What vehicle is best and what modifications to make for best adventure mobile in the backcountry

[LURE]

2nd Generation Nissan Xterras are reliable, comfortable daily drivers, and can take you the distance to any 14er you need to get to, even in the winter. I regret selling mine but that's all in the past now. There is a reason their re-sale value is so high.

Agreed. The aftermarket isn't great as compared to jeep or toyota but there are still some decent parts upgrades available to make them a little more trail worthy. I slept plenty of nights in the back of my old xterra at trailheads all over the state. Never once had a road turn me around in it and never once had trouble driving it home after a hike.

I'm on the Nissan train now. Really an under the radar brand for trucks and decently off road capable vehicles. The PRO 4X lineup is really the best bang for the buck around.

[specmiata37]

Just replaced my 4Runner (used) after my last 4Runner was totaled in an accident. A friend has the jeep ,very capable vehicle, but not daily driver friendly.
The 4Runner has great space and is comfortable on the highway on the way to the 4WD jeep road. I have off road tires on my new (used) one. Also, easily sleep in the back.

Went up to the Matterhorn Creek TH in September. 5 Toyota's up there, no others. 2 4Runners, 2 Tacomas, and a Tundra.

Toyota reliability can't be beat.

[JoshBunker88]

To those of you with experience in 4Runners, is there any functional difference between the SR5, Limited, and Off-Road packages other than aesthetics and bells and whistles? This seems like the logical choice for my family, but want to make sure I get the one most capable of crawling up those more difficult roads. Thanks in advance.

[12ersRule]

2nd Generation Nissan Xterras are reliable, comfortable daily drivers, and can take you the distance to any 14er you need to get to, even in the winter. I regret selling mine but that's all in the past now. There is a reason their re-sale value is so high.

Please tell me you got a mini-van!!

I say the same thing in all these threads, but just get what works for your daily commute and don't worry about having to drive all these 4wd roads. Really, you can't get that much further that much faster if you're in shape (not that I am in shape, I just advocate getting in shape and making any road hiking you have to do a non-factor).

[LURE]

To those of you with experience in 4Runners, is there any functional difference between the SR5, Limited, and Off-Road packages other than aesthetics and bells and whistles? This seems like the logical choice for my family, but want to make sure I get the one most capable of crawling up those more difficult roads. Thanks in advance.

Practically the only difference between a new SR5 and a new 4Runner TRD Off road is the lockable rear diff, which can be life saver at times, but will rarely be needed. Another upgrade would HIlls Start Assist and some other terrain features that give some computer assist to the drive train. The TRD Pro gets a little more robust with suspension and the like.

An SR5 will take you a lot of places. TRD's add an extra layer of functionality as well as assurance that you can get out of sticky situations. But most people with SR5s aren't going to be putting themselves in a position to get into those situations to begin with.

[justiner]

I say the same thing in all these threads, but just get what works for your daily commute and don't worry about having to drive all these 4wd roads. Really, you can't get that much further that much faster if you're in shape (not that I am in shape, I just advocate getting in shape and making any road hiking you have to do a non-factor).

I uh, I agree.

[mountainman713]

Silverado. I'd stay away from the Toyota crap

The new Tacomas have had some teething problems, but overall, Toyotas are way more reliable than Chevys. In fact, it's not even remotely close:

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-rel ... -stack-up/

Until a few months ago, I have had a Silverado for several years (my work assigned me that vehicle). My Tacoma has been way more reliable (even though it has a lot more miles). I have a long history of having both.

The poster references to fitting a family of 4 in the car. I couldn't imagine fitting a family of 4 in a Tacoma.

Also, the GM LS V8 engines are some of the best (if not the best) engine you can have in any vehicle:
https://jalopnik.com/the-10-best-engine ... 1510676043
https://carbuzz.com/features/10-best-v8 ... f-all-time

The Tacoma was one of the lowest rated cars of 2017 by Consumer reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/new-car ... -for-2017/

I would recommend staying away from the Tacoma. Even though Toyota vehicles are some of the most reliable on the road, the Tacoma does not fit in that category.

[Conor]

Silverado. I'd stay away from the Toyota crap

The new Tacomas have had some teething problems, but overall, Toyotas are way more reliable than Chevys. In fact, it's not even remotely close:

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-rel ... -stack-up/

Until a few months ago, I have had a Silverado for several years (my work assigned me that vehicle). My Tacoma has been way more reliable (even though it has a lot more miles). I have a long history of having both.

The poster references to fitting a family of 4 in the car. I couldn't imagine fitting a family of 4 in a Tacoma.

Also, the GM LS V8 engines are some of the best (if not the best) engine you can have in any vehicle:
https://jalopnik.com/the-10-best-engine ... 1510676043
https://carbuzz.com/features/10-best-v8 ... f-all-time

The Tacoma was one of the lowest rated cars of 2017 by Consumer reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/new-car ... -for-2017/

I would recommend staying away from the Tacoma. Even though Toyota vehicles are some of the most reliable on the road, the Tacoma does not fit in that category.

This whole idea of "reliability" baffles me. When the avg American probably drives their vehicle for 3 to 5 years (I have no idea and I'm just making stuff up based on driving through my hood) what are they really asking for? Oil changes only for 3 years? I've got 2 "reliable" landcruisers that I just continually pour money into. And yes, one of them has a "reliable" LS engine. But, i turn my own wrenches and it makes owning 20 + year old vehicles somewhat affordable. Otherwise, I think the concept of "reliable" is just BS.

[ezabielski]

The new Tacomas have had some teething problems, but overall, Toyotas are way more reliable than Chevys. In fact, it's not even remotely close:

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-rel ... -stack-up/

Until a few months ago, I have had a Silverado for several years (my work assigned me that vehicle). My Tacoma has been way more reliable (even though it has a lot more miles). I have a long history of having both.

The poster references to fitting a family of 4 in the car. I couldn't imagine fitting a family of 4 in a Tacoma.

Also, the GM LS V8 engines are some of the best (if not the best) engine you can have in any vehicle:
https://jalopnik.com/the-10-best-engine ... 1510676043
https://carbuzz.com/features/10-best-v8 ... f-all-time

The Tacoma was one of the lowest rated cars of 2017 by Consumer reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/new-car ... -for-2017/

I would recommend staying away from the Tacoma. Even though Toyota vehicles are some of the most reliable on the road, the Tacoma does not fit in that category.

This whole idea of "reliability" baffles me. When the avg American probably drives their vehicle for 3 to 5 years (I have no idea and I'm just making stuff up based on driving through my hood) what are they really asking for? Oil changes only for 3 years? I've got 2 "reliable" landcruisers that I just continually pour money into. And yes, one of them has a "reliable" LS engine. But, i turn my own wrenches and it makes owning 20 + year old vehicles somewhat affordable. Otherwise, I think the concept of "reliable" is just BS.

I hear what you're saying (I own an expensive to maintain 80 series!) but there are a few things to consider:

1. Reliability of newer cars (<10 years, <100k miles) is definitely a measurable fact, since some manufacturers/models are known for shipping a higher quantity of cars with basically ticking time bombs for the major systems (engine, transmission...). The failure rate is known, and that's what I believe the above consumer report is basing their data on. This reliability, even if it never impacts you on the new car YOU own also affects resale value.
2. Maintaining ANY old car is going to be potentially expensive. Sometimes it feels like sheer luck (ex, struts need replacing on the same month the power steering pump fails on the same month you get an exhaust leak...). Unless you own the car for a very long time, then it probably evens out. Also, in the case of Land Cruisers, almost every single part on an 80 series was over-built, larger and more robust (except the engine, ha) than it needed to be in any other Toyota, and thus more expensive. So it's all 2x more expensive for each part compared to a normal car.
3. Consider that there are many many car models that after a certain age are just not seen on the road anymore, but you don't even notice it. They've all either rusted away, or had large mechanical problems and were sold for scrap. I will bet you the percentage of 80 series Land Cruisers on the road today is much larger than a litany of garbage vehicles that Chrysler made in the 90s.

[Conor]

The poster references to fitting a family of 4 in the car. I couldn't imagine fitting a family of 4 in a Tacoma.

Also, the GM LS V8 engines are some of the best (if not the best) engine you can have in any vehicle:
https://jalopnik.com/the-10-best-engine ... 1510676043
https://carbuzz.com/features/10-best-v8 ... f-all-time

The Tacoma was one of the lowest rated cars of 2017 by Consumer reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/new-car ... -for-2017/

I would recommend staying away from the Tacoma. Even though Toyota vehicles are some of the most reliable on the road, the Tacoma does not fit in that category.

This whole idea of "reliability" baffles me. When the avg American probably drives their vehicle for 3 to 5 years (I have no idea and I'm just making stuff up based on driving through my hood) what are they really asking for? Oil changes only for 3 years? I've got 2 "reliable" landcruisers that I just continually pour money into. And yes, one of them has a "reliable" LS engine. But, i turn my own wrenches and it makes owning 20 + year old vehicles somewhat affordable. Otherwise, I think the concept of "reliable" is just BS.

I hear what you're saying (I own an expensive to maintain 80 series!) but there are a few things to consider:

1. Reliability of newer cars (<10 years, <100k miles) is definitely a measurable fact, since some manufacturers/models are known for shipping a higher quantity of cars with basically ticking time bombs for the major systems (engine, transmission...). The failure rate is known, and that's what I believe the above consumer report is basing their data on. This reliability, even if it never impacts you on the new car YOU own also affects resale value.
2. Maintaining ANY old car is going to be potentially expensive. Sometimes it feels like sheer luck (ex, struts need replacing on the same month the power steering pump fails on the same month you get an exhaust leak...). Unless you own the car for a very long time, then it probably evens out. Also, in the case of Land Cruisers, almost every single part on an 80 series was over-built, larger and more robust (except the engine, ha) than it needed to be in any other Toyota, and thus more expensive. So it's all 2x more expensive for each part compared to a normal car.
3. Consider that there are many many car models that after a certain age are just not seen on the road anymore, but you don't even notice it. They've all either rusted away, or had large mechanical problems and were sold for scrap. I will bet you the percentage of 80 series Land Cruisers on the road today is much larger than a litany of garbage vehicles that Chrysler made in the 90s.

My point merely is what one person defines as reliable is not what another person defines as reliable. And what consumer reports says is reliable fits most Americans view of plastic door handles not snapping before the end of the loan term, but not what someone who plans to drive a car for 20 plus years may not be interested in. Any modern vehicle in today's world will be "reliable" during the length of the loan, which seems to be longer than anyone owns vehicles anyway.

While I agree with the superiority of the 80 series landcruiser in just about everyway, you'd be foolish to buy one thinking no money will be spent on maintaining it. I bought one for $3k and have about $8k in it with new exhaust, heater core etc over the last 2 years and that's me doing a lot of the work. And I still need to get to the pick n pull to replace the notoriously unreliable sun visors. Certainly cheaper than a $40k truck and more fun to drive. I'd say it's just as "reliable," but I'm sure not everyone shares that opinion with almost 300k on the clock.

One thing I think that would make vehicle "reliable" is the availability of parts long term. The 80 has a cult following, but even then it is getting hard to find parts. While 90s vintage Chrysler's are the obvious whipping boy for crappy American vehicles, no one really wants a vintage '94 Chrysler Concorde. Or any sedan made in the 90s. I'm grateful for cruiser only junkyards and part outs on online forums that help to keep many on the road. Something absent most 90s era vehicles.

[SolarAlex]

ill throw in a vote for the tacoma . Mine is a 2013 4 door short bed. If I could do it again, I would get the access cab (half doors) with the long bed as a 5 foot bed is somewhat useless. With a topper, its great for keeping skis/gear/ wet stinky clothing though . Just depends what you need the truck to do for you. In 80000 miles, I haven't had to do anything other than routine maintenance...Anything I've had to fix was the aftermarket mods I put on the truck.

For modifications, I did an OME 2.5 lift , uniball upper control arms, ARB bumper, winch , and all pro rock sliders/ skid plate. 33" tires (cooper st maxx) . It will go just about anywhere I'm trying to go and it drives straight as an arrow on the highway at 80mph. I feel like its a great compromise between daily driver and toy .

[Cruiser]

I say the same thing in all these threads, but just get what works for your daily commute and don't worry about having to drive all these 4wd roads. Really, you can't get that much further that much faster if you're in shape (not that I am in shape, I just advocate getting in shape and making any road hiking you have to do a non-factor).

For what it's worth, I get a kick out of driving my 4x4 on some of the cool trails around the state when I'm heading out for a hike. Some of the fun of the experience, for me at least, is often in getting to and from the actual hike. I'm certainly fit enough to walk the road but there's something to be said for wheeling my way up there, ya know?