Backcountry Vehicles

[JulieKT]

Tacoma all the way. Not that I'm biased or anything. I'm on my third one, and she passed 200k last year, still goes like a champ of course.

That said, I've wandered the backcountry roads in an older Chevy Tahoe that clients loved because it was a smooth ride and guides loved because it got you out there and back. Thousands of miles on that one. No real rock crawling, but all over the sand n' clay roads of southern Utah, filled with washes and flood-tumbled boulders and sloggy sand stretches etc etc. Also been out on the back roads many times in a Ford F350 or a Dodge Ram 2500, on its own or hauling a stock trailer, and yes through wild, tight sections most people wouldn't want to tackle while hauling. Obviously that's not over washes you'd bottom out on with a trailer, but sometimes pretty close! Cowboys around here go over the craziest stuff while hauling their horses or cattle, so I learned to do it too. Not saying either an F350 or a Ram is the vehicle of choice for most backcountry stuff of course, ha, but just more evidence all sorts of vehicles can work for some of those situations.

But tbh I really like my '00 Tacoma most of all.

 

[jentzschman]

All about them Toyotas

 

[Nico]

I used to abuse the hell out of my MINI Cooper S Countryman All4...It's been all over Cedar Mesa, Alstrom Point, and even over Ophir Pass in Colorado. BUT, we just bought a 4 door Wrangler Rubicon...so I think I can go anywhere now!

I was comparing between the Jeep Unlimited Rubicon and newer 4Runners. Jeep doesn't have a 3rd seat row but it definitely has more cargo space, and I guess I'm just a jeep guy!

MINI pretty capable - the All Wheel Drive makes a lot of difference:
Alstrom Point:

Cedar Mesa near Caprock Ruin:

Ophir Pass:

Last Dollar Road:

Boulder Mountain:

After a rainy weekend in Capitol Reef:

 

[Riggs]

I'm another Xterra driver, I bought this one new 13 years ago. Never had in it the shop other than a recall and an airbag fuse issue. Heat is good. As for in snow, I've had it in as deep as you can go with 4 reinforced chains on. I tend to push it once in a while till I need a shovel, haha. They'll only go as far as you can push a little snow in front. Our Outback is easier on hard packed snow for my wife, but I like my manual transmission and hubs. I almost got stuck in the middle of nowhere once because of auto hubs that started to fail, that's why I don't mind getting out.

I sure like being able to go places like The Dollhouse in this pic from a couple years ago, but my 13 yr. old son could bike it faster than I could drive. He needed that water on top though. What impressed me is that Yakima rack didn't rip off with my bike on that road.

 

[Udink]

Trying out that 1WD thing...

 

[Absarokanaut]

Make sure you understand that All Wheel Drive is not a capable as 4 Wheel Drive. I've pulled out a few subarus over the years with drivers that just didn't understand the limitations of All Wheel Drive.

'98 ford F150 short cab/long bed. Gets over 19 miles a gallon with great clearance. I sleep in the back of it a lot as I do a lot of dayhiking and don't like setting up tents if I don't have to, and here in the GYE with Grizzlies cowboy camping is for mensa rejects to put it kindly.

 

[Nick]

Anyone have experience with newer 4Runners? I had a '99 once upon a time and I liked it. My wife seems fairly convinced that she is getting one very much like the one in the video below. I'm kind of excited to steal it from her from time to time. I'm wondering how it compares to the Taco in off-road performance.

 

[steve]

the gas tanks on runners hangs down quite a bit more. But then again, the wheelbase is shorter, so it's probably about equal with a taco. I haven't tried the 5th gens yet (the one in the pic), but I've had a 3rd gen (96-02) and now drive a 4th gen (05). I love the v8 in my 4th gen.

 

[Nick]

Nice. Are you in the rumor loop on design changes, etc? Is a '15 a good buy or will we be kicking ourselves when the '16 comes out? I was debating flipping my Tundra for a '15 for tax purposes until I learned of the likely new engine option coming next year.

 

[steve]

I wish I were in the rumor loop. We all know the taco is getting a new motor (with a body refresh that looks like crap) in 2016, but I haven't heard anything about the 4runner. The 5th gens started in 2009, so it's been 6 years. They seem to update every 6-8 years.

The one bummer about the 4runners is that they don't have nearly the resale value as a tacoma. Lots more creature comforts, and better build though (disc brakes all around, more luxury features, etc).

 

[Nick]

Dang. For some reason I thought there was a pretty big face lift in '13-ish. That makes me think hard about picking one up at the end of a cycle. Although I quite like the current design. If it looked more like a '16 Taco, I'm not sure that would be an improvement.

 

[steve]

you're right. The big facelift was in 2013, but the motor/drivetrain didn't change at all (though they've got the sameish motor as a 4th gen v6 anyway.) I'll bet you've got another year or three on this current version.

Toyota is funny. They design an ugly version, then 4 years later they update the front end to look like it should have looked all along, but they don't change anything else. Pretty smart strategy, but it bugs me to death. I'll bet the 2020 tacoma looks really good.

 

[steve]

one more thought. My buddy has that model in the video above (2014 limited). He says it's next to impossible to find tires in the stock size with the big (20"?) wheels. He liked the look of the bigger wheels, but wished he had purchased the version with the smaller wheels so he'd have more tire selection, and so his offroad tires wouldn't be so low-profile. Fortunately, wheel swaps are an easy fix, but not something you think about 'till you talk to owners.

 

[Nick]

That's funny. I was trying to sell Audra on just getting the Trail Premium version, but she really likes her 'dubs'. The last car she had them she never had to buy tires for though. Oh, and the push button start only available on the Limited. I'd be happy just to have power seats.

For how rare the Limited 4 Runners seem to be, I would think they'd have better resale. They certainly don't negotiate on them much. We've done really well on most of our vehicle purchases but we've only been able to work them down about $2300 on this one. Regardless, at the rate this is going, I bet there's a new car in the driveway within the next week.

 

[steve]

awesome. I've loved the 5 4runners I've owned. I personally prefer tacomas because of the bed and because there are less gadgets, but there's no doubt my 4runner is the most comfortable rig I've ever owned.

I think the 4runners lose their value after about 5 years. At the 5+ year mark, they're worth less than the tacomas that sold for $5-8k less. Kinda weird.

One thing with resale, people will pay $2-3k more for what I consider stupid features, like a hood scoop, or a certain color scheme. So getting the most pimped out one, with the most desirable features, will definitely help resale down the road. Toyota buyers are funny. They usually know exactly which trim models came in which colors which years, and they hold out 'till they find the exact one they're looking for.

 

[slc_dan]

@langutah love love loves his wife's 4runner. I've only driven it personally on smooth dirt and highway's, but that thing is fn' sweet.

 

[mike_offerman]

We have been happy with the 2015 we purchased in Feb. Only 4x4 we have done is the road into moonhouse, not too hard of a road, but it did just fine. Great ride getting down there.

 

[Artemus]

With a couple of dozen vehicles under my belt I can say that our 2014 Trail Edition 4Runner is hands down the best off-road vehicle I've ever driven. It is also the best on-highway and pavement truck I have ever driven. We were able to keep high sustained speeds out to the Maze Overlook camp spot which is a long and notoriously rugged road.

One word of warning... You HAVE TO buy one with the KDSS system installed. Ours has it. Forum members say the non-KDSS equipped 4Runners are almost comically pogo-ing down the road.

Another hint, our black cloth seats and piano black interior finish is not highly rated for dog-owners..

 

[Nick]

I thought Trail Premimum meant the synthetic softex leather-like seats? I feel your pain with my Tundra. It had very soft black upholstery. It got so bad that I had it removed and replaced with leather. Damn big white Sage furs everywhere!

I'll have to look into the KDSS. The salesfolk told Audra that the Trail Premium would be a really rough ride if she isn't off road a lot, so she's still pretty stuck on the Limited. I wonder if it's even available for that?

 

[WillisBodillus]

How 'bout them Scions? I'm thinking about a lift She's a monster.