4x4 Truck Opinions - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

cody · 2006-11-08, 11:30 AM

My friend Holly wants to follow her brother cross country as he drives his motorcycle this winter. He's new to motorcycles but won't listen to his family when they tell him riding across the US on a motorcycle in the winter when you have no experience is a foolish idea.

So Holly wants to buy a 4WD vehicle capable of towing/carrying a motorcycle in case they hit bad weather. Good gas milage is a plus. Any suggestions? I assume she should just tow a rental trailer or somthing? Will that limit her speed limit?

Nick Koan · 2006-11-08, 11:43 AM

She wants to drive cross country with a trailer that will be empty 90% of the time? I wouldn't recommend that.

But, a good truck for this would probably be a compact Toyota Tacoma 4x4. If she didn't want to drag along a trailer, I'd suggest a full size vehicle that would fit the bike in it, with ramps, so that she doesn't need to drag a trailer along.

MPREZIV · 2006-11-08, 11:45 AM

+1 for a truck big enough to hold the bike, so that there's not an empty trailer flailing around behind the whole drive...

Kevin M · 2006-11-08, 11:47 AM

What's her budget?

cody · 2006-11-08, 12:02 PM

She has $10k in the bank, good credit, but makes very little on a monthly basis. She says she can drop the whole wad, but personally I think she should keep some money in the bank and finance it. She won't buy anything that costs over $20K.

cody · 2006-11-08, 12:06 PM

Oh, and the reason I was thinking of her towing a trailor is that I don't imagine it's possible for her and her bro to get a motorcycle into the back of a pickup. Am I wrong?

sperry · 2006-11-08, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

Oh, and the reason I was thinking of her towing a trailor is that I don't imagine it's possible for her and her bro to get a motorcycle into the back of a pickup. Am I wrong?

A lighter bike would roll up easily w/ the correct ramp and two people to push it.

Also, it's much easier to load a bike when it in 7 or 8 parts after wrecking because a n00b is attempting to ride cross country it in the winter!

In other news... I can feel most of my nose again.

rubberbiscuitt · 2006-11-08, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

So Holly wants to buy a 4WD vehicle capable of towing/carrying a motorcycle in case they hit bad weather. Good gas milage ...

truck with good gas milage... that's funny.

i would recomend any toyota. they are better on fuel, but my tundra(4wd) is really tall for loading a bike, and it drinks a lot of gas so i wouldn't recomend that.

a diesel truck doesn't fail anything except the initial cost.

Kevin M · 2006-11-08, 01:01 PM

I vote she drives whatever she currently has, and when he breaks the bike and/or body parts, she just loads him up and takes him home (via the hospital).

cody · 2006-11-08, 01:21 PM

Is the Xterra a good vehicle in general?

sperry · 2006-11-08, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

Is the Xterra a good vehicle in general?

They're supposed to be decent, but there's no way you'd get a bike in one, nor would I recommend towing anything long distance in it, especially if there's a chance of bad weather.

cody · 2006-11-08, 01:22 PM

They don't offer a 4X4 version?

sperry · 2006-11-08, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

They don't offer a 4X4 version?

Truck + trailer + ice on the road = doesn't matter if it's 4x4 or not.

cody · 2006-11-08, 01:24 PM

gotcha

JonnydaJibba · 2006-11-08, 01:25 PM

Does 4x2 mean its just 2 wheel drive and it's a dumb way of telling you?

cody · 2006-11-08, 01:26 PM

She should just rent a big 4X4 and a ramp then I guess because she really wants somthing good on gas milage to take snowboarding and it's sounding like she won't find somthing that will be both things.

Kevin M · 2006-11-08, 01:31 PM

Xterras are pretty nice trucks, they just get shit mileage, even for a V6 midsize SUV. (Yes, that's a somewhat positive review of an SUV coming from me.)

Sounds like you got it right, she needs to rent something to follow her brother around with, and pick up a Subaru Forester or 2.5i afterwards.

Dean · 2006-11-08, 02:18 PM

Pick up a '94+ Toyota compact pickup 4x4 in decent condition for <$10,000. That should get you at least a driver's side airbag, and fuel injection.

Most any bike should fit with the tailgate down, and tailgate up if in pieces as previously mentioned.

Pick up some 1 - 2" tie downs from Walmart or Harbor Freight. HF also has cheap loading ramps, as well as aluminum pieces you can stick on the end of normal 2x6s.

Figure out how to load it and practice it before you need to.

Upgrade life insurance, and medical coverage.

MPREZIV · 2006-11-08, 02:41 PM

X-terras are decent, and that's REALLY saying something coming from a guy who works on them...

tysonK · 2006-11-08, 03:22 PM

Just tow the crashed bike with a rope around the swingarm part.

cody · 2006-11-08, 05:18 PM

Thanks guys.

2006-11-08, 11:30 AM	#1
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	4x4 Truck Opinions My friend Holly wants to follow her brother cross country as he drives his motorcycle this winter. He's new to motorcycles but won't listen to his family when they tell him riding across the US on a motorcycle in the winter when you have no experience is a foolish idea. So Holly wants to buy a 4WD vehicle capable of towing/carrying a motorcycle in case they hit bad weather. Good gas milage is a plus. Any suggestions? I assume she should just tow a rental trailer or somthing? Will that limit her speed limit? Last edited by cody; 2006-11-08 at 11:33 AM.

2006-11-08, 11:43 AM	#2
Nick Koan JDM Cowboy Real Name: Nick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 8,642 Car: 2015 Mazda 3	She wants to drive cross country with a trailer that will be empty 90% of the time? I wouldn't recommend that. But, a good truck for this would probably be a compact Toyota Tacoma 4x4. If she didn't want to drag along a trailer, I'd suggest a full size vehicle that would fit the bike in it, with ramps, so that she doesn't need to drag a trailer along. __________________ While a standard engine is powered by a belt connected to the crankshaft, a turbo engine runs on its own exhaust steam, making it more energy efficient. -- CNN

2006-11-08, 11:45 AM	#3
MPREZIV Token Real Name: Le Stig Afrique? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sitting next to a big yellow box Posts: 3,589 Car: 2001 Impreza 2.5 RS Class: 05 TDSP No, I won't work on your car. F your car*	+1 for a truck big enough to hold the bike, so that there's not an empty trailer flailing around behind the whole drive... __________________ "...these condoms have a topical anesthetic to reduce sensitivity, so you can last longer. What a paradox. You can't feel a thing, but you can f*ck for HOURS..."

2006-11-08, 11:47 AM	#4
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	What's her budget? __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2006-11-08, 01:01 PM	#9
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	I vote she drives whatever she currently has, and when he breaks the bike and/or body parts, she just loads him up and takes him home (via the hospital). __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2006-11-08, 12:02 PM	#5
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	She has $10k in the bank, good credit, but makes very little on a monthly basis. She says she can drop the whole wad, but personally I think she should keep some money in the bank and finance it. She won't buy anything that costs over $20K.

2006-11-08, 12:06 PM	#6
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Oh, and the reason I was thinking of her towing a trailor is that I don't imagine it's possible for her and her bro to get a motorcycle into the back of a pickup. Am I wrong?

2006-11-08, 01:21 PM	#10
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Is the Xterra a good vehicle in general?

2006-11-08, 01:22 PM	#12
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	They don't offer a 4X4 version?

2006-11-08, 01:24 PM	#14
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	gotcha

2006-11-08, 01:25 PM	#15
JonnydaJibba EJ207 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Reno/Sparks, Nevada Posts: 3,482 Car: 2000 2.5RS Class: RestNPeace Master Slurper.	Does 4x2 mean its just 2 wheel drive and it's a dumb way of telling you? __________________ "Why do chicks tell you to call and then not answer....so gay." "Cuz girls are fags I dunno"

2006-11-08, 01:26 PM	#16
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	She should just rent a big 4X4 and a ramp then I guess because she really wants somthing good on gas milage to take snowboarding and it's sounding like she won't find somthing that will be both things.

2006-11-08, 01:31 PM	#17
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	Xterras are pretty nice trucks, they just get shit mileage, even for a V6 midsize SUV. (Yes, that's a somewhat positive review of an SUV coming from me.) Sounds like you got it right, she needs to rent something to follow her brother around with, and pick up a Subaru Forester or 2.5i afterwards. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2006-11-08, 02:18 PM	#18
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Pick up a '94+ Toyota compact pickup 4x4 in decent condition for <$10,000. That should get you at least a driver's side airbag, and fuel injection. Most any bike should fit with the tailgate down, and tailgate up if in pieces as previously mentioned. Pick up some 1 - 2" tie downs from Walmart or Harbor Freight. HF also has cheap loading ramps, as well as aluminum pieces you can stick on the end of normal 2x6s. Figure out how to load it and practice it before you need to. Upgrade life insurance, and medical coverage. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2006-11-08, 02:41 PM	#19
MPREZIV Token Real Name: Le Stig Afrique? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sitting next to a big yellow box Posts: 3,589 Car: 2001 Impreza 2.5 RS Class: 05 TDSP No, I won't work on your car. F your car*	X-terras are decent, and that's REALLY saying something coming from a guy who works on them... __________________ "...these condoms have a topical anesthetic to reduce sensitivity, so you can last longer. What a paradox. You can't feel a thing, but you can f*ck for HOURS..."

2006-11-08, 03:22 PM	#20
tysonK warehouse SECCS Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SoCal... Posts: 6,253 Car: 04 Evo 99 Cadillac Class: street de le mod	Just tow the crashed bike with a rope around the swingarm part. __________________ Anjali? Anjali?

2006-11-08, 05:18 PM	#21
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Thanks guys.

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