How's the Toyota Sienna for #vanlife and rough roads?

Our Odyssey has nearly reached its final resting place.

It has been surprisingly good at reaching remote crags, despite its 3.5 inches of ground clearance.

Of course, that might be why the front bumper is held on by zip ties...

Regardless, we are considering replacing it with an AWD Sienna.

Anybody willing to share their experience taking one on rougher roads?

Anybody get a Sienna lifted?

Other thoughts?

Probably similar in terms of ground clearance as the Odyssey, i.e. not great. A lift kit is not a bad idea. The trannys in Siennas are better. I beat the crap out of our poor Sienna (had it from when our baby was born until about age 4). Towed a heavy 6x10 trailer which was fine but ate up the brakes on long downhills. It was a really reliable, efficient, well designed vehicle. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

I have a 2001 Sienna CE FWD and it does surprisingly well on rough roads. It has pretty good ground clearance (like 5inches?) and soft suspension which gives it a plush ride and good traction over the bumps. But when it is loaded down with camping gear it does have a tendency to bottom out. I'm also used to driving a WRX which sucks for offroading so pretty much any van is better than that. I think the newer Siennas have less ground clearance. 

The 2020 Sienna claims 6.5 inches of ground clearance, which isn't bad, really.

The approach and departure angles look laughable.

They also have run flat tires and no spare, which seems like a bad idea.

I'm a big fan of the AWD sienna. Are there roads in particular that you're trying to drive?

I replaced the runflat tires with regular ones and also bought a full-size wheel that has a spot in third-row well. It gave me an excuse to buy a set of cheap snow wheels.

justgoodenough wrote:

I'm a big fan of the AWD sienna. Are there roads in particular that you're trying to drive?

I replaced the runflat tires with regular ones and also bought a full-size wheel that has a spot in third-row well. It gave me an excuse to buy a set of cheap snow wheels.

I'd like to get to the Enchanted Tower, but doubt a Sienna would do that. 

Maybe with a 3 inch lift.

I hear the road to the Fins is pretty rough.

I think the Homestead is out unless you have a real 4x4. Might just have to walk to this crag.

Been meaning to visit Last Chance Canyon.

Mark E Dixon wrote:

I think the Homestead is out unless you have a real 4x4. Might just have to walk to this crag.

Perhaps not Mark. I recently talked to a guy from Phoenix, who told me that due to recent  road work, he easily got in with a stock Subaru Impreza. I think those have like 5” of clearance. (When I last went in ‘18 I felt good to have 4 low)

justgoodenough wrote:

I'm a big fan of the AWD sienna. Are there roads in particular that you're trying to drive?

I replaced the runflat tires with regular ones and also bought a full-size wheel that has a spot in third-row well. It gave me an excuse to buy a set of cheap snow wheels.

Did you get AT tires? 

I never had a toyota mini van but did plenty of roadtripping in a Grand caravan AWD and tons of jeeping in it.  Obviously I am a fan of the full size spare :)

The other alternative I'd consider is the Chevy Express / GMC Savana AWD . Bigger. Tougher. More clearance. Easier to build out to camp in. 

13-14 mpg for Chevy. 18-19 mpg for Sienna.

Of course clearance is the important factor for rough roads. AWD is great for snow and can help on muddy roads and sand. 

I have a diesel 4x4 crew cab pickup with a 9.5' camper with all the amenities and it gets about the same mpg with the camper on as the Chevy van...

Why not get a truck with a pull-behind camper. We have a 03 tundra that gets 17 mpg in the summer, and will 4-wheel really well. We pull a forest river aframe for longer trips and sleep in the back of the truck on shorter weekend trips. the whole rig can be had for 20K if you look around. I think its the best of both worlds and is a lot cheaper than a new sienna. The 03 and 04 tundras go 500K miles too.

Jon W wrote:

Why not get a truck with a pull-behind camper. We have a 03 tundra that gets 17 mpg in the summer, and will 4-wheel really well. We pull a forest river aframe for longer trips and sleep in the back of the truck on shorter weekend trips. the whole rig can be had for 20K if you look around. I think its the best of both worlds and is a lot cheaper than a new sienna. The 03 and 04 tundras go 500K miles too.

There's pros and cons to all choices. Cons of a trailer include more of a pain to drive (some states have a 55 mph speed limit for towing, though cops will generally let you go up to the regular speed limit, for mpg and safety it's best to slow it down, especially on curvy mountain roads), harder to park (need a double length spot in parking lots / won't fit in some campsites), way less stealth, pain to back up especially on dark, rough roads. Pros include plenty of space / no claustrophobia, ability to have two vehicles in one by taking it off. Toyota trucks are the most reliable, longest lasting vehicles on the road so good choice there. A key word in your reply is "We", for one person a van is good, for two or more they start getting too small for extended living IMO.

Agreed ^. For one or two night trips to rifle we just take the truck and it's plenty and we can camp anywhere that is flat. For 4 or 5 nights or longer the camper is more than worth the hassle. And it's not really that bad to tow. Its around 2200 lbs and I can go over the passes at 65mph, although the truck is in 2nd gear. 

Mini  vans  work  well  for  minimalist  car  camping.  A fair bit of room and  drive like a car.  Usually get 20mpg ish 

The new 2021 Sienna is an AWD Hybrid, with 33mpg combined... I thought my dream car was the Pacifica Hybrid, but I think it may have just gotten one-upped. 

Minivans are great for living out of.

That is, sleeping in a tent and cooking outside.

Both of which we prefer and hope to continue till we get a little older.

Lots of room, easy in and out with the sliding doors, easy to drive and all the latest safety features.

Since I'm not that great a driver, I really wanted the safety stuff.

Bought a 2020. Would love to have waited for a hybrid, but we needed a car now, and I'm always kind of concerned about the first iteration of a new model.

Planning to get a lift, probably in November. Will try to post an update afterwards.

INMOP Mini vans are the most practical passenger vehicle. Period.  trucks and full size vans are specilty vehicles . AWD mini vans kick the snot out of suvs and sedans for sheer usability.  dRive like a car with shit tons of cargo space or put the seats in and you have a limmo.  YMMV

I had a coworker tell me he had to buy a full size suv because he had his 3rd kid on the way and wanted a third row seat. I said to you tow? No. Do you off road? No. Then why not get a minivan? But his ego wouldn't let him. The minivan has better ride, usually better handling, better mpg, statistically safer, easier to park. A great do it all vehicle for most people. When I sold our last minivan I replaced it with a plug in prius (70 mpg) and a 4x4 truck, but as a compromise the minivan did what both of those vehicles did almost as well.

Be warned: once you go minivan, it’s almost impossible to go back... Once you get used to the amazing versatility, you’ll never want to give it up. As a side note, my Sienna can fit 4x8 plywood and 12’ stick lumber with the hatch closed. 

have done absolute shit tonns of off roading in minivans. 

Mark E Dixon wrote:

Bought a 2020. Would love to have waited for a hybrid, but we needed a car now, and I'm always kind of concerned about the first iteration of a new model.

Planning to get a lift, probably in November. Will try to post an update afterwards.

I have some climbing friends that have been living out of their Sienna for several years now.   One thing that comes to mind, since you're looking into a lift-kit anyway, is to consider getting an adjustable/pneumatic/hydraulic  lift for the rear axle.   Theirs is always "down by the stern" and effects the handling and stability, as well as clearance, leveling, etc.