Best Car for Climbers

Scenario - I currently drive a small-ish sedan that I purchased when I had a girlfriend and one dog.

Flash forward and it's now a wife, two dogs, and a baby, and the car is too small to take them all climbing. So the question is - what would be the best vehicle to search out?

We live in a place that is alpine enough to have snowy/icy winters, and take week-to-month long climbing trips a few times per year. Usually a combination of bouldering and roped climbing, so would need enough storage space for 3-5 crashpads, two sport climbing packs, and a full camping set up. Not willing to commit to a Sprinter van, as I travel between job sites on a daily basis for most of the year. Thoughts?

Crash pads, kids, and dogs?  You need an extended cab truck.  You want something a bit more manageable, get a Subaru Outback with a roof carrier. 

Sounds like a 1/2 ton extended/quad cab pickup. I have a 4 door Tacoma with a RTT and can't fit nearly what you are looking at travelling with.

The Chevy Suburban is giant and can probaly fit all the gear you need for a for climbing without putting any on the roof. Its not as big as a van but you can still fit your family in it. If your a access fund member I think they can give you a discount on any Chevy vehicle.

A Toyota 4Runner with a cargo box on top (as needed) is the cat's meow (only because that's what I drive and wouldn't consider anything else.)   Comfortable and safe in the city, very capable off-road. 

AWD Toyota Sienna. I have a T&C and the AWD is the only thing I really miss

Jon Frisby wrote: AWD Toyota Sienna. I have a T&C and the AWD is the only thing I really miss

Minivan is underrated option, very practical for day-to-day driving and a lot of space for trips with decent gas mileage. Unless you need to do serious offroading, AWD Sienna with roof box is a great option. 

Currently shopping to upgrade my sienna into an awd sienna.

They drive very nicely and gear is a lot more accessible than when I had a tacoma with shell. Take the rear seats out, keep one 2nd row seat for the baby and have a ton of space leftover to fit gear.

With two passenger seats in, I fit 2 racks, a whitewater raft and lifejackets, and camping gear for 4 people with space to spare.

Matthew Bertolatus wrote: Crash pads, kids, and dogs?  You need an extended cab truck.  You want something a bit more manageable, get a Subaru Outback with a roof carrier. 

+1

There’s a reason it’s a stereotype...Outbacks are perfect for climbers!  Good gas mileage for long trips, decent cargo space and great off-road capability for the class.  Plus, since you’re a father, it might be helpful to know that they tend to score at the top in safety.

2nd on the 4Runner, and quite biased opinion lol. Wife and I have one. Have no problem throwing a bunch of crash pads in with 3 people and other gear for camping/climbing trips. I also use a rear hitch cargo carrier to strap pads to if needed. Taco them in a tarp if you're worried about weather. Super reliable 4wd vehicle to get you anywhere you need to go.

Sprinter

ZR2 diesel with a cap.

For reference: I have 2 kids, my partner, and dog (50lbs husky).

We've managed week long trips with camp gear/30 gallon cooler, single 40l pack with all the climbing gear (sport/trad), metolius trifold crash pad in my RAV4 with a large roof box and optional hitch cargo carrier. It's a tight fit but we make it work. The car has decent clearance and the shorter wheel base will get me most places. Plus it's still convenient to drive around town and gets decent gas mileage. I also have a 3 bike hitch rack that I use if the kids want a bike (can strap a pad on the vacant space if only taking 2 bikes).

I'd like to upgrade to the new Subaru Ascent if money wasn't an issue which would give a little more interior space.

Why 3-5 pads? Get that down to 1-2 and it'd open up a lot of options outside of a mid-full size pickup.

Chevy Kodiak

Do it in style. 71' VW Bus. Easy to work on and Stoned Master approved.

Tapawingo Markey wrote: 

I'd like to upgrade to the new Subaru Ascent if money wasn't an issue which would give a little more interior space.

And 19 cup/bottle holders! 

s.price wrote:

I loved my old Bus. 

They have to be easy to work on cause something always needs working on :)

Never felt more mellow than behind the wheel of a bus. ;)

3-5 crash pads is a lot! (But I don’t boulder so I don’t know) I think an awd sienna with a roof box when needed would be a more spacious and cheaper version of an outback. Sounds like the cats meow to me. I have a Ford e250 and that thing can haul some gear (aka everything I own, 24/7)

Unimog duh

Bill 1552 wrote:

Minivan is underrated option, very practical for day-to-day driving and a lot of space for trips with decent gas mileage. Unless you need to do serious offroading, AWD Sienna with roof box is a great option. 

+1 Minivan

The new Pacificas are amazing.  I have a Sienna, which is fine, but the Pacifica is so dialed in- drives like a car, both rear and mid seats stow and go (and have a ton of usable storage when they’re up), can fit a 4x8 sheet of ply flat with the hatch closed...  The touchscreen interface is probably the best I’ve used... One of my climbing partner’s brothers has one, and we’ve borrowed it a couple times for trips- just spent a week around Chattanooga with 4 people and 5 pads (and all our personal stuff), and it was perfect.