Compact SUV as a Bug Out Vehicle?

[ilbruche]

If you want compact, get a dual-sport bike. That way, you can get one for the wife too. And maybe some for the kids. They're a blast, and good on gas.

With a BMW R1200GS you could bug out to the ends of the earth. No truck could match it.

I have a 92 22RE toyota pic up with 4x4, front and rear detroit lockers, 31" tires, winch and such with a top ready to go. Mileage is decent about 20 in the city. Easy to work on, and fix on the trail. Mine has 325K miles and is still running like a top.

Planning on moving on to an older 4 runner. What is mileage like for you guys who own them?

Older 4 runners have the 3VZFE engine. New ones and the Tacoma have the 5VZFE. The 3V is a 3.0 liter versus 3.4 liters with the 5V.

The 3VZFE is also known as the "Three Point Slow" or "Head gasket blower".

My Tacoma gets about 20 sometimes 23mpg. I was running 32X11.5X15's for years. Just went down to 31's and it makes a big difference in speed and mileage.

Mileage for a 4 Runner with the 5VZFE would be a little less due to the extra weight of the vehicle. Not sure about the performance of the 3VZFE.

My preference for a smaller bug out vehicle would be an old FJ40. If you want a bombproof easy to fix vehicle something with minimal electronics, carburator and solid axles front and rear is the way to go.

 

[BlackHills]

The Isuzu Rodeo/ Honda Passport seems capable too, anyone here has one?.

I had a 1995 Rodeo for several years. It was a great vehicle, the only reason I sold it was I just became tired of it and wanted something else. I wish I hadn't sold it now, but you know how that grass is greener thing goes.

IIRC it had 60k miles on it when I bought it and 135k when I sold it. A friend of mine bought it for his son and last I heard it had just went over 200k miles. The only thing I ever replaced outside of the normal wear items was the starter. It was pretty capable off road, it averaged around 17mpg with the best on the highway 21mpg

 

[stitch_paradox]

I have a 92 22RE toyota pic up with 4x4, front and rear detroit lockers, 31" tires, winch and such with a top ready to go. Mileage is decent about 20 in the city. Easy to work on, and fix on the trail. Mine has 325K miles and is still running like a top.

Planning on moving on to an older 4 runner. What is mileage like for you guys who own them?

That's the advantage of the older generation Toyotas, easy maintenance and easy repair. I had 92 Corolla which has 280K miles when I sold it, and the engine was still running strong. My mileage are not so bad either almost same as yours, but mine has supercharger and a catback, thats why my mileage went down a little bit. Maybe stock I could get around 22 to 23 MPG.

 

[stitch_paradox]

Wow that is a nice bike! Great BOV but not when you have family with you, unless of course you wife and kids have bikes of their own! If you guys have seen the latest Resident Evil movie, I think the Hero lady there rode a BMW bike just like that in the beginning.


+1 for the FJ40 solid vehicle right there.

I have been thinking of getting a Rodeo 4x4, I just don't know alot of people who owns them, so I can get feedbacks. Another small and compact vehicle from Isuzu is the Vehicross, any reviewers here?

 

[sasha]

I would stay away from Isuzu and anything they make.. Cant buy parts easy. They dont seem to have major problems per say. They just seem to fall apart very little at a time untill they are not worth it any more. But i seen a few that ran great with no problems. But i would not invest my money in one. The chances are that you are going to drive them on the street and have to repair them.

 

[MrCoffee]

I would stay away from Isuzu and anything they make.. Cant buy parts easy. They dont seem to have major problems per say. They just seem to fall apart very little at a time untill they are not worth it any more. But i seen a few that ran great with no problems. But i would not invest my money in one. The chances are that you are going to drive them on the street and have to repair them.

I couldnt disagree with this more! In 1990 my wife and I purchased a new Isuzu Trooper, which we owned for 8 years, and we put 284,000 miles on but on and off pavement. Anywhere I went with my Jeep, she could go and often did. The only upgrades we made over the factory was we went one tires size up (30X9.5). The only major repair we had was to replace the fuel pump wiring which was a factory recall due to it getting eaten away by the road salt. There were times she got called into work and had to drive out our road in snow bumper deep. The 4 cyc, 5 speed combo never let us down. We parked it when I got her a new Toyota Rav4, and it sat for two years. But the guy that bought it drove it home. He had to repair some rocker rust and the rear door rust, but he drives it daily now still.

So I wouldnt discount Troopers or Rodeo, or even Amigo's for decent BOV.

If I could talk my wife into a bike, I would seriously look at the Vstrom (sp?) but she downright refuses to consider a Bike, and with my youngest being special needs, I have no idea how I could manage it anyways. I currently have a Dodge Durango for a BOV, mostly because I need the serious passanger room. 4 people, 2 80+lb Dogs, wheelchair, and even it seems a bit small. We also have an Outback, which works ok, but not nearly big enough. And the milage isnt nearly as bad as some. Of course I tend to be gentle on the gas pedal these days.

A lot of people swear by Jeeps as a BOV, me included. My 2001 with a 4cyc, 5 speed got me 21+ MPG. Just not big enough. I also read an article about a guy who bought a Dodge Caliber as his BOV and was happily surprized by its off highway abilities (logging trails, grass tracks, even some snowmobile trails).

If I could find one, I would also look at a Isuzu VehiCROSS, espeically the Ironman addition. One of the first cross over's made, and it didnt take off well in the states, but it is an awesome ride.

Just an opinion, but if you skip Isuzu, your missing a great line of vechicles.

 

[kgd]

I would say you guys are living a fantasy. SHTF - cars and trucks are going to be marks. SUV's - bigger marks - easier to track the roof racks!!!

Better off on your own two feet I think. Settle in, settle down, wait it out and move out after the kaos.....

 

[misanthropist]

I guess it depends on what you think is most likely to happen.

Out here, I expect SHTF = major earthquake...not sure why this would make my truck a mark.

 

[kr1]

I guess it depends on what you think is most likely to happen.

Out here, I expect SHTF = major earthquake...not sure why this would make my truck a mark.

I agree. If its not a TEOTWAWKI scenario then first choice is to stay in place. Other scenarios such as flooding, hurricane etc might require leaving.

KR

 

[stitch_paradox]

I would say you guys are living a fantasy. SHTF - cars and trucks are going to be marks. SUV's - bigger marks - easier to track the roof racks!!!

Better off on your own two feet I think. Settle in, settle down, wait it out and move out after the kaos.....

Might have been watching too much zombie movies! hehe kidding!

 

[datsgor]

Well, I am set to stay at home a wait anything out....but if we have to go, this would be what we take. It's mechanically sound and will get us where we need to go.

 

[kgd]

Nope - not watching zombie movies. I'm saying highways will be clogged and you guys won't be the only ones who suddenly get a calling for four-wheel driving. Most places that can be an alternative route by vehicle will get clogged just as fast as the highways. The exception is if it is an evacuation and they have traffic police doing their job and keeping the flow going. At that point any vehicle (filled with gas and in sound condiiton) will work.

Being stuck in a traffic jam, without the benefit of law and order will I think be the worst place to be. This is where road rage + panic will hit a nexus.

 

[Myal]

OK , so it aint a 4x4 but so what ? I treat it like it is

We go over 4x4 only trails with it no worries , its an 8 seater , and gets 300km to 30 litres fuel .

we are currently trying to sell this old beast

a "real" 4x4 that seats 7 people and uses 70 litres fuel to cover 400 km

I lved the weight and grip this old girl has , got us thru some flooded rivers and we wallowed around in a lot of mud and slush .

Im gunna miss her .

 

[Watchful]

With a BMW R1200GS you could bug out to the ends of the earth. No truck could match it.

As long as you had plenty of bridges that were intact, possibly. But if bridges were out, and you had to cross water without snorkeling your exhaust, you'd be better off in a truck.