What cars work best for this area?

After college, I want to move way out west in the mountains. I have some family who lives there and I fall in love with it all over again every time I visit.

Where I come from almost everyone had either a pickup truck or a station wagon, because there was a lot of farm land and all. I guess it really depends on where you live and what you need the car for. What kinds of cars work best in the mountains and the desert? I’m looking into buying a car now and I want to be prepared.

I’ll most likely be carrying around a lot of things (such as guitars and other random yet large items). Would camping vans work? Plus I’ll be taking a lot of road trips cross-country.

Thanks.