or Chevy with all of the TRD stuff. Which is good, because they're far more reliable than a Ford or a Chevy. Just my $.02.
Click to expand...

Actually that's something I'm curious about: Consumer Reports gives the 2018 Tacoma 2/5 for expected reliability. Up to 2015 they were usually 5/5 but have been rated much lower recently. Anyone know what's going on there?

A random data point is that I know someone who has a 2017 highlander and it doesn't feel nearly as tight as the 2011 that she previously had. Hopefully Toyota isn't slipping here.

Tundra and 4runner reliability are rated 5/5 for almost every recent year.
 
regehr said:
Actually that's something I'm curious about: Consumer Reports gives the 2018 Tacoma 2/5 for expected reliability. Up to 2015 they were usually 5/5 but have been rated much lower recently. Anyone know what's going on there?

A random data point is that I know someone who has a 2017 highlander and it doesn't feel nearly as tight as the 2011 that she previously had. Hopefully Toyota isn't slipping here.

Tundra and 4runner reliability are rated 5/5 for almost every recent year.
Click to expand...

That's really surprising. I haven't heard anything about quality dropping on Tacos. It's almost unbelievable that it could have really dipped from a 5/5 to a 2/5.
 
regehr said:
Actually that's something I'm curious about: Consumer Reports gives the 2018 Tacoma 2/5 for expected reliability. Up to 2015 they were usually 5/5 but have been rated much lower recently. Anyone know what's going on there?

A random data point is that I know someone who has a 2017 highlander and it doesn't feel nearly as tight as the 2011 that she previously had. Hopefully Toyota isn't slipping here.

Tundra and 4runner reliability are rated 5/5 for almost every recent year.
Click to expand...
For what they are charging it better be Rock solid.

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk
 
SKLund said:
I told the local Toyota dealership to let me know when the 4Runner goes from body on frame to Unibody. When that happens I'll get one if I can choke up the $$$.
Click to expand...

So is there a typo in here or am I missing some sarcasm or ... ??
 
Nick said:
That's really surprising. I haven't heard anything about quality dropping on Tacos. It's almost unbelievable that it could have really dipped from a 5/5 to a 2/5.
Click to expand...

They have:

2013: 5/5
2014: 5/5
2015: 5/5
2016: 1/5
2017: 3/5
2018: 2/5

No idea what's up with that.
 
Ahhhhhhhhh
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top