Hiking vehicles

[rally_toad]

What kind of vehicles do you guys all drive when your going hiking? Im thinking about investing in a 4wd high clearance Jeep or something of the sort so I could get to some places where I definitely couldnt get to with what Im driving now (73 mustang):) I saw a Jeep Grand Cherokee today for $2600 and I was thinking about checking it out. What "hiking vehicle" is easiest to drive and which gets the best gas mileage (even though I know most wouldnt be too fuel efficient.)

[Jim]

I forgot, though, one plus, I got over 41 MPG average by cruising at 45MPH the entire way home from Dell City, TX.

[big_load]

My first Subaru, a '97 Outback Sport, is still running with 300k miles on it. I gave it to my mom because she needed a reliable car. Its replacement (a 2010 Outback) has 83k miles and hasn't needed anything but fluids, wipers, and brake pads yet. It snows 2-3 times a week here between late November and mid-April, so the AWD is handy.

So, how many times did you get a flat in the desert, and have to limp out at less than 45 MPH for 145 miles, on a dough-nut, becuase they sell image, but not a capable vehicle with a full-sized spare? Do you have any comparison between AWD and FWD? My Civic did fine with FWD, it was the low clearance that was the problem. My Subarua got stuck, in snow, when the snow got thick and dense.

I've had a couple flats from nasty construction debris that falls off the dump truck convoys that continuously ping-pong between NYC and PA. I don't do much off-road driving, but I'd get non-stock tires if I did. I much prefer AWD to FWD for snow and rain. I can get by with FWD (which I had for about 350k miles before that, and which my wife's car still has), but it's just not the same, just like AWD doesn't cut it when you want real 4WD.

[Jim]

Can one get a off-road tire for the ob? Should one really have to, when graded roads are the off road driving? I got the flat, or noticed it, when I pulled into the gas station in Dell City. My low tire pressure warning light had not gone off/ lit up, and I had come off the dirt a few miles before. I question if I got it in town, or as I got back on pavement.

[chumley]

have to limp out at less than 45 MPH

I think you're doing it wrong. Just because it says you shouldn't drive more than 45mph on it doesn't really mean it's not ok.

I made it from the vicinity of Teec Nos Pos to Tempe on a donut (or was it Mexican Hat? I forget). Pretty sure I averaged about 73mph on that trip. I did keep it under 90, which I probably would not have done with four full size tires.

[Jim]

Keeping in mind all of the other problems I have with the car, including a nice rattling that started a few weeks back, and the distance, and the different size of the spare that comes with the car, I was not about to make that gamble. As it is, the car is much harder to drive with the spare, ad tends to be hard to keep straight. It took forever, but I wasn't going to go faster than the warning with all of the problems I already have.

[big_load]

I've never looked for off-road tires because I didn't have that need, but I've seen all kinds of crazy tires on different vehicles. I wouldn't expect to need them on most graded roads, but I'm more cautious with rocks than average. I've had a lot of rental vehicles in off-road situations (for work, I wouldn't intentionally violate a rental contract) and I've seen a lot of bad outcomes even with large (supposedly real) SUVs. On the other hand, I've driven a Saturn Ion where somebody couldn't get a Dodge Durango. I think that one took some years off my life, though.

[rwstorm]

Can one get a off-road tire for the ob?

I decided to put truck tires on my RAV4 many years ago, since I like to take it on 4x4 roads too. So I special ordered a set of BFG All Terrains (like I have on my Tacoma). I could now drive my RAV fearlessly on really nasty roads, but the road noise they generated on pavement drove me nuts, so I switched back to tires made for an SUV in a couple years. It was my first set of Michelins ever: LTX m/s. What great tires! Beautiful handling and quiet on the highway, excellent wear, and I have never had a flat after many many miles on rough back roads, or dirt roads in general. BUT, as with any tire, you need to drive prudently and be ever vigilant for sharp rocks or other hazards and make your moves accordingly.

[CannondaleKid]

I have not had to replace personally, but I hear from others who have that they are pretty fair and liberal about their policy, unless its blatant vandalism I guess...but even if that is the case, find a nail stick in tire, and the bring them in ;) they will fix or replace..I think its 17 per tire..lifetime of tire

At Discount Tire, that is reasonably close to reality, although there are a number of points to understand:
1. Yes, if you purchase the warranty with the tires, they will cover almost everything.
Note: Each tire has it's own individual warranty

2. If you have a puncture in the tread they will repair it at no charge

3. If you have puncture in the side-wall or shoulder of the tread, they replace the tire at no charge. HOWEVER, since each tire has it's own warranty and you just used up that one, if you want a warranty to continue you must purchase it for that tire.

4. The replacement warranty is very close to the same $ per tire when you bought the tires, and it is a sliding scale depending on how expensive the tires are. Currently for my Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar 285-70x17 tires it's $38 per replacement.
(I've replaced two already... the Kevlar sidewalls may be bullet-proof, but they are NOT prickly pear thorn proof. Yes... I truly do drive off-road, so I have come to expect that kind of thing)

Another thing to note... each store manager has their own ideas on the borderline between what is covered and what is not. I asked specifically about covering thorn damage, rock cuts and such when I bought my Cooper ATP's for the Cherokee, and when I came in with two sliced tires from the same rock the manager on duty was not going to replace them until I mentioned I had specifically gone through this with the manager when I bought the tires, that if they wouldn't cover issues like that I wouldn't have bought the warranty. I gave him enough pumpkin that he did replace them. I was back a few months later with a prickly pear thorn in the sidewall and got another replaced.

So, I've had 3 Coopers and 2 Goodyears replaced for just under $200, whereas if I had to but new ones each time i would have put out $1600 without the warranty. Which is why I continue to re-up on the warranty each time.

As far as brand of tires, everyone has there favorites and everyone their horror stories, having been a tire store owner in the past, I have just a little bit more behind-the-scenes knowledge of the good & the bad, and EVERY manufacturer has their own problems, bar none!

The Coopers ATP's have a very tough tread with a hard compound so they have great tread-wear but their sidewalls are not as durable.
The Goodyears have a very soft compound tread so they wear faster but grip much better.
With that in mind, each has their strong points and that goes for other brands as well.

Personally, BFG A/T's are not on my favorite list... too many ply breakdowns for my taste. I can handle flats here and there, a tire coming apart at speed is a whole 'nother story.

[azbackpackr]

I hereby elect Randy to be our official Prudence and Vigilance guy... ;)

[rwstorm]

@azbackpackr
Oh dear God.

[paulhubbard]

Years ago I had some Armstrong Tru-Trac 32"x 12" radials. Best tire made, EVER (lots of folks on the internet still believe so). They were quiet on the highway, I could out-climb any similar vehicle with other tires, and they lasted more than 75k miles. Too bad Armstrong went out of business...

[CannondaleKid]

they lasted more than 75k miles. Too bad Armstrong went out of business...

I'm sure going out of business wasn't simply due to it, but while tires lasting that long is great for the customer, it ins't so good for the manufacturer... if the tires don't wear out even the happy customers aren't going to be buying many.

[Jim]

For the record, it was able to be plugged, which was good. It was borderline large enough, they said, that it might not have been. I don't know. It was large, but nothing like the last one that was huge. When I had the flat in February, I bought their extra warranty. I think I may have gone over a rock after I got back on asphalt, as I had been on pavement for a while, my tire pressure monitoring light never came on and I learned of the flat at the gas station when I heard the hissing sound, and it still had most of it's air in it. I don't know. I just don't want to have to buy 4 new tires becuase 1 gets a flat that can't be plugged. Sort of takes the fun out of dirt roads. I never intended to do hard core stuff, just graded dirt roads and stuff, like what I did yesterday.

[big_load]

@Jim_H
I am sorry for your troubles. Tires can be especially frustrating, and rental car companies are very unforgiving. I once had a flat in a rental car that turned out to be a failed plug in a sidewall. I wasn't two miles out of Sky Harbor when it failed. Even a note from the tire company on the previous bad repair didn't get me out of having to buy them a new tire. In Salt Lake City the year before last, I picked up an eight-inch bolt right through the tread that also wiped out the tire pressure monitor. I had to pay for that one, too. It killed half a day of hiking, too, but at least it didn't happen out in the middle of nowhere.

[toddak]

Dang Jim, I can't believe all the trouble you're having! I've owned 3 Subarus, two of which I currently drive ('05 Legacy and '06 Baja), 350K+ combined miles with zero problems (well, I think maybe an alternator died on my first one). Nothing flashy, just 30+ MPG of solid reliability and versatility, tons of miles on FS and other dirt roads riding on standard street tires (no flats) and almost never a trailhead I couldn't get to, even in mud and snow. They must have built all the problems into a single vehicle, and you got stuck with it!

[Jim]

I'm beginning to think that.

[joebartels]

My sister had major troubles with a Subaru back in the early 90's. She spent more time at the dealer getting the brakes and front suspension fixed than driving it. It was beyond frustrating considering everyone else had rave reviews. Never did figure it out. Problem with dealers is they go by the book, uncommon issues do not.

[FOTG]

@CannondaleKid
thanks..you may have just provided the most detailed explanation of the current tire warranty policies and procedures at Discount tire..but just so you know I got a warranty on each individual tire, so hoping I am good

[SpiderLegs]

So to steer this away from bashing Subaru's. Think I might have my next hiking vehicle narrowed down to either a Nissan Xterra or Nissan Frontier. Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

[Alston_Neal]

I myself would go with the Frontier, only because my next vehicle after my current FJ will be a pickup.