6th Gen Fail - Hybrid for Overlanding

I haven't slept in my car since I was able to afford a house. Sleeping in the back of an SUV is barbaric; nice tents are not that expensive. I've backpacked thru the Rockies, canoed and kayaked in the US and Canada, hiked/rafted/camped the better part of the Grand Canyon, hiked and slept on part of the Appalachian Trail. It was great at the time.

Nowdays, my idea of roughing it is staying in a hotel that doesn't have a concierge. Recently got back from a 5 day stay at Pebble Beach playing golf and "camping" in one of their hotels. Now that's camping!!!

 

If living in your 4WD vehicle is HIGH priority then all 4Runners suck compared to a Honda Trailsport except mega kudos to the 4R hybrid for being able to run a standard coffee pot and even a small space heater.

My take is that the main reason 4R's are special is rhat they make the tough tradeoffs that support their unique strength in effortlessly taking you places you can't go in a Trailsport. 4R's compromise the use of interior space so they have lots of room underneath for sturdy components and (wait for it) ground clearance. I only do light offroading (plus nasty snow/ice banks) and I'd tear those cute little winglets off the Trailsport air dam frequently and I'd also get that vehicle hopelessly stuck if I used it like my 4R.

 

It's always funny when folks think people sleep in 4Runners to save money. I have a nice tent. I still prefer sleeping in the 4Runner in some situations.

Hotels are fine when you just need a place to sleep. Most of the time, I'd rather be in the woods, away from civilization.

 

Ding, ding, ding!

Yeah. If all I cared about was sleeping comfortably in my vehicle, I'd get a van. Even a Minivan would be way better than a 4Runner or Trailsport.

 

If I was more serious into overlanding I’d get a small militaryish trailer with a RTTbrah on it and suspension. Probably nothing like a teardrop because they’re not that offroad capable and nothing actually capable because that’s pricey.

 

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I got a nice tent too, it was a little pricey. It’s nice to have as an option, but I’ve used it twice in three years. The rest of my trips I’ve slept in the back. The 4runner makes for a nice little metal cocoon with a bit of arranging. At least if you’re doing solo camping.

If they still made the old 4x4 Astro vans, I’d be all over that!

 

I'd probably get a Unimog. Right after I won the lottery.

Or a Volvo C303.

 

I go to 4-5 stars hotels whenever I travel for sightseeing (i.e. Hawaii, Boston, etc.). It doesn't mean I don't enjoy car camping when it becomes the purpose of the journey (rather that visiting a place).

I've used my tent maybe twice in the past 5 years. I would rather sleep in the back of the 4Runner (which I do about a dozen times per year). I don't find it less barbaric than sleeping in a tent. I only sleep in it when I go camping which I enjoy. Not in the city.

I'm also in my mid 30s so maybe at a certain age I'll get tired of it, it's not impossible.

 

I don't think you'll get tired of it. I am 47, and I feel like the car camping part of my life has just begun. It's all in your personal interests. Some people might get into car camping in their twenties and lose interest. Others might get into car camping in their 40s and keep doing it until they're 80. Others might do it their entire lives. Some might never do it. The point is, there's no rule. Do what you feel like doing, and whatever makes you happy. That's what we are meant to do with our Leisure Time.

 

I understand. I did a lot of things 40 years ago that I won't do today. I've camped 500 feet below ground in a cave and at 14,000' on top of a mountain with no tent. There's not enough money to get me to do those and a few other things today.

Sounds like you have a good system set up for vehicular camping. Keep it up and enjoy it while you still have the urge. At some point your priorities may change and you'll find other interests to occupy your time.

These days I enjoy taking a couple of grandkids 6-8 years old) camping. Pack up the camping gear in the old pickup truck, drive back to a woods at the back of the farm, park, and then make them do everything so they'll learn how to do it. They set up the tent, build the fire, cook supper, etc. They and I both love it.

 

We have space for stuff like that here in the deserts of derpifornia but still a big larger than I'd like. Also I'd probably go Tatra or MAN for that.

 

I figured leftover would be on par with the 5th/6th gen third-row option so good to hear it's working out.

Have you left the vehicle on overnight? Might not have been hot enough but heard "Hotel Prius" can be quite efficient/inexpensive between the electric AC and engine popping on occasionally.

 

I haven’t tried to leave it on overnight yet, I use an Ecoflow bank for power when the truck isn’t running. Camping in a very remote place and going to sleep with it running feels like a recipe for getting stuck, but the electric system may be more capable than I realize

 

Where I live we have had >5 dollar a gallon gas since 2022.

Isn't yours a Trailhunter that usually go for over 70k?

 

I know we have a rough 0.3 gallon/hour estimate for a 5th gen idling but it'll definitely be a fraction of that for the hybrid. Not sure if it's been tested as of yet.

Comparing current fuel prices in eightyzip's unknown area to historical prices in your unknown area as evidence is worthless especially as oil supply is constrained/prices are spiked worldwide and beyond the typical reach of local/state American politics.

 

in any case, someone buying a 70k+ life style vehicle with known sub-optimal fuel economy then complain about fuel prices using it to commute with is an odd choice, but certainly a choice.