[heckler]

Another question for experienced owners in the mountainous regions of the west.

Looking to replace my 96 S15 Jimmy with a new Patriot 4X4 (not sure of FDI or FDII yet). I do a lot of mountain biking, and need a 4X4 that can take 4 people and 4 bikes up British Columbia logging roads (mostly in Squamish/Whistler/Vancouver/Kamloops area).

Assume people are 180 lb each, and bikes are 50 lb each, so that's 920 lbs, plus food and beer...

So, according to curb weight and GVWR, I should be able to carry 1200 lbs in a Pat with FDII.

Curb weight - 1,475kg (3,252lbs)
GVWR - 2,012kg (4,436lbs)


The question to owners is - have you taken a fully loaded (1100 or so lbs of people and gear) up a moderate logging road with water bars and steep sections that a stock S15 Jimmy 4X4 4.3L V6 could make it up without a problem? What was your experience?

How capable is a Patriot of this kind of use on weekends and city driving during the week? Is the engine powerful enough? I'm not a speed demon, but don't want the tires bottoming out or the CVT giving up because I'm close to the load limit going up long (5-10 km long) hills.

Thanks!

 

[nearly.normal.jimmy]

From what I have read and in experiences.
You are asking too much of a 4cyl CVT Patriot.

 

[heckler]

what if it where on a paved road going up a mountain?

 

[dokboy]

I rented an 07 this fall and took it over the Hurley pass from Pemberton, you may know it. The thing had CVT but no Off-Road pkg of course as ita rental. I had 3 guys and 4days worth of food, booze and hunting gear and it did it no problem. The first 15-20k of the road is all steep climbing and switch backs and fairly rough with rocks and washboard at every turn. I am a believer

 

[heckler]

yup, I know the Hurley. Thanks!

Keep your experiences coming! I want to know how much you can carry up a mountain in a FDII

 

[dokboy]

In low range with FDii you probably get away with pushing it but you'll be runnin her pretty hard with a ton o gear. We were pretty much full and it wasn't an issue but she ran pretty hard especially up the last climb to the red rocks. She hung around 5000rpm all they way up. The little rig didn't seem to mind it. A good test would be the first climp up the Duffy from either end.

 

[heckler]

any other experiences with 4 people and gear driving up mountains? pavement or gravel...

 

[AbqPatriot]

I went on a week long hunting trip in southern New Mexico. I often had four large men in the Patriot. I had to watch my clearance a little more, but had no problem with power. We took some rough "roads" and other than wishing I had had a few more inches of clearance, no problem. I even had to stop and help a guy in a huge Dodge 4X4 truck get out of one of the ruts the Patriot was nimble enough to get around.

 

[johnda]

I think at the very least you must get the off-road version. You will need the one inch greater clearance plus the protective shielding and everything else that will come with the Off-road version. Is the transmission cooler part of that package? If, not you should add that in.

 

[eeyun]

It depends what roads. I've had mine up the BR-200 off the Squamish River Road, up Mamquam FSR, and up a bunch of stuff around Jones Lake out near Chilliwack. That was with only 2 people though.

I would recomend getting the FDII version if you want to haul that many people with bikes up sustained hills simply for the lower gearing.

 

[Belveder]

I think you need full size SUV like Cherokee or Explorer

 

[heckler]

I went on a week long hunting trip in southern New Mexico. I often had four large men in the Patriot. I had to watch my clearance a little more, but had no problem with power. We took some rough "roads" and other than wishing I had had a few more inches of clearance, no problem. I even had to stop and help a guy in a huge Dodge 4X4 truck get out of one of the ruts the Patriot was nimble enough to get around.

did you find yourself needing to use the low gearing of the FDII on hills with 4 guys in it?

 

[AbqPatriot]

did you find yourself needing to use the low gearing of the FDII on hills with 4 guys in it?

No, not at all. Power not an issue. Clearance was sometimes. I would have loved a bit more lift.

 

[heckler]

Well, she's passed the test. I've had 4 people and 4 bikes going 9 km up to an elevation of 900 metres on paved road and 5 people/5 bikes going up a smooth logging road to 600 metres elevation over 5 km or so.

The 5 people/5 bikes was a slow drive (20 kph), but the FDII had no problem getting up the hill.