Have you all been happy with your Tremor off-road capability?

[TaylorHu]

I currently have a 2019 Forester. Great little car, threw some actual all terrain tires on it and it's taken me everywhere I've wanted to go, so far. But I had the itch for something more capable, something that could really get me off road. I also wanted something with more cargo capacity. I do some hobby level woodworking. I live in an apartment in the city so no garage, but I did join a local makerspace. There have been times where a project I wanted to work on wouldn't work because I didn't have a good way to transport the materials. I also don't drive that much. I bought the Forester new and it still has just over 25k miles on it. I bike mostly and my partner has an electric car we use for most errands.

So the Maverick Tremor seemed like the perfect upgrade for me. I ordered one on the opening day last year. And waited. And waited. After no word or updates I started looking at alternatives. I researched a bunch of different things and I kept coming back to getting a slightly used 4Runner Off Road Premium. You can a 2020 or newer with less than 50k miles for around $38k, less than my Tremor Lariat will cost me. For the 4Runner:

• Old but legendarily reliable, lots of people talk about how they get them to over 200k miles with nothing but oil changes.
• Off road capability that can still go toe to toe with the latest Wranglers and Broncos.
• Actually shorter than the Tremor, so easier to parallel park in the city (a real concern here in Pittsburgh).
• TERRIBLE MPG, but not THAT much worse than the Tremor on paper and, again, I don't drive that much.
• No truck bed but when you fold down the back seat of the 4Runner you get an area that's actually bigger than the bed of the Tremor, and you can roll down the back window for longer pieces, anything short of a full 4x8 sheet of plywood. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be able to transport plywood if I needed to, but it doesn't come up that often.
• Easier to car camp inside, no need to rush out and get a rack and roof top tent right away.

So after all that I was pretty dead set on the 4Runner, started seriously checking out dealerships, and then I got the email that my Tremor is scheduled for end of October .

So I'm torn. It kind of feels like that the 4Runner is essentially a more capable vehicle for about the same price. Especially off road. But I do love the idea and everything of the Tremor, a nice little city truck.

How much real world capability would I be giving up with the Tremor vs a 4Runner?

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[Jraoffroad]

The Yota will be more capable offroad, but I doubt you would ever run a daily driver hard enough to notice the difference. East coast wheeling comes with a high probability of body damage. We dont get the nice clear trails like out west. Anything more then what a base awd could handle will a the very least get you some nice new pinstripes. I've already had to buff some out of my Tremor with 300 miles on it. I got those on a county road that I've took a Kia soul down and was towing a tandem axle trailer .

I would go with the new vehicle for near the same price. I bought a Tremor after swearing off new vehicles in 1999. I cant bring myself to pay near new prices for a 5-7 year old vehicle. I figure the Tremor package will come in handy 8-10 years when the body reaches IDGAF stage due to rust.

 

[Maverickman74]

Well for one the Tremor is narrow. In the woodlands thats a big deal. Also I can guaruantee that as a daily driver and coming out of a subaru, the Tremor will feel much more comfortable. If you have any long freeway roadtrips the Tremor will reward you with 30mpg at 70mph. Probably 22 or more the rest of the time. It all depends on hills, stoplights, and distances you drive through. I put a topper on mine and added racks to it. For light duty it hauls what I need with the exception of 12ft plus length boards.

Offroad it will not stop anywhere it fits. The AWD is top notch and really locks in there with the 4x4lock and rear diff lock buttons engaged. I have driven it forward with nearly zero wheel spin while balanced on 2 wheels. The only thing you miss is ground clearance but 235/75r17s will get you up to 10.5 inches and a puck lift would get you a full foot. Pretty much equivalent to whatever the body on frame (ground clearance is totally different with chassis style) toyota.

That said people love their toyotas. I would never buy one because they look terrible and dont fit my body right. Im 6ft 300lbs with a long torso and wide shoulders. Basically a tall orangutang.

Our Tremor has been in the mountains and to Moab offroading, now Im having fun with it on Maui and it has gone everywhere I dared to point it that it fit. Not to mention it is fun like a rally car when you rally it.

 

[MM Mav]

Basically a tall orangutan.

And you have the hair coloring to match

 

[dalola]

... Basically a tall orangutang.

 

[Maverickman74]

And you have the hair coloring to match

This orangutan gingersquatch hybrid sighting was at 11,000 ft outside Durango CO on a several mile long trail. Encountered some 3 wheeling and snow crossings. Tremor never flinched.

 

[Spyke Hyzer]

I recently took mine up a pretty gnarly jeep trail in Colorado and it impressed me. Colorado Road 160 (Hermit Road) to Hermit Lake if you want to look into it, but it crawled over some pretty rough terrain without hesitation before I decided to turn around at Hermit Lake ~11,300 ft. elevation. Other than that it's really fun to drive as a daily.

 

[ejgroth2620]

I currently have a 2019 Forester. Great little car, threw some actual all terrain tires on it and it's taken me everywhere I've wanted to go, so far. But I had the itch for something more capable, something that could really get me off road. I also wanted something with more cargo capacity. I do some hobby level woodworking. I live in an apartment in the city so no garage, but I did join a local makerspace. There have been times where a project I wanted to work on wouldn't work because I didn't have a good way to transport the materials. I also don't drive that much. I bought the Forester new and it still has just over 25k miles on it. I bike mostly and my partner has an electric car we use for most errands.

So the Maverick Tremor seemed like the perfect upgrade for me. I ordered one on the opening day last year. And waited. And waited. After no word or updates I started looking at alternatives. I researched a bunch of different things and I kept coming back to getting a slightly used 4Runner Off Road Premium. You can a 2020 or newer with less than 50k miles for around $38k, less than my Tremor Lariat will cost me. For the 4Runner:

• Old but legendarily reliable, lots of people talk about how they get them to over 200k miles with nothing but oil changes.
• Off road capability that can still go toe to toe with the latest Wranglers and Broncos.
• Actually shorter than the Tremor, so easier to parallel park in the city (a real concern here in Pittsburgh).
• TERRIBLE MPG, but not THAT much worse than the Tremor on paper and, again, I don't drive that much.
• No truck bed but when you fold down the back seat of the 4Runner you get an area that's actually bigger than the bed of the Tremor, and you can roll down the back window for longer pieces, anything short of a full 4x8 sheet of plywood. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be able to transport plywood if I needed to, but it doesn't come up that often.
• Easier to car camp inside, no need to rush out and get a rack and roof top tent right away.

So after all that I was pretty dead set on the 4Runner, started seriously checking out dealerships, and then I got the email that my Tremor is scheduled for end of October .

So I'm torn. It kind of feels like that the 4Runner is essentially a more capable vehicle for about the same price. Especially off road. But I do love the idea and everything of the Tremor, a nice little city truck.

How much real world capability would I be giving up with the Tremor vs a 4Runner?

The Tremor is a uni-body crossover that is capable of some light off-roading. There's no low range, and the locker is a facsimile. It cannot compete with a 4Runner. Lower your expectations and you won't be disappointed. The Tremor is a great little vehicle offering much utility.

 

[mdub311]

It really comes down to how you plan to use your vehicle and what you want out of it. Sounds like an SUV is what suits your needs more so than a truck. But if it's a truck you want that is compact and versatile, I think the Tremor is a great choice and a fun truck to drive.

The off-road capability has more than impressed me! It's not a Bronco or Jeep. Don't expect it to be. It will get you onto some trails they can't go due to their size (it fits on trails that are meant for a side by side) and you won't be able to handle the more severe ones. But if you aren't trying to crawl big rocks, but like to get off road and get dirty, it's been tons of fun! I appreciate it for what it is, but yes it has it's limits. I love the small footprint, excellent traction with the stock tires, solid suspension, decent ground clearance, trail control, ability to lock in 4 wheel (and a simulated rear diff), and an easy to access but very functional truck bed (albeit a relatively small size) to boot for under $40k.

All things considered, for me it's been a great buy and I'd highly recommend. Good luck with a hard decision!

 

[hurrah]

I currently have a 2019 Forester. Great little car, threw some actual all terrain tires on it and it's taken me everywhere I've wanted to go, so far. But I had the itch for something more capable, something that could really get me off road. I also wanted something with more cargo capacity. I do some hobby level woodworking. I live in an apartment in the city so no garage, but I did join a local makerspace. There have been times where a project I wanted to work on wouldn't work because I didn't have a good way to transport the materials. I also don't drive that much. I bought the Forester new and it still has just over 25k miles on it. I bike mostly and my partner has an electric car we use for most errands.

So the Maverick Tremor seemed like the perfect upgrade for me. I ordered one on the opening day last year. And waited. And waited. After no word or updates I started looking at alternatives. I researched a bunch of different things and I kept coming back to getting a slightly used 4Runner Off Road Premium. You can a 2020 or newer with less than 50k miles for around $38k, less than my Tremor Lariat will cost me. For the 4Runner:

• Old but legendarily reliable, lots of people talk about how they get them to over 200k miles with nothing but oil changes.
• Off road capability that can still go toe to toe with the latest Wranglers and Broncos.
• Actually shorter than the Tremor, so easier to parallel park in the city (a real concern here in Pittsburgh).
• TERRIBLE MPG, but not THAT much worse than the Tremor on paper and, again, I don't drive that much.
• No truck bed but when you fold down the back seat of the 4Runner you get an area that's actually bigger than the bed of the Tremor, and you can roll down the back window for longer pieces, anything short of a full 4x8 sheet of plywood. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be able to transport plywood if I needed to, but it doesn't come up that often.
• Easier to car camp inside, no need to rush out and get a rack and roof top tent right away.

So after all that I was pretty dead set on the 4Runner, started seriously checking out dealerships, and then I got the email that my Tremor is scheduled for end of October .

So I'm torn. It kind of feels like that the 4Runner is essentially a more capable vehicle for about the same price. Especially off road. But I do love the idea and everything of the Tremor, a nice little city truck.

How much real world capability would I be giving up with the Tremor vs a 4Runner?

I can't speak to the ultimate off road capabilities as my Tremor so far has been mostly 2 lane country roads. I can comment on its comparison to Toyota as I have had a couple over the years and the Maverick is head and shoulders ahead of Toyota. Way more comfortable-way more fun to drive and seriously better gas mileage. So far mine is averaging about 27.5 MPG. Having lived in Pittsburgh in years past with all the hills crappy roads and parking challenges I think you will find the Maverick Tremor as close to the ideal vehicle vs the Toyota. I'm looking forward to this winter when I can actually try out all the Tremor capabilities that everyone brags about!!!

 

[MaverickResource]

99% of people are not going to push the vehicle so hard as if they will need the little more capability of a 4Runner (i would love to see a head to head between the 2, at stock specs). The Tremor is brand new, cheaper, under warranty, and (then the BIGGEST upside) has the BED...it's a truck, you get to transport anything! lol.

I love the Tremor; And the Maverick in general. In a world where 2 years ago the average truck was selling for like $70k. Bought my first Mav $22k, let's not forget about that.

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