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Leo Gokovski
climber
AZ
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 28, 2010 - 12:23pm PT
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Hello all!
I recently flipped my truck driving out of Cochise Stronghold... ( Everybody is fine, including the dog who refused to wear a seatbelt...) The search for the ultimate climber's vehicle begins...
The truck I destroyed was a full size 4x4 ford with a flip-pack camper, so I'm quite used to the extra space...
My thoughts are:
1. A smaller truck with camper (tacoma and the likes)
2. Full size diesel truck (to improve mpg and still have lots of space) with a pop up camper
3. A westfalia eurovan (full camper)
Well reasoned opinions are appreciated!!!
Thx,
Leo
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Leo Gokovski
climber
AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 12:28pm PT
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Great! Why? what did you like about it? what didn't you like? Were there times you wished you had a different vehicle?
Thx.
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Mattq331
Mountain climber
Superior/Boulder/UK
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:34pm PT
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Stop the madness. Don't buy a truck unless you want to flip again - maybe with more disastrous results.
The ULTIMATE climber vehicle is an Audi allroad:
Luxurious
Fast
4wd to tackle those gnarly approaches
Adjustable ride height to crawl over sleeping dirtbags or carve the canyons
Lots of room in the back for gear, ditto roof.
Makes you look ultra sexy (of course you will be labeled Euro Trash but it's all good)
Thank me later.
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Paulina
Trad climber
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:39pm PT
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I too will soon be looking for a car - when I move to Seattle this summer. I thought everyone loved Subarus - apparently not?
Anyway, I too would love to hear your opinions on perfect cars for climbing, but my main priority is mpg / gas economy. Is this a thread hijack? I was thinking Honda Civic. :-) No, really. OK, definitely thread hijack. Carry on!
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karodrinker
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:45pm PT
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Easy. Get a prius. Plenty of room inside and gas becomes a non issue. Leaves more money for beer and cabbage. I love my prius.
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willie!!!!!
Trad climber
99827
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:53pm PT
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1986ish Volkswagon Vanagon GL Synchro w/ 1992ish Suburu 2.2L conversion.
Plenty of room
Plenty of power
Will handle ANY weather you can throw at it
Will handle pretty rough approaches
Add 1 Thule box for storage
Customize the interior for simple living on the road
Less than 10K
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Leo Gokovski
climber
AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 12:55pm PT
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Willie,
Do you know if they convert the eurovan to a diesel engine (the veggie oil option is very appealing...
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:57pm PT
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OH MY GOSH!! I AM LAUGHING MY FUKCING ASS OFF!!!!
And while I might be a Zabro, YOU ARE *such* A HABEILY, HABEILY!!!!!!!
Ya, Majnoon!!! Telhas teesi! Khara alik!!
And try mailing me a memory stick in a PADDED envelope this time!!! Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!
And did I mention, you're such a HABEILY!!!!
Cheers,
"Zabro"
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Leo Gokovski
climber
AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 12:59pm PT
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F-you, pete!!! ha ha ha !!!
I guess you can never say us Israelis don't play rough....
See you in Yosemite this summer...
L.
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Leo Gokovski
climber
AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 01:01pm PT
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Actually, no, the road curves in a negative bank right there, and there a shoulder to catch the front wheels once you start to skid... Apparently, it happened rigth there more than once... the sherif said about four flips a year...
And yes, now that you mentioned it, we are kinda dressed the same... hmmmmm
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willie!!!!!
Trad climber
99827
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Feb 28, 2010 - 01:03pm PT
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Leo - I have no idea. Don't the euro vans have Audis of some sort?
I like the simplicity of the rig I mentioned.
Just a box on top of some brilliant engineering once the motors are swapped.
The Synchro AWD will blow your mind if you go to the mountains in winter.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Feb 28, 2010 - 01:07pm PT
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The best climber's vehicle?
an ambiguous question, no?
which car does Chris Sharma, Dean Potter, Lynne Hill, [fill in your opinion on who the best climbers are], drive? that's a question that can be answered.
The other question can't: what is the best vehicle for a climber?
Based on my personality and climbing philosophy and experience you want a vehicle with the following attributes:
 fits your personal economic constraints
reliable enough so that you are not inhibited in planning and starting road trips
has enough storage to support you road trip objectives (though this is obviously related to choosing those objectives)
provides enough support to allow you to survive the trip (think: "1960s VW bus heater system and ice climbing in the White Mountains in early February," or "black exterior/interior finish for a summer road trip to JTree")
is safe enough to be the secondary risk consideration on your trip
fits your image of yourself (or at least provides a personal commentary thread)
In my experience this rules out most cars for most people and gets you focused on a particular vehicle class....
my prediction is that you won't be happy without your large pickup/camper setup... so you'll seek a more stable, bad ass platform that won't roll as easily (of course the wheel base won't allow you to turn around, so you'll have to go to places that have through roads).
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Leo Gokovski
climber
AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 01:07pm PT
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i'll keep it in mind, willie...
Did you do the conversion, bought it like that, or payed someone?
And you mentioned 4wd - how on earth can you do that...
Thx,
Leo
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Feb 28, 2010 - 01:09pm PT
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Chevy all wheel drive cargo van.
Can't beat the price. Its a heavy vehicle so coupled with all wheel drive this rig will plow snow with its bumper. Large amount of room inside, can install a plywood bed easily with room leftover.
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willie!!!!!
Trad climber
99827
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Feb 28, 2010 - 01:13pm PT
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The AWD comes on the van. They are kinda rare but you can find them.
I bought mine converted, but got to know it really well and changed a few things. You can have them dialed in by one of a handful of experts if you want.
Just don't subscribe to the yahoo group and then forget your password. The E-mails are relentless.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville
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Feb 28, 2010 - 01:18pm PT
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Glad you all are ok!
Pick up worked for me for 20 yrs, then I got a Van and would never go back.
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Leo Gokovski
climber
AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 01:24pm PT
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No, I cannot blame the truck... This is MY CREATION!!! LOL
Anyone has any experience with the VW eurovan westy?
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lars johansen
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Feb 28, 2010 - 01:41pm PT
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I'm with Locker. I've owned several Tacomas and the 4x4 with a shell is it. I now own an FJ Cruiser which I prefer and has slightly better off road capabilities but is a gas hog. I do like the enclosed interior access though. Also the shell on the truck body always managed to be a dust trap on those long dusty roads, no matter how hard I tried to seal it. Toss up FJ or Tacoma 4x4.
Gotta slow down on those moguls pal.
best,
lars
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drljefe
climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
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Feb 28, 2010 - 02:52pm PT
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87 Honda Civic Wagon.
And Leo, it holds on Middlemarch at 55!
I guess it all depends on your budget and if you need clearance and, well, tons of other criteria...
but I pay 30 bucks for registration, 30 bucks to fill up, 30 bucks for insurance, and you could pick one up for what would be 2 or 3 payments on a new vehicle.
You can trace the lineage of the Honda Fit back to this lil rig. If I had to get(or had the dough to get!) a new vehicle, it would be a Fit or an Element.
Powered by Honda!
BTW~ I went Westfalia~Toy2wdexcab w/shell~Honda. Downsize baby!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Feb 28, 2010 - 03:04pm PT
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Toyota Hilux Turbo Diesel Truck. Of course you can't get them in the States but I have one in Patagonia- love it!
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