The landscape photographer's car or truck. What do you drive?

freo wrote in post #9136027
I converted a van this year, which is now what I use.
It has running water, a small fridge, bed, power for laptop and camera charging (from campervan battery), curtains, and storage under the bed which contains the gas cooker.

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I like the look of that van!

Thinking about doing something similar myself - pick up a cheap van and do a conversion inside.

This is what gets me anywhere I want to go.

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #9138487
Chevy Colorado for me, but in a few years I might go for a Honda Pilot or similar.

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I have been thinking about the OP's requirements and was going to suggest the colorado also. I personally have very little experience with the crew cab ( I drove one as a loaner for a day, test drove one when new) but my wife has a single cab and loves it. We all agree it is about as easy a vehichle to drive as we have ever owned, including off road and city. The little four cylinder is lacking for freeway cruising but manages, I would want the five and I hear they are going to have the 5.3 liter that shuts down cylinders when conditions allow it for better MPG. That crew cab would be my choice for people hauling, four wheel drive, economy, reliability and with a utility top, for car-top boat hauling. IMHO

kurt765 wrote in post #9121585
I've been pondering a new car for months really and with this new car I want to be able to go places that my current car (a little corolla) cannot go. Chief among these is being able to go to places like the Racetrack and Eureka Dunes in Death Valley.

I'm on my second Chevy Cavalier (and she has over 150,000 miles on 'er). This car has taken me to a lot of very remote places, including Aurora, NV (which I also once went to with a rented Corolla).

I'm still looking for a ride to the Racetrack and Eureka Dunes, though. As much as I've punished Ellen (my car), I just couldn't keep going on that road to the Racetrack. I've tried a couple times, but never got more than three miles before turning around...

In my last trips to the Racetrack, we took a Toyota Tacoma, Ford F150 and a Nissan Xterra. We didn't lose any tires, but on a previous trip the Xtrerra lost TWO tires.

-K

I was on a 4 wheeling trip with some 4Runners. One guy's 4Runner blew 2 tires at once, and then a third about 15 feet after we replaced the first two flats.

BTW - if you do offroad driving like that again, lower the pressure in your tires to at least 15-20PSI. They will conform to rocks instead of resist them, and you will not risk punctures like that. That and your ride will be much much smoother.

You of course have to air them up again when you get back on pavement - or at least relatively soon. I have a 20lb CO2 tank in the back of my Xterra which I can use to both re-inflate my tires as well as run an air powered impact wrench and any other air tool

I own an '07 Wrangler Unlimited 4Door. There are roof rack options as others have mentioned.

I like to Kayak...At this point I just use my wife's Subaru Legacy to carry it around. I haven't pulled the trigger on a roof rack but I just across this one yesterday that I will probably get...
http://www.autotruckto​ys.com …ystem-07-Up-PRD28882.aspx

OdiN1701 wrote in post #9150286
This is what gets me anywhere I want to go.

And in the back I have a box I built that has tools and such in case there are any repairs which need to be done. Those are not usually used on photography trips though.

Beautiful X-rig you got there... Although mine isn't as pretty as yours, it still gets me from point A to B... On road or offroad... Hehehhehehhe... Interesting snorkle location, too... And I love those custom storage units you made in the back... NICE!!!

Thanks! The snorkel is a DIY thing. I used a Safari snorkel head and the rest is ABS pipe and such. Took out the baffle and resonators from the airbox and sealed everything up good.

Man I mangled up the step rails on my second offroad trip with my X. I don't get over to XOC much but I'm on ClubXterra.org.

I like the color of yours. I looked for that color but mine was the second choice.

I have this '05 Unlimited that can get me any where. If it's not going to be too tough going I like my Pilot, a lot more photographer friendly with the 4 doors.

Win

OdiN1701 wrote in post #9150286
Here's what I do when not taking pictures:

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=XxSe3ZvTuz8

Nice, and a Liquid Tension Experiment fan to!


Most of my off roading has been the two wheeled variety, which is great for getting into the back country with a point an shoot for spectacular views, but the DSLR has me considering trading in my pickup for something more off roadworthy.

At least you know who LTE is

I drive a GMC Sierra Crew Cab Z71, the wife drives a GMC Envoy XL.

Citroen ZX 1900 diesel comfy 50 plus to the gallon.Could'nt afford anything else after buying the camera gear .

Well; Odin has me beat.. but I still love my truck
2 sleep comfortably in the shell. The shell is lined and I have plywood/carpet covering the bed. We slep comfortably in 30+ mph cold winds in Death Valley and freezing cold @ Joshua Tree while others in tents suffered. A 150 W true sine wave inverter inside the cab to charge batteries and power laptop for navigation.
It's been to every nat'l park in south California, Nevada Arizona and Utah except Bryce. 160K miles and still strong.
It's a 2wd '02 silverado.. Here it is on the descent into Death Valley from the North before arriving @ Eureka Dunes for night 1. Prior to this we were hiking near the Bristlecone pines north of DV on 395.