High Sierra Topix

2000 Jeep Cherokee. Sucks gas, unnecessary for a lot of trailheads, but when you need the clearance and 4wd its awesome.

Nothing compared to a cheetah on a premium bike tho.

That Rubi is bad ass!

I've got an old old Toyota car. Celica, 91, 250k+. I had been torn about whether I ought to keep it or replace it. Finally decided to keep and recondition it just because it's less expensive and it does everything I need.

It's my sports car, jeep, and station wagon rolled into one. Blew out the rear shocks on some dirt roads coming back from a trailhead (at 200k miles). Threw out the rear seats to get extra space, alternate between snow tires and summer performance tires (whoo whee!), and still get 30 mpg. That's important; I'll cross the country at the drop of a season.

I love old Toyotas. Anytime I see them, I figure I'm looking at someone that has something better to do with their life than sinking time and money into their vehicle. But if money wasn't a pre-condition, I'd probably have a Rubi. Actually, if money wasn't an issue, I'd probably have an exotic. And a superyacht.

longri wrote: But if you drive an SUV you may have seen me passing you uphill on the highway.

This is very true; I wave politely as people pass me by.

My daily driver is an '05 Xterra. The thing has been rock solid from day one and unusually fuel efficient for it's size (22mpg on the highway). More recently I decided to get a vehicle just for recreating on the weekends.

Shawn wrote:

longri wrote: But if you drive an SUV you may have seen me passing you uphill on the highway.

This is very true; I wave politely as people pass me by.

My daily driver is an '05 Xterra. The thing has been rock solid from day one and unusually fuel efficient for it's size (22mpg on the highway). More recently I decided to get a vehicle just for recreating on the weekends.

Nice Rubi. Lift and tire size? How are the Duratracs? Heard they're great as an all arounder, just a little weak on the sidewalls.

Thanks TRAUMAhead.

It's a Mopar three and a half inch lift and the Duratracs are 35's (you have a good eye). When I bought the thing earlier this year (it's a 2011 now with 10k miles) the tires were inflated to nearly 60PSI. Whew, now at 32PSI or so the ride is very nice on the Duratracs.

Trail Grapplers are waaaay stiff in 35X12.50R17 (E rating + soft top + no doors = no weight on the tires). My first choice was Goodyear MTRs in 35X12.50R15 (C rating), but they were backordered with no ETA so I got impulse bought the TGs. Currently at 25PSI, still trying to get good tread wear.

My TH car is a 2001 Acura MDX. Over 185K miles and still comfortable, reasonable gas mileage, and can carry 4+ with gear. It's old and the paint is going so I don't mind leaving it for a week+.

My vehicle of choice is a 1969 VW camper.
Great ground clearance, 20 MPG, and I can sleep in it. The body still needs work but mechanically it is better than new (1914 engine putting out 90 HP and 112 ft. lb. of torque) pulls the hills great.

Current: '96 XJ with 4.5" RE lift and 32s. Don't heavily wheel it a lot, but lifted because I drive unplowed roads in the winter. Easily handles almost any trailhead approach.

Near future: New or used 4Runner or new Taco.

I'm getting ready for a new vehicle. I'll probably go with another Toyota Tacoma when the 2014 is available, but I heard 2014 will be the last year they produce the FJ Cruiser and I'm wondering it that might be a good option seeing as it will be the last chance to get a new one. The prices are similar for ether vehicle - either the Access cab Tacoma with 4WD and TRD package or the FJ Cruiser with 4WD and TRD package. Anyone have an opinion on why they would go with FJ Cruiser over the Tacoma?