CALIFORNIA! I need guidance for a trip.

S

Spunk

New member
Hi folks!

Can you share some input? I have a conundrum.

--------------------------------

Summary:

I have never been to California, and I have heard that it is a beautiful country to wheel. Therefore, I am going on a Californian adventure this late May.

---------------------------------

The problem:

I would love to drive my 4Runner for the trip. However, driving my 4Runner round-trip from Houston, TX is 4000 miles minimum. That does not include any wheeling or sight seeing. That 4000 mile ride is just the highways from Houston to Santa Rosa. Driving a 5K mile road trip for 7-8 days is exhausting, very time consuming and expensive.

----------------------------------
The possible solutions:

1. shipping my rig one way...
2. renting a rig...
3. buying a rig...
...in California.

-----------------------------------

Pro's/Con's of possible solutions:

1. Pro's of shipping my rig one way
- I'm driving my rig, known as Spunk.
- Saves ~ 2000 miles of driving out of 5000.
- I'm wheeling my rig.
Con's
- The cost of shipping my 4Runner one way is ~$700-$1300. That does not include the cost of renting a car in TX while Spunk is shipped (~1 week)
- I have to take two-three days for driving back home, assuming there are no mechanical troubles. Therefore, less vacation in Cali.
- There will be necessary pre-maintenance costs to ensure a safe trip (LBJ's, control arm bearings, and minor stuff, perhaps $1000 of work).

2. Pro's of renting a rig
- My rig is not driving 5000 miles over a 7-8 day timeframe.
- Travel cost is minimized: I can fly, saving time and money for the travel costs to-and-from Houston.
- Vacation time is maximized.
- Vacation cost is maximized
Con's
- Typically Rental companies do not cover the risk/liability of wheeling.
- Unlimited mile rental 4x4's are costly and/or not available within 200 miles of Santa Rosa.
- The rental may be a Jeep.
- Toyota rentals for 4x4 fun are rarer than dating a virgin (making fun of myself here).
- Renting cost is comparable to shipping my rig one-way, between $500 and $1000 for an 8 day rental (depending on even finding one for off-road purposes).
- I may not be able to wheel with rental.
- I am not driving my rig. It'd be like cheating of sorts.


1. Pro's of buying a rig
- Spunk is not driving 5000 miles over a 7-8 day timeframe.
- Saves ~ 2000 miles of driving out of 5000.
- I'm wheeling my rig.
Con's
- I may not find a suitable rig to buy, and therefore will have to revert and rush Option 2. Now, costs are at an all time high because a return plane ticket was not purchased, and I may have a sub-par rental.
- I have to take three-four days for driving back home, assuming the risk of mechanical troubles. Therefore, way less vacation in Cali.
- The possible maintenance costs of something randomly breaking would suck. This would lack the personal touch to maintenance.
- Time-in vacation may be lost to maintenance issues anywhere between California and Texas.
- Most risk / cost if it fails.

The bombshell:

Would any of y'all in California be willing to let me rent your Rig for the week, 4Runner or Taco? I am willing to rent a rig that someone loves, uses, and maintains well. 4 wheel drive is preferred, but a 2wd prerunner setup would be excellent. 1st gen preferred, but any gen would be fair game for review. It would be exposed to some wheeling, agreed-to with the owner long prior to the trip.

Insurance in TX is on a -per vehicle basis, not driver. Typically, someone can legally borrow a vehicle, and the full limits of coverage still apply. I do not know how California's vehicle insurance is setup, but I hope it is similar.

Any thoughts? Thanks guys!
 
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Don't mean to sound like a jerk but.. I don't know anyone who is going to let someone they don't know wheel their "rig" as a rental. Especially a 1st gen.

However, This could be a great opportunity for you to buy a California rust free 1st gen and get your moneys worth. Then drive your dream car back to Texas!
 
Dude.

You are thinking about this trip in the wrong way IMO. California is your destination correct? Why not hit up every cool dirt road between Houston and California, get there, spend the night, get up and go "oooh' and "wow" and head back, hitting up all the cool stuff you missed on the trip out?

I am 52 years old and if I have learned nothing else I have learned:
The Destination is Irrelevant. The Journey is What is Important.

That's what is special about doing anything like 4Wheeling, mountain biking, hiking, skiing, etc. Who actually cares IF you get to the bottom of the hill, top of the hill or to that overlook. It's HOW you got there that is important. And fun!

It's all about the trip. Approach this and future excursions with this attitude and you will never be disappointed or in the conundrum you are now!

In 2014 for example I drove to the U P of Mich to ride my mountain bike. I drove to Florida (3X) to ride my mountain bike. On both of those trips I rode several places along the way and also visited many sights and parks. Actually getting to my "destination" was anticlimactic. Basically your destination just becomes a turn around spot lol. Good luck.
 
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[MENTION=108389]Red88TopangaCa[/MENTION], you speak truth all around!

Apart from here, TTORA, Google and craigslist, are there any other locations you suggest I research?
[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION], thanks man! I completely agree. if I had more time off for the adventure, I would totally do that.
 
Last edited:
1engineer said:
Dude.

You are thinking about this trip in the wrong way IMO. California is your destination correct? Why not hit up every cool dirt road between Houston and California, get there, spend the night, get up and go "oooh' and "wow" and head back, hitting up all the cool stuff you missed on the trip out?

I am 52 years old and if I have learned nothing else I have learned:
The Destination is Irrelevant. The Journey is What is Important.

That's what is special about doing anything like 4Wheeling, mountain biking, hiking, skiing, etc. Who actually cares IF you get to the bottom of the hill, top of the hill or to that overlook. It's HOW you got there that is important. And fun!

It's all about the trip. Approach this and future excursions with this attitude and you will never be disappointed or in the conundrum you are now!

In 2014 for example I drove to the U P of Mich to ride my mountain bike. I drove to Florida (3X) to ride my mountain bike. On both of those trips I rode several places along the way and also visited many sights and parks. Actually getting to my "destination" was anticlimactic. Basically your destination just becomes a turn around spot lol. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Very well put.. Every trip ive taken as far as for recreation, I've had this approach.. And loved everyone of them..:tea:
 
Talk to Matt @ Recycled Toyotas:
Recycled Toyotas home

In the past, he was thinking of the rental business for expeditions in the Sierra's close to here. He may have a rig you want, or a line of one as well.

Very good guy.
 
Spunk said:
Hi folks!

Can you share some input? I have a conundrum.

--------------------------------

Summary:

I have never been to California, and I have heard that it is a beautiful country to wheel. Therefore, I am going on a Californian adventure this late May.

---------------------------------

The problem:

I would love to drive my 4Runner for the trip. However, driving my 4Runner round-trip from Houston, TX is 4000 miles minimum. That does not include any wheeling or sight seeing. That 4000 mile ride is just the highways from Houston to Santa Rosa. Driving a 5K mile road trip for 7-8 days is exhausting, very time consuming and expensive.


the problem is that you're taking 7-8 days, and planning too much shit in the short time frame you're taking.

----------------------------------
The possible solutions:

1. shipping my rig one way...
2. renting a rig...
3. buying a rig...
...in California.

-----------------------------------

Pro's/Con's of possible solutions:

1. Pro's of shipping my rig one way
- I'm driving my rig, known as Spunk.
- Saves ~ 2000 miles of driving out of 5000.
- I'm wheeling my rig.
Con's
- The cost of shipping my 4Runner one way is ~$700-$1300. That does not include the cost of renting a car in TX while Spunk is shipped (~1 week)
- I have to take two-three days for driving back home, assuming there are no mechanical troubles. Therefore, less vacation in Cali.
- There will be necessary pre-maintenance costs to ensure a safe trip (LBJ's, control arm bearings, and minor stuff, perhaps $1000 of work).


seems like the most viable option, but is going to cost more than just driving "Spunk" out there.


2. Pro's of renting a rig
- My rig is not driving 5000 miles over a 7-8 day timeframe.
- Travel cost is minimized: I can fly, saving time and money for the travel costs to-and-from Houston.
- Vacation time is maximized.
- Vacation cost is maximized
Con's
- Typically Rental companies do not cover the risk/liability of wheeling.
- Unlimited mile rental 4x4's are costly and/or not available within 200 miles of Santa Rosa.
- The rental may be a Jeep.
- Toyota rentals for 4x4 fun are rarer than dating a virgin (making fun of myself here).
- Renting cost is comparable to shipping my rig one-way, between $500 and $1000 for an 8 day rental (depending on even finding one for off-road purposes).
- I may not be able to wheel with rental.
- I am not driving my rig. It'd be like cheating of sorts.

Cheating, Heep, and cost of rental say "F-NO".


1. Pro's of buying a rig
- Spunk is not driving 5000 miles over a 7-8 day timeframe.
- Saves ~ 2000 miles of driving out of 5000.
- I'm wheeling my rig.
Con's
- I may not find a suitable rig to buy, and therefore will have to revert and rush Option 2. Now, costs are at an all time high because a return plane ticket was not purchased, and I may have a sub-par rental.
- I have to take three-four days for driving back home, assuming the risk of mechanical troubles. Therefore, way less vacation in Cali.
- The possible maintenance costs of something randomly breaking would suck. This would lack the personal touch to maintenance.
- Time-in vacation may be lost to maintenance issues anywhere between California and Texas.
- Most risk / cost if it fails.


Possibility, but not likely that you're going to find something that will be suitable for your needs.

That, and on a trip back, it would suck to break down because someone didn't tell you about some small issue that frew into a massive one after wheeling.

The bombshell:

Would any of y'all in California be willing to let me rent your Rig for the week, 4Runner or Taco? I am willing to rent a rig that someone loves, uses, and maintains well. 4 wheel drive is preferred, but a 2wd prerunner setup would be excellent. 1st gen preferred, but any gen would be fair game for review. It would be exposed to some wheeling, agreed-to with the owner long prior to the trip.

Insurance in TX is on a -per vehicle basis, not driver. Typically, someone can legally borrow a vehicle, and the full limits of coverage still apply. I do not know how California's vehicle insurance is setup, but I hope it is similar.


More than likely NOT going to happen.

Any thoughts? Thanks guys!
Click to expand...




You need to do what [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] said.

Don't focus on the destination. If you get there, you get there. If not, you had a damn good time trying to get there.


I would be thinking of 2 things if I were you at this point:

1) Is Cali really THAT good to go wheel in?
2) Can I take more time?



If you're sitting here trying to cram all this adventure into such a short amount of time, you're asking for trouble and disappointment.

Personally, I'd save myself 1400 miles, and 22 hours of driving, and go to Moab.

You're looking at 1973 miles from Houston to Santa Rosa, and 1263 miles from Houston to Moab. Everyone dreams of going to Moab.


California isn't going anywhere, contraty to popular belief that it's going to break off the US and float away.

Pick somewhere closer, or a few places closer, and make an ADVENTURE out of it.


And, last bit of info I'm going to throw in here, I went on a 4098.41 mile trip when I got home from Afghan in 2011. In 10 days. Basically a tour of the East Coast.

Truck did fanstatic. Get the maintenance taken care of, and you'll be good to go.
 
I think you're making this into way more of a big deal than it is. If you lived in Key West, FL and your dream vacation was in Anchorage, AK, I could understand the fly-vs-drive dilemma.

But Houston to CA? Sheesh, just drive there. It's not that far.

Renting is not an option in most places because almost any rental is going to specify that you cannot take it off of a paved road. The only vehicles I know of that you can rent for off road excursions are Jeeps and that's going to cost you a lot of $$.

Buying a vehicle? That seems like a great way to waste both time and money. If you buy a vehicle how much time are you going to spend running back and forth to the DMV to get tags, inspections, etc? And what if you find it needs work? Again, aren't you trying to save time and money?

You can make it from Houston to Albuquerque in 12 hours. Death Valley is 10 - 12 hours past that.

If your time is so tight you can't factor in 2 days of driving at the beginning and end of your trip you might want to set your sights on something closer. Utah and Colorado are both 1,000 miles closer to you and both offer fantastic off-road travel.
 
OK, I re-read a bit and may have to revise some of my remarks. Looks like you only have 7-8 days and your destination is Santa Rosa, North of San Francisco.

Spunk said:
2. Pro's of renting a rig
- My rig is not driving 5000 miles over a 7-8 day timeframe.
- Travel cost is minimized: I can fly, saving time and money for the travel costs to-and-from Houston.
- Vacation time is maximized.
- Vacation cost is maximized
Click to expand...

I think you're kidding yourself about saving money. By the time you factor in the cost of the flight + the cost of renting an off-road capable vehicle, I doubt you will save anything.

Also I assume you would be flying into Oakland or SFO, right? You know that's one of the most expensive places in the US, and a hotel room is going to be pricey. That adds to your cost, even if you can get a low-cost flight from Houston to SFO.

What's in Santa Rosa? That's up in the Marin County/Bay Area? Why that part of CA?

Here's another factor: Are you camping? If so, how is your camping gear going to get to CA if you fly? If you have to rent/buy gear in CA, there's another expense that you would not incur if you were driving.

I'm not clear on what your objective is. Is the objective to see that part of CA? Or is the objective specifically to go off-roading in that part of CA? If it's the former, common sense would tell me that a cheap flight + a cheap car rental will get you there. No, it won't get you to the back country but you may be able to backpack in or hike.

If the objective is specifically to go 'wheeling or off-roading, then you need to consider that it's unlikely you'll be able to rent a capable vehicle in that part of the country. 4x4 rentals tend to be in places where 4 wheeling is a common interest: Moab, Durango, Death Valley, etc.
 
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Martinjmpr said:
OK, I re-read a bit and may have to revise some of my remarks. Looks like you only have 7-8 days and your destination is Santa Rosa, North of San Francisco.



I think you're kidding yourself about saving money. By the time you factor in the cost of the flight + the cost of renting an off-road capable vehicle, I doubt you will save anything.

Also I assume you would be flying into Oakland or SFO, right? You know that's one of the most expensive places in the US, and a hotel room is going to be pricey. That adds to your cost, even if you can get a low-cost flight from Houston to SFO.

What's in Santa Rosa? That's up in the Marin County/Bay Area? Why that part of CA?

Here's another factor: Are you camping? If so, how is your camping gear going to get to CA if you fly? If you have to rent/buy gear in CA, there's another expense that you would not incur if you were driving.

I'm not clear on what your objective is. Is the objective to see that part of CA? Or is the objective specifically to go off-roading in that part of CA? If it's the former, common sense would tell me that a cheap flight + a cheap car rental will get you there. No, it won't get you to the back country but you may be able to backpack in or hike.

If the objective is specifically to go 'wheeling or off-roading, then you need to consider that it's unlikely you'll be able to rent a capable vehicle in that part of the country. 4x4 rentals tend to be in places where 4 wheeling is a common interest: Moab, Durango, Death Valley, etc.
Click to expand...

This is truth. Santa Rosa is not a wheeling destination. If you are going to the Sanoma valley, I assume it is for wine so the runner is not even a variable. If you only have a week or so, Death Valley is a better destination for you. The sierras are a great (even better destination) but your timeframe doesn't allow for it. You'd want a week there at least. Why not just go to Moab? That is way closer and you can wheel your heart out. Save CA wheeling for when you have 3 weeks of you want to take that long to drive there and back.
 
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