Which cars are good for doing moderate trails/hiking in Arizona?

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We always say “anybody can get back here with a lifted 4 x 4, that don’t mean nothing. We got back here in a 2008 Corolla. That takes skill.”

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u/dr_mackdaddy Phoenix 2d ago

Seriously I used to take my Chevy cobalt out to fossil creek. It really wasn't that bad.

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u/Not_me_no_way 1d ago

My first time to Childs was in a 1984 Mustang GT. It took us hours but we made that drive several times in that car. I've been going to the hot springs since 1998. I even took that same Mustang into Strawberry for provisions because getting to Strawberry was faster than going back to Camp Verde (before they closed off that part of Fossil Creek Rd). As for 2 wheel drive cars I've also made the trip to Childs in a 1988 Ford Taurus and a 1998 Toyota Camry. You just need to know how to articulate through the rough spots and strategize your wheel placement.

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u/MundaneHuckleberry58 2d ago

Yup. I went the entire state in a 2002 Camry. Including fossil creek, crown king.

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u/Zardoz__ 2d ago

Yup, I can honestly say a mid 90s clapped out bmw 740 is the best handling car I've off-roaded. But many people don't know about ground clearance, brake over/approach/departure angle, traction (some self clearance did occur)

Crown king saloon on karaoke night is something everyone should experience, plus the room was $50. I remember the old timer playing the spoons, next to us at the bar, like it was yesterday.

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u/Kushie1 2d ago

Clearance and A/T tires matter more than make/model. You really don't even need 4x4/awd if you have good clearance and tires: Unless of course you are an expert off-roader, which i'm guessing you're not based on the question.

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u/Not_me_no_way 2d ago

I totally disagree. Vehicles such as the Hyundai can be problematic. You need something reliable if you're planning on taking it to places like Fossil Creek.

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u/dayvidlemmon 2d ago edited 2d ago

I have seen plenty of sedans and minivans at Fossil Creek. Probably wouldn’t do the last section of the downhill into Childs, but the fossil creek road isn’t bad as long as it’s dry.

My ‘23 Outback Wilderness gets me just about anywhere I want to go, and is tame around town. I don’t have much interest in technical off-roading / jeep trails.

Out of the list you provided, I would prioritize the vehicles with the best maintenance history, and have them checked out by a mechanic you trust.

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u/Not_me_no_way 2d ago

Sure but you're 12 miles into the wilderness at that point. If you're buying an unreliable car only because it has good tires and that thing breaks down on you, that tow out of there could cost you $500 plus. It makes more sense to buy something dependable and purchase the tires that suit your needs for capabilities afterwards. Purchasing a vehicle just because it has good tires sounds quite foolish.

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u/dayvidlemmon 2d ago

With those kind of miles, none of us on Reddit can tell from OP’s list which is going to be the most reliable.

He needs to pick his favorites and have a pre purchase inspection by a mechanic he trusts.

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u/Not_me_no_way 2d ago

Right, that's what I said in my reply to OP. This comment is directed to the person who suggested buying a vehicle based solely on tire type and ground clearance.

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u/TheGutch74 2d ago

Pretty sure that the person you are replying to is just answering OPs question in the title and not paying attention to the options listed. Even if you have a really reliable vehicle but you have crap tires and low clearance chances of you having a bad day on trail are pretty high.

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u/Not_me_no_way 2d ago

See here's the problem the original commenter told OP to ignore make and model and just buy a vehicle based on it's ground clearance and tire type. I respond back by saying that's not very good advice. The person before you butts into the conversation. Now you are butting into a conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with either of you. AND now the original comment has been deleted, you especially don't even realize how this all got started.

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u/TheGutch74 1d ago

The original comment I am referring to is still there.. Maybe you got blocked? They made no mention to OP to ignore make and model. At least how I read it. They just stated "Clearance and A/T tires matter more than make/model. You really don't even need 4x4/awd if you have good clearance and tires: Unless of course you are an expert off-roader, which i'm guessing you're not based on the question." which again speaks to the question they actually asked. If you don't have decent tires or clearance then it really does not matter which vehicle they get cuz they won't be getting very far.

All you were saying was that Hyundias suck but don't back up that with any reason. So helpful. At to your other point...again..part of a reliable vehicle for trails is have good rubber and clearance.

And is this your first day on Reddit? Butting into conversations on a public forum.....buddy....you okay? Drink some water.

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u/Not_me_no_way 1d ago

Sounds like they edited their comment once they realized how stupid it was. And now you're chiming in. Or maybe this is just a back up account....... Either way do some research and you would find out which make of vehicle has the best record for reliability. You have an infinite amount of information at your fingertips yet you would rather some random redditor to school you on vehicle reliability? Try harder to exercise your critical thinking skills.

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u/Not_me_no_way 2d ago

Nah they realized how ridiculous and foolish their comment was and deleted them

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u/Kushie1 2d ago

Any used car with 100k+ miles can breakdown. Every manufacturer has made mass produced junk and if you don't know the maintenance history, you're buying blind. You should get a PPI on anything you buy used.

The point still stands, off-roading requires clearance and tires. Maybe you can articulate to OP the drivetrains you prefer on his list of cars for reliability.

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u/quetzelcoatulus 2d ago

Except the Toyotas

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u/FTP_FTP_ 2d ago

Tell that to people with the 3.6L grenade in the new Tundras.

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u/quetzelcoatulus 1d ago

Oh haha, I don’t know about that. I’m a pre 2015 Toyota guy

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u/Not_me_no_way 1d ago

About 1% of 3rd generation Tundras are having an issue. Great way to fall for the hype.

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u/DonkeyEnergy 1d ago

It's actually 1/3 of Tundras that were affected that's according to Toyota.

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u/Not_me_no_way 1d ago

No Toyota actually reported less than 1% experiencing failure. The 1/3 you are referring to may be the amount included in the recall. But your figure of 1/3 experiencing a failure is absolutely incorrect. Try harder next time.

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u/DonkeyEnergy 1d ago

My statement stands because that's what Toyota said learn a little bit better okay buddy 👍🏻

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/DonkeyEnergy 1d ago

No Toyota has had plenty of bad models as a matter of fact they just had huge recalls on the Tacomas. Late '90s and early model 2000 Toyota tacomas literally broken half in the frame... Every manufacturer has good models and bad models.

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u/MrKrinkle151 2d ago

Any used car with 100k+ miles can breakdown.

Well yeah, that’s why buying at least a reliable one with a good maintenance history is even more important…

Every manufacturer has made mass produced junk

Okay? Nobody said otherwise. We’re talking about specific models and years here, so I don’t see how this is relevant.

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u/DonkeyEnergy 1d ago

That year model Hyundai Tucson is one of the most reliable cars ever made. I had a similar one and I put bigger more aggressive tires on it it was a front wheel drive and I could take it almost everywhere I could go in my four-wheel drive. The main thing is to keep up on maintenance on any vehicle.

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u/Not_me_no_way 1d ago

You might have had a good experience but the words reliable and Hyundai statistically do not ever go together. That's hilarious you just said that.

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u/DonkeyEnergy 1d ago

You're obviously very ignorant about vehicles...the 2006 to 2009 Hyundai Tucson are some of the highest performing vehicles ever made later models did have issues and the early Sonatas and Elantras were also excellent because they were actually set up by Toyota... Judging by your reply to other comments you really are uneducated about vehicles and about off-road driving.

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u/Not_me_no_way 1d ago

You're surely a die hard Hyundai loyalist aren't you......No Hyundai has never been the "Highest performing" of anything in it's entire existence. And it's funny that you assume I have no experience when I've spent more than 2 decades in the automotive industry along with degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering. I would put money on the fact that you're not even 25 years old yet. I bet you think BMW makes a great car too

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u/Not_me_no_way 1d ago

Like a raccoon defending a trash can

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u/twarrr 2d ago

The moment they hit any deep sand, they're done.

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u/dewihafta 2d ago

Best to be raised and have awd.

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u/AZPeakBagger 2d ago

I can get to 99% of the places I want to get to in Arizona with a Subaru. A RAV4 will be similar. If it's a particularly nasty spot, I just invite a friend with a Tacoma to go hiking with me.

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u/MeteorMann 2d ago

The vehicle's ground clearance and your own confidence will determine that

I have gotten my Camry into some surprising places.

My old Escape (may it rest in peace) went everywhere I asked of it, without exception.

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u/desertSkateRatt 2d ago

Honestly Rav4 is the best choice. At that age the mileage is actually really low and those earlier model Rav4s are easy to work on and maintain. You actually can put a lift in them to fit larger tires but I'd check to see what options for what can fit in the wheel wells as-is before putting money into mods right away.

Should be said, good tires aren't a necessity but will make a huge improvement for capabilities and overall ride quality on rougher trails. Do a little research into the basics of offroading, including but not limited to why airing down is a game changer. The tires are one of the most important components of suspension and how a trail feels. Always carry a good jack, tire iron and tire repair/flat fix kit. Along with that make sure you have a full sized spare because the doughnuts are for road use only and you'll be proper fucked if you end up with two punctured tires.

You'll find your options to explore further out and less crowded spots the harder it is for regular sedans to be able to get to.

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u/Evillincoln547 2d ago

Honestly , I’ve taken my gti down to fossil many times lol. Was it smart? No, but it made out ok lol

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u/CDWigglesworth 2d ago

I've taken my GTIs down many roads that they had no business being on, especially when I was a teenager. Just had to be careful and go slow

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u/ClickKlockTickTock Mesa 2d ago

I take my E60 (bmw) and 07 corolla to places like this all the time lol, dont go when its pouring rain and don't go 45mph down dirt roads and you're fine.

Ive been to lava river cave in flagstaff with both cars and thats miles of loose washboard style dirt roads. Wasn't a comfortable drive but they both made it!

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u/Stunning_Coffee6624 2d ago

Honestly my Honda pilot has been solid. I think people over estimate the need. Remember all these trails existed when most folks using them were driving 2WD 1/4 ton pickups or Volkswagens

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u/hikeraz Phoenix 2d ago

Any of those would be fine. They all have more ground clearance than a regular sedan.

You could increase their ability by adding different tires. A lot of tire makers make mild all-terrain tires now because there are so many people with small SUV’s that want to do what you want to do. Look at the tires that are on the mild off-road packages that they all sell now. Specifically the Honda Trailsport, Subaru Wilderness, and Toyota Woodland packages. A lot of them use Yokohama Geolander tires of one style or another. They are meant to still give you good on-road performance like lower noise and close to the same gas mileage while giving you slightly better off-road performance.

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u/Not_me_no_way 2d ago edited 2d ago

I would personally go with the more reliable options such as the Honda or Toyota but without actually doing a personal inspection, nobody really knows the condition of these vehicles to give an informed opinion. Toyota will always be my go-to maker of cars for the dependability of their products.

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u/TheGutch74 2d ago

I did a quick look on Marketplace for f-150's. I would say an easy 75% of them were either quad cab or extended cabs which should be just fine for a car seat as far as I know.

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u/Magnussens_Casserole 2d ago

Any typical AWD crossover will be fine.

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u/jdeiter 2d ago

Mileage itself might not be the biggest concern of these options. Due to the age I’d get someone to do a prepurchase inspection or you can end up paying hundreds or thousands a week or months after you get it

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u/Fun_Telephone_1165 2d ago

As another said, clearance and strong tires are more important for roads that you mention. 4WD isn't necessary at all for them unless you plan to expand into lesser-quality roads. The F150 is probably too big and not practical unless you plan to really use the bed a lot beyond occasional recreation trips.

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u/JohnWCreasy1 2d ago

i have a subaru crosstrek that i take on some pretty poorly maintained dirt roads upstate and it performs quite well

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u/pindevil 2d ago

If you are getting to hiking trails most standard daily drivers will get you where you need to be. Until recently I drove a 2006 Honda Pilot with FWD. This was more than adequate. There were times I would be on a terrible road thinking should I turn around, but then I would cross that one person in a Toyota Corolla and realize I'll be fine. 🙂 How you drive probably matters more than what you drive. Just don't do anything dumb to get yourself stuck. Be prepared at the very least with a tire change and a portable battery jumper.

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u/bsil15 2d ago

I have a 2023 RAV4 AWD that I have taken or would feel comfortable taking to all those places — iv driven up Four Peaks road twice in it for example. But 2006 is 20 yrs old and 1998 is almost 30 (tho how it’s been driven only 6k miles a year is baffling— i have 63k on my 2023). Id be more concerned about those cars breaking down assuming you’re talking about buying a used car and don’t really know its car history

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u/Randomrabbitz1 2d ago

done fossil creek in a 5 series multiple times no issues

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u/Not_me_no_way 2d ago

That's like playing Russian Roulette

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u/DocWallaD 2d ago edited 2d ago

Ex cop car, Crown Vic. If you are looking cheap, easy to fix and find parts for. It's built off a 90s f150 ladder frame, has a beefy skid plate, and can go anywhere you are willing to take it (I've had one rocking on 2-3 wheels off roading before). Has a massive trunk. Ground clearance is ~5.6". Only down side is the long nose and ass. It's entry and departure angles are trash for actual off roading. But dirt roads with some holes and rocks? No problem at all. They were built to romp curbs at 40mph. Just know anything with a solid rear axle will suck on washboard dirt roads though.

Expect 19mpg with the 3.27 rear end, less with the 3.55 rear end. ~300 miles to a tank of gas.

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u/username_fantasies 2d ago

4runner but I'm biased.

They are objectively excellent

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u/ThirdBrakeLight 1d ago

is it a 2-Door rav4 by any chance?

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u/DonkeyEnergy 1d ago

I'm not sure what the price was on that Hyundai Tucson but those models are excellent especially if it's a v6 all-wheel drive manual which is like a unicorn but I had the 4 cylinder -front wheel drive... I put bigger more aggressive tires and I could take it almost everywhere my 4WD would go it had excellent clearance and superb off-road handling. Great f* cking car!👍🏻

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u/michelleinAZ 1d ago

I took my Mazda crx out to Fossil Creek no prob, other than the 20 miles of washboard shaking my teeth loose.

Personally I find trucks a little unstable/prone to sliding.

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u/Vash_85 1d ago

Where are you looking that you can't find an f150 with a second row?

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u/nealfive 1d ago

I drive a Prius C and I don’t think I had any issues really. All I can tell you is that it has seen more off road than most trucks and Jeeps lol

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u/subtuteteacher 5h ago

Get the Honda CRV they run forever and I regret getting rid of the one I had years ago.

Outdoors Which cars are good for doing moderate trails/hiking in Arizona?

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