Mountain driving puts a strain on you and your vehicle. If you’re planning a mountain adventure, you need a vehicle that’s best for high altitude driving.
Spending time at higher altitudes means you’re dealing with thin air, rugged terrain, steep inclines, and changing weather conditions that make it hard for you to handle the conditions. If you think its rough on you, these higher locations are also rough on your vehicle. Most vehicles perform best at sea level, but some are adaptable to high altitude driving.
Here are some things to consider.
Obstacles will be in your way
If you intend to go into higher locations for some wilderness adventures, you need to have the right vehicle for the job. This means considering good ground clearance and ensuring this vehicle has a strong 4WD system. These items are non-negotiable when it comes to trail-riding on the side of a mountain or in the wilderness at high altitudes. These features can help ensure the vehicle won’t get stuck or damaged when traveling over difficult terrain. Some models that you should consider are the Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, and Land Rover Discovery.
Your engine performance will diminish
The higher you go, the thinner the air gets. As the air gets thinner, the mixture in your engine will become less dense and have more gasoline than air. This leads to reduced engine performance and lowered fuel mileage. Turbocharged engines force more air into the combustion chamber, which can compensate for the decrease in power. This makes the EcoBoost engine in the Ford Bronco a great choice. Another great option is a diesel engine, which isn’t impacted by the thinner air.
Can you count on your ride?
Driving up a mountain can put you several miles from the nearest service station. This means you need to have a reliable vehicle for your high altitude driving so that you don’t find yourself walking back to where you came from. If you’re looking for some of the most reliable vehicles for your wilderness adventures, the Subaru Outback, Toyota 4Runner, and Jeep Wrangler are three great options. The Honda Passport could be another good option, but it might not have the ground clearance you need.
Consider the comfort
The Jeep Wrangler is often thought of as one of the most rugged and capable SUVs for hardcore off-roading, but it’s not the most comfortable vehicle you can take to any altitude. You want a vehicle with seats that have lumbar support, adjustable headrests, and lots of legroom. The most recent version of the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has built-in shocks in the seats to help with some of the bumps and tossing about that happens on the trails.
Which safety features do you need?
Much of your travel to the trailhead will be done on roads, which means you want a comprehensive safety package in your vehicle. In addition to those features, your high altitude driving adventure can be much better with advanced trail systems such as a trail camera system, low-speed cruise control for downhill slow-speed driving, and terrain management systems that help you select the right terrain for where you’re driving. These advanced tech features help you get where you want to go without as much trouble as vehicles that don’t have these items.
Consider camper vans
If you want to take the comfort of a camper van to the trailhead where you’ll hike into the wilderness and up the side of a mountain, you can find some great choices. The Mercedes Sprinter can be outfitted to be a great wilderness camper van to give you the comforts of home in compact, modular systems. This means you can rest and rejuvenate after your day of exploring the wilderness around you.
Protect the environment
Typically, high altitude driving will take you to areas that are less traveled and explored than other areas. These areas are ecologically fragile and must be protected as much as possible. This means you might want to choose a hybrid or electric vehicle for your driving, ensuring you emit much less pollution. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe could be a good option. Other great choices are the Rivian R1T or R1S, which are both electric vehicles equipped for off-road adventures. These vehicles help protect the high altitude environment much better than a big truck like the Ram Power Wagon.
When you want to enjoy some high altitude driving, you need to consider where you’re going, what you’ll face, and how your vehicle will perform when you’re in the mountains. Which off-road vehicle will you choose for your mountainous adventure?
