Climber's best vehicle?

Just bought this. I'm traveling in style and comfort now!

Low mileage and was kept in perfect shape. It looks brand new inside.

Damn Mark you'll be giving Cap'n Tom a run for his money in that rig!

My last trip Boulder - Moab (360 miles) cost me less than $30 (8 gallons). That's 45mpg in a reliable car that I can sleep in, but I usually pitch my $35 tent. My thinking is: What's the point in hauling around a lot of empty space (strangely quite heavy) in a huge truck that gives you a "whooping" 20-25mpg if you do most of the sleeping in dry weather anyway? My solution is a dinky old Corolla Wagon (yeah, I know, not much clearance to speak of...)

I dirtbagged around in a Ford Edge for 3 years sleeping in it. I know what it's like to travel on nothing. There becomes a point out of necessity that traveling becomes more efficient in a bigger vehicle. We spend 300 days a year on the road.

Get a long bed with a Cummins and you'll be set for hundreds of thousands of miles.

I know, he's going to be so jealous!

I can still sleep in the dirt. Hell, I enjoy sleeping in the dirt! BUT! I've slept in a lot of dirt, I really have been there and done that.

Honda Element!

I've owned a built-out 4x4 truck and a built-out cargo van, but...

With gas between $3 and $4 a gallon. It doesn't matter how comfortable your rig is if you can't afford to get it where you want it! With 25+ MPG, even over the mountains, tons of cargo room and enough space to sleep 2 people under 6ft tall, plus 4WD, the Element has been my dream vehicle.

Sprinter 4x4 is coming to the US in early 2015:
autoblog.com/2014/03/07/mer…

As much as I like the Element MPG and it's bility to sleep 2 adults in it, calling it 4WD is a far stretch. Yes, It can send power to all corners in some circumstances with its AWD but will likely spin the up wheel and get high centered on a curb.

Only 2wd, but it's taken me down some sketchy roads.
Only 2wd but it's taken me down some sketchy roads.

bmxanddie wrote: Only 2wd but it's taken me down some sketchy roads.

That's a killer line BTW.

is that Potash near Moab ?

My climber vehicle , er , crawler vehicle.

4x4

looks like flakes on potash

which would you rather have 97 Mazda or 97 jeep.

my friends climbing vehicle.

my climbing vehicle (notice the hook I use it to pull the jeep out when it gets suck)

So did Leo end up getting a replacement vehicle?

Check out this blog - about a woman who lives in her Mitsubishi full time. She doesn't have the ability (tools, garage, electricity etc.) to build a build in, but she still makes it work. Built her own car-top carrier as well. Her bed is very basic, but it works...

homelessgal.blog.com/2014/0…

Chris Owen wrote: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....

Nothing looks like it was made to be in the backcountry like a Land Rover... which is a plus, since you'll probably be leaving it there when it breaks down on you.

As a Land Cruiser guy, I couldn't help myself. But seriously, Land Rovers are about the coolest looking thing on or off the road.

One can only dream of owning a setup like this. Might not get you to the base of that tower you been eyeballin but storage-a-plenty.

Best climbing vehicle?

Ryan N wrote:I dirtbagged around in a Ford Edge for 3 years sleeping in it. I know what it's like to travel on nothing. There becomes a point out of necessity that traveling becomes more efficient in a bigger vehicle. We spend 300 days a year on the road.

The Edge looks roomy compared to my car. ;) I spent four years (about six months per year) living in the back of my VW Jetta sedan. I am now considering upgrading to a full size hatchback (like an Outback). Living in the trunk of my car really made me wish I had a van, but when I went to the pump and filled my tank with 14 gallons after driving 600 miles, I was glad I dident have a van. It's a hard tradeoff when you drive a lot. Fuel economy or room. Hard to have both. Too bad the Element dident have better fuel economy. That vehicle would be perfect otherwise.

A ton of ideas. If you climb where you need to go off road a Toyota 4Wd plus canopy is hard to beat. If you are destined to pavement climbing areas any of the numerous suggestions will work.