Best Brands for offroading

silvermike · May 9, 2007

In trying to salvage something of value out of the train wreck perhaps we should look at what brands are best for offroading.

Taking the video of the Range Rover, Escalade, and H2 it was clear the results were slanted. The H2 had an engine cutoff due probably to the computer reading that the air was too thin. I am sure that a high altitude chipset or program override could solve that problem. The Escalade was purposely hung up on a slope outside of its range. A true comparison would be against a Commander but we know the results would be much closer.

Ranking brands I would say Land Rover and Jeep clearly are the two best offroading brands. Land Rover is tops because their entire line is offroad capable. Jeep because it is a more widely distributed brand has some decidedly non-offroad capable vehicles in 4x2 configurations. Jeep does, however, have the most capable offroader off the showroom with the Wrangler Rubicon.

After that you have to look at specific options on specific models from the other manufacturers.

Comments?

Freezal · May 9, 2007

And to add to that is driver ability, you could put me in the best off-road machine in the world and a better driver in a lesser machine will beat me in such a race.

Rictus58 · May 9, 2007

silvermike said:
Ranking brands I would say Land Rover and Jeep clearly are the two best offroading brands. Land Rover is tops because their entire line is offroad capable. Jeep because it is a more widely distributed brand has some decidedly non-offroad capable vehicles in 4x2 configurations. Jeep does, however, have the most capable offroader off the showroom with the Wrangler Rubicon.

As an entire line-up I would have to agree with your Assessment of Landrover being the best. Mostly due to the introduction of the Compass and Patriot. I know the Patriot can be "Trail Rated" but I think that the use of the phrase has been severely watered down in recent years. I wouldn't trust a stock patriot to handle the same terrain as a stock Wrangler. That belief could just be pure ignorance due to the fact I have never seen a patriot off-road with a Wrangler. I guess I'll see at the Jamboree this year. Hopefully there will be some pats there.
I have seen stock GC's and Libertys handle the same trails without much effort though. The only problems they encountered were due to their turning radius. Which is where the Wrangler sets itself apart from all other 4x4s.

silvermike · May 9, 2007

Truth is Jeep has always had vehicles not suited to offroading. Jeepsters, the early wagon, 4x2 editions of Cherokees, etc. The Compass and Patriot 4x2 are the latest renditions. I would say the 4x4 FDI Patriot has limited offroad. Much has to do with a driver but basic vehicle limitations will be a factor. You can turn a RAV-4 into scrap metal very quickly on an easy off road course that a Patriot could handle. That is not an opinion but an observation of the components. I do think Trail Rated has meaning and is measurable criteria. DCX spent a bundle making sure at least one Patriot met that criteria indicates the importance they placed on the Patriot.

JeepFan · May 9, 2007

Rictus58 said:
As an entire line-up I would have to agree with your Assessment of Landrover being the best. Mostly due to the introduction of the Compass and Patriot. I know the Patriot can be "Trail Rated" but I think that the use of the phrase has been severely watered down in recent years. I wouldn't trust a stock patriot to handle the same terrain as a stock Wrangler. That belief could just be pure ignorance due to the fact I have never seen a patriot off-road with a Wrangler. I guess I'll see at the Jamboree this year. Hopefully there will be some pats there.
I have seen stock GC's and Libertys handle the same trails without much effort though. The only problems they encountered were due to their turning radius. Which is where the Wrangler sets itself apart from all other 4x4s.

Well, as to a Wrangler (and a Powerwagon) on the same rail as a Patriot ther IS this:

http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/reviews/patriot/index.htm

Actually in certain kinds of terrain due to its lighter weight, tighter turning radius, independent suspension and etc, the Patriot can and would outperform a Wrangler.

dougep · May 9, 2007

In truth, I would agree that Rover and Jeep are the two top brands for offroading. IMO, they are both hardcore at heart--oh but look we also have leather seats, other doodads, and all this other electronic luxury gadgetry. But mechanically, there are versions of both brands that are ready to go anywhere duty calls.

I would think the LR Discovery is pretty much nearly the equal of the Rubicon, completely hardcore, and down for whatever as the kids say nowadays.

I have no personal experience offroading, except the Camp Bird Mine trail outside Ouray CO (in a Neon--I just dodged the really deep ruts and holes). But from watching clips on Youtube, there seems to be many situations where a Jeep outdoes a Hummer H2. The main culprit seems to be the weight. They are just so heavy, there isn't enough traction to get it going up hills offroad. Marketing seems to have enrobed the H2 with unimpeachable offroad capability that is not fulfilled.

Nearly every manufacturer has had niche vehicles that meet a tightly defined or expected performance goal, but sells less capable vehicles in higher volumes to reduce the tooling cost per vehicle. Ford Mustangs and Chevy Camaros have always been available with either I6 or V6, and sometimes L4, even though nearly everyone really wants at least a GT or Z28 w/V8, or better a Shelby or SS, etc.

Roninshinobi · May 9, 2007

In my opinion Jeep beats Land Rover with what the Wrangler Unlimited did by setting the new altitude world record for an SUV and getting in the Guinness Book of World Records as well for it.

Rictus58 · May 9, 2007

silvermike said:
I do think Trail Rated has meaning and is measurable criteria. DCX spent a bundle making sure at least one Patriot met that criteria indicates the importance they placed on the Patriot.

Trail rated used to mean it can tackle the “mighty” Rubicon Trail. The Patriot is not Trail Rated for the Rubicon. It was trail rated in Utah. So, while yes, it does have meaning, I don’t give it the same weight as I do the Wrangler or GC. They have since changed their “trail rated” guidelines.

dougep said:
I have no personal experience offroading, except the Camp Bird Mine trail outside Ouray CO (in a Neon--I just dodged the really deep ruts and holes). But from watching clips on Youtube, there seems to be many situations where a Jeep outdoes a Hummer H2. The main culprit seems to be the weight. They are just so heavy, there isn't enough traction to get it going up hills offroad. Marketing seems to have enrobed the H2 with unimpeachable offroad capability that is not fulfilled.

At Paragon Park in PA, there was a guy in a H2 who ripped the body from the frame on a trail. The size of the Wrangler makes it much more ideal (IMO) for off-roading than a Hummer. Sure, a stock H2 can ford deeper water than a stock wrangler, but the wrangler will keep on going while the h2 is stuck between 2 trees.

silvermike · May 9, 2007

I guess I can go off-topic on my own thread...

Rictus58, When did Jeep start using Trail Rated?

Rictus58 · May 9, 2007

silvermike said:
I guess I can go off-topic on my own thread...

Rictus58, When did Jeep start using Trail Rated?

The acutal "trail Rated" terminology? I think it was around 2002-2003.

However, prior to that, Jeep had an unwritten rule that any 4x4 it produced was tested on the Rubicon Trail. I think this goes back to the 80's.
The patriot is the first since then to not be tested on the Rubicon.

Roninshinobi · May 10, 2007

I thought to get the trail rate it had to survive through Rubicon?

Huntyeraws · May 10, 2007

Here is the skinny on "Trail Rated" http://www.jeep.com/trailrated/index.html

Best Brands for offroading

silvermike

Freezal

Rictus58

silvermike

JeepFan

dougep

Roninshinobi

Rictus58

silvermike

Rictus58

Roninshinobi

Huntyeraws

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