Climber's best vehicle?

Just bought a 91 VW Vanagon Westfalia Syncro in the fall. It is an awesome camping vehicle, and is quite reliable. It has a 2.5L Subaru Outback motor instead of the leaky wasserboxer 2.1. VW Vanagons hold their value extremely well, especially a Syncro. They only released about 5500 Syncros in the U.S. from 81-91, and of those about only 1500 were Westfalias. My van will pull in third gear up most all passes, and holds a ton of stuff for the small footprint. Fukngruvn. Will post some photos later. Good luck Leo. If your budget is unlimited, go for the Unimog!!

Taco w/ topper. Goes almost anywhere. Dependable, long lasting. Fuel efficient and plenty of space IMO.

You left out one key bit of info! The play by play of how you rolled your truck! Too much speed on a sharp turn?

Sorry for your loss. Glad nobody was hurt.

Right now I have a 93 Toyota Previa AWD. Pros: roomy inside, balanced in the snow, cheap to buy, very reliable and chicks dig it. Cons: Not great MPG (~18 on highway), and it's not a true 4wd. Overall, I think it's a good cheap, reliable poor person's rv.

Not to hijack, but I have a question about the "tent topper" truck toppers. Are they a good setup? Those look cool, but you're still sleeping in a tent. So no stealth camping I guess? And is setting up a hassle?

I'd also like to hear about diesel trucks. Mainly operating costs.

really is it that hard to put up a tent?

get a Subaru Outback, sleep under the stars, don't carry so much sh*t with you.

reduction is better than consumption.

DarrenG wrote:Not to hijack, but I have a question about the "tent topper" truck toppers. Are they a good setup? Those look cool, but you're still sleeping in a tent. So no stealth camping I guess? And is setting up a hassle?

I have a Tacoma w/shell, stealth =great. When I'm on long road trips and have a lot of gear ie. firewood, climbing - kayaking etc. I no longer become so stealth as I have to unload 1/2 of the truck to find a place to sleep (with 2 people you have to unload all) I haven't spoken personally yet to anyone who has one of these, but they seem easier (and more stealth) than setting up a tent or having my gear laying about. I also have to reload in the truck, and if the rain happens to come, packing a tent in the rain is a pain. Here are 2 videos I found, the 2nd on a Toyota:

youtube.com/v/a1tGmVzDf8w&h…

youtube.com/v/ydQ8S-1X64s&h…

Here is a forum-link with some inside photos of a sample set up. Adds room and I can still keep my Toyota, just add pillows (:

Toyota Tundra pop-up photos (scroll-down)

This topic has come up before. There are some more ideas over there.
mountainproject.com/v/gener…

Kirra, don't pull out all your gear to sleep back there, make it a double decker.
mountainproject.com/v/climb…

Go to bajataco.com and check out the bajataco and featured vehicles for all sorts of ideas on different ways people build them.

John, do you think you could handle that petty-cab with the camper shell?

Jay Knower wrote:Ford Ranger. With a cap. Black.

I don't know if it was just my vehicle, but i had many, many problems with my Ranger. Seemed as if it was in the shop almost every month with some large issue (head gaskets, Transmision, Alternator, starter, etc), and it didn't even have 100,000 miles on it. I'm wasn't unduly hard on it, took good care, etc. I think that it was the previous owner, or Ford itself. I'm much, much happier with my current Tacoma. No problems so far, and much better gas mileage. And therefore I must add my vote for the Tacoma as the perfect climber vehicle. Add a loft in the shell, and it is perfect.

Jonathan Petsch wrote: I don't know if it was just my vehicle, but i had many, many problems with my Ranger. Seemed as if it was in the shop almost every month with some large issue (head gaskets, Transmision, Alternator, starter, etc), and it didn't even have 100,000 miles on it. I'm wasn't unduly hard on it, took good care, etc. I think that it was the previous owner, or Ford itself. I'm much, much happier with my current Tacoma. No problems so far, and much better gas mileage. And therefore I must add my vote for the Tacoma as the perfect climber vehicle. Add a loft in the shell, and it is perfect.

I've had a 98 ranger for a year or so now and its been great. I had to replace the heater valve($10), the brakes master cylinder($60) and the clutch (~$200). Its got 130,000 miles on it now. And it's American! (Redneck voice intended). Do wish I got an extended cab though. And I had a shell on it but decided I liked it better without a shell and took it off.

But maybe I'm just lucky

I drive a Land Rover LR3 (aka Discovery 3) - lots of room, lots of utility (seats 7 if necessary, or all seats fold down flat for sleeping or large loads), go anywhere 4x4 and very refined and comfortable for those long road trips, rubber floor mats easy to clean, superb Jag engine.

And if you're staying at the campsite at Red Rock, you and 6 of your mates can drive into Vegas and pull up to any of those fancy Vegas restaurants in style....

r

Jonathan Petsch wrote: I don't know if it was just my vehicle, but i had many, many problems with my Ranger. Seemed as if it was in the shop almost every month with some large issue (head gaskets, Transmision, Alternator, starter, etc), and it didn't even have 100,000 miles on it. I'm wasn't unduly hard on it, took good care, etc. I think that it was the previous owner, or Ford itself. I'm much, much happier with my current Tacoma. No problems so far, and much better gas mileage. And therefore I must add my vote for the Tacoma as the perfect climber vehicle. Add a loft in the shell, and it is perfect.

That's a bummer. I am on my second Ranger and I like them a lot. My first drove successfully from Wisconsin to the Northwest Territories and back. It also ran with no oil pressure for about 2000 miles. I fixed the gasket (I think that's what it was) and it kept running like a champ.

Do you really think Toyota is a better bet these days?

ccross wrote:Kirra, don't pull out all your gear to sleep back there, make it a double decker. mountainproject.com/v/climb… Go to bajataco.com and check out the bajataco and featured vehicles for all sorts of ideas on different ways people build them.

I did consider this some time ago. I already crawl inside plus my gear does pretty well in t-bins. It seems more fun (and less work) to maybe upgrade this way to a "walk-in"

Jay Knower wrote: Do you really think Toyota is a better bet these days?

Yes.

JJ Brunner wrote: I've had a 98 ranger for a year or so now and its been great. I had to replace the heater valve($10), the brakes master cylinder($60) and the clutch (~$200).

JJ Brunner wrote:But maybe I'm just lucky.

You had to make three repairs in one year and you think you're lucky? I guess attitude IS everything.

JLP wrote: Jonathan - did you end up with Jay's first truck by chance?

Probably.

As for Toyota, I still think that they make better cars. Granted, they are not quite what they used to be, but I would still by a Toyota over most any other cars out there these days.

I am actually in the market for a new car too and was looking for something good for climbing. After asking around and spending a ton of time at Rumney, I know my next vehicle is going to be a Subaru Outback. you can sleep in it and it's pretty good on gas for those long treks!

Alyson Sewell wrote: I know my next vehicle is going to be a Subaru Outback.

I'm on my 4th Subaru wagon. I currently have a 2010 Outback. Yes, they are great for the climbing lifestyle, but I think I would want something bigger if I spent weeks on the road. I can usually get about 30mpg going out to Indian Creek from Denver. I think something like a Tacoma would be nice.