Minivan bood dock success stories?

[Kathleen]

I wish minivans had better clearance as a member posted in a recent van thread. Am wondering how far out I will be able to go on public lands in my Town and Country Touring Minivan. Have not taken time to explore the largest size tire I can put on mine. Want to able to boon dock. Guess it will depend on each location. Don't want to get stranded by myself in the middle of nowhere.

The lady who is living in her Montero SUV took another approach. She can go wherever she wants to go but she gave up an aisle to get all her stuff in, and sleeps on a narrow bed on top of the bins she needs least. Interesting how everyone arranges the interior of their vehicles. I wanted an AWD minivan but real hard to get where I live, pricier, and still low clearance. Just FWD for me now in the minivan I bought a few  months ago.

Anyone boon docking in a FWD minivan??? Been doing it a while? Care to share your experiences and accessibility to public lands in your minivan??? Ever get stuck or have to turn around and go elsewhere due to low clearance or rough roads?

 

[ArtW]

There are one or two here than boondock in their minis, hopefully they will chime in
You might be surprised how far off road you can manage in a minivan

 

[towhee]

I camped out of a Toyota Previa for 4 months last winter. In a few weeks I will head out again in the Previa for a year and a half.

I Boondock by preference and spent only a few nights in campgrounds or parking lots.

I didn't feel limited on where I could go by clearance. There was never a time that say big rocks or deep ruts in the roadway stopped me.

I can think of one place where I would have preferred to go further up the road but didn't. I stopped at a steep washed out rutty section of road on BLM west of Anza-Borrego state park.

I think it was the steepness more than the ruts that stopped me. If it were flat I would have proceeded slowly and stopped to look at where the wheels were relative to the ruts if uncertain.

On the slope I thought that I might slide or skid out if I stopped.



At this point in my learning curve what. I Really would like to do is practice in a place where I can easily rescue myself, or where help is nearby, in order to learn the limits of my vehicle and skill.

Practicing on sand would be good. And practicing on ruts to learn how not to high center myself.

That's my experience.

 

[Kathleen]

There are one or two here than boondock in their minis, hopefully they will chime in
You might be surprised how far off road you can manage in a minivan

Thanks for the encouragement, ArtW. I'm sure this topic has been discussed in the past but here we go again. Yes, I hope others will chime in.

 

[Kathleen]

I camped out of a Toyota Previa for 4 months last winter. In a few weeks I will head out again in the Previa for a year and a half.

I Boondock by preference and spent only a few nights in campgrounds or parking lots.

I didn't feel limited on where I could go by clearance. There was never a time that say big rocks or deep ruts in the roadway stopped me.

I can think of one place where I would have preferred to go further up the road but didn't. I stopped at a steep washed out rutty section of road on BLM west of Anza-Borrego state park.

I think it was the steepness more than the ruts that stopped me. If it were flat I would have proceeded slowly and stopped to look at where the wheels were relative to the ruts if uncertain.

On the slope I thought that I might slide or skid out if I stopped.



At this point in my learning curve what. I Really would like to do is practice in a place where I can easily rescue myself, or where help is nearby, in order to learn the limits of my vehicle and skill.

Practicing on sand would be good. And practicing on ruts to learn how not to high center myself.

That's my experience.

Thanks, towhee. I love birds! Thanks for your sharing your experiences and for your encouraging words. Yes, trying the minivan in my home area on back roads is a good idea.

I belong to an advanced Geological Society. We go over super rough roads to old mines and back country, so I've seen ruts, huge scooped out holes, and enormous boulders on private and public lands. The guys I ride with are super drivers, in 4 x 4 pickups or SUV's. One guy's so good he drives the these roads in his recent model Subaru Forester. I've watched how they navigate the worst parts. My minivan would not make it on those roads but I've learned a bit through watching.

Will have get out there and practice on some easy back roads, and go up a level as I learn. Enjoy your Previa travels!

 

[Kathleen]

I camped out of a Toyota Previa for 4 months last winter. In a few weeks I will head out again in the Previa for a year and a half.

I Boondock by preference and spent only a few nights in campgrounds or parking lots.

I didn't feel limited on where I could go by clearance. There was never a time that say big rocks or deep ruts in the roadway stopped me.

I can think of one place where I would have preferred to go further up the road but didn't. I stopped at a steep washed out rutty section of road on BLM west of Anza-Borrego state park.

I think it was the steepness more than the ruts that stopped me. If it were flat I would have proceeded slowly and stopped to look at where the wheels were relative to the ruts if uncertain.

On the slope I thought that I might slide or skid out if I stopped.



At this point in my learning curve what. I Really would like to do is practice in a place where I can easily rescue myself, or where help is nearby, in order to learn the limits of my vehicle and skill.

Practicing on sand would be good. And practicing on ruts to learn how not to high center myself.

That's my experience.

Thanks, towhee. I love birds! Thanks for your sharing your experiences and for your encouraging words. Yes, trying the minivan in my home area on back roads is a good idea.

I belong to an advanced Geological Society. We go over super rough roads to old mines and back country, so I've seen ruts, huge scooped out holes, and enormous boulders on private and public lands. The guys I ride with are super drivers, in 4 x 4 pickups or SUV's. One guy's so good he drives these roads in his recent model Subaru Forester. I've watched how they navigate the worst parts. My minivan would not make it on those roads but I've learned a bit through watching.

Will have to get out there and practice on some easy back roads, and go up a level as I learn. Enjoy your Previa travels!

 

[MrNoodly]

I've seen subcompacts out in the boonies. There are a lot of perfectly passable unpaved roads out there. And the simple rule is, when in doubt, don't go any farther.

If you really really really want to go places only 4x4s can go, then get a 4x4.

 

[Kathleen]

I've seen subcompacts out in the boonies. There are a lot of perfectly passable unpaved roads out there. And the simple rule is, when in doubt, don't go any farther.

If you really really really want to go places only 4x4s can go, then get a 4x4.

Great to know you've seen small cars in the boonies. I like your rule of thumb. I went up the OMG Hill and then up the steep winding dirt road to the Medicine Wheel in the Big Horn Mountains of Northern Wyoming in early June. The drop off was severe with no shoulder and no room to turn around. It was not fun when I saw the huge pile of snow as I got close to 10k ft with a truck coming down the narrow road towards me. The two men in the 4 wheel drive pickup told me it was snowed in to the top. I was happy I managed to get out of that one without going over the edge. Bit more cautious now. :-/ For anyone considering visiting this site please note the National Forest Service opening date is June 21.

A 4 x 4 would be fantastic. But the minivan I acquired has 54k miles, is in great condition, garaged, well maintained, and just the right (low) price, so that's how I'll start my journey. I considered a Forester with it's big back window but I'm tall. Wanted enough room to sleep well with room for storage and decent mpg.

 

[MrNoodly]

I like your rule of thumb.

Okay, so another rule of thumb: If you don't have a vehicle that can take you where you want to go (no matter how badly you want to go there), accept reality and don't go. Because reality doesn't care what you want.

 

[grimmal]

When we first came out west 10 years ago, my wife and I would take our dodge neon with 13 inch tires and towing a little harbor freight trailer. We camped in a tent. We took it every where including Torroweep. That's 60 miles in if I remember right. There were some places it would not go but for the most part It went where we wanted.  Only time we hurt it was when we were straddling a rut going up a hill and slid into rut and put a dent in the gas tank .  Put lots of scratches and dings on it . If we were in doubt we parked it and walked the road for a while to check it out.

 

[Kathleen]

Okay, so another rule of thumb: If you don't have a vehicle that can take you where you want to go (no matter how badly you want to go there), accept reality and don't go. Because reality doesn't care what you want.

Haha, ain't that the truth!! :dodgy:

 

[Kathleen]

When we first came out west 10 years ago, my wife and I would take our dodge neon with 13 inch tires and towing a little harbor freight trailer. We camped in a tent. We took it every where including Torroweep. That's 60 miles in if I remember right. There were some places it would not go but for the most part It went where we wanted.  Only time we hurt it was when we were straddling a rut going up a hill and slid into rut and put a dent in the gas tank .  Put lots of scratches and dings on it . If we were in doubt we parked it and walked the road for a while to check it out.

Yes, that's a good approach. When in doubt walk the road to see what's ahead. Amazing you got into the back country with those little 13 inch tires and a trailer. You must be a pretty good driver. Someone mentioned Lucy and Ricky and the movie Long long trailer. I'll have to watch that movie. I've gotten myself into a lot of Lucy type scrapes over the years!  :blush: Thanks for letting me know you got where you wanted to go in that little vehicle. Gives me hope.

 

[ArtW]

I would add take a come along, or better, some sort of winch, (come alongs suck to use, I should know, I use one) and find your vehicle's recovery points

 

[abnorm]

""Lucy and Ricky and the movie Long long trailer. I'll have to watch that movie. I've gotten myself into a lot of Lucy type scrapes over the years!""

OMG...1954.....summary from IMDB:

""Nicky and Tacy are going to be married. Nicky wants to save up money for a house, but Tacy dreams of starting off with their own home on wheels--a trailer. After the two are hitched, they hitch up their trailer and begin their honeymoon. The humor comes from several disastrous adventures the couple has while traveling including Tacy's awkward attempt to cook dinner in a moving trailer, and a cliffhanging ride through the mountains that nearly destroys their marriage.""


.........the rig's too big for the car = new car.................and Lucy(Tacy) gets behind the wheel for the first time for a white knuckle ride-along
.........and they pickup and collect big ROCKS as mementos....labeling each one where it was found...........she "'cans" produce and stores all the jars throughout the trailer 

I know ....I'm off topic........send me to the corner      doug

 

[Kathleen]

I would add take a come along, or better, some sort of winch, (come alongs suck to use, I should know, I use one) and find your vehicle's recovery points

Is the come along the long strap Bob uses in the videos to rescue others?? I was planning to get those, they come in packs of two. Got a hitch but no winch. Will get the mini tow trucks that go in front of the back wheels to get traction. My vehicle's recovery points, hmmm, would that be the locations that are strong enough to latch the long strap onto? I know it has to be a real strong piece of metal.

 

[Kathleen]

""Lucy and Ricky and the movie Long long trailer. I'll have to watch that movie. I've gotten myself into a lot of Lucy type scrapes over the years!""

OMG...1954.....summary from IMDB:

""Nicky and Tacy are going to be married. Nicky wants to save up money for a house, but Tacy dreams of starting off with their own home on wheels--a trailer. After the two are hitched, they hitch up their trailer and begin their honeymoon. The humor comes from several disastrous adventures the couple has while traveling including Tacy's awkward attempt to cook dinner in a moving trailer, and a cliffhanging ride through the mountains that nearly destroys their marriage.""


.........the rig's too big for the car = new car.................and Lucy(Tacy) gets behind the wheel for the first time for a white knuckle ride-along
.........and they pickup and collect big ROCKS as mementos....labeling each one where it was found...........she "'cans" produce and stores all the jars throughout the trailer 

I know ....I'm off topic........send me to the corner      doug

Haha, big rocks and white knuckle ride...totally reminds me of me! I've gotten myself into a few pickles on the road. Hitch hiking solo was my first method of transport across the US with little to no money. I learned more about life and the heart of America on those trips than all the years I spent in school. Priceless education. I've been to every state in the union EXCEPT Alaska. It's so far away. Hawaii's a lot easier to get to, maybe due to the nice waves and warm weather.