Your Yak fishing Vehicle of choice?

Creative stacking? I get two flat on my bars. 3 and 4 is when things have to get creative.

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Your specs are making it hard to recommend any vehicle other that what has previously been mentioned. Subaru makes an excellent vehicle. I've logged many miles on Sherminators Legacy Wagon and will definitly recommend it. That car has put up with 3 teen drivers, (one of them a young male who likes to drive in the snow very fast) and had very minimal problems (head gaskets like mentioned). We had the Legacy loaded up with a Thule cargo basket, Thule bike rack on the back and loaded to the gills inside and still fit 4 people with 4 days worth of camping gear. Like others stated it is a little under powered when fully loaded, but Subaru has the H6 if you need more power.

I would also have to recommend the Ford Escape. I work with them all day and own one myself. The are very reliable and offer both FWD and 4x4. The 2.5l 4cyl is a little weak again if fully loaded, but the V6 has plenty of power, especially if you are going to tow a trailer eventually The 00-07 Escape have a great rack system that you can swap Yakima or Thule mounts straight onto. They look similar to the Rack Attack systems for vehicles with out a rack system.

The Subaru Legacy Wagon/Outback Wagon has more interior room than the Escape but a little less ground clearance. The Escape also sits higher and is there for a little more difficult to throw a yak up onto.

My personal choice would be a Ford Sport Trac though if I were in the market again. All the benefits of an SUV and a truck all in one. It has a factory rack system and a bed to store wet/smelly items.  The only reason I haven't recommended it for you is the fuel economy. It doesn't fit the range you specified.



On the other hand a Subaru Baja is maybe the best choice? Its a Sport Trac with Subaru reliability! It has a rack, truck bed, and seating for 4. Options for a canopy for lockable storage if you choose, a tonneau cover for "locked" bed storage. The Baja only comes with the 2.5l 4cyl though, so same power limitations as the Outback/Legacy Wagon.



I think that may give you some starting options.

And it can't get down the ramp at PC during the winter, not enough clearance.

 

Without the ramp at PC, clearance matters more than 4WD (IMHO).  The thing I would look at more is how often do you fish PC before the ramp is put in?  Personally, I would pull the yak down from the upper lot the few times that I would fish there per year without the ramp than spend the $100s extra/year (if not more) for a vehicle that gets less mpg as a commuter. Plus, you have the higher initial cost of an AWD or 4WD vehicle.

Disclaimer:  I am a tight ass and married so no need to impress the ladies .  That is why there is more value on top of my kayak rack than under it.  I only drive my wife's old Isuzu Amigo when I fish.  If I needed a daily driver I would probably invest in a better vehicle, particularly one that got many more mpg.   As it stands now, I pay very little in insurance (liability only) with no car payment.  After all, the most inexpensive car there is, is the one you already own.   

Many times I wished I had a pick-up again, but I realized that for as often as I needed one, I could rent one and save a boat load of money in the long run.  Besides, if I owned a nice vehicle, Sinker wouldn't want to haul me around anymore.  

Still usin my suburban(rack capacity 1 yak lol)   8.1 ltr 496ci...those 4 trout i caught at swift last week cost me 10 $ apiece.Yeah, kinda been lookin for an outback for my outback

I fished PC last weekend 10-27-12 it was a little sketchy . Fishing was good though hooked some nice lings. Definitely need four wheel drive .
I agree its not that bad to pull boat down from parking lot during winter ...worth it to me

If I can get close to water, I can usually pull right up to the edge with the kayak fully loaded minus fishing rods and dump it in, and can get it out on my own fully loaded fairly easily as well. My truck only ever gets used for hauling stuff, and the kayak for the most part. I drive a beater with a heater to work and back, any day now the engine will explode or seize on the beater though. It's only a matter of time.

I happen to have a 2005 Mazda Tribute for sale.  Left it back on the mainland for my brother to sell for me.  That isn't going so well as he has been driving it since I left and his Buick blew a gasket.  I have managed to fit a NuCanoe, Mini-X, and a kids Lifetime kayak on top while packing 2 kids, the wife, dog, and all the junk that goes along with them into it.  Replaced the junk factory rack with a Yakima track system and added a U-haul trailer hitch.

PM me if interested, but otherwise used subaru or similar would be my suggestion given your requirements.

2002 Toyota Tundra....Gets me around just fine. New trailer works great too. I carried 2 PA 12's and 2 Outbacks the other day and could hardly feel it.

@Jammer,

Do you have any close up pictures of how you have the rack set up?

@Jammer,

Do you have any close up pictures of how you have the rack set up?

Yep, I will PM you some pics when I get home tonight. Wobbler made the trailer for me. Its a utility trailer base with a removable kayak frame. Its all extremely strong, but fairly light weight. Wobbler did an incredible job designing and welding the trailer.
JMR

Awesome, thanks!

My vehicle of choice is my 89 VW vanagon for kayak fishing, surfing, camping etc.  My commuter car is a Nissan Cube.  If faced with your choice of a multi use vehicle I think I would be looking at a Subaru, Pathfinder, small pick up, or dare I say a minivan.  The 4wd option is great but you really have to look at how many times a year your going to use it.  With my past rigs that had 4wd drive I only put them into 4wd a couple times a year.

I use 2003 4x4 Toyota with trailer.

I have a Nissan Frontier 4x4 and use it all the time. Justin, here are pictures of the rack system I put on Jammer's trailer.

Wobbler

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