Truck Question: 4WD necessary? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Mahigeer · 06-05-2019, 05:55 PM

After this trip, later in 2017 I bought a 4X4 4Runner for Baja trips.

Now I am good for my ice fishing trips too.

From post of 2014 in front of Alfonsina's Hotel

25-Well I got stuck after unloading the kayak. Doho

26-The yellow plastic gadget is called Road Chew. It is supposed to help stranded motorist get out of snow and mud and sand, etc.

It actually got buried in the sand and I had to dig the area of the tire tracks to find them. It did not work for me.

Raskal311 · 06-07-2019, 06:42 AM

Look for the traction board called maxtrax; its expensive but proven.

Mahigeer · 06-09-2019, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raskal311

Look for the traction board called maxtrax; its expensive but proven.

I did. I bought one pair not long after that trip.

Just wish I had taken them to Wyoming. I figured in US, AAA would get me out of jams, but did not know about off-road exclusion.

tomahawk · 06-16-2019, 10:09 AM

It is not really necessary but worth it when you need it. I have a 4WD RAM 1500 and I rarely use the 4WD. I think I needed it twice in 3 years. It is worth it for the piece of mind. I go where I want and don't worry too much. My other car is a Nissan Murano and i have had that nearly stuck several times in areas where it was very unexpected. Those experiences are what made me get the 4WD. The RAM is my daily commuter in LA traffic and I get a little over 18 MPG on average. When I take trips I get about 21 MPG and when I tow my 18 foot trailer I get about 16 MPG.
I second the early 80s Toyota 22R. I had the 1983, the last year of the body style. It could go anywhere and had huge clearance. I would still have it but my wife hated driving it and at the time we could only afford one car.
Tom

(a D u B) · 06-17-2019, 12:11 PM

Thank you all - I think I'm going to go with 4WD... the point of getting a truck is to go places that I otherwise would not with a sedan and at that point, I want to the peace of mind of 4WD.

I'll post a photo when I get it, thanks for the feedback.

Mahigeer · 06-17-2019, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (a D u B)

Thank you all - I think I'm going to go with 4WD... the point of getting a truck is to go places that I otherwise would not with a sedan and at that point, I want to the peace of mind of 4WD.

I'll post a photo when I get it, thanks for the feedback.

Just remember if you have AAA car insurance, they will NOT rescue you if you are not on the public roads.

In US that is. Of course in Baja, you are on your own. But you maybe offered help by the locals.

MMc · 06-18-2019, 11:31 AM

I love my 4X4. It has got me into some great places I would not have tried with 2 wheel. Airing down in sand will do more than 4X4 to get you out or not get stuck. Most places have a pretty good roads but getting to the beach is often a problem. I spend a bit of time in the middle of Baja and it is nice to have.

bun · 07-07-2019, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahigeer

After this trip, later in 2017 I bought a 4X4 4Runner for Baja trips.

Now I am good for my ice fishing trips too.

From post of 2014 in front of Alfonsina's Hotel

25-Well I got stuck after unloading the kayak. Doho

26-The yellow plastic gadget is called Road Chew. It is supposed to help stranded motorist get out of snow and mud and sand, etc.

It actually got buried in the sand and I had to dig the area of the tire tracks to find them. It did not work for me.

have you seen the thing in OZ for getting you out the thing attaches to your stuck wheel a rope goes onto It stake it into the sand or another vech and it pulls you out

Mahigeer · 07-08-2019, 09:26 AM

No, but I got some bigger ones called Maxtrax. I think they are from Australia.
Used them once at Mako-vill, where the quad towing the alum. Boat got stuck. Dave used his truck to get the quad out.
Thus, the jury is out on that on too.

ProfessorLongArms · 07-08-2019, 11:23 AM

For the money, I ended up going with a Nissan *Specifically* so I could afford a 4x4.... I find them to be just about as reliable and capable.

My day to day ride is the car I keep nice, and I couldn't really fathom putting a saltwater kayak on top of a toyota and climbing in covered in fish guts.... I am a true believer in Toyota, but just couldn't justify the extra cost.

If it helps at all, I went back to an 04 model, as any AT frontier between 05 and 09 is *garbage*... apparently there's a huge known problem where they start dumping coolant into the oil and vice versa.

A solid 4x4 frontier is pretty rare (esp in MT as I prefer) but this one has been a dream and less than $6k with 100k miles....(watched craiglist for 3 mos and had to drive to bakersfield by the time I found it)

Took it up to big bear in crazy icy roads without chains or snow tires, and the all-terrains did fine in 4WH

06-07-2019, 06:42 AM	#2
Raskal311 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Santa Ana/Westminster Posts: 1,258	Look for the traction board called maxtrax; its expensive but proven. __________________ Kevin Yellow PA12

06-16-2019, 10:09 AM	#4
tomahawk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 109	Get the 4WD It is not really necessary but worth it when you need it. I have a 4WD RAM 1500 and I rarely use the 4WD. I think I needed it twice in 3 years. It is worth it for the piece of mind. I go where I want and don't worry too much. My other car is a Nissan Murano and i have had that nearly stuck several times in areas where it was very unexpected. Those experiences are what made me get the 4WD. The RAM is my daily commuter in LA traffic and I get a little over 18 MPG on average. When I take trips I get about 21 MPG and when I tow my 18 foot trailer I get about 16 MPG. I second the early 80s Toyota 22R. I had the 1983, the last year of the body style. It could go anywhere and had huge clearance. I would still have it but my wife hated driving it and at the time we could only afford one car. Tom

06-05-2019, 05:55 PM	#1
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,910	After this trip, later in 2017 I bought a 4X4 4Runner for Baja trips. Now I am good for my ice fishing trips too. From post of 2014 in front of Alfonsina's Hotel 25-Well I got stuck after unloading the kayak. Doho 26-The yellow plastic gadget is called Road Chew. It is supposed to help stranded motorist get out of snow and mud and sand, etc. It actually got buried in the sand and I had to dig the area of the tire tracks to find them. It did not work for me.

06-17-2019, 12:11 PM	#5
(a D u B) Junior Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 29	Thank you all - I think I'm going to go with 4WD... the point of getting a truck is to go places that I otherwise would not with a sedan and at that point, I want to the peace of mind of 4WD. I'll post a photo when I get it, thanks for the feedback.

06-18-2019, 11:31 AM	#7
MMc Junior Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 6	I love my 4X4. It has got me into some great places I would not have tried with 2 wheel. Airing down in sand will do more than 4X4 to get you out or not get stuck. Most places have a pretty good roads but getting to the beach is often a problem. I spend a bit of time in the middle of Baja and it is nice to have.

07-08-2019, 09:26 AM	#9
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,910	No, but I got some bigger ones called Maxtrax. I think they are from Australia. Used them once at Mako-vill, where the quad towing the alum. Boat got stuck. Dave used his truck to get the quad out. Thus, the jury is out on that on too.