I wonder if you're thinking of the Tundra, which is the full-size Toyota truck. The Tacoma is the mid-size.boleslav wrote: Tacoma- it may be great for lots of people, but the new car would be for me to drive and I am not that comfortable with big cars, and doubt my husband would want to trade it for his Subaru.
What car to get with good clearance?
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
I am a Jeep fan. I was able to get a good enough price for my 04 TJ, which I bought way used and rebuilt, to trade up to an 015 JK without too much pain. It is a basic Wrangler Sport, with essentially no options except for a/c. I love the manual transmission. I realize that some prefer an automatic for off road because it provides more control -- you can have one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake if needed -- but I think the manual overall provides a more connected driving experience. And it's lighter and more durable than an automatic. I have made one modification. I pulled the stock head unit and dropped in a Pioneer 4100 NEX with Apple Car Play. It made my speakers come alive, and gave me Pandora with a really cool interface and a built-in GPS. I think it's got my wife's Audi Q5 beat in the sound department. When she rides with me, she'll plug in her iphone so she can get her own Pandora stations.
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
I really liked my 2009 Xterra. It was great off-road and seemed to go anywhere without a problem. I also liked it around town, it has plenty of torque and a stiffer suspension so it seemed more of a car like ride compared to some 4x4's. Also smaller around the outside for easy parking.
As for the other question I think the most important parts off-road are 4 low and good transfer angles with clearance. A locking differential and full skid plates would be nice if you're going to push it a little bit more.
The most important to me is the stereo. You get plenty of time to sit in traffic.
As for the other question I think the most important parts off-road are 4 low and good transfer angles with clearance. A locking differential and full skid plates would be nice if you're going to push it a little bit more.
The most important to me is the stereo. You get plenty of time to sit in traffic.
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
I copied some of the suggestions down, thanks
Forester Turbo would be great if it was made with a manual
Wrangler Sport- was looking into that, still have to figure out if we can sleep in it, provided the front seats are pulled all the way up.
Does it have a locking differential?
Forester Turbo would be great if it was made with a manual
Wrangler Sport- was looking into that, still have to figure out if we can sleep in it, provided the front seats are pulled all the way up.
Does it have a locking differential?
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
Yeah, not drinking the Subaru Kool aid.
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Its got ELECTROLYTES!
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
I am pretty sure you have to buy the pricier Rubicon to get the lockers, which also gets you a 4.1 front/rear axle ratio with a 5-speed manual. The Sport is standard with a 3.21 front/rear axle ratio, which you can upgrade to 3.73. I have the 3.73 with a 6-speed manual. I usually start in 2nd gear for around town driving. You can also get a 31" Duehler tire option on the Sport which gives you 9" of clearance. The back of the 2-door Sport is about 3 1/2' wide by about 3' long with the back seat folded up. If you remove the back seat and pull the front seats forward, the length goes to about 5 1/2'. You would have to buy the 4-door to get more.boleslav wrote:Wrangler Sport- was looking into that, still have to figure out if we can sleep in it, provided the front seats are pulled all the way up.
Does it have a locking differential?
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
Perhaps Bill should rename this site:
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Bad decisions often make good stories.
IPAs + Ambien = "14ers" post (Bill M.)
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
IPAs + Ambien = "14ers" post (Bill M.)
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
Finally somebody with some sense on this thread! To each their own I guess but it's a full size truck for me! Plenty of room for my gear, friends, and a little space for the people who had to hike the 4wd road but can't make it back down!!!Le Marmot wrote:Yeah, not drinking the Subaru Kool aid.
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
Jeep is owned by Chrysler (ugh). Chrysler, in turn, is owned by Fiat.
Look at how Jeeps and Fiats rank in reliability on the chart above.
Look at how Jeeps and Fiats rank in reliability on the chart above.

Re: What car to get with good clearance?
I'll have the kool-aid, por favor.
I don't need to shave every possible vertical foot off a hike.
Compared to the Frontier I used to have, I'm definitely enjoying the savings in gas, more comfortable ride, and smaller size. I can still sleep comfortably in it, too.
We all have different needs. There might be one time per year where I actually used the truck to get somewhere the Subaru can't reach. Well worth the smaller car for me.
That Frontier was a damn good truck, though.

I don't need to shave every possible vertical foot off a hike.

Compared to the Frontier I used to have, I'm definitely enjoying the savings in gas, more comfortable ride, and smaller size. I can still sleep comfortably in it, too.
We all have different needs. There might be one time per year where I actually used the truck to get somewhere the Subaru can't reach. Well worth the smaller car for me.
That Frontier was a damn good truck, though.
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Re: What car to get with good clearance?
You got it! It's the set-up that works best for us; two people, three dogs and everything else needed to be comfortable camping at the trailhead. Why go through all that effort and be cramped and miserable?RETEP 1 wrote:Finally somebody with some sense on this thread! To each their own I guess but it's a full size truck for me! Plenty of room for my gear, friends, and a little space for the people who had to hike the 4wd road but can't make it back down!!!Le Marmot wrote:Yeah, not drinking the Subaru Kool aid.
Its got ELECTROLYTES!