What Vehicle do you have/use?

[Ned Morris]

I am looking to get a used fishing rig - old school that I can beat the hell out of and not worry if I scratch it up. I like to go backpacking for Sierra Trout and go for Steelhead in the winters on the coast. Mostly car top my pram & canoe. Narrowed down my choices to the following - Gas mileage not a real concern. Love to hear what some of you all roll in when you're headed out to get some other ideas. Highlander does not cut it for me.

1982-1987 Toyota Landcruiser FJ60

1995-1997 Toyota Landcruiser FZJ80

2002-2005 Toyota Tundra Access Cab

1988-1989 or 2002 4Runner

[drdan]

2000 BMW 323i with racks.

:rolleyes:

[bonneville54]

My fave (and kinda looking myself) is the 1997 Landcruiser. Tough as hell with considerable creature comforts and if you don't mind replacing a head gasket every so often, that in-line six is a hell of a motor. The later V8's get great reviews for toughness - but I thought they screwed up the looks. Love the FJ60's, but finding one in decent shape is not easy anymore.

I drive a '99 F150 now with one of those bed tents for over-nighters and have a Honda Ridgeline which is goofy looking, yes....but remarkably tough (203K on it now) and really comfortable to drive...but the bed is too short to sleep in. Runs like the day I bought it.

If I was a bit braver, I'd love to have a '95 Range Rover Country LWB...just a bit too much in the restore/upkeep department for my pocketbook.

[Ned Morris]

Thanks Bonneville. That one is tops on my list I think.


My fave (and kinda looking myself) is the 1997 Landcruiser. Tough as hell with considerable creature comforts and if you don't mind replacing a head gasket every so often, that in-line six is a hell of a motor. The later V8's get great reviews for toughness - but I thought they screwed up the looks. Love the FJ60's, but finding one in decent shape is not easy anymore.

I drive a '99 F150 now with one of those bed tents for over-nighters and have a Honda Ridgeline which is goofy looking, yes....but remarkably tough (203K on it now) and really comfortable to drive...but the bed is too short to sleep in. Runs like the day I bought it.

If I was a bit braver, I'd love to have a '95 Range Rover Country LWB...just a bit too much in the restore/upkeep department for my pocketbook.

[Rossflyguy]

I'm runnin a 2002 4Runner Limited Edition. You can never go wrong with a Toyota. Can't beat the reliability factor and Toyota's are wheelin machines.

[Ned Morris]

Except for Highlanders!


I'm runnin a 2002 4Runner Limited Edition. You can never go wrong with a Toyota. Can't beat the reliability factor and Toyota's are wheelin machines.

[Mike O]

1996 Ford Explorer. Runs great, great on the trail. Only vehicle I want for fishing more, 1968 International Scout. dem dudes go everywhere.

[jbird]

Ive got the original 02 tundra access cab. Had 9mi on it when I drove it off the showroom. Its got well over 100k on it and its still a tank. I have a canopy on it. Ive done lotsa trips with it and lots of trips with other SUVs. The #1 reason I like my set up is you are not sharing air space with wet, dank, moldy, stinky fishing/camping gear. Everyone who does a lot of road trips knows that if you are campin, fishin and runnin all over creation, things get "ripe". Its aweful nice to not be breathng that while you motor 6 hours to your next location. Also, theres a million ways to trick out the inside of your canopy and a simple rack on top does great for toons and prams. It is also GREAT for secure, quick, comfortable camping in the bed.

[Scott V]

Toyota Yaris with racks for my kayak. But I plan to get a new Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with a shell in the next year so I can reach some places that require 4x4 or high clearance. I will miss the great gas mileage I get with my Yaris though.

[SHigSpeed]

1993-1/2 Infiniti G20 with racing suspension and "less than ideal" ground clearance. If it fits on the rack, it goes!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7322657052_4c76c4589b_b.jpg
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4126/5087883277_5dbc077f30_b.jpg
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4125/5171115930_85bdb9f0ce_b.jpg

What I rally need is a Subie Forester with an STi WRX engine!

_SHig

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Lots of guides us the FJ60 to pull their boats. Really bomb proof vehicles.

Fuel economy is not that good....

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3802037654.html

[DAVID95670]

Get a chevy truck or suburban ; great value ....least repaired vehicle out there ...cant beat size. I have a 2012...


As former wheeler and current repair guy I can say that the Toyotas are way over priced for what you get and those late models are hard to find parts for these days. Great vehicles and when they are sold they need lots of work nobody sells them in great shape.

you can get a really great one if you want ....Land Rover DEFENDER definitely has the cool factor


Fyi it is almost impossible to get parts to repair the toyota steering gears ....i bought the last bearing from toyota for a 83 pickup think same box in cruiser......

Have to say that the GL450 my Mercedes Benz is an amazing way to fish contact Frank Reopke to get one man that thing can go anywhere....

[Norman B]

I love my 1995 Toyota Tacoma, extracab, 4 wheel drive, 6 cylinder, with a cab on the back. I am the original owner, and have never had an engine problem, no trouble finding parts, and get 22 mpg.
I need to go up and down small mountain roads, and go on river bars and 4 WD is essential.
I really do not care about scratches or dings, and occasionally I clean up the inside to get the fish smell out(or my wife will not drive in it, but maybe that's okay).I pull a trailer for my boats easily, never get stuck, and I can sleep in the back if I need to.

[DAVID95670]

Those tacomas are awsome. Only toys with issues are the 22r morots and land cruisers. ....i once went wheeling with a grp of 200x trd toys they cpuld do almost everything my jeep could ....and i ran 35s and a locked ford 8.8 rear ....impressive and expensive vehicles

[Rossflyguy]

Yeah I'm thinking I wouldn't take a Mercedes anywhere off road and I find it really hard to believe they stop making parts for any Toyota if you can still get parts for hot rods and muscle cars. Toyota all the way!!!



Get a chevy truck or suburban ; great value ....least repaired vehicle out there ...cant beat size. I have a 2012...


As former wheeler and current repair guy I can say that the Toyotas are way over priced for what you get and those late models are hard to find parts for these days. Great vehicles and when they are sold they need lots of work nobody sells them in great shape.

you can get a really great one if you want ....Land Rover DEFENDER definitely has the cool factor


Fyi it is almost impossible to get parts to repair the toyota steering gears ....i bought the last bearing from toyota for a 83 pickup think same box in cruiser......

Have to say that the GL450 my Mercedes Benz is an amazing way to fish contact Frank Reopke to get one man that thing can go anywhere....

[Jimmie]

My 2007 FJ Cruiser has worked well for me.... (ps: our Highlander has had 0 problems)7065

[TaylerW]

2006 Dodge 2500. Great mileage for a full size vehicle (18-20 fwy), a ton of room, seats 6 people, can pull your house off its foundation. Just a bit of a lift and a/t tires. really hard to beat

[El Rey]

2002 Subaru Outback. It goes just about anywhere, and after 167K miles still feels new.

Harlan

[Randy B]

Have to agree with Littlestripper, 2005 Dodge 2500 CTD. 17-19 fwy mpg (same as or better than much smaller foreign and domestic SUVs or 4x4 trucks) and tons of space for people and gear.

[Jimmie]

Can't argue with that!! I too have a 2006 Dodge (3500 Megacab) and I have actually seen 25 mpg on flat interstate with mine. But the FJ is more maneuverable so I tend to use it much more often. Of course if I want to use the camper then its the RAM :)

[jersey]

2003 Ford Focus 238K not a mechanical issue period (amazing, but true)
drive it like a road rally car, so maybe thats the key, just pound it...

might not work for you, no hitch!

[Randy B]

Can't argue against a Toyota. Bought a low mileage, well cared for '99 4Runner for my daughter a few years back and it is a solid vehicle that'll last her a very long time. Would like to have a FJ 60 myself. Love my CTD, but maneuverability and tight turns are not its strong points.

[wineslob]

1989 F-150. 200,000 miles on it. It's a good old beast.

[KillBill]

I had one of these for 20 years and it worked out perfectly, decided that one more should last me till the end of the trail.7075

[Mark Kranhold]

Bill , your a lucky man! That has been my dream rig for the last 16 years. The first time I saw one was on top of Monitor pass when I was doing the Death ride. What kit do you have, Quigley or Sportsmobile? My 7.3L Ford F-250 has been serving its purpose for the mean time, but the Ford van is in the books.$$$

[KillBill]

This happens to be a Quigley, my previous one was a Pathfinder. The gearbox on the Pathfinder was made of cast iron, the Quigley is aluminum, I would like to see a steel plate protecting in the event I was high center. The Sportsmobile is the ultimate it has a higher lift allowing for bigger tires, 33's are as big as I can go, 35's on Sportsmobile, there is a huge price difference with a Sportsmobile. Quigley does a nice job and they convert Chevrolet vans also. Ford no longer makes a van with diesel Chevy does. Anyone that's interested should check out Quigley's web.

[fishnbeatsworkin]

My brother in law has the Chevy 4x4 diesel. Great rig. But he lives in Jackson, WY & needs the extra ground clearance.

I have a used 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe V6 AWD. It has hauled me & 4 of my friends with all our gear into Knott Creek. It has hauled me & another friend down & out of several Feather River area mining trails. The only issue has been the rear shocks & the steering is touchy. I added air bags in the rear coil springs last summer & that took care of the shock issue. I've gotten a few flat tires from some of my off-roading, but that was due to the questionable terrain. Now I carry a repair kit & 12volt compressor. Plus it has 8" of ground clearance & gets 20 mpg. I was deciding between the Santa Fe & a Land Cruiser a couple of years ago. The low cost & the mpg of the Hyundai won out over the Land Cruiser. Here's a few pics:

Beering up in Winnemucca:
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/542/september2012006.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/542/september2012006.jpg/)

On the way:
http://imageshack.us/a/img14/6499/september2012012.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/14/september2012012.jpg/)

At Knott Creek:
http://imageshack.us/a/img577/6700/september2012052.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/577/september2012052.jpg/)