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Xplorer
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# Posted: 23 Oct 2010 05:22pm - Edited by: Xplorer
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This was suggested by someone else but sounded like a good topic. I currently use a F150 4x4 to get there. I used to have a XJ Cherokee that "lived" on the property. It was fun & cheap to fix. Sure miss it.
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bugs
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# Posted: 23 Oct 2010 06:38pm
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Ford Ranger 4x4. Our 500 yd driveway/lane is extremely rough. We don't recommended people trying it with cars. We plan on keeping it that way too.
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dabones
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# Posted: 23 Oct 2010 06:48pm
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we're on a paved road, so the minivan gets us there fine.. but we do have to be pretty slow, because the roads may be paved, but they are very rough and bumpy.. some road were impassable this past spring, but they have filled the pot holes in quite a bit..
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 23 Oct 2010 08:53pm - Edited by: MtnDon
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Most of the year we use our '99 Jeep Cherokee to access our land and cabin. I bought it near new in 2000. It's got the Mopar 8.25 rear axle. After making one off road trip to UT to see what it would do stock I ordered a mess of aftermarket stuff...
-Rubicon 4.5" lift with National rear leaf springs
-32 x11.5x15 Goodyear M/T tires on stock rims
-4.56:1 gears
-Tom Wood CV driveshaft
-ARB lockers front & rear
-Oasis compressor
-F&R bumpers that I made myself, 3/16" steel
-low drop trailer hitch I made for the low rider trailer
-Rockrails I made myself
-Receivers on F&R bumpers to accept portable Warn winch mount
-Swing away tire carrier on the rear, my own build
-Steering box brace of my own
-Oil pan, transmission and transfer case skid plates (SkidRow brand, but I modified the t-case plate to not hand down so low
-Roof rack I made
-Optima battery, now on my second.
-It now has BFG A/T tires; I wore out the Goodyear M/T too soon, same size tho'
The pictures show it all shiny and new. The rear quarter panels shields are not yet in place. They took a little more forming. They do show, but poorly in the next photo set. They are 3/16 steel
front quarter, all new and shiny
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rear quarter with rack closed
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swing away carrier opened
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 23 Oct 2010 08:57pm - Edited by: MtnDon
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In the depth of winter we snow shoe as three miles of road are normally impassable due to snow. We snowshoe up over a ridge though as it's shorter than following the road.
More pictures of the XJ at play and at work hauling tree slash from around the cabin to the burn pit.
I should probably mention that most of the year any 4WD vehicle or even a 2WD vehicle with sufficient ground clearance can make the drive, but if there is a downpour there is a chance that the road turns slick and a car, especially front drive would possibly find itself in difficulty on a couple of the uphill sections. It's steep enough that even dry the front wheels slip going uphill.
Utah, Hey Joe mine trail
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UT, Hotel Rock trail
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UT, Piute Pass trail
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hauling slash at our cabin
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Gary O
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# Posted: 24 Oct 2010 02:02pm
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99 Jeep Wrangler, for winter access (and because I wanted it)
Bought new (less back seat, stereo)
2010 with stereo, still no back seat, but a nice secure tool box
Love it
It might make it up Hotel Rock Trail, but I wouldn't...
mpg....don't care
180K mi.
Change fluids/filters on schedule (it's my religion)
Pix if what it looks like
Looks like this
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Ruts get a little big (tongue in cheek)
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Yeah it snows there....
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hattie
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# Posted: 24 Oct 2010 02:44pm - Edited by: hattie
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I hope you guys all have front and back end winches on these vehicles. Some of the terrain you are driving to sounds pretty rough. You should also always carry a chain saw (coming from first hand experience *S*).
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2010 12:11am - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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I have a 98 Toyota Tacoma TRD off road pak, 4WD, also have a 98 Chevrolet K1500 4WD, a 2003 Toyota Highlander 4WD and a 9 2 Chevrolet C2500 turbo diesel. I'm going to sell everything and buy a new Dodge diesel. Gary O, I have a one owner 1998 60K mile Tacoma 4WD loaded always garage, I know its more than you wanted to spend, but its a gem. factory electric diff lock, ABS, pwr windows, locks, mirrors, steering brakes...
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Gary O
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2010 09:03am
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Quoting: toyota_mdt_tech Gary O, I have a one owner 1998 60K mile Tacoma 4WD loaded always garage, I know its more than you wanted to spend, but its a gem. factory electric diff lock, ABS, pwr windows, locks, mirrors, steering brakes...
t-tech
you da man
Gotta sell the wife's 2004 Buick first (I'm a minimalist) but interested.
Got pix? Price?
you know my Email
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MikeOnBike
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2010 01:07pm
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1995 Ford F-150 Supercab, shortbed, 4x4, 15" wheels, skid plates.
It isn't very high off the ground but just enough to get into my part of the 80 acre wood without scrapping anything.
I would really like to replace my lost Wrangler.
The lower part of the place is now accessible to mini-vans due to some road work we did this spring.
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6yds of gravel to fill the Grand Canyon
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New road to Mom's cabin site
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steveqvs
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2010 04:50pm
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Jeep Wrangler.... gets me where I need to go.
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steveqvs
Member
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2010 04:54pm
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Here is my previous Jeep. It was of the 2 door variety. This is looking down the hill leaving one evening.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 30 Oct 2010 02:03pm
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OK, I took the plunge and bought a new 2010 Dodge crew cab long bed 4WD diesel truck with 6 spd manual transmission. I fly into Spokane Wa next Saturday, the dealer will shuttle me to their place and then I drive home.
Gary, I need ot pull my Tacoma out of the garage, clean the dust it off. It hasnt been out of the garage in 19 months. I put it was cleaned up, but it has collected dust. Then I will take fresh pictures. I have a nice Chevrolet 1/2 4WD (98) in cherry condition and a 3/4 ton diesel (92) in cherry condition also, everything is for sale.
2010 Ram 2500 SLT 4WD Diesel 6 SPD manual
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Gary O
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# Posted: 30 Oct 2010 03:54pm
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Geez, t-tech, couldn't get the big one? ;-)
Intersted in the dusty Tacoma. Got a price?
Looking for something smallish, but able to haul more than beer and fishing gear.......
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bobrok
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2010 09:52am
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Spring-Summer-Fall transportation:
MtnDon, that Jeep is sweet and makes my '01 Cherokee look lame,
but I still love it. We should talk about your lift kit. I need to bolster my rear leafs to help balance for weight and towing.
Winter transportation:
1995 Polaris XLT Indy Special, triple, liquid cooled. Way too much machine for me but I bought it right.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2010 10:44am
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If the leafs are the only thing that need attention National Spring is your friend. Load the XJ with all the stuff you would carry. Get it weighed; total, front axle, rear axle. Call them and they will build a set of rear leafs that will have it riding level when loaded like that.
When I bought my kit from Rubicon Express they had an option to get National Springs instead of the regular ones or instead of blocks. Those were for a 'generic' Jeep. They work well, but I could use a little more weight carrying ability for longer trips. But I'm still very happy.
That triple Polaris must be a real bomb. I had a twin version and it was fast enough for me.
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mrmiji
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# Posted: 20 May 2011 12:00pm
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'68 Honda CT 90
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2011 11:57pm
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Depends on the weather and the job list for that weekend.
For inclement weather or hauling big loads, I have a '99 Durango. There's a ski coffin on the roof rack, it's full of landscaping equipment and camping gear. Drive-train is comparable to a 1/2 ton pickup and it tows most anything I will need out there
When the weather is good, I take my '93 Civic hatch to the camp. It's a little hotrod with a Prelude engine and some suspension work. Bought a roof rack for it today and I'm picking up a rooftop cargo basket when the seller gets back in town.
Also keep a '89 Samurai at the property for crawling around. It's heavily modified with a '96 tracker engine, flipped springs, 31's, welded rear, t-case gears, and a bunch of other stuff.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2011 01:07am
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We had to put a road in . Before the road it was boat access only. We have a Ford F150 4x4 but anyone can make it back to our cabin. I kind of miss the days when we were more remote because we get more visiters but if we don't feel like company we just lock the gate.
Look out moose!!!
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2010 F150 4x4
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smitty
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2011 02:45am
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99 Jeep Cherokee, hasn't seen the trail yet. At the moment, still sitting in my garage, waiting for parts as I fix it up.. We probably wont be going back to our property till spring anyhow. So I have until then to get it trail worthy.
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Montanan
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2011 11:40am
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First, we walked. Then, we used a borrowed ATV. Now we use a 2001 Toyota Tundra. However, we can now also drive our 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan up there. Yay for road improvement!
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Ann
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2011 05:16pm
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I use a 1999 Jeep Wrangler. Gets through everything but ice.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2011 06:32pm - Edited by: MtnDon
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Ice = chains.
These are what I have, F & R sets
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Erins#1Mom
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2011 06:42pm
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MtnDon,
You have my greatest respect. I stomach was in my throat just looking at the photos. No sure I could handle in person.
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manny
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# Posted: 25 Aug 2011 01:01pm
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the only one that could make it up the hill."LOL"
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bigfoot5678
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2011 01:31pm
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I use a '98 Lincoln Towncar with adjustable airshocks (not air bags) and a class III rcvr hitch. Pulling an old chevy pickup bed trailer at times. Or a smaller home-made trailer I rescued from the mud and rust a few years ago, and refurbished.
550 Miles one way to the cabin....way out in far remote SW Texas.
155K miles on the old TC...but still gets down the road in comfort.
Wife's car is a '01 Lexus with 185K miles...(had to get the trans rebuilt at 180K...too many trailer trips ??)
(I used to have a sweeeet Ford Excursion 4x4 diesel...but sold that when I got laid off nearly 3 years ago...best vehicle I've ever owned)
TC and my lil' brown trailer
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wife's car and tiny trailer
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TC and the 1/2ton Chevy truck trailer
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TomChum
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# Posted: 21 Sep 2011 01:33am - Edited by: TomChum
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I normally drive a 2005 4X4 Nissan Frontera pickup. 265 HP, auto tranny. It has airbags for safety, but has no lockers in the drivetrain, so when it starts to snow I will leave it home and drive the VW.
1990 4X4 VW Vanagon Syncro Westfalia camper. Peloquin Torque-bias differential with ARB locker, BFG A/T-KO tires. It gets around, can crawl on 3 wheels. It has a 173 hp engine from a 2007 Subaru Impreza. Poptop sleeps 4, has stove, sink, refrigerator. Dirtbike carrier on back, trials bike carrier on front.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 28 Sep 2012 11:49pm - Edited by: MtnDon
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Well, now I use an '06 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 V6 SR5 with the Access cab and the TRD Off Road and Tow packages. We found one that has been dealer serviced and one owner. Almost new tires, very clean with a nice matching color (Impulse red) fiberglass Snugtop pickup shell. Vert little to attend to; I polished out the haziness that was developing with the headlights. My old tire chains fit (with the addition of a 3/4" spacer behind the front wheels). I generally don't like spacers, but 3/4" isn't all that bad and they are nicely machined hub centric ones made in the USA and make enough clearance between the wheel/tire and the suspension components to mount the chains.
The old XJ started giving me serious grief in early June and at about $1K and countless hours of my labor, three reviews by reputable shops, it still overheats on hard uphill grades. It never did this since new so I gave up and a week ago a friend bought it. I fully disclosed the issues I've been having, told him it overheated the last trip to the mountains and gave him a deal price. I'm happy and sad, but mainly happy I don't have to deal with the problem anymore.
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SkyLlama
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# Posted: 29 Sep 2012 02:04am - Edited by: SkyLlama
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[img=null]null[/img]I drive a 2001 VW Jetta TDI. It's got 355000 km on it and is still going strong. I'm really not a truck guy (just don't like driving big vehicles ) so I stick to small saloons and hatchbacks.
Even being a small car you be amazed some of the places I've taken it before.
An old photo I took about two years ago.
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 29 Sep 2012 02:49pm - Edited by: DaJTCHA
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We've owned a 1997 Explorer Sport and a 1997 Explorer 4-door (at the same time), both 4WD for many years and now we've got a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer AWD. I loved the '97 4door Explorer, "The Green Machine". With 31's on it, it could get through just about anywhere our family needed to go during our adventures in the ANF. The Mountaineer now sports slightly taller and wider wheels and does a great job for us. I've never been locked out of camp because of winter weather while making the mile ascent/climb up the gravel road to our property. The 450 foot trek into camp off the main road was rough in the beginning, but passable with the Merc. Sadly, I think I will be forced to purchase another used version of this vehicle when the time comes to replace it in lieu of the new explorer model which isn't close to being the same ruggedness that we've grown used accustomed to over the years.
If I had the ability to construct a dream SUV, I would create a Mercury Mountaineer Diesel w/stick and a switchable 4WD system. Raise it up 3-4", put on some 33's, gorilla rack, front bull bar with winch...Ah, to dream!
Inset=97Explorer, Main is our Mountaineer
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