"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
09/22/2020 at 13:10 • Filed to: stupid problems
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"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
09/22/2020 at 13:10 • Filed to: stupid problems | 0
| 9 |
I am going camping this weekend and I can’t decide which car to take.
I’ m headed 4.5 hours south to the vermilion cliffs area of Utah. A very sandy area, in fact, I’m staying at a san d mountain. I will be taking the camp trailer with me as it will be a family trip.
So here’s the dilemma.
The GX tows the camp trailer SO much better. It has self-leveling air suspension so the trailer dances around a lot less and is more level, it has the V8 which despite only having 50 more hp on paper is SUBSTANTIALLY more powerful than the cruisers I6. That plus the 5 speed vs 4 speed means and it handles the load of the trailer much better. It’s not a small consideration because 80% of the miles are on I15 which is both hilly and fast (80 mph limit).
It’s also quieter.
But
it needs something fixed in the front suspension...I can’t diagnose it and so it’s at the shop today having them look at it. It should be fixed today if they can find it. Hopefully, it will solve a vibration issue at speed. It also needs new tires because even though the Hankooks still have tread, they are cracking...and I hate them. That’s another debate as the tires I want only come in a 31.5 which technically fits the stock GX (stock is 30.5)...but I don’t know if I want oversized tires on the GX.
Those issues sorted it should be the easy choice - I can attach most of the off-roady things I would want to it from the cruiser like the awning and fridge too.
However, where we are going is, again, SUPER sandy and there are a few things we want to do that involve deep sand driving. Like...DEEP sand.
The Cruiser’s bigger tires and higher clearance would be better for floatation. Though the extra HP of the GX somewhat offsets that.
The Cruiser will pull the trailer and has done so recently.
It doesn’t like it, but it always gets the job done and even runs a little cooler than the GX under load. Going up over this mountain I couldn’t do much better than 30-35...but we made it. to be fair, its a 9200 foot summit and its 7% the whole way. It’s louder on the highway and doesn’t much like speeds above 75 owing to the regear so it would take a little longer to get down there. Fuel economy is, surprisingly, in the cruiser’s favor, though not by much.
Taking the Cruiser would give me much more confidence on the trails down there as It’s already done them
Plus I would have more of my built-in off-road toys and the bigger battery is better suited to the fridge. It would also be nice to have my high power HAM radio with radiolocation for tracking as well as my CB in the event I get stuck.
It does have the drawback that the CV joint on one side is starting to give way, but I hear of people going a long time with worse clicks than I have so I’m not TOO worried about. (It’s a birfield joint in a closed knuckle, the inner joint is starting to physically wear but it won’t rapidly deteriorate like a torn boot would cause)
I think I’m over-thinking it and I think the GX would probably do fine in the sand. It has 30.5 inch AT tires, full-time 4wd with a better center diff and all the power...it’s just never been sand tested, and I don’t have a ton of sand driving experience.
Thoughts?
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/22/2020 at 14:02 |
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I would take the truck that is the best on the highway as that is where all of the seat time is going to take place.
Also put these guys number in your phone.
Outlander Engine's Dimensional Emporium
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/22/2020 at 14:17 |
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Something I’ve noticed. When undertaking a long drive on vacation, I prefer whatever drives best. I’ve had a few long runs where I end up sitting at camp for an hour with a drink recovering from the drive.
The money I spent rebuilding the ‘burb’s front end was more than worth it just so that I arrived relaxed and could start vacationing that much sooner.
Make sure your air compressor is ready, craft some cheap sand boards (or get carpet remnants), and have at it.
More than likely i t’ll come down to the diagnosis of the front end and that will make your decision for you.
Speed
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/22/2020 at 14:20 |
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As much as I like the Cruiser, you said you’ve already taken it on this particular trek. Thus, I’d take the GX and see how it handles the situation. It would be an excellent apples to apples comparison and it would be interesting to see how a bone stock rig handles the off road bits.
MUSASHI66
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/22/2020 at 15:17 |
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Am I seeing a glitch in the Matrix, or did you post this same post just a few months ago?
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HammerheadFistpunch
> MUSASHI66
09/22/2020 at 15:23 |
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Similar quandary , ended up taking the cruiser (picture of cruiser towing the trailer). Still haven’t solved the problems that kept me from taking the GX.
TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/22/2020 at 15:41 |
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I’d say take the GX if you can get it fixed in time, it will probably make for a more relaxing family trip and we all need that more these days than anything else.
shop-teacher
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/22/2020 at 15:54 |
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GX, but keep an eye on those tires.
rctothefuture
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/22/2020 at 16:02 |
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If the GX is fixed, take it. If it’s not, take the vehicle that you know is reliable.
SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> HammerheadFistpunch
09/22/2020 at 18:03 |
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Take the GX. That way you'll know one way or the other whether you can trust it in the future for this sort of shenanigans.