Drove up for a rendezvous of in-laws & out-laws 225 miles north of Albuquerque in Great Sand Dunes National Monument CO (just north of Alamosa) and the high country behind it in the Sangre de Christo Wilderness area---camped at 9200' and the nine creek crossings were cake for the Trail...except the morning we arrived, the rain-swollen waters were a lot higher and an FJ Cruiser got swamped/took on water and had to be yanked out before being swept away.....most of the snow-melt flows have subsided on Medano Creek, but it's the monsoonal rains that keep things interesting. Heavy rains have the benefit of packing the sandy trail coming into the Park and avoiding airing down and having to re-fill before going up into the pine, aspen and fir elevations, where rocky and slow is the name of the game. Great area for 4X4-ing, fun for kids of all ages, even geezers like moi'

Loved the positive "clunk" of the mechanically-shifted transfer case lever on the Trail, and great to get her wet and dirty as she barely needed anything much more than idle to handle what was on the trail coming and going---but she sure is a larger size than the 3rd-Gen we had prior to this one!

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Those Silver TE's sure do look nice.

The pictures look great! I'm getting ready to take my Trail through Medano Pass into the dunes next week on a CO vacation.

You're really making me anxious to test mine out finally too! Great pics, but who got across the river first to take your photos (or did you ask your wife to get out first like I do to get some shots...lol)?

My daughters were ahead of us in the 2000 SR5----leading the way, and so one of them hopped out to flick the pix for a couple of sections to allow me to show off getting a little 4L stick-time

***Even though there's plenty of 1st-gear/low-range sections you just want gravity and gearing to take you over and through....it just goes to show you unless you're a real dumbass, drunk, or the equipment is subject to failure due to neglect....it's tough to get stuck in anything with a "4 in front and an R in back"

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I've read reports of the bearings going out early on some 5th gens that had made deep water crossings. Is there anything you have to watch for or anything you can do after a water crossing? Awesome pics by the way! Way to put it to use.

Ahhhh....that always works! My poor wife can't enjoy the ride because I am always telling her "this would make a great shot" honey...lol.

lol.... I agree; you really have to "not know" what you are doing to get stuck. Usually it's folks who take silly chances, don't understand what their vehicle can and can't do, or don't understand how to drive differently in off-road situations.

5th Gen early wheel bearing failure due to water crossings? Jeez, too early to tell, but I guess I'm a little relieved that I've got an extended warranty----yup, it's a Toyota, and I expect it to last a long time----just like a lot of the 2nd/3rd/4th gen's still on and off the road

A lot of vehicles are prone to various bearing failures after deep water crossings. Unfortunately, the 4runner is no different. Last summer I took my 4th gen through a few deep crossings (2-3 feet deep). While it conquered the water no problem, a few months later both rear wheel bearings needed replacement. Maybe age, mileage and water were contributing factors. Also, last year wasn't the first time I took it through some deep water. We had some crazy monsoons last year so it was all I could do just to get home. The bearings definitely had signs of water though. No signs of water in the diff oil at all (I did the rear diff breather mod back in 2008). I'm definitely a little more cautious about water crossings now.

If you're going to do water crossings like that on a regular basis Murth you probably should look into doing a rear diff breather mod. It's inexpensive and fairly easy. The 5th Gen already has the front diff and tranny breathers relocated up onto the firewall, but the rear diff breather is still on the housing itself. And it's a one way valve so any cool water crossing creates a vacuum that draws water in through the bearings.

Great pics! Looks like a great trip it's been years since I've taken my 90' Toyota Pickup on Medano.

I have a Polaris RZR for off-roading now so I don't know that I can convince the wife to let me take the new limited off-road.

Looks great! Did you come into the park over Medano Pass, or in on the hard road? It looks like the pass, but just curious! Was up there about 3 weeks ago - not a 4Runner, but my cousins FJ. Pulled all manner of vehicle out of the sand during the few days we were up there.

Im always so jealous of everyone elses landscape. All we have down here in Louisiana is flat land and trees......*sigh*

I concur. Are you going to that soiree up in St Francisville this weekend? I plan to be home to attend.

Is it on Saturday or Sunday?? We have this party we have to attend on Saturday so it may be a scheduling conflict.