[Pcemkr]

I'm going to Utah for 5 days at the end of the year. Renting an SUV is super expensive but necessary to enter the canyons during snow storms.
Who has done this? What is the best way to go about it?

[solefald]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

I'm going to Utah for 5 days at the end of the year. Renting an SUV is super expensive but necessary to enter the canyons during snow storms.
Who has done this? What is the best way to go about it?

I've been doing snowboarding trips on new years for 6 or 7 years now. Going to Utah this year, btw.

Yes, it is expensive, but if you go with a group of people its not too bad.
Reserve it *NOW*, or they will be all sold out.
See if any pick up trucks are available. Last time we had 4x4 F150. It was great.

You don't really have to have an SUV. A regular car with chains in the trunk may be sufficient. They clean the roads pretty well.

[BMWinNorthdakota]

I would sway away from a half ton pickup.. they tend to get tail happy in the snow.

Get a Burb or a Tahoe

[Pcemkr]

Last year it was 2 of us. This year it's 3, possibly more. Last year we got stuck driving back through Cottonwood Canyon in 2 snow storms. SUV was essential.

I just beat the system though...
Our flight leaves 5:30am, so I'm returning the rental SUV (Jeep Compass) just before midnight so we don't get charged the extra day. It's FOX rent-a-car, the ghetto one you have to take the free shuttle to, but they're only open 5am-11:59pm. $209 for 4 days instead of $627 for 5 days with National. We're gonna sleep in the airport for 4 hours and save $400

[solefald]

I don't know about SUV being essential. Locals are driving regular cars without issues.

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

Last year it was 2 of us. This year it's 3, possibly more. Last year we got stuck driving back through Cottonwood Canyon in 2 snow storms. SUV was essential.

I just beat the system though...
Our flight leaves 5:30am, so I'm returning the rental SUV (Jeep Compass) just before midnight so we don't get charged the extra day. It's FOX rent-a-car, the ghetto one you have to take the free shuttle to, but they're only open 5am-11:59pm. $209 for 4 days instead of $627 for 5 days with National. We're gonna sleep in the airport for 4 hours and save $400

A Compass is really tiny and will be a tight fit for 3 people and their gear. It's a FWD based crossover with a CVT and a weak engine (170ish HP). Supposedly the Trail Rated AWD one is halfway decent, but I don't know if you can trust any guarantee from them that it will be a trail rated model. I'd be more comfortable spending the extra money and getting a better SUV and better peace of mind about what type of model I'm getting.

[Pcemkr]

Originally Posted by solefald

I don't know about SUV being essential. Locals are driving regular cars without issues.

From what I drove through last year (38" in 24 hours overnight), I wouldn't be caught dead in a regular car in the canyons. Just based off ground clearance during a storm alone. Not to mention you're not allowed through the gate without AWD or chains (cops assume a Jeep has AWD).

Originally Posted by Seminole

A Compass is really tiny and will be a tight fit for 3 people and their gear. It's a FWD based crossover with a CVT and a weak engine (170ish HP). Supposedly the Trail Rated AWD one is halfway decent, but I don't know if you can trust any guarantee from them that it will be a trail rated model. I'd be more comfortable spending the extra money and getting a better SUV and better peace of mind about what type of model I'm getting.

I had one last year. For 2 of us, we had more than enough room. It can squeeze 3-4 people (uncomfortably) for day trips to the mountain and back.
Last year, I didn't even realize it wasn't AWD actually haha. You don't want a high power engine, 170hp is fine... It was capable for getting us there and back.

[khaye1]

compass doesnt really have that much ground clearance, right? if you're gonna do that why not rent a subi

[Pcemkr]

A Jeep Compass has more ground clearance than a compact. Rental car companies don't rent Subarus...

[bolinp78]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

I'm going to Utah for 5 days at the end of the year. Renting an SUV is super expensive but necessary to enter the canyons during snow storms.
Who has done this? What is the best way to go about it?

Since I've gone to other people's places two years in a row (UT & CO) we have needed to rent, and it's been a mini van both times. They are much cheaper than SUV's and it's really easy to slide skis and boards through the middle. One year we had to get two of them because we had 8 people and it worked out fine. I would never rent anything else. We had some pretty bad conditions and we fared fine in both Utah and Colorado.

I believe we had a Town&Country both years. It's actually pretty fun to drive.

[jpsum]

Originally Posted by bolinp78

I believe we had a Town&Country both years. It's actually pretty fun to drive.

[Pcemkr]

The Jeep Compass is miserable to drive, but it got the job done once before, so I'll go with it again.

[solefald]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

From what I drove through last year (38" in 24 hours overnight), I wouldn't be caught dead in a regular car in the canyons. Just based off ground clearance during a storm alone. Not to mention you're not allowed through the gate without AWD or chains (cops assume a Jeep has AWD).

http://patrol.mammothmountain.com/10-11StormSummary.htm

Check the link above. I drove through that shit on 12/29/2010 in a completely loaded Dodge Caravan with 5 people in it. All i had is chains on the front tires.
No problem. Cops were just making sure everyone had chains.

Are going to tell me that every single local drives a 4x4 or AWD in Utah?

[bolinp78]

Originally Posted by jpsum

Lol, I knew someone would find it amusing to take my comment out of context.

[jpsum]

Originally Posted by bolinp78

Lol, I knew someone would find it amusing to take my comment out of context.

you've got it, buddy.

[Pcemkr]

Originally Posted by solefald

http://patrol.mammothmountain.com/10-11StormSummary.htm

Check the link above. I drove through that shit on 12/29/2010 in a completely loaded Dodge Caravan with 5 people in it. All i had is chains on the front tires.
No problem. Cops were just making sure everyone had chains.

Are going to tell me that every single local drives a 4x4 or AWD in Utah?

I drove in the same storm, dude! No, I'm sure you were fine.
Minivan is $670 for a weekly rental, so I'm not entertaining that option.