If you are going to be hiting the backroads and trails, might I suggest an Xterra, an FJ cruiser (which is my fav in the segment) or a 4runner.

Trust me, while the MDX is capable of going off road, it will let you know it. The rear end will bottom out if you go too fast or too agressive. Both it and moreso the RX are too car based.

Xterras and 4runners especially can be had for cheap money as the designs are now a few years old.

 

how about the GMC Envoy?? about the same size as the Explorer with $4750 plus 500 bonus cash.

and it will get around 22 mpg on the highway.

 

Be careful of those. The reliability is sketchy, especially sun gear failure. The side windows are prone to popping out on hot days because they were set with low temp. epoxy, at least on the early ones. Things may be different now. And one of the more humorous engineering marvels on those is the front axles actually pass right thru the oil pan...

Also the skid plates that are underneath to protect vital items like the oil pan and driveshaft are "Immitation" and can be punctured quite easily as happened to the MT team on a comparo test back in 2003 with an Envoy XUV (I have the article at home).

But the design is going on 6 years old so deals can be had. If you can live with the mediocre interior materials and build quality, they make for a bargain. You may be best off to buy a year or two old one as the depreciation hit has already killed the resale value.

 

The Ridge does have a lockable trunk in the bed, plus you can fold up the back seat to store anything else you might be concerned about. I always lock up my booze when I go into the games. My grill and tent stay outside and never had an issue with sticky fingers.
Only time my stuff ever got touched was when we left a bottle of vodka in the cooler and left it in the bed of a truck. Some jackasses took the booze and even the mixers... Other than that no issues.

The back seat is very roomy and comfortable. I have been getting about 20 MPG on my last couple of tanks.

 

http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?se...ce&aff=nationalBest Tailgate Vehicles

 

nice find!

 

It has an attachment to the "clam shell" tail get that act as a seat back..........woop, just remembered, the element only seats 4