Ford Explorer vs Chevy Tahoe - recommendations for Anaheim car rental

[backinoz]

A confused Aussie needing some advice with rental cars - renting a full size SUV for nearly 3 weeks - what's the differences between a Ford Explorer or a Chevy Tahoe? Are both 4wd vehicles? Are there any differences in the second row seating? (We'll be folding the third row flat to fit in all our bags).

We're hiring a full size SUV for nearly three weeks in December, out of anaheim to tour the south west via Grand Canyon, monument valley, Moab, page, Bryce Canyon, Zion np, Las Vegas, Death Valley & yosemite. Given we may encounter snow or ice on our travels we want to make sure we have a 4wd vehicle, not a SUV crossover with only 2wd capability.

Also, does anyone have suggestions on whether I should hire from Alamo at downtown Disney; hertz on west katella; or National on West Katella? Alamo is a bit more expensive but hertz (Ford Explorer) is only just more expensive than National.

 

[JimMIA]

Either an Explorer or a Tahoe might come with 4WD, and your question raises a critical point to understand about renting cars. Pay no attention to the description a rental car agency gives you -- compact, full-sized, etc. Look at the make and model of the vehicle, as you are doing, because what one company claims is full-sized might be a mid-size or even a compact at another company.

Your example of Explorer/Tahoe is a perfect example of that misleading advertising. A Tahoe is MUCH larger than an Explorer -- probably almost twice the usable space (both legroom and cargo space), and much more road-worthy. A Tahoe, or GMC Yukon, is similar in size to a Ford Excursion; an Explorer or Edge is simply not a comparable vehicle.

 

[JimMIA]

We just came back from part of your trip -- and oddly enough drove a Tahoe! We spent two weeks in Northern Arizona, staying in Sedona, Flagstaff, Monument Valley, and Grand Canyon.

A couple of suggestions:

• Look at the picture in my avatar, and go there! That's a cell-phone picture of Lower Antelope Canyon, just east of Page, AZ. For $28, Ken's Tours gives a guided 1 1/4 hour tour into this slot canyon and it is simply spectacular. I'm not that much of a photographer, but in 75 minutes, I took almost 100 pictures. Every time you shift your view 10 degrees right, left, up, or down, you see views like that in my avatar. Amazing place, not to be missed. Make sure you go to LOWER Antelope Canyon for the walking tour. There is a boat tour of Upper Antelope Canyon, which is okay, but nothing compared to Lower Antelope.
• [ETA: I would also not miss Sedona, AZ and Oak Creek Canyon. Beautiful red rock country and interesting weird, artist-colony kind of town with some good shopping and good restaurants.]
• If you are planning to take the "back way" to Yosemite -- north from Vegas/Death Valley, up to Mono Lake/Lee Vining -- you might have to reconsider. I believe the Tioga Pass Road will be closed in December. I could be wrong; hopefully one of the more knowledgeable Yosemite folks can clarify.

If you have any questions about northern Arizona, let me know.

 

[backinoz]

Your example of Explorer/Tahoe is a perfect example of that misleading advertising. A Tahoe is MUCH larger than an Explorer -- probably almost twice the usable space (both legroom and cargo space), and much more road-worthy. A Tahoe, or GMC Yukon, is similar in size to a Ford Excursion; an Explorer or Edge is simply not a comparable vehicle.

Thanks JimMIA that is what I thought may be the case, and why I asked the question - I appreciate the clarification. I'm not even going to bother with the hire company that lists the explorer as their full size SUV as we're gonna want the extra space. I'm going to try and email the location offices the check on make and model (i.e. 4WD capability) of their full-size SUV's, I have a feeling their answers will determine who we hire from in the end. I haven't had much luck getting an email response in the past, but it's worth a try rather than an international phone call.

We just came back from part of your trip -- and oddly enough drove a Tahoe! We spent two weeks in Northern Arizona, staying in Sedona, Flagstaff, Monument Valley, and Grand Canyon.

A couple of suggestions:

• Look at the picture in my avatar, and go there! That's a cell-phone picture of Lower Antelope Canyon, just east of Page, AZ. For $28, Ken's Tours gives a guided 1 1/4 hour tour into this slot canyon and it is simply spectacular. I'm not that much of a photographer, but in 75 minutes, I took almost 100 pictures. Every time you shift your view 10 degrees right, left, up, or down, you see views like that in my avatar. Amazing place, not to be missed. Make sure you go to LOWER Antelope Canyon for the walking tour. There is a boat tour of Upper Antelope Canyon, which is okay, but nothing compared to Lower Antelope.
• [ETA: I would also not miss Sedona, AZ and Oak Creek Canyon. Beautiful red rock country and interesting weird, artist-colony kind of town with some good shopping and good restaurants.]
• If you are planning to take the "back way" to Yosemite -- north from Vegas/Death Valley, up to Mono Lake/Lee Vining -- you might have to reconsider. I believe the Tioga Pass Road will be closed in December. I could be wrong; hopefully one of the more knowledgeable Yosemite folks can clarify.

If you have any questions about northern Arizona, let me know.

You're not the first person who's recommended lower antelope canyon to us so it's already on our must do list, and I've yet to read anything but a glowing review on Ken's tours, so will definitely be on the lookout for them. We have three nights at GC - hubby's a serious amateur photographer so being able to do sunrise and sunset at the canyon meant we'll be basing ourselves there (we already have cabins booked) - plan is to do a day trip down to Sedona on the second day, all depending on the weather. (i.e. fog in the canyon on day 1 = day trip). Also I just had a read of your "Just back from Northern AZ" trip report - great read and lots of tips - Thank you.

Not planning on travelling over Tioga Pass Road as from all that I've read it's never open in December. i know we're going the long way around, but i'd rather plan for a longer drive with minimal chances of road closures. If any of the more scenic roads do happen to be clear and open to traffic, then that's just a bonus.

 

[JimMIA]

You're not the first person who's recommended lower antelope canyon to us so it's already on our must do list, and I've yet to read anything but a glowing review on Ken's tours, so will definitely be on the lookout for them. ...hubby's a serious amateur photographer...

Ken's has TWO tour options. One is a 1 1/4 "regular tour for $28. But they also have a 2 hour "photographer's tour" that is $50. My daughter and I did the regular tour, and my wife did the photographer's tour. So that might be something your husband would be interested in.