Keep and upgrade Crosstrek or different rig?

[Wertherman]

Hey all, looking for input.

Running a 2020 Crosstrek, paid off, 90k miles. Solid and reliable but I'm starting to feel its limits hunting elk in Colorado. When I'm doing a two-man elk hunt, it's just tight gear, I dont think it would be possible to pack out two elk. Im driving to Utah with my dad in the fall to do a cow elk hunt am afraid about what happens if we get two elk down.

Thinking about keeping it and investing in a lift and all-terrains since it's paid off and I know the rig, but wondering if there's a point where you're just polishing a turd for backcountry elk. Also looking at a used Tacoma, 4Runner, or Outback/Forester Wilderness. Open to other recs too.

I can only have one car right now so this will be commuter in COS to.

What would you guys do?

 

[sndmn11]

Rent a trailer?

 

[Wertherman]

Rent a trailer?

Definitely could!

 

[Cherokeeguide]

but wondering if there's a point where you're just polishing a turd for backcountry elk

There is. You already found it. It is here:

Thinking about keeping it and investing in a lift and all-terrains since it's paid off and I know the rig

Lift isn't going to do anything uber-meaningful for you. What it will do is put more stress on CV joints and tie rods that aren't really meant to cope the punishment a real Jeep trail can dish out. You may or may not get clearance for taller tires, but you don't have low enough final drive gearing in Crosstrek to make use of them, and if you have a CVT automatic in yours as are in the majority of them, that transmission is going to be very unhappy in front of bigger rubber.

lso looking at a used Tacoma, 4Runner, or Outback/Forester Wilderness. Open to other recs too.

A used Outback ? Forester Wilderness isn't going to be much better, if at all, than what you already have. Scratch that idea.

A 4Runner is more like right. Getting somewhere in an all-wheel drive Subaru doesn't translate to being able to get out of there in it. You need four-wheel drive capability for the worst-case scenario of snow on top of a real "Moderate" or "Most Difficult" trail.

I have a 2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk. I've done the Slaughterhous Gulch Loop in it, been to the T-33 Plane Crash, and so on, but add in some snow or heavy rain, and me and Bob Dylan will sing "You Ain't Going Nowhere" together, because trails like those are the limit and that's when they're dry.

I have a 49 Jeep CJ-2A, which is a little beast on the trail. I love old flat-fenders on trails. But getting anywhere out of the town I live in is slow and dangerous in it. It definitely has no business being on an Interstate highway.

I should have bought an AMC-era CJ-5, instead. I'm thinking of doing exactly that. I can get around the lack of cargo room issue because I still have the M-416 military cargo trailer that I bought shortly after buying a new Suzuki Samurai in 1986. I've had that trailer over the Rubicon Trail about 10 times. It'll go pretty much wherever what is pulling it can.

I think you're on the right track with the 4Runner idea. That would give you hauling room and the real low-range four wheel drive capability to get you safely out of elk country if things turn to shit and it is time to go.