What Vehicle? Advice Needed

[kingb]

Hey everyone, excellent forum! I'm new here and have been reading the site constantly.

I'm moving to the Seattle area (can't wait), so I need a vehicle to get out on a lot of trips. The challenge is, it has to do all of this if possible:

- carry long sea kayaks
- tow a medium size boat
- moderate to good off-roading/trail capabilities
- transport (not necessarily sleep/camp) 4 people
- ability to sleep at least 2 inside and amenities like a furnace/heater for the northbound trips, small stove, sink/primitive indoor shower. We'd like to be able to sit/stand inside and "camp" inside.
- decent mileage
- $$$ is a consideration, of course

What would you recommend to meet these goals? One rig will have to do it all for me.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Metcalf]

How much do you want to modify and rebuild?

 

[kingb]

I'd like to avoid extensive rebuilding. Unfortunately, my mechanical skills are not very good...

 

[Luthman]

hi there welcome, I'm a new member as well and Seattle is my home town of 38 years (live in BC now) you will love it there as soonas you learn to miss the traffic.
a question, what do you consider a medium sized boat?

 

[mtnbike28]

My choice for you...

A Tacoma double cab with AT's new FlipPac. Either the 01-04 DC if a smaller truck is needed, or the current version for better towing capacity.

I really wish I knew the 5 foot FlipPac was coming, I think I would have skipped the trailer...

hth

 

[kingb]

Thank you. Good question on the boat. I don't have it yet, but I'm thinking 21' or so (I don't know how much it would weigh).

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I think you need a pickup at the least. It's pretty hard to go camping for 4 with an SUV. It would require a loaded roof rack, which would preclude bringing a boat. With a Pickup, you could load the bed with gear, and have the boats on a rack above.

You could also go with an SUV and an off-road trailer.

A full size American SUV could probably also work. A LWB Yukon or Expedition have a lot of room in the back for gear.

Either way you go, you'll be more limited in where you can go with the thing.

 

[Hltoppr]

Early 2000s Ford Crew Cab short bed diesel w/cab/camper.

You can find the rig for around $10-15K, then find a suitable camper, put the boats up top.

Good economy, capacity, and capability without a ton of mods.

-H-

 

[haven]

"Medium size boat" sounds like a vehicle with V8-level torque will be needed.
I doubt that a V6 Tacoma will cut it. Perhaps a V8 powered 4Runner?

If you're talking inexpensive used vehicles, the market is awash with Explorers
and Tahoes with V8 and 4x4. V8 powered pickups are usually a little more expensive,
particularly the crew cab 4x4 models.

Chip Haven

 

[Metcalf]

my recommendation....

2005 Dodge Quad Cab Short bed, 4wd, Cummins, 6-speed, 3.73 gears. lever shift transfer case.

Flip-pac camper on the back with a built in 'camper' or sorts.

Diesel for mileage, power, and alternative fuels ability

Keep it light as you can and don't bolt on everything in the catalog. Keep it clean and simple.

A Carli suspension with rear replacement springs and front control arms will let you run 37s with very little lift. Suspension performance can be as much as your checkbook will allow.

ARB locker is avaliable for the front already....rear is coming.

Install a hidden rear winch to get you OUT of trouble.

 

[77blazerchalet]

I have my bias, of course. Fails on the primitive indoor shower, though. Two photos from members of our Yahoo Chalet forum. 46 of 'em for sale around the country, two in the Seattle area.

 

[Bogo]

Early 2000s Ford Crew Cab short bed diesel w/cab/camper.

You can find the rig for around $10-15K, then find a suitable camper, put the boats up top.

Good economy, capacity, and capability without a ton of mods.

-H-

Better put a diesel fired engine heater on that Ford diesel if you want to do cold country camping. They are notoriously finicky about starting when cold. The slightest thing wrong with the glow plugs and they won't start.

 

[Bogo]

How much does the medium sized boat and trailer weigh? To me a medium sized boat is 35'-45' and I know you aren't towing that.

All of the full sized American pickups made after 2000 will tow a 5,000lbs boat easily. Many are speced up to 9,000+lbs towing capacity if they have the towing package. Without the factory towing package you are pushing your luck with weights over 5,000lbs because they don't have the tranny coolers and heavier duty torque converters. Forget the manual transmissions, get one with an automatic designed for towing. A factory towing package with a second largest gas engine will tow a 4,500lbs 5th wheel cattle trailer filled with 10 1,450lbs steers. With just the cattle trailer, no cattle, I can usually get up to highway speeds on the rural IA entrance ramps. I have both a '99.5 Silverado K2500 and a 2008 GMC 2500HD and they both tow it fine. On the other hand in and around town they are monsters and suck. If you want to put a camper back on it, get one with the towing package. With the GMC/Chevrolet you can tell it has the factory towing package because on the automatic transmission shift lever there is a tow/haul button. When it's activated shift points in the transmission are changed. Later models will also engage engine braking if needed. Another thing to consider. Later models have mostly gone to 17" wheels. All the really heavy duty tires are 16". You can get heavy enough duty 16" tires that you don't need duals in back. That is a significant savings in drag and weight helping to improve fuel economy.

 

[Bogo]

Thank you. Good question on the boat. I don't have it yet, but I'm thinking 21' or so (I don't know how much it would weigh).

Whatever vehicle you get, install a transmission cooler if it doesn't have one..

Figure 5,000+ with trailer. Toyota LandCruisers, Tundras, forget the Taco and 4Runner. Any full sized pickup.

Any full sized pickup with extended or crew cab will have off road handling issues due to it's loooong wheelbase. If you are just towing bumper hitch trailers, get a short bed. On the other hand if you have a choice of going with a 5th wheel hitch boat trailer, do so and get a long bed. Towing will be so much nicer. I sold all my bumper hitch trailers after getting to tow with a 5th wheel trailer.

H1 Hummer. Don't know the specs on later ones, but the first generation has insane towing and cargo capacities.

Any long wheelbase Doka cabbed UNIMOG. Again high towing and cargo capacities. Your highway speeds may be a bit compromised.

 

[Bogo]

Costly, but it will do your requirements except price and fuel economy. An older used one may be findable.

http://www.sportsmobile.com/4_4x4sports.html

10,000 towing.
Looks like good rock crawling abilities which would do most fire trails.

I've been thinking of your requirements. A Toyota LandCruiser, 60 series or later, modest 2" OME Lift, 33" tires on 16" rims so you can get load range E off road tires, front and rear selectable lockers and a small military style trailer for gear. Put a roof top tent on the trailer. Two can sleep in it, and two can sleep in the LandCruiser. When you are towing the boat, the tent can go on the LandCruiser and the gear in the boat. Fuel economy will still suck but may be slightly better than the Sportmobile. Check the towing capacities on the various LandCruiser models. Modern ones are 8,500lbs.

A modern 2009 Tacoma Double cab has a 6,500lbs towing capacity if it has the V6 and towing package. In the shorter bed versions you can get an electronically selectable locker on the rear differential from Toyota. There are after market kits to also do the front differential. If this will tow the boat it may be your most fuel economical choice. Adding larger tires and lift will decrease the MPG some.

Oh, another thing if you want to do moderate or harder off road trails, learn to wrench. Off roading can break things on the trail and recoveries are costly.