Adventures and utiliziation of Powder_Hounds 04 T4R

Adventures with and utiliziation of Powder_Hounds 04 T4R

I thought I'd create a thread to capure the adventures, the utilization, and the good times I have in my T4R! :cheers:

Saved for 2016 April trip to Moab...stay tuned for camp and MTB

Moab 4WD fun on Things and Things. Chasing my buddy's decked out Rubicon!!! Good times were had.

The shed...

Picked up shed from hardware store and used recovery hook to rear hatch mechanism to keep hatch closed...almost :thumb3:

Materials for the shed.
200 pavers, 9 bags O'sand, 5 bags O'base, 8 Bags O'mulch.
Suspension started at 39 1/2" empty
After load suspension was at 34 1/2" (should've aired up the bags, but didn't!)

Love my T4R!!'

Plan on building a separate garage for her?

1st Buffalo Creek MTB trip 2016 - April

Shinglemill -->Colo Trail --> Redskin Creek --> Gas House --> Charlie's Cut Off --> Sandy Wash!!! 22 miles of buttery MTB goodness. Too much fun to take pictures....oops:dance:

having fun said:

Plan on building a separate garage for her?

Click to expand...

Lol...she already has a spot in the garage with about 1" to spare when racks are installed!

So, the last camping adventure was a bust. However, my T4R drove awesome and without floaty feel for first trip with new UCA's installed!!!

The trip for was supposed to have 1 Day at Great Sandunes National Monument, 1 day wheeling in the Bonanza Off Road Vehicle Tour outside of Pagosa Springs and days 3/4 around Salida to MTB and let the kids see kayakers and rafters on the Arkansas.

Day 1: Thursday May 26th
-Drove the 5ish hours to the Sandunes with last 1 1/2 hours in pouring rain, hail, lightning and Thunder
-Still raining when we arrived at 1 so took the kids to the nature center.
-Set up Camp and had lunch with rain finally stopping around 3
-Went back to the dunes and hiked around in the wet Sandunes (at least the sand wasn't 140 degrees today
-Went back to camp and cooked an awesome grilled marinated chicken meal
-Rain came back with wind around 11pm and didn't stop until morning.
-Woke up to 2" of SNOW blanketing the dunes and 33 degrees!!!:wtf:
-At least we had shore power so we ran the heater all night! Lol

Day 2: Friday May 27th
-Breakfast and packed up camp.
-Left the Sandunes around 10:30 and got to 2nd campground around 12:30 - no sites available. :redbrick:
-Fever came back for other dad and the son also got car sick. My son also started to get a nasty cough and started feeling sick too.
-Went to Amicas in Salida for lunch and regroup (great pizza and microbrews!!!)
-Decided to bail on trip, drove 2 1/2 hours home, and unpacked.
-Watched Harry Potter #4 with the family and out the kids to bed!

View of the dunes from our campground


A couple of camp, black clouds, and my T4R



The snow on the dunes was pretty, but very unexpected or wanted!


We tried, we failed, we will try again. Sickness, cold, and lack of campground availability (we could have searched more, but know one had the energy) prompted our early return to the city

Day 3:
-Cleaned the PUP
-Repacked PUP's bearings
-Took PUP back to storage.

The PUP got upgraded last weekend. This 2006 Kodiak 21QS can sleep up to 10 and only ways 4000 lbs empty with a max GVW of 6000 lbs. This is how a 4000 lb, 25' (21' foot box) camper looks attached to my T4R with a WDH. It's my first go with a WDH, but I'm thinking things looks pretty good. Only dropped rear 1 1/4" when hooked up to camper without using the airbags! Looking forward to many more adventures with this small home following my 2004 T4R. :guitar2:

The camper is in great shape and only needs a couple little things repaired. Nothing a T4R owner can't handle!!! Let the adventures continue.

So...first trip with new travel trailer was...well an adventure.
Day 1 - drive 374 miles to Mancos State Park.
1)** checked lights at gas station about half way and a running light was out.
* stopped at a Subway and saw a Car Quest auto parts store
* purchased new running light/brake/blinker and hit the road with all lights.
- arrived at Mancos State Park
** a valance and blinds had fallen off wall in camper
* had some extra screws so repaired valance and blinds






Day 2 - drive 135 miles to Mesa Verde National Park and then on to Ridgeway State Park
* dropped off camper at entrance to Mesa Verde
* toured the cliff dwellings and took a guided tour of balcony house
* drove to Cortez and filled up with gas
** gave myself enough room to turn left out of gas station
** - semi with fuel blocked my path to turn left
2) ** - tried to turn right and Fu&$
** - camper "kissed" red pump protection barrier
** - needed jack to lift and push camper --- no fing jack
** - disconnected camper and pushed to the left and voila
** - connected camper, gas tanker moved, we turned left and onto Ridgeway we went








Day 3 - Drove 121 miles to Pitkin Campground near Gunnison Co
** Rymes with duck
3) ** - seized passenger front bearing on tandem axle
*** - Rymes with duck #2
4)*** - fresh water tank was dislodged and resting on lower support and undercarriage


Day 4 - stayed at Pikin Campground
- in the am
** drove 1 mile to Pitkin and found the Home | Silver Plume General Store
If your ever in Pitkin, stop in and say hello to these folks!!!!
** - borrowed a 3 Ton floor jack and a mechanics tool set and back to camp
** - jacked up camper and removed bad wheel
** - Rymes with duck again!!! The castle nut was seized/welded/stuck to spindle
*** - jacked up dislodged water tank and drained
*** - put water tank up on supports and realized they were not bolted to fTame
** - I tried to free the castle nut with a rock and a 3" 3/8 drive extension
** - the futher mucked wouldn't budge!!!
- in the PM
* rented a couple razors for the wife and kids and 2nd family
* - I chased them in my T4R for the afternoon!!!
* - the rain, lighting, thunder and hail came!!!
* - My T4R became rescue truck for 4 kids (4 YO, 2 7 YO and an 8 YO)
* - Rain stopped and wheeled up the West and lower side of Hancock Pass!!!!
* - Wife and friends were blown away at what a T4R can do!!! Love my T4R!!!
Went back to camp and feasted!!!
Day 5 - Drove 264 miles from Pitkin, to Gunnison, to Pitkin, and then back home
- Drove 3 wheeled camper to shop in Gunnison
- They tried to remove castle nut with a BIG ASS 1" drive air gun
5)- Castle nut was welded to spindle and BIG ASS air gun spun the threads
- drove back to camp and picked up the family
- limped home with camper on three wheels
- drive home was a little slow, but relatively uneventful

This is the short story of a long adventurous week! My T4R ran great, pulled great, and wheeled great!!! However, she sprung a small coolant leak, but never ran hot. I k ow there is a leak 'cause there is pink coolant on timing cover, a couple hoses and other places near rad. The overflow coolant level is also below "low" so another project is coming up soon!!!!

Another great adventure with Powder_Hounds T4R

Playtime during SW Colorado Adventure

The fun times during the adventure!!!

The camper bearing carnage

Should have repacked the bearings!!!! This mistake is all mine. :frusty:







The BIG ASS 1" drive air gun

How are the high passes in Buena Vista? Still snow or has it melted on Hancock, Antero, Tin Cup, etc?

Bummer on the bearings but sh1t happens, right?

CXS said:

How are the high passes in Buena Vista? Still snow or has it melted on Hancock, Antero, Tin Cup, etc?

Bummer on the bearings but sh1t happens, right?

Click to expand...

We didn't summit anything up high, but my guess is they are all ready to go...possibly some snow above 12,000 and on the N. faciing slopes.

I'd give it a go!

Thanks, I hope to soon. I usually wait until July which is around the corner, same with Ouray! My old aching back might even be healed by then.

My quieter, more peaceful camping spot during my week volunteering at Camp Colorado: The American Diabetes Association camp supporting 270 kids (8-17 years old) with type 1 diabetes at Eagle Lake Camp outside of Woodland Park Co. Thanks to my T4R for getting me up to this secluded spot away from the constant hustle and bustle of the cabins that sleep 8!!!

Heading up to Ruedi Reservoir for a long weekend to camp, MTB, 4WD, hike, fish, relax, etc.... Has anyone wheeled in the area? I see Hagerman Pass, but it looks like there could be other fun stuff there too. Anyone???

A few from our trip to Ruedi Reservoir.

A little hike up to Hanging Lake along the way...

The waterfall called "Spouting Rock" above the falls into Hanging Lake

The rest area / parking lot to Hanging Lake was full so we got to ride the Glenwood Canyon Bike Path to the trail head.


A few from Little Maud Campground at Ruedi Reservoir.



Fun times wheeling up to Deimer and Sellar Lakes. Pretty easy stuff, but the climb up from the North side of Deimer lake made you think a little bit.




We let the kids (4 between 7-9) steer a bit on the trail, had the ladies/wives drive down the trail, and we got to bomb the decent on our MTB's!

Love my T4R: It can carry the toys, the gear, the people, climb over rocks, and haul a 5000 lb trailer!!! The adventures are rollin' on this summer!!!

Next stop the 2016 Colorado Toyota Jamboree!

2016 Colorado Toyota Jamboree - Aug 11-12

Day 1 - Baldwin Lake with [MENTION=88391]NateMob[/MENTION], Tracy, [MENTION=78892]Fishwerks[/MENTION] and his Pooch Otto