All-around vehicle for outdoorsmen?

[socal.beach.bum]

Quad cab taco prerunner. I get an avg of 21mpg, and it has served me well. 4x4 if you are into that, but will sacrifice a few mpg.

[Raskal311]

Originally Posted by socal.beach.bum

Quad cab taco prerunner. I get an avg of 21mpg, and it has served me well. 4x4 if you are into that, but will sacrifice a few mpg.

x5
Been serving me well for 6 years. But i'm getting more like 16.5mpg Dam mini lift a slightly bigger tires. I snowboard, fish, camp, typical socal stuff and even did a few truck trails and in six years I only wished I had 4x4 twice. Both times I was in mammoth on heavy show but the chains did the job. If you have the money go 4x4 off road package. If not the SR5 double cab v6 is awesome don't bother with the sport model its all looks, it performs the same as the SR5. An SR5 short bed should run you around 24k out the door and loaded Offroad 4x4 package will be over 30k.

[Mongo Johnson]

Crew cab pickup with normal bed. Good all-round utility. Yaks (even 13') can be easily loaded in bed. Lots of seating. Versatile.

Downsides will be gas mileage but some newer models have improved . . . maybe a stiffer "truck" ride but lots of flex in carrying stuff, higher clearance, ease of access and tie down.

4 X 4 really isn't needed by most folks, nor are Tonka tires.

[Squid Vicious]

Originally Posted by Mongo Johnson

Crew cab pickup with normal bed. Good all-round utility. Yaks (even 13') can be easily loaded in bed. Lots of seating. Versatile.

Downsides will be gas mileage but some newer models have improved . . . maybe a stiffer "truck" ride but lots of flex in carrying stuff, higher clearance, ease of access and tie down.

4 X 4 really isn't needed by most folks, nor are Tonka tires.

.....right !...and if you really need to tow a heavy load for some reason its a piece of cake !...I have an F-250 Diesel and haven't been happier...with all the things you do your going to need a real truck

[jettytaco]

no short beds!!! You'll need all the room you can get. I had a Tacoma but now loving my Tundra. 15.5 mpg with lots of power and an 8 ft bed for everything I want to toss in there. Get a dualsport motorcycle while you are at it too to save MPG from your truck.

[StinkyMatt]

you will spend 90 -95 percent of time doing regular road driving to school and work.

Plan on taking care of that first.

Honda Ridgeline is a very nice vehicle,

seats 5 in the cab

v6 about 20 mpg if you drive nice

Its a honda and will outlive you

The trunk under the bed of the truck is bad ass! Just throw your crap in there and go. Perfect feature for the outdoors, the only truck with it.


If you put racks on it, even better. OR run a bed extender ont he days when you move a kayak........50 bucks.

[Bert Vega]

With the kind of money you plan on spending. Get a good car with good mpg for your day to day. Then get a fawk it bucket for your outdoor activity. You can get a Toyota 4 banger extended cab long bed for cheap. And they run for ever. I have a buddy who has a 89 toy. He drove it in high school. Truck has 450,000 miles + and runs like a champ. His son will be driving it next year for his first car.

[TCS]

2006 Chevy Tahoe 4x4. As long as you don't have a PA you can easily get the kayak on the roof. All your other stuff can be locked inside. Big and heavy enough to go remote camping fully self contained, which can be a couple thousand pounds. Still comfortable and practical as a daily driver. Ilike that the surfboards or fishing gear can be loaded inside the night before I go.

I took this rig on a remote surfing/fishing trip in mexico a few weeks ago, self contained with four people and a dog off the beaten track. Worked great.

Downsides: MPG and I have had to do a few major repairs.

[jorluivil]

Don't buy an access cab, you'll regret it. the access cabs are made to do one thing, access the cab. I once road in the back seat of an access cab, it was a 300mile round trip and I swore that I would never ride in a access cab again, I'd rather drive the 300 miles in my own truck by myself than to sit in an an area that is perfect for a 6year old.

Also, take Matt's advise and buy based on your regular day to day driving. When I bought my Tundra crew cab I was driving around with a family of four, now that my kids are 24 and 18 they're too cool to hang out with mom and pops so they will stay home and now my 13mph truck is my primary but hopefully not for long.

[chxh8me]

I bought my mother-in-laws old awd CRV to use as my outdoorsman beater. It's been awesome. I seem to drive it more than my challenger. Perfect setup for camping, snowboarding, fishing, kayaking, etc... Like you are look are looking for. And as I mentioned, it's a beater (1999), so I don't care if I scratch the crap out of it. But it's been an extremely solid car for all my needs. It's not flashy, and the wife hates driving around in it with me... But I've grown attached to it.

Maybe look into a penta star v6 grand cherokee? I think that gets 25mpg highway, and you can probably find a new one in your price range. I'm digging the ecodiesel v6 that they put in the grand cherokee limited. Good gas mileage (30 highway) and rated for 7400lb towing I believe (someday I'd like to get a boat). Unfortunately they only put the ecodiesel in the limited version and higher end models which bumps it up to 40k or more. I'm still debating on getting rid of the beater and the challenger and picking one up.

[Pocoloco]

Originally Posted by chxh8me

I bought my mother-in-laws old awd CRV to use as my outdoorsman beater. It's been awesome. I seem to drive it more than my challenger. Perfect setup for camping, snowboarding, fishing, kayaking, etc... Like you are look are looking for. And as I mentioned, it's a beater (1999), so I don't care if I scratch the crap out of it. But it's been an extremely solid car for all my needs. It's not flashy, and the wife hates driving around in it with me... But I've grown attached to it.

Maybe look into a penta star v6 grand cherokee? I think that gets 25mpg highway, and you can probably find a new one in your price range. I'm digging the ecodiesel v6 that they put in the grand cherokee limited. Good gas mileage (30 highway) and rated for 7400lb towing I believe (someday I'd like to get a boat). Unfortunately they only put the ecodiesel in the limited version and higher end models which bumps it up to 40k or more. I'm still debating on getting rid of the beater and the challenger and picking one up.

I have 2000 and it goes everywhere. 170,000 miles and still purring.
Use it more than my 2500 silverado.
my next choice would be a late model cherokee/straight 6

[FISH11]

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4, any trim model you care for. New would be great because they are improved all the time. I you are looking on a bugget looked used. I have had several and currently drive a 1999 limited 4x4 with a 2" lift, larger tires etc, etc. Of all the cars, vans, trucks I have owned it is the best vehicle all around. They drive more like a car (sweet ride and sports car handling) goes everywhere and I don't have to get out and engage anything. When I get to snow or sand, fishing or hunting, all I do is just keep driving. It does not have that rough truck ride all large or Japanese trucks do. Parts are a lot less expensive and it is easier to find someone that can work on then if you need. It has 202,000 miles and runs like new. Buy American. I work at a Japanese car dealer and used to work on the cars and trucks, they are not as trouble free as people like to think and parts and labor are expensive. So if you don't work on the vehicle your self it going to cost. My jeep has carried anything I ever carried on trucks I owned and it's a great tow vehicle. I personaly would choose the V8 engine because of the extra power and only about 1 to 1 1/2 miles per gallon less in milage. The V8 engine does not have to work as hard and that means keeping the RPM down saves fuel. If available get the later model that has a Hemi. Best all around vehicle. Can't beat heated leather seats, 4X4, AC climate control, etc. etc.