Weekend warrior vehicle

erik wellborn wrote: I'm guessing more reliable.

How dare you!!

She's a beauty. If it wasn't the sprinter it was going to be an E series for me. Did you buy it used, if not what did the 4x4 package run you?

Mike Brady wrote: How dare you!! She's a beauty. If it wasn't the sprinter it was going to be an E series for me. Did you buy it used, if not what did the 4x4 package run you?

Bought it used about a year ago. Came with solar panels, marine battery combo to run fridge,hot water heater, outdoor shower. Propane heat as well. So far, no complaints. Much more comfy than my old Tacoma!

erik wellborn wrote: Bought it used about a year ago. Came with solar panels, marine battery combo to run fridge,hot water heater, outdoor shower. Propane heat as well. So far, no complaints. Much more comfy than my old Tacoma!

Nice man. Here I am spending my weekends dicking around converting my van and you are out playing!! :) What did it cost you?

The new Chevy Colorado is pretty sweet. I ditched my subi for it and couldn't be happier. After about 8k my avg mpg is still hovering around 20 which is pretty damn good for a truck with a v6, espeically considering how much of that mileage is in the city.

Mike Brady wrote: Nice man. Here I am spending my weekends dicking around converting my van and you are out playing!! :) What did it cost you?

Had a 118k miles. We paid 14k.

Robert Rowsam wrote: Anyone have any luck with an xterra?

I have a 2wd manual basic '07 Xterra that's been great for me. I've only once gotten into trouble on a really steep/rutted/rocky mountain road and had to retreat out. That said, I had a '90 Integra that did fine on most so-cal desert dirt roads. The off-road capability is nice, but what sold me on the Xterra was being able to use it like a truck and heave wet/dirty gear in the plastic-lined back without having to worry about it getting stolen if left unattended. Or I can use it like an SUV and throw the seats up to fit more than 2 people and a car-seat along with a longboard for a lunch-time surf. The compartment on top is also really nice for stinky shoes and wetsuits.

My recommendation is to maintain the Subaru as best you can and drive it til it dies... multiple times. Save the money you'd spend on a car payment for adventures unless that car really can't do everything you need it to.

Chris D wrote: Basing your vehicle acquisition decision on gas mileage is kind of silly when you actually do the math anyway.

Okay, let's do the math. We will use real-world MPG numbers taken directly from Fuely. My 2013 Cmax averages 44 MPG according to Fuely. The 2012 Sprinter gets 15.9 MPG. Let's assume your a hard core dude, dirtbagging year-round since that's what everyone wants to do, and we'll assume you drive 20k per year (conservative for a year-rounder). The current average fuel price for gas in the western USA right now is $3.36 per gallon. I choose the western USA average since it has about 80% of America's climbing in it.

So for 20k we are looking at $1527 for my dirtbagging mobile and $4226 for the 2012 Sprinter. Then when we factor in higher cost for everything on the Sprinter--higher insurance, higher maintenance costs, more expensive tires, ect--we are looking at more like $5000 per year vs $1500 for my car plus oil changes. Of course we can also talk about the initial purchase price difference, which can easily double the difference between the two vehicles for the first few years. So I think it's a pretty important value. Some 20 MPG vs 23? Yea no big deal. But 15 - 20 on a Sprinter vs 35 on a hatchback? That will impact your wallet.

Yes but who wants to enjoy the dirtbaggin' lifestyle for a year in that shoebox of a car Ford Cmax?

I cringe to think about the daily chore of removing and then shoehorning all my gear back into that little roller skate everyday . You obviously win the MPG battle with the Cmax , but livability also needs to be taken into account . The sprinter or similar full size van is going to be so much more hospitable on a daily basis....

If its a weekend warrior mobile, whats the deal with needing to sleep in it?

I've had to hide out a bad, sandy, windstorm in my Saturn Vue one or two nights (beach camping/surfing), but otherwise, its just a big hassle. Most climbing areas seem to require a short drive from camping to climbing (def. the majority we frequent), so you'd have to make room for gear / remake your bed each day (unless you have a larger vehicle with gear and sleeping room separate).

Get a tent and good sleeping pad and get good gas mileage in something that's cheaper and remains cheaper to maintain throughout its life.

I get the live in a van thing or extended trips. But for weekends, a tent is by far the cheaper way. And if the weather is shit, we won't be heading out to climb anyways, so hiding out from the weather isn't a factor.

Its almost like sleeping in your vehicle is some kind of climber badge of honor. Seems like a hassle to me. Full disclosure: we are renting a Ford Transit Campervan in NZ next month, but that's for an extended trip and am quite excited to see how we like it...

Now I sound like bear breeder ragging on crag packs (love my Miura 50)
;)

grab yourself an after '97 jeep xj or zj as parts are widely available and the design of these vehicles are simple and easy to fix. Also they are suvs which means you can fold the rear seats down and you have a nice comfy bed. If your really itching for a toyota, I would search for a 4Runner over a tacoma for many reason, primarily relative cost. Where a 4runner can be found for way under 5k at a lot of times and again they make for a comfy travel bed.

Raper-ey, yes.
but it got us around.

.

mountainhick wrote: Called Previa in the US and Canada, Estima, Tarago and Canarado in different regions of the world. First gen made 1990-1999 and sold until 2000 model year, but Toyota ceased exporting the Previa to the US after 1997. US versions were naturally aspirated until mid 1994, then supercharger was added. 5 speed tranny was available in 1991 and 1992 (though common overseas after that), the 5 speeds are quite rare finds these days...I have had two, a 92 and now have a 94 which I modified with lifted clearance, 5 sp manual tranny from a 92, true 4x4 hi/lo transfer case from an older Toyota vanagon, and rear limited slip differential. As such it is more capable of 4 wheeling, ... My naturally aspirated 4 cyl engine is gutless, especially since I changed differential ratios, opting for good cruising at 70-75mph rather than acceleration. But with low range 4wd, it'll climb steep dirt roads without trouble.

A coworker had a 5-speed 1992 Previa and his description of it made me so happy, a damn-shame they never let us in the US get a manual with the supercharged engines and 4wd...I immediately thought this would be the ultimate (and silly-as-heck) cragging vehicle for a single person or compact couple. But otherwise, living in MI, as an every-fourth-weekend-warrior driving 300+ miles to climb you can't argue with buying a nice little '08-'10 50K miles Focus/Civic/etc for 35+mpg well-under $10k. And spend $300 on a nice tent and sleeping pad. After all, weekend warrior suggests you have a job and residence and do this in your free time, why bother requiring your vehicle to sleep you comfortably. Get a fun stick-shift small car which is ridiculously practical 85% of the time, that you can actively choose to abuse a little bit (with cheap repair costs...) to get into somewhat difficult areas when you feel it's worth it...

Matt Duthie wrote: After all, weekend warrior suggests you have a job and residence and do this in your free time, why bother requiring your vehicle to sleep you comfortably.

Funny, this is the opposite of our logic. After doing the "plush" tent setup for years, we realized that we make money at our jobs and camp in our free time. Now we sleep in a warm van in a comfy bed. No regrets.

20 kN wrote: Okay, let's do the math. We will use real-world MPG numbers taken directly from Fuely. My 2013 Cmax averages 44 MPG according to Fuely. The 2012 Sprinter gets 15.9 MPG. Let's assume your a hard core dude, dirtbagging year-round since that's what everyone wants to do, and we'll assume you drive 20k per year (conservative for a year-rounder). The current average fuel price for gas in the western USA right now is $3.36 per gallon. I choose the western USA average since it has about 80% of America's climbing in it. So for 20k we are looking at $1527 for my dirtbagging mobile and $4226 for the 2012 Sprinter. Then when we factor in higher cost for everything on the Sprinter--higher insurance, higher maintenance costs, more expensive tires, ect....

Damn, 15.9, my 06 gets 24. Diesel is cheaper than gasoline and I am currently paying around $2.79 ( cheaper if it is at a truck stop or paying cash" "Sprinter--higher insurance, higher maintenance costs, more expensive tires, ect." This whole sentence is pretty uninformed. My insurance is $79 a month for full coverage with renters insurance, this is even with it being considered RV insurance which will cover all the living amenities that have been added. My tires are dirt cheap(compared to my yota), at least on the 3500 model. The maintenance costs may seem expensive but they should be happening at much less frequent intervals. My initial cost of purchasing the van way 20K, which includes interest and the extended warranty and I will easily save the money I lose in MPG as I don't need to pay rent/electricity/water/internet...let's add that up...damn it this is the weekend warrior thread

thecmacattack wrote:Raper-ey, yes. but it got us around.

Would love to see inside pics and maybe a layout graphic if you have one.

Mike Brady wrote:damn it this is the weekend warrior thread

Amen! I don't live out of a vehicle for a year, and if I did, I would happily pay a few thousand more to live out of a Sprinter instead of a Cmax.

Matt Duthie wrote: A coworker had a 5-speed 1992 Previa and his description of it made me so happy, a damn-shame they never let us in the US get a manual with the supercharged engines and 4wd...I immediately thought this would be the ultimate (and silly-as-heck) cragging vehicle for a single person or compact couple. But otherwise, living in MI, as an every-fourth-weekend-warrior driving 300+ miles to climb you can't argue with buying a nice little '08-'10 50K miles Focus/Civic/etc for 35+mpg well-under $10k. And spend $300 on a nice tent and sleeping pad. After all, weekend warrior suggests you have a job and residence and do this in your free time, why bother requiring your vehicle to sleep you comfortably. Get a fun stick-shift small car which is ridiculously practical 85% of the time, that you can actively choose to abuse a little bit (with cheap repair costs...) to get into somewhat difficult areas when you feel it's worth it...

You are arguing for your own bias. That's fine, no worries.

For me though, having car (i.e. tent) camped out of Subaru station wagons and a Nissan crew cab (short bed) pickup for 35+ years, I'll take the Previa any day as a weekend warrior vehicle! Keep in mind, mine is not a stock Previa, but something much more capable for 4wd, recreation, access to climbing etc.

We are looking into a Sprinter for living on the road 6 months out of the year, but I have no plans to get rid of the Previa even so. The Sprinter would be the family camper, the Previa for my solo climbing trips.

It's literally just a stripped out van with reflectix and thin wood paneling.
Then just four legs with cross beams and then wood paneling across the top for the bed

Super rudimentary..

Again messy, but simple

Anyone here have any experience with the RAV4 (FWD or AWD) and driving on rutted, washboard roads, snow, or steep dirt/gravel roads? Contemplating getting something more reliable. I currently have a 96 ranger 4x4 that's having some issues. I don't need it to perform like the ranger in terms of offroad capabilities. Overall, would like something with a little better gas mileage, ability to take more than just one partner on a trip/crag, and decent off-road capability. Thoughts?

20 kN wrote: Okay, let's do the math. We will use real-world MPG numbers taken directly from Fuely. My 2013 Cmax averages 44 MPG according to Fuely. The 2012 Sprinter gets 15.9 MPG. Let's assume your a hard core dude, dirtbagging year-round since that's what everyone wants to do, and we'll assume you drive 20k per year (conservative for a year-rounder). The current average fuel price for gas in the western USA right now is $3.36 per gallon. I choose the western USA average since it has about 80% of America's climbing in it. So for 20k we are looking at $1527 for my dirtbagging mobile and $4226 for the 2012 Sprinter. Then when we factor in higher cost for everything on the Sprinter--higher insurance, higher maintenance costs, more expensive tires, ect--we are looking at more like $5000 per year vs $1500 for my car plus oil changes. Of course we can also talk about the initial purchase price difference, which can easily double the difference between the two vehicles for the first few years. So I think it's a pretty important value. Some 20 MPG vs 23? Yea no big deal. But 15 - 20 on a Sprinter vs 35 on a hatchback? That will impact your wallet.

I agree the difference in annual costs are significant between the those two vehicle but you may as well compare a Metro with a 5 ton dump truck. The vehicles are so different your comparison makes no sense at all. The Sprinter is optimized for carrying cargo while the Cmax is optimized for picking up trans teens in the red light district. In the end it depends on where your priorities lie but there is more to the comparison than just pure cost.