Economic 4x4`s

[Jason__G]

If you are considering Subarus and the like, and off-road will be mild, take a look at a used Honda Ridgeline. Good Hwy MPG and decent gravel performance.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I was wondering the same thing this summer, bought this used '14 Ram 1500 eco diesel that allegedly got up to 30mpg:



But I had it modified for offroad use, stripped the chrome off, big tires, 6" BDS suspension lift, steel bumper, winch, skid plates a bunch of other heavy, fuel consuming stuff. Now it gets 17-22mpg (including 4 wheel low offroading) which aint bad.

 

[Violent Hippie]

I am on my 3rd Tacoma and I must say they are a very reliable truck that does real well off road. The problem I see is for what they are size wise they are overpriced. The normal 6 cyl 4 door Tacoma with TRD and 4wd and a 5 foot girlieman bed is about as much as a full size truck such as a F150 with FX4 (comparable to TRD I guess) and a full size bed with ALOT more space inside. The full size trucks such as the mentioned F150 I believe get better gas mileage as the little Tacoma . I will say I am happy with my current 2015 Tacoma as I have been with the other 2 I've owned but feel they are overpriced for what you get. A lot of Subarus advertised for sale seem to mention "replaced head gaskets " and stuff like that that I never see mentioned with Toyotas . Just saying what I see .

 

[zeroforhire]

Take it for what its worth, but I have loved my Honda Element stick shift. I get around 26 mpg and it has tons of room to sleep in.

 

[TradLife406]

What about AWD vs 4WD. Seems a lot of the compact SUVs went to AWD. Honestly I'd be on the interstate most of the time. But say I end up in the ditch in a little snow or I want to go driving on a snow packed road like the ones in my neighborhood would I be better with a 4x4? I was looking at the Chevy Traverse and they would be about perfect. But they are AWD.

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[back country]

Get a tacoma and don't look back. It's the most reliable car I've ever owned and ever seen. I've owned it since 2007 and driven it from the lower 48 to Alaska and back 4 times, and the only thing I've EVER had to fix/replace/repair (aside from routine maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotation, etc.) was my power steering fluid hose developed a leak and I had to replace it for $120.00.

I'm sold on Toyota because you just can't put a price tag on reliability like that.

 

[husky390]

What about AWD vs 4WD. Seems a lot of the compact SUVs went to AWD. Honestly I'd be on the interstate most of the time. But say I end up in the ditch in a little snow or I want to go driving on a snow packed road like the ones in my neighborhood would I be better with a 4x4? I was looking at the Chevy Traverse and they would be about perfect. But they are AWD.

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Here's what I can answer. Unless you have manual locking hubs on your 4wd, you're going to need to be engaged in 4wd before you get stuck. The front wheels need to be turning to engage the front differential on most vehicles.

My Expedition is AWD/4WD and when in AWD, it will slip a little on snowy roads until the front engages. It's a fun buster in empty parking lots.


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[LASTINLINE]

another nod to the forester! theres a company that makes a plastic truck bed liner for the rear.its alike a little billy goat.U.S. Trunk Liners Home - Trunk Liners | Car Trunk Liners | Load Liners | Boot Liner | Car Trunk Liner | Load Liner

 

[WRO]

I hated my Subaru outback..

Love my Tacomas..

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[Tsnider]

I have had my fj cruiser since 2009 (same engine as the Tacoma) and the only problem I have had was an idler pully because I crossed through a lake and after a few days it started to fail. Toyotas are expensive but you pay more up front for avoiding repair fees.

 

[Tim in Wa.]

hard to beat Toyota,an older Land Cruiser would be great.I have a 03 Tundra now and a 85 4X4 truck that wont quit

 

[Dameon]

Here's a question for you guys. I'm looking to trade in my 06 Volvo S60 that I stupidly traded my 2000 F-150 for right before my kids were born. I'm looking to get a mid-sized truck next and I'm stuck between a used GMC Canyon 4x4 All Terrain with short box or a used Toyota Tacoma Sport 4X4 Sport. I'd rather have the Tacoma Pro, but it is out of my budget. The Canyon has the locking rear diff while the Tacoma Sport does not. Also, the Canyon supposedly gets better gas mileage. Obviously, I'm leaning towards the used Canyon but I'm hesitant on investing in a newer model truck that hasn't had the bugs worked out yet. Do any of you guys have any experience with the newer style Canyon's?

 

[WRO]

Here's a question for you guys. I'm looking to trade in my 06 Volvo S60 that I stupidly traded my 2000 F-150 for right before my kids were born. I'm looking to get a mid-sized truck next and I'm stuck between a used GMC Canyon 4x4 All Terrain with short box or a used Toyota Tacoma Sport 4X4 Sport. I'd rather have the Tacoma Pro, but it is out of my budget. The Canyon has the locking rear diff while the Tacoma Sport does not. Also, the Canyon supposedly gets better gas mileage. Obviously, I'm leaning towards the used Canyon but I'm hesitant on investing in a newer model truck that hasn't had the bugs worked out yet. Do any of you guys have any experience with the newer style Canyon's?

If you are looking for a 100K rig, get the canyon. If you are looking for a 200k rig, get a Tacoma. Shit starts going wrong about 100K (mostly annoying) with most american made vehicles.

 

[bigdesert10]

What about AWD vs 4WD. Seems a lot of the compact SUVs went to AWD. Honestly I'd be on the interstate most of the time. But say I end up in the ditch in a little snow or I want to go driving on a snow packed road like the ones in my neighborhood would I be better with a 4x4? I was looking at the Chevy Traverse and they would be about perfect. But they are AWD.

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The major difference between AWD vs. 4WD is selectability. A lot of AWD vehicles are full-time AWD, which is unnecessary 95% of the time you'll be driving it and wastes fuel and tire life. Also, AWD does not include a low-range selection, which is super useful for really steep, rough downhill stuff like coming down mountain switch backs. Low range is also nice for steep climbs although I doubt you'll attack anything steep enough to require it.

Both AWD and 4WD systems, for the most part, come from the factory with open differentials, which although nice for handling on the road at speeds and easier on tires, is not that great in low traction off road scenarios because all of your torque goes to the wheel with the least traction. Some of the newer AWD systems have electronically controlled features that selectively brake individual wheels to improve traction but I think they're only mildly effective and more of a gimick than an actual robust off road feature.If I were in your shoes, I'd buy a Jeep (or a taco if you're into that sort of thing) and put in selectable lockers like ARB or OX or something similar.

All that being said, AWD is excellent for snowy highways at speed. Neither AWD or 4WD will help you stop though.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

If you are looking for a 100K rig, get the canyon. If you are looking for a 200k rig, get a Tacoma. Shit starts going wrong about 100K (mostly annoying) with most american made vehicles.

while I'd agree with you there, to the original question the rear-locker on a canyon would be a deal breaker for me.

I thought at one point tacoma's had a rear locker? If they discontinued that, that was a major error on toyotas part....

 

[colersu22]

while I'd agree with you there, to the original question the rear-locker on a canyon would be a deal breaker for me.

I thought at one point tacoma's had a rear locker? If they discontinued that, that was a major error on toyotas part....

I believe you have to get the TRD package or "off road" package to get the rear Elocker

 

[WRO]

while I'd agree with you there, to the original question the rear-locker on a canyon would be a deal breaker for me.

I thought at one point tacoma's had a rear locker? If they discontinued that, that was a major error on toyotas part....

My old one had a locking Diff, my new TRD sport does not. While I really like my truck, I wish I would have gotten the offroad version (has the locker) with a 6 speed manual every day. By the time i re tire my truck, the difference would have been covered.

I never used my locker on my old trucks, those little bastards are hard as hell to get stuck.

 

[Dameon]

while I'd agree with you there, to the original question the rear-locker on a canyon would be a deal breaker for me.

I thought at one point tacoma's had a rear locker? If they discontinued that, that was a major error on toyotas part....

What's wrong with the rear-locker on the Canyon? I've never had a truck with a rear-locker, but Murdock Basin Road in the South Slope area of the Uintas has convinced me that I should probably get a truck with one.

 

[WRO]

What's wrong with the rear-locker on the Canyon? I've never had a truck with a rear-locker, but Murdock Basin Road in the South Slope area of the Uintas has convinced me that I should probably get a truck with one.

Even though the ground clearance is close, the approach angle is really shallow on the canyon vs the Tacoma.

 

[LASTINLINE]

I hated my Subaru outback..

Love my Tacomas..

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small SUVs will never be a pick up truck. problem is when i looked at replacing my last truck pick ups and gas miles havent gotten much better over the years. to me if you dont need a bed a small SUV is a better all around solution.