Moving to SLC - do I need a truck to access all the great climbing?

Title. Moving to SLC soon and plan to climb all around the area and anywhere in weekend driving distance. Is it a big advantage to have a truck vs a car for accessing climbing in the western US? Haven’t had the chance to climb the better half of the US sadly. Thanks! 

Definitely not “necessary.” Plenty of people driving Subarus. There are some places of course where you’d need a friend with some clearance.

If you’re going to live in Utah, all wheel drive/4wd is more necessary than clearance. 

Only spots I can think of that a truck helps is the upper reaches of Maple for camping and some crags in The Creek. That said, Nate is totally right: drive well with good clearance and you're usually fine. 

Trucks are great, but what’s more important is good tires. If you’ve already got something like a Subaru or a RAV4, just see how big you can go on tires without rubbing, and get a set of good ATs.

There's a huge climbing database here, of which you're probably aware. Take a look at the access descriptions and make an informed decision.

Are you just doing day trips or do you want to explore more remote areas with more difficult access? Will your car support a multi day trip? Are you willing to chance getting stuck on wet roads in the Swell or elsewhere? Can you make it to the Jungle? Do you want to? Do you like driving 40 miles of dirt/gravel roads to get to the City or Big Sandy in your shiny car? Do you want to camp in West Sawtooth? Do you want to go down onto the White Rim? 

Al these things you must decide for yourself.

You’re going to need a Sprinter Van with all the bells and whistles. ;)

Introvert or extrovert? Don't mind the crowds then any vehicle will work. Want to get away from the crowds get a truck.

Thanks for all the good responses here! Definitely given me some points to think about. Having not been out that direction too much, I’m trying to see if I can make my current car work. It’s a 2005 Subi Forester so it’s AWD and great for winter. Do you guys think if I put a little 2 inch lift on it and some AT tires, and some other sustainability gear, it would make it out to the more remote and off-the-beaten-path places?

Thanks again to all of you! 

Connor H wrote:

Having not been out that direction too much, I’m trying to see if I can make my current car work. It’s a 2005 Subi Forester so it’s AWD and great for winter. Do you guys think if I put a little 2 inch lift on it and some AT tires, and some other sustainability gear, it would make it out to the more remote and off-the-beaten-path places?

There's 10 lifetimes worth of good climbing in the state of Utah that you can access with that car, exactly as it is. But there is also other climbing - the really remote adventurous stuff - that will require more vehicle to access. It just depends on how into the remote stuff you are, vs the convenient accessible stuff.

I'd suggest not making any vehicle changes just yet. Just show up with the vehicle you have now and get after it. There's a vast amount of climbing to do. If at some point you start to feel limited by the car - based on actual experience - that is the time to consider upgrading. Don't spend a ton of money upgrading based of speculation and internet comments.

You also may find partners that have the truck to get to the remote crags - which means you may not need one yourself.

Even for the smaller upgrade - the lift and tires - that impacts your highway gas mileage. And, realistically, most of your miles going climbing will be highway miles. Having more off-road capability will have a monetary cost in terms of how much gas you burn every time you drive to Moab. Same applies even more so for the big upgrade to a truck. It's all tradeoffs. 

In summary, keep the Forester, move to Utah, go climbing. No changes needed just yet, you'll be fine. You can upgrade later if you find a need - but there's a good chance you won't find that need. 

JCM wrote:

There's 10 lifetimes worth of good climbing in the state of Utah that you can access with that car, exactly as it is. But there is also other climbing - the really remote adventurous stuff - that will require more vehicle to access. It just depends on how into the remote stuff you are, vs the convenient accessible stuff.

I'd suggest not making any vehicle changes just yet. Just show up with the vehicle you have now and get after it. There's a vast amount of climbing to do. If at some point you start to feel limited by the car - based on actual experience - that is the time to consider upgrading. Don't spend a ton of money upgrading based of speculation and internet comments.

You also may find partners that have the truck to get to the remote crags - which means you may not need one yourself.

Even for the smaller upgrade - the lift and tires - that impacts your highway gas mileage. And, realistically, most of your miles going climbing will be highway miles. Having more off-road capability will have a monetary cost in terms of how much gas you burn every time you drive to Moab. Same applies even more so for the big upgrade to a truck. It's all tradeoffs. 

In summary, keep the Forester, move to Utah, go climbing. No changes needed just yet, you'll be fine. You can upgrade later if you find a need - but there's a good chance you won't find that need. 

Dude. Solid reply and exactly the advice and clarity I needed to hear. Thank you very much!! May your ropes stay dry and your rock not-chossy! (Unless you’re into that kind of thing)

This thread is full of good advice. You can do a lot with a stock subaru, a lot is "subaruable" (there is even a thread here somewhere about what that actually is.

As subaru lifted with big tires can get you even farther, my kid has beat the living crap outta his lifted forester and driving harder trails than a lot of truck owners have.

A truck is nice (I have one) too, and especially for ice climbing, road tripping, camping in the back of, they are the best vehicle for a lot of people.

But they can also be like boats, better to know someone with one than to actually own one :D And you'll know when you need your own!

I definitely wouldn't bother dumping money into an old forester to try to turn it into something it just isn't.  If you want to go to really remote areas that need a burly 4wd, you don't want to be stuck out there when something breaks or you don't have the torque from 4 low to get out of mud or over rock shelves.  The towing bill to not leave the carcass out there would be more than what the vehicle is worth.

There really aren't that many places that need that kind of capability though - mostly off the beaten path parts of the desert, and some mountain trailheads if you are also a peakbagger.

Driving a truck in Utah is like racking a #5 in the desert. Sometimes it’s wildly unnecessary, sometimes it’s “nice to have” if you’re squeamish, and occasionally you’re balls deep and wish you had one. FWIW I drive a Prius and my best friend drives a Raptor ;)

I’d say studded tires and/or chains would be good if you’re going up canyons skiing. But like everyone said you’ll be fine. I’ve only needed high clearance a few times out in the desert.