SCUBA Friendly Vehicles
#1
Posted 05 July 2005 - 12:53 PM
I am considering ditching my little Honda Accord in favor of a more SCUBA friendly vehicle. At the moment I am considering between a Toyota Tacoma (XtraCab or DoubleCab) or a Toyota 4Runner. Are there any particular pros & cons between either a pick up truck or SUV? And should I even be worried about picking up a truck with 4 wheel drive? My main concern will be using the truck to make some trips in and around Texas over the next few years. The only real pro I can think of for an SUV over a pick up truck is in case I want to store my equipment while I am away from the vehicle for an extended period of time...and that would only come into play if I had several divers with me because I could probably store 1-2 divers equipment in the cab with an XtraCab or DoubleCab set up. Let me know if anyone has any wisdom to shed on this subject...
Thanks...
Kawika
Sugar Land, TX
Christian
United States Military Academy Class of 1995 "With Honor We Strive..." F1/F4
"Do not go where the path may lead...go instead where there is no path and leave a trail..."
Anyone looking to rent a room in Sugar Land, TX?
#2
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:04 PM
#3
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:05 PM
It is a quad cab pickup with a lockable storage compartment under the truck bed. Very nice vehicle. Only drawback is this is the first model year and I have been burned twice in the past by buying first model year vehicles.
But if you are at all interested in a full size truck with some SUV qualities it may be worth at least looking at.
A true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn... that was fun!!"
#4
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:10 PM
K
Sugar Land, TX
Christian
United States Military Academy Class of 1995 "With Honor We Strive..." F1/F4
"Do not go where the path may lead...go instead where there is no path and leave a trail..."
Anyone looking to rent a room in Sugar Land, TX?
#5
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:17 PM
I use a pickup. I can't do w/o the tailgate for gearing up. Save a thousand or so bucks by NOT getting 4X4. Unless you're going to use it a lot off-road and/or dirt roads, what do you really need it for? Use the money you save to buy a canopy (or "topper" as they're called in other parts of the country) to secure your gear.Alright Folks...
I am considering ditching my little Honda Accord in favor of a more SCUBA friendly vehicle. At the moment I am considering between a Toyota Tacoma (XtraCab or DoubleCab) or a Toyota 4Runner. Are there any particular pros & cons between either a pick up truck or SUV? And should I even be worried about picking up a truck with 4 wheel drive? My main concern will be using the truck to make some trips in and around Texas over the next few years. The only real pro I can think of for an SUV over a pick up truck is in case I want to store my equipment while I am away from the vehicle for an extended period of time...and that would only come into play if I had several divers with me because I could probably store 1-2 divers equipment in the cab with an XtraCab or DoubleCab set up. Let me know if anyone has any wisdom to shed on this subject...
Thanks...
Kawika
That's a 97 Mazda B2300 p/u. Canopy was an additional $300. If I had my druthers (and more money), I would get the xtra cab. I've owned two Mazda p/u's. I don't really prefer Mazda over other makes, it was just coincidental that they both happened to be what I was looking for, and they both happened to be Mazda's.
Edited by Brinybay, 13 January 2007 - 12:06 AM.
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
#6
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:29 PM
Don't buy 4wd unless you are actually going to use it, it will cost you more than just gas, the extra weight, transfer box, drive shafts, locking hubs and skid plates all up the repair cost.
Since you are looking at used stuff how about a Ford Explorer Sport Trac, four doors and a plastic pickup bed so you don't need to worry about your salty gear rusting the bed away. Many small station wagons are fine for hauling two sets of gear also with Rubbermaid tubs to catch the drips.
By all that is wet, I do hereby swear, (politely), and attest, upon pain of never diving again, (real or imagined), that I understand and affirm, that I agree to the above.
_________________________________________(log in name signature)
Signed and Dated
#7
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:42 PM
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
#8
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:42 PM
#9
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:50 PM
Dennis
"Suppose you were an idiot ... And suppose you were a member of Congress ... But I repeat myself." --Mark Twain
#10
Posted 05 July 2005 - 01:53 PM
#11
Posted 05 July 2005 - 02:14 PM
K
Sugar Land, TX
Christian
United States Military Academy Class of 1995 "With Honor We Strive..." F1/F4
"Do not go where the path may lead...go instead where there is no path and leave a trail..."
Anyone looking to rent a room in Sugar Land, TX?
#12
Posted 05 July 2005 - 02:16 PM
I don't have 4WD, or a V-6 (I was cheap and got the '4 banger'). I'd highly recommend getting the bigger engine if you have the option. I've never needed 4WD. At least not for diving...coulda used it a few times in the winter
I'd also recommend getting a 'topper'. There are some manufacturers that make utility toppers (large side windows). One of our instructors has that on his truck...very handy.
The other drawback of a truck is limited seating capacity (unless you get a crew cab).
#13
Posted 05 July 2005 - 03:38 PM
MNJoe
"just your average Joe from Minnesota, also known as Keith"
#14
Posted 05 July 2005 - 04:34 PM
Now were talkin dive vehicle gentlemen.
#15
Posted 05 July 2005 - 04:45 PM
I believe I have about 44K miles on my 4 runner. I drive 70 miles every day, 35 each way to work and back plus the weekends, etc. Remember, this car is almost 2 years old, so I put a lot of miles on it. I bought it in August 2003, it had less than 40 miles when I got it.I know Toyotas are fairly legendary for the mileage they can go through before having problems...but has anyone got a good idea how high that threshold should be? I've seen a lot of Toyotas on sale that have mileage over 230K. Most of the vehicles I am looking at right now are right around 120K miles...which puts me in the lower $9K-$10K range. How many miles do you have on your 4Runner Dennis?
K
Dennis
"Suppose you were an idiot ... And suppose you were a member of Congress ... But I repeat myself." --Mark Twain
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