(Newswire.net — October 25, 2018) — Are you a self-defined weekend warrior? Do you have a “go pack” under your desk filled with vital camping gear and protein bars? Are you just dying for the clock to hit 5 p.m. on a Friday so you can hit the open road in your faithful road-trip vehicle?
When it comes to weekend warriors, there is admittedly a spectrum of preparedness. Some folks are borderline survivalists who use their 9-to-5 jobs to fund their outdoorsy lifestyles and fill up the tank of their Jeep Cherokee. Other people are fledgling adventurers, stuffing their tiny Honda Civic full of tents, camping stoves, and dusty hiking boots. It’s no secret that the quality of the vehicle used by the first illustration will outshine the experience of the second.
Below is a shortlist of our recommendations for the best weekend warrior vehicles. But before we get to that, it’s helpful to highlight a few key qualities to look for in an adventure automobile:
- Lots of room for storage.
- High clearance for off-roading.
- Gas conscious for long road trips.
- Rarely needs repairs.
- Room for customization.
- Potential for add-ons (such as navigation, a roof rack, etc.).
Now that we’ve shared a few of the basics, here are our recommendations.
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevy Tahoe might look like any other large SUV, but inside beats the heart of a truck. This ride is fit with a powerful engine, four-wheel drive, and plenty of seating (up to nine seats!). Unless you are carting around a scout troop to Yosemite, you can put down the seats to maximize storage. The SUV packs a lot of towing power. So, if your idea of the perfect weekend is taking a Jet Ski to the lake, this might be the vehicle for you.
Admittedly, this is a little more expensive than some of the other models on this list ($48,000 MSRP). So, unless you can pay for the vehicle outright, you may have to take advantage of some form of financing.
2014 Ford E-150
If you want an economic adventure vehicle, the 2014 Ford E-150 is the way to go. It’s cheap, it can be bought used and it is infinitely customizable. The #vanlife craze has flooded the internet with tutorials on how to turn this unassuming van into DIY camper. Despite the price and the age of this model, the engine is known for being “bulletproof.” Even if the vehicle experiences troubles, its parts are standard and widely available through most repair shops. However, there are drawbacks. The vehicle is only two-wheel drive and won’t seem like much if you don’t put a lot of work into making it special.
Since these vans are most often used for commercial use, they often can be bought used without too many miles on the odometer. Although if you have a spotty credit history, it might benefit you to explore financing options including bad credit car refinancing. Conversely, if you are willing to spend a little more, the 2014 E-350 is even larger – thus providing more room for storage, seating, or building out your self-made camper van.
2016 Subaru Outback
Our third and final suggestion is the Subaru Outback. This ride offers plenty of storage and a low cargo floor (ideal for loading and unloading). But the real reason this Subaru makes the list is the sophisticated all-wheel-drive. It can handle wet conditions, cold conditions, ice, snow and just about everything else. Even on “washboard” dirt or gravel roads, the Outback delivers a balanced ride and great handling. Not to mention the turn radius on this ride makes it surprisingly agile; even when you are trying to pull off a three-point turn on an unpaved road.
Of course, these are just a few of our suggestions. There are dozens of solid weekend warrior vehicles on the market. You may even have your own favorite models. Feel free to share your recommendations below. And remember to research whatever make or model you choose.
See you on the open road!