Dirtyfingers
Senior Member
Has anyone ever made this trip in their 4runner? If so what should I expect? I'm going to be doing a tuneup before hand after I get back to the states but how many people have made this trip?
California to Texas and back.
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BrianSD_42
New member
I've driven from the East Coast along the I-40 out to California, passing through the top of TX and finally arriving in Bakersfield then down to San Diego.
Pretty much the reverse of how you would go. If I needed to go out to TX along that route again I would consider just renting a small car. It can be cost effective and the trip isn't really worth taking the 4Runner. At least not if you want to keep your miles low.
Basically I remember it being a long drive over mostly flat roads.
Pretty much the reverse of how you would go. If I needed to go out to TX along that route again I would consider just renting a small car. It can be cost effective and the trip isn't really worth taking the 4Runner. At least not if you want to keep your miles low.
Basically I remember it being a long drive over mostly flat roads.
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Dirtyfingers
Senior Member
I see, but unfortunately everything that I have bought for my truck is in Texas at my parents house, how often did you fill up? I'm also not worried about miles. I'm going to run the wheels off this runner and then some. I'm not too worried about gas either just wanna make sure ill make it through the parts where there isn't a gas station within a 150+ miles or something like that.
drdolittlerwc
New member
We are making that trip too in late Oct or Early Nov on our way through Mexico and on to Belize, so I have been doing a lot of calculating, every time I fill up I try to figure out my mileage and recall how I was driving that week. If I drive around 65-70 (highway), with mostly highway miles, I get about 17 to 18 miles to a gallon which averages to about 315 miles. So if you figure about 300 miles per tank, that should help, and I reset my trip odometer each fill-up so I don't forget.
drdolittlerwc
New member
Besides, those "150 miles" to next service are generally along the 80, through Utah, Wyo, and the Dakotas. 
Enjoy the drive!
Enjoy the drive!
Chewbacca
New member
Im guessing you will be going down i-10?
The weather can get shitty between NM and AZ. Dust storms and really hot stuff.
Just a couple things to consider
-Vehicle doesn't overheat
-Has working spare
-Take some extra coolant/water
-Basic Handtools
-Cell Phone Charger
The drive is easy and straight for the most part.
I did it in a 240sx with no AC. Sucked....lol
The weather can get shitty between NM and AZ. Dust storms and really hot stuff.
Just a couple things to consider
-Vehicle doesn't overheat
-Has working spare
-Take some extra coolant/water
-Basic Handtools
-Cell Phone Charger
The drive is easy and straight for the most part.
I did it in a 240sx with no AC. Sucked....lol
4Runner4TW
New member
I just did AZ to FL and back. Took the I-10 the whole time. I made it about 280 miles per tank but I was getting gas before or at the 1/4 mark. I didn't want to risk it. Truck performed great. I've done cross country drives 10 times now, that one was one of the best. I liked being up high.
Texas was the worst part but mainly because it was 900+ miles. Its draining knowing you wont be out of one state for more than half a day.
Make sure you have good wipers! The 2 worst storms I have ever encountered when road tripping were in Texas.
Texas was the worst part but mainly because it was 900+ miles. Its draining knowing you wont be out of one state for more than half a day.
Make sure you have good wipers! The 2 worst storms I have ever encountered when road tripping were in Texas.
I've done this trip twice; first I bought a Gen1 '85 4Runner (2" lift on 32s, ARB lockers and OBA, Marlin Crawler gears, etc.) in San Diego and drove it back home to north Texas via Scottsdale, Arizona, Carlsbad, New Mexico and west Texas. Then the following year I flew to Los Angeles and bought my Gen3 '96 4Runner (5-speed with e-locker, SS 1.2 lift on 285s, etc.) and drove it back home via Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Moab, Telluride, Ouray, Great Sand Dune NP, New Mexico and west Texas (much better trip!). This year we drove from north Texas to Colorado again, RMNP area.
where in Texas is all your 4Runner stuff stored?
Dirtyfingers
Senior Member
Yeah I know Texas can be super boring during a drive like that. Nothing but flat haha but it is still my home
It's all in Houston, go figure haha. Oh we'll I haven't been home in a year so it'll be nice to see my couple of friends, also I've been to Ouray. I loved it there I went for 12' FJ summit.
Spaceman33
New member
Just finished drive from Houston to Tempe. Scenery was great on the way out. Boring on the way back. Long straight hot
I was filling up at ~250 miles every tank. You can be a long way from a gas station during the many stretches.
Loved the 80 mph highways. Cruise control on 83-85 most of the time.
No issues on my 2000 TR4.
I was filling up at ~250 miles every tank. You can be a long way from a gas station during the many stretches.
Loved the 80 mph highways. Cruise control on 83-85 most of the time.
No issues on my 2000 TR4.
Dirtyfingers
Senior Member
Thank you! I am an Engineman. Were you in the navy or have family that's in?
Sweet, I'm pretty sure ill be running with a lift and 315s though, I am regearing it too. But I think I'll have my rear bumper and some Jerry cans soon enough. Just want this trip to go smooth haha.
snivilous
Senior Member
Are you going offroad for the route? Otherwise I wouldn't worry about gas much since there's a gas station every 25 miles at least on the interstate. I just drove from CO to UT for school, and there's a stretch when I cross from CO to UT to WY where it's mostly dirt roads and a sign that says "No services next 110 miles" :bigok: Though I only go that way for the scenery so I don't have to drive more than I have to through WY (about the same trip time).
Just watch your odometer for fill ups. I dented my gas tank (stock bash plate isn't worth shit I found out :frusty and it wouldn't read under a 1/4 tank on the way home last semester so I ran out of fuel in the middle of I-80 in WY. Since then I always check the odometer I have for calculating my mpg to make sure the gauge is accurate.
EDIT:
Agreed, but mainly I would make sure you have wiper fluid if you think you're gonna use it. I've run out of fluid going over the pass of I-70 in the winter, and only had like a 3x3" square that was kinda clear of mud until I got to the next city.
Just watch your odometer for fill ups. I dented my gas tank (stock bash plate isn't worth shit I found out :frusty
and it wouldn't read under a 1/4 tank on the way home last semester so I ran out of fuel in the middle of I-80 in WY. Since then I always check the odometer I have for calculating my mpg to make sure the gauge is accurate.EDIT:
Agreed, but mainly I would make sure you have wiper fluid if you think you're gonna use it. I've run out of fluid going over the pass of I-70 in the winter, and only had like a 3x3" square that was kinda clear of mud until I got to the next city.
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neither, just a lot of friends who were/are in the Navy, particularly Naval Special Warfare and Special Boat Units and aviators
Trekerjohn
New member
My trip from CA to TX and back
This past May/June, I drove from Sacramento, CA to San Antonio, then up to Austin, Dallas, and then up to Blue Ridge, TX before turning back home and stopping at Santa Fe, the Very Large Array (from the movie "Contact"), the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Lake Tahoe. I have a '96 Limited 4Runner with about 260,000 miles on it. I did some light off-roading on the trip. Slept in the back on my very cool platform when I was not staying with family. Took me about a month. Never had a problem. Averaged about 20 - 21 mpg over the whole trip. For those long hauls, just make sure that you have a cooler full of whatever you like, and plenty of tunes to turn up real loud. I'm looking forward to doing it again within the next year or two. I love Austin and spent a few days there. If you do, don't miss the Whole Foods HQ store, and even more important, Barton Springs. Bring your swimsuit and, if Barton Springs is the only thing you see and do in Austin, you won't be disappointed.
This past May/June, I drove from Sacramento, CA to San Antonio, then up to Austin, Dallas, and then up to Blue Ridge, TX before turning back home and stopping at Santa Fe, the Very Large Array (from the movie "Contact"), the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Lake Tahoe. I have a '96 Limited 4Runner with about 260,000 miles on it. I did some light off-roading on the trip. Slept in the back on my very cool platform when I was not staying with family. Took me about a month. Never had a problem. Averaged about 20 - 21 mpg over the whole trip. For those long hauls, just make sure that you have a cooler full of whatever you like, and plenty of tunes to turn up real loud. I'm looking forward to doing it again within the next year or two. I love Austin and spent a few days there. If you do, don't miss the Whole Foods HQ store, and even more important, Barton Springs. Bring your swimsuit and, if Barton Springs is the only thing you see and do in Austin, you won't be disappointed.
Dirtyfingers
Senior Member
Yeah I miss Austin, I lived there for 13 years haha
