Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Trailhead condition requests, questions, alerts, etc.
Forum rules
  • This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
  • Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
  • Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
  • Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
d_baker
Posts: 3100
Joined: 11/18/2007
14ers: 58  15 
13ers: 348 11
Trip Reports (59)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by d_baker »

Is that on Ophir Pass?
User avatar
Bombay2Boulder
Posts: 580
Joined: 1/19/2015
14ers: 56  3 
13ers: 269 1
Trip Reports (4)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by Bombay2Boulder »

d_baker wrote: Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:50 pm
Is that on Ophir Pass?
Most of the pics are on Ophir Pass. The last 10 might be on Last Dollar. I will be very surprised if they did Imogene in that which has the famous pullout that people pose with in a lot of pics.
User avatar
Dave B
Posts: 2390
Joined: 6/14/2010
Trip Reports (9)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by Dave B »

^ Ophir pass doesn't really require high clearance tho, just a willingness to be f*cking miserable for an hour.
Make wilderness less accessible.
User avatar
two lunches
Posts: 1328
Joined: 5/30/2014
14ers: 37  2 
13ers: 59
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by two lunches »

Dave B wrote: Sun Dec 12, 2021 8:29 pm ^ Ophir pass doesn't really require high clearance tho, just a willingness to be f*cking miserable for an hour.
it's not terrible with IFS but i wouldn't take a jeep up there. :barf:
“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” – Mary Davis
cschmidt1023
Posts: 66
Joined: 10/3/2014
14ers: 3 
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by cschmidt1023 »

I haven't browsed for a used car in over 3 years (and much longer for an offroad worthy car) and am wondering what legitimately competes with the Subaru Forester in terms of pretty decent off-road ability while still getting very good MPG and not costing >$30,000?

For reference I would be getting a gen5, 2019 or newer. Plenty of relatively low mileage options on Cargurus for ~$25k.
User avatar
Bombay2Boulder
Posts: 580
Joined: 1/19/2015
14ers: 56  3 
13ers: 269 1
Trip Reports (4)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by Bombay2Boulder »

cschmidt1023 wrote: Mon Jul 18, 2022 9:41 pm I haven't browsed for a used car in over 3 years (and much longer for an offroad worthy car) and am wondering what legitimately competes with the Subaru Forester in terms of pretty decent off-road ability while still getting very good MPG and not costing >$30,000?

For reference I would be getting a gen5, 2019 or newer. Plenty of relatively low mileage options on Cargurus for ~$25k.
At that price point look into a new hybrid Rav4 for a few thousand $ more. Much better mpg than any Subaru. Now if you want a proper 4x4 that's a separate discussion.
cschmidt1023
Posts: 66
Joined: 10/3/2014
14ers: 3 
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by cschmidt1023 »

I will have to lookup the specs more closely, but the best deal on Cargurus is $8,000 higher than a comparable Forester.

However. I would prefer to compromise slightly on the MPG to gain slightly better off-road capability. Based on my limited research you have to compromise quite a lot to get any off-road performance gain.
uwe
Posts: 482
Joined: 5/25/2008
14ers: 58 
13ers: 45
Trip Reports (0)
 
Contact:

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by uwe »

Very happy with my '07 Toyota FJ. 208K miles and counting...hope I didn't jinx it.
User avatar
dan0rama
Posts: 104
Joined: 1/12/2022
14ers: 26  5 
13ers: 5
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by dan0rama »

cschmidt1023 wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 11:05 am I will have to lookup the specs more closely, but the best deal on Cargurus is $8,000 higher than a comparable Forester.

However. I would prefer to compromise slightly on the MPG to gain slightly better off-road capability. Based on my limited research you have to compromise quite a lot to get any off-road performance gain.
It all depends on what type of off road capability you are looking for. You could get a subaru, put a suspension lift and good AT tires.

Automakers build in huge profit margins on factory offroad capabilities. It is much cheaper to get those aftermarket.
cschmidt1023
Posts: 66
Joined: 10/3/2014
14ers: 3 
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by cschmidt1023 »

Nothing more than what a stock Forester could do with a fairly skilled driver.

I have since been going down the rabbit hole of “lifted Prius Reddit”. Good stuff. Unlikely to go that route, but I’m not one to say never to a crazy idea.
User avatar
dan0rama
Posts: 104
Joined: 1/12/2022
14ers: 26  5 
13ers: 5
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by dan0rama »

You want a vehicle that offers some amount of torque as that is not easy to change, so you should definitely say never to the Prius idea
User avatar
bdloftin77
Posts: 1090
Joined: 9/23/2013
14ers: 58  1 
13ers: 58
Trip Reports (2)
 

Re: Best vehicle for 4wd trailheads

Post by bdloftin77 »

Scott P wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 2:51 pm
CaptCO wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 1:41 pm Unpopular opinion, people who own RAV4s drive like s**t
Harsh. I drive a RAV4 hybrid.
How do you like your RAV4 hybrid? My wife has a regular RAV4, and it’s been pretty decent despite not having 4WD or a huge amount of ground clearance.
Post Reply