I see folks importing the gorgeous little mini trucks from Japan that you either have to register as a utility vehicle, like a golf cart or a side-by-side, can't take on the freeway, and physically can't do more than 30mph because every light truck is huge as of like 5 years ago. I love those mini trucks but I'm resigned to the fact that they are pretty impractical on US roads and I do not fit in them.
We know people still want these things. It's why people buy vehicles like Subarus or little crossover SUVs because these sweet bois got swallowed up by the desire to drive a BIG GODDAMN TRUCK and those are objectively awful if your use isn't tied to frequent heavy hauling or offroad use. Station wagons were dope, but their role as stuff-lugging family cars got replaced by minivans. Those were pretty dope too (shout-out to my old '91 Toyota Previa, the most beautiful van ever made) but then SUV's showed up, got swole, added a third row of seats and minivans became so desperately uncool that the few still in production REALLY want to look like SUVs. I hesitate to say it but SUVs have become the AR15 if vehicles. People see them and say "well that's scary" and instead of deciding maybe we've strayed a little far from god's dull but practical light say, "I best get one so I can defend myself against them."
Before somebody crawls down my throat over it I'll clarify: I'm not saying big trucks shouldn't exist or are morally wrong. If you haul shit, it's the correct tool for the job. My position is that, for me and people like me, using them is like trying to re-pot a spider plant with a backhoe. We have use for a truck, but neither the space, money, or desire for that much truck. It's like wanting soup but they only sell it in 5-gallon buckets.
I want the trucks my dad had when I was a kid. You couldn't haul a heavy boat or a horse trailer, but you could chore your ass off with them, and more often than not they were sturdy and dependable. If the dog got skunked, she could ride in the back till you got home. You could haul gross shit, hose it down then go camping out of it in the same weekend. They fit in normal parking spaces and weren't a lane and a half wide.
We know gas prices are likely to continue to be unsustainable, cities and towns are getting more and more crowded, hybrid/electric vehicle mandates are likely to come down in the next 15-20yrs, so why the hell are we making these things bigger and bigger and bigger? Please, can someone just make a reliable light pickup with a hybrid engine, that I can use to move furniture, bikes, dogs, gear, plants, mutual aid deliveries, or a mounted machine gun? I guess something like a Rav4 can do most of that and isn't as antisocial as a little 2-seater cab, but it doesn't Truck nearly as well. The need for them still exists, but marketing has kind of cornered us in a place where our options are compromises in impractical directions. Get us that butter truck back.
In a world where resources, money, and space are increasingly hard to lay hands on, I just wish it were possible to present a sensible option and not be immediately laughed off the dying planet by companies that may as well be saying, "Why do you want a little truck? For hauling gay stuff?"
Yes, I want a little truck for hauling gay stuff. Please sell it to me.
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Benefits of RAV4 in 2023
For years, the Toyota RAV4 has been one of Toyota's best-sellers, and it's easy to see why. The RAV4 was one of the first multipurpose compact crossover SUVs and a truly successful case of a "jack of all trades" being good at almost anything you asked of it. With a ton of cargo space, options for both 2WD or 4WD variations, as well as both gas and hybrid options, the RAV4 is suitable for anyone from weekend offroad adventurers to large busy families looking to cruise around the city in affordable safety. Visit https://www.1000islandstoyota.com/blog/how-the-new-2023-toyota-rav4-is-better-than-ever for more information.
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Land Of The Sun: 2020 Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari Recap
New Post has been published on https://coolcarsnews.com/land-of-the-sun-2020-tierra-del-sol-desert-safari-recap/
Land Of The Sun: 2020 Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari Recap
Deep in the deserts of The southern part of California, one of the oldest off-road groupings in the country meets once a year for an occasion stretching back almost 60 years. Nestled between the Salton Ocean and Anza-Borrego, the Ocotillo Bore holes SVRA is the club’s stomping surface and the scene for t he Tierra Del Sol Wilderness Safari (TDS). It’s the largest plus longest-running off-road event in The southern part of California, and this year, it provided a mix of the classic off-road enjoyable, as well as some new ways to take pleasure in the desert.
Jeeps, trucks, UTVs and much more gather at TDS to get their particular share of off-road action.
Driving in early Sunday morning, the quiet S22 road is a surreal place in the pre-dawn light. The shadows of the hillsides and sparse vegetation pass silently as you head towards the Salton Ocean. Cresting the last ridge, the see opens up, revealing the sun rising over the lake and thousands of rough-road enthusiasts camped and ready for the particular day’s adventure.
Moving the ocean of RVs plus Jeeps, I head into town as well as the safari headquarters to meet with Tanker Vaughan, Club President. As I show up, the HQ is already abuzz along with trail bosses. They’re getting ready to prospect the day’s guests on led treks of varying difficulty, some thing that’s new for this year’s firefox.
Let’s Go For A Trip
After quick opening paragraphs, Patrick invites me to visit board with him. We are heading out with the other members to complete marking the trail head from the “Green” route, the staple path of the event through the state recreation area. On the short trip out to the particular staging area, we chat about a brief history of the club and how the Firefox plays a key role in the mission. “We are a non-profit, ” Patrick tells me. “The safari will be a major part of helping us fight to maintain lands open and available for lovers. ” Soon, we turn off places road and head through series of camps as we arrive at the particular rally point.
Best: Sunrise reveals thousands of off-road lovers starting their day. Bottom: TDS Club President Patrick Vaughan lies the final trail markers. Nearby, individuals line up awaiting the start.
After all of the markers are usually set, it’s time to meet up with our driver for the day, Green Route path boss Jon Gray. His rig for the day is the “War Wagon. ” The War Wagon is a purpose-built, no-frills Power Wagon which happily displays its battle scars through years of roaming the desert. Once we near the start time, attendees begin lining up and before too much time, a string of over a hundred vehicles are airing down plus making last minute preparations. The range associated with rigs was impressive with completely built heavy duty crawlers, side simply by sides, a fleet of jeeps spanning decades of production plus mix of stock trucks and Sports utility vehicles all eager to enjoy the 14 kilometers of trail ahead.
The Green Route is a hand-picked course through the heart of TDS’s backyard. It is designed as a path to showcase some of the land’s unique functions while staying manageable for most share production four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Looks Like We Got Us The Convoy
Top: Moving out on the safari route with a type of Jeeps in tow. Bottom: Because the soft sand give way to a more difficult pack, the line spreads out because speeds pick up.
At 8 o’clock sharp, the particular wheels start rolling on the Avoid. We are off with what seems like great string of vehicles in tow line. Winding through a few of the outlying camps, the caravan follows the laid-out markers and turns towards the open up desert. The first few miles contain a mixture of hard-packed sand and ruts. As we wind towards less degree ground, the line starts to spread out to lessen dust. Soon, the terrain assumes a noticeable change and as the particular hills and valleys become nearer together, the line of vehicles shuts the gaps, snaking through the very first real glimpse of what this particular land really has to offer.
“That one is Leprechaun’s Leap, ” Jon says, as we pass 1 particularly gnarly descent just from the trail. That quickly becomes a working theme as we push through various switchbacks and topped crests. Jon describes off-shoots himself and the golf club have cut throughout the years. This quickly becomes obvious that this path we’re traversing is really the equivalent of the particular club’s daily commute and a main vein for their exploration of the area. Soon, we approach the tent and checkpoint for those prepared to stretch their legs and have a quick break. Discount Tire offers some refreshments for those that stop. Since the lead vehicle, we move directly on through, continuing the adventure.
Second Wind
Top: Climbing over and weaving with the canyons delivers breathtaking views from the desert at every vista. Bottom: The particular canyons widen and the ground softens as we approach the final leg from the trail in Tectonic Canyon.
Pushing on to the 2nd half of the trail, there is no a lot more open ground to be seen. Canyon wall space grow taller and the switchbacks get tight as we move forward. While the route is usually well-cut and marked, the area is really a honeycomb of off-shoots and alternative paths. They all snake through plus over every gap and burglary the tall walls. Jon moves the War Wagon with ease on the ridges as the canyon slowly widens and ground transitions to smoother sand. This terrain continues once we approach a series of soft sand climbs out of the canyon.
At the top one of these climbs is Checkpoint 3 or more, manned by the Hemet Jeep Club . They are providing support to any of the motorists that may need it. One of those Jeeps is definitely my ride back to HQ, plus it’s time for me to part methods with the trail. I watch because the War Wagon disappears around a flex heading towards Tectonic Canyon as well as the last leg of the Green Path. For me, it’s time to head over to the particular Ocotillo Wells training grounds and look for some more 4×4 fun.
The trail run is a mash-up of vehicles ranging from stock in order to purpose-built crawlers. It includes this Willys that fit perfectly into the wilderness landscape.
General, the Green Route trail is a superb opportunity to get acquainted with the area plus feel a piece of off-roading history as you go along. It is a must-see trail that can be done excluding a fully built rig. Now, for people who do have that fully built rigs and are more familiar with the area, TDS has a new set of more challenging paths they are happy to lead people via. These three additional trails were setup on BLM land outside of the condition park and had some minimum automobile requirements that needed to be met in order to safely traverse. While I did not have the opportunity to join in on one of these trips, it’s something that will definitely be prepared for the future.
Up For The task
The guided path runs are a huge draw towards the Safari, but only encompass a little part of the fun. The training grounds is surely an area that is jam-packed throughout the weekend break. It offers up enjoyment for each spectator and driver alike. Along with obstacles and hillsides ranging from fairly easy to insane issues like Crossover Peak, the area becomes a main rally point for many participants.
Top: Crowds of people gather to watch drivers test by themselves and their machines. Bottom: Since the wind picks up and the sand begins whipping around, it only increases the atmosphere of the training grounds.
This year was the same, with crowds gathered around “Little Sluice” and “Dollar Drop, ” cheering drivers on as they navigated the terrain. With such a broad assortment of obstacles and so many automobiles running around, it was a non-stop buffet of crawling action. As the time wound down and the winds acquired, not even the blinding sand held drivers from running the training course, trying to better their lines and set their rigs to the test.
In all, the 2020 TDS Safari was another huge achievement. It brought out thousands of off-roaders to the edge of the Salton Ocean for some desert fun. So tag your calendars for 2021 so when TDS invites you to come out plus explore their backyard, know that this really is one off-road event not to skip.
Not every attempt to deal with an obstacle is a success. However with a little crowd encouragement and hands-on help, vehicles move through the various issues throughout the day.
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What are the benefits of crossover vehicle design? Like the kid in "Poltergeist" said, "they're heeeereee." But we're not talking about angry spirits. We're talking about crossovers. Don't feel badly if you haven't heard of them. Crossover is a relatively new automotive term. A crossover (or a crossover SUV, as they're sometimes called) is a vehicle that has the body and space of an SUV, but the underpinnings of a car. They've taken over the parts of the automotive market that used to belong to SUVs alone and become the go-to car for many American families. Even though crossovers are now driving the market, you might be wondering why car companies decided to fuse rough-and-tumble SUV looks with a car. As it turns out, there are a number of benefits to a crossover vehicle design. With a crossover, you get an upright seating position, which can improve outward visibility. You also get lots of interior space, and usually pretty good crash protection. Of course, SUVs provide all those things, too. But SUVs have a few downsides: Because SUVs tend to ride on truck-based platforms, they're heavy. That extra weight can make SUVs tough to stop, and it makes them have less-than-stellar fuel economy ratings. SUVs also have substantial suspensions built for off-road driving. On the road, however, those same suspensions can feel rough and uncomfortable. Finally, with their tall stances, SUVs can be tippy and, in general, a little tough to drive. Contact one of our trusted dealers for a great deal on a Repairable crossover suv. 💻 www.eliterebuildablecars.com - ☎ +1 (631) 213-9209 - 📧
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Moscow, Russia - #UAZ469 or #УАЗ was a #soviet #jeep like #SUV Developed from the GAZ-69. The vehicle was originally not available for purchase by the public, but many were sold as surplus to private owners. 40 years after it was introduced, the 469 is still available on the Russian market. And this is truly impressive, because the architecture of the vehicle remains almost unchanged for the last four decades. Unlike most of the modern SUVs and crossovers, the UAZ was a real offroad #vehicle even in the basic version. UAZ is keeping things simple even today, when emission standards and customer requirements are putting all manufacturers under pressure. For example, the front suspension features dependent coil setup, while the rear axle sits on leaf spring. The car still uses drum brakes on all four wheels. hile some might say this is just an archaic conception for a #offroad vehicle, we love it because it’s simple, robust, reliable, and #retro-romantic. #moscow #russia #москва #россия #downtown #thecity #cars #carspotter #parking #streetparking #soloparking #street #parked #theparkedcar #streetparked #streetparking #dailycars #autos #winter #snow #offroad #4x4 (at Moscow) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYRrukaJ113/?utm_medium=tumblr
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