I'm really not arguing that bigger tires, lockers, whatever are not an aid to getting certain places. All I'm saying is that in a place as rugged as Colorado is, you actually have to actively seek out places where these will make the difference in getting through. And you will have to look even harder to find places where an alternative route is not available. Blanca would be one, based on what I've heard, but I've never felt the need to go there. So I'm not even disputing that there are numerous examples that can be cited where said equipment would be beneficial.
But 90% of Colorado can be done in a Subaru, probably 99% in my lame, low-riding 80. I'm completely happy with leaving those who want to battle the elements to that other 1%. To me I just can't see putting money into the rig to deal with that 1% of by-ways. I understand the interest of those who do. But I suspect even most people here, as inclined to off-road excess as we are as a group, are most likely to spend most of their time on the 99% of Colorado trails/roads where the extra investment is superfluous in an 80.
I have mainly run the "big name" trails in Colorado, have done more of the less known trails in Utah, not sure that this applies to those areas? The group that I wheel with is tasked with taking care of the OHV trails in Tonto National Forest, Arizona, one assignment is running all ~4000 miles of them. If you grab the guide books, they cover a few hundred miles of trail, these are most often relatively well groomed, maintained. Well traffic worn, are very likely to see others on the trail (often lots), when you get to the mine, ruin, whatever, at the end, will most often be sanitized, stripped.
These trails are well published, when you get home, others around the water cooler are likely to recognize them, give props. If that is the experience that you are looking for, why not a Subaru, they get better mileage, ride nice, etc? Some of them are more challenging, sometimes just for the fun of the challenge. Here, the "big name" published trails are not the majority, more like the minority.
You may think those are the best, but I can tell you for a fact that the best stuff is in the other ~3000mi. True that you have to do some research, often be shown by others in the know. Also true that most of them take more commitment to run, in most cases, none of this is by accident. When you get to the mine at the end, there is more likely to be tools, equipment, glass still in the windows, gauges, etc. If these places were published, easy to get to, they would be stripped, some of us get upset when the name of these are posted. We often maintain trail by what we see, if there is something of value, often only "fix" safety issues, leave it tight, ruff, have to be willing to take scratches, need to be well equipped, work at, it to get there.
It's easy to look at a well used rig and think, teenage romper, but most of them that I know of are owned by mature, experienced, wheelers. Sometimes play in rock gardens, etc, for fun, but mostly use those skills (yes, even those horrible, hated, rock skills) to get to places that most don't know about or aren't equipped to get to.
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) will help get them through every day all day.
A bunch of them are retired, or close to that age, most run 35" or 37" tires. As long-term wheelers have learned that bigger tires, roll over stuff easier, so ride better, don't fall into as many holes, get trapped under as many ledges, so don't beat the rig as bad, etc. All around, bigger tires make the trail experience better.
