Heading to the Denver Area next week (spring break) would like some input
- Thread starter Renegade_Medic
- Start date
Renegade_Medic
New member
Yes, as a matter of fact, I saw that yesterday. I was looking at a bunch of the trails, I like how they rate them, it's very helpful. I didn't realize the "off season" was so long up there.
Well, you can't wheel anywhere in Texas, unless you own the land or pay to go somewhere. The local place is OK, but it costs $40 for the day. The Kalifornians are overrunning here too (Austin). At least we can still have "HIGH" (standard) capacity magazines, gun rights aren't likely to erode here.
PaulsTrail
New member
That's a dandy resource, we've used it a lot.
Some possibilities that aren't too far from the Pikes Peak area (which are described on TrailDamage.com) are:
Goose Creek Road - This is an easy road, but there are several roads branching off of it which may give you more of a challenge. Friends of ours were in the area last weekend climbing surrounding peaks, and told me that there was very little snow there. It's in a burn area, but it's still quite a beautiful place. The Gobbler's pictures here will give you an idea of what the area looks like. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/57313-5th-gen-toyota-4runner-picture-gallery-446.html#post2625180
Metberry Gulch and Hackett Gulch - Near the Goose Creek area, but much tougher. I haven't heard anything recently about conditions there.
Cedar Mountain Road - Also in the same area. Easy.
China Wall - Further from the Pikes Peak area, but easy to get to via Highway 24 and Tarryall Road (Park County 77). Should be nearly snow free. I don't know if it's subject to a seasonal closure, however.
Have fun!
Renegade_Medic
New member
Renegade_Medic
New member
No, I'll be heading through sweetwater.
JayRolla
New member
Really, we have so many trails you could not run them all in a lifetime. THey get closed due to gun toting fools shooting up the entire forest, trashing everything, accidentally shooting each other and going off trail. Im glad they close them when that happens.
Sean K.
New member
Ya....people say that...until one of their favorite trails gets locked.
"Gun toting fools" are not the main reason trails get closed....usually, it's wheelers (usually side by sides around here) who neither stay on trails (creating trail braids) or cause erosion in riparian areas.
Don't get me wrong, plenty of idiot gun owners shoot up illegally dumped items like refrigerators, computers, TVs, glass of all sorts, etc....and then don't bother to pick up their spent casings or their actual targets. My opinion is: if you shoot it....it's now yours. Pack it out.
The problem is: the sins of the few are placed on the backs of the many.....but that's easier than punishing those actually responsible and is the mindset of the nanny state.
Renegade_Medic
New member
Well after some careful consideration and because it was a good excuse, I decided to adopt today. It's just one of those better safe than sorry things, I just wanted to make sure Congress approved first. I know it's something I should have anyway....
It is a pretty small price to pay, and I was going to get a winch anyway. I had some extra OT on this paycheck so...
I worked on getting it mounted this afternoon and will finish up tomorrow. I'll be putting it under the bumper, for now. If I get a bumper later, I can always move it. But to be honest, I really only want a bumper for looks and winch mounting, not afraid of this bumper taking damage.
It is a pretty small price to pay, and I was going to get a winch anyway. I had some extra OT on this paycheck so...
I worked on getting it mounted this afternoon and will finish up tomorrow. I'll be putting it under the bumper, for now. If I get a bumper later, I can always move it. But to be honest, I really only want a bumper for looks and winch mounting, not afraid of this bumper taking damage.
Co4Fun
New member
Nice. You'll have to let us know how mounting goes.
Personally I went with a front receiver so it's a remote setup. There are some disadvantages to this but the receiver is high to help with clearance issues and it's just so nice not to have it up there all the time as added weight and in the elements. I had a bumper fabbed up for this and I know that's not in everyone's plans but I think this setup is really cool with a stock bumper too as CBI makes a bolt on and any decent fab guy can integrate it into the stock setup (do a search on this forum...many examples.)
http://www.cbioffroadfab.com/produc...n-tacoma-high-clearance-front-receiver-hitch/
Either way, also if you have the funds and before you use it and get burrs on it from the cable take a look at synth lines on amazon. I got an 80' for under $100. Just make sure you get the right diameter and all. These help so much with lowering the overall weight and so much easier and safer to use.
Personally I went with a front receiver so it's a remote setup. There are some disadvantages to this but the receiver is high to help with clearance issues and it's just so nice not to have it up there all the time as added weight and in the elements. I had a bumper fabbed up for this and I know that's not in everyone's plans but I think this setup is really cool with a stock bumper too as CBI makes a bolt on and any decent fab guy can integrate it into the stock setup (do a search on this forum...many examples.)
http://www.cbioffroadfab.com/produc...n-tacoma-high-clearance-front-receiver-hitch/
Either way, also if you have the funds and before you use it and get burrs on it from the cable take a look at synth lines on amazon. I got an 80' for under $100. Just make sure you get the right diameter and all. These help so much with lowering the overall weight and so much easier and safer to use.
Last edited:
Renegade_Medic
New member
Yeah, I considered the hitch mount. I don't mind leaving it up there. I have heavy springs in the front and they ride a little stuff without the extra weight. Also wiring in a disconnect was not going to done in time. This thing is pretty beefy. Over-built probably. It's bolted and welded to the frame, it ain't going anywhere. Install was a pain. It took me about 3 times as long to do the his as I anticipated. But, I the his hinkle the end result is great. It looks good and I can access everything right here.
Looks good. It's high up and hopefully it will be like my last winch and never used to its potential.
Looks good. It's high up and hopefully it will be like my last winch and never used to its potential.
Renegade_Medic
New member
So I ended up doing more than I had anticipated. I drove all over (nearly 3000 miles this week) and saw a lot. I didn't see much snow, which was kind of disappointing, but I did get to do a couple trails.
I did a trail that starts at 39.149829 N, -105.365505 W I have no idea what it was, but it was pretty easy. I did the river crossing at the end, which put me directly on Longwater Gulch, which was a blast and certainly pushed my comfort level of wheeling alone (vehicle-wise). Specifically the river crossing and the upper Granite slab. The climbs were no problem, especially in 4L and the locker made short work of loose gravel and the slabs were a no-drama affair.
Did get some new bodywork on my rear bumper as some point and learned I really do need to extend my rear bump stops. The rear wheels spent a good amount of time stuffed in the wheel wells. We had a blast and it really made me more confident in the 4Runner. I didn't have to use my winch at all, although I would have to have been creative to use it there anyhow.
Thanks all for the input, we did a ton and I definitely will be back later in the year to do more. I got my buddy looking at 4Runners now, although I think he will import one from Texas, so maybe I won't be alone next time. I can see how you could never do all the trails in a lifetime.
And crossed a milestone on the way home today:
I did a trail that starts at 39.149829 N, -105.365505 W I have no idea what it was, but it was pretty easy. I did the river crossing at the end, which put me directly on Longwater Gulch, which was a blast and certainly pushed my comfort level of wheeling alone (vehicle-wise). Specifically the river crossing and the upper Granite slab. The climbs were no problem, especially in 4L and the locker made short work of loose gravel and the slabs were a no-drama affair.
Did get some new bodywork on my rear bumper as some point and learned I really do need to extend my rear bump stops. The rear wheels spent a good amount of time stuffed in the wheel wells. We had a blast and it really made me more confident in the 4Runner. I didn't have to use my winch at all, although I would have to have been creative to use it there anyhow.
Thanks all for the input, we did a ton and I definitely will be back later in the year to do more. I got my buddy looking at 4Runners now, although I think he will import one from Texas, so maybe I won't be alone next time. I can see how you could never do all the trails in a lifetime.
And crossed a milestone on the way home today:
Concepia65
New member
Oh OK. I don't know where Modano goes. I only went about a half mile or so up it and turned around. It must go pretty high up. After doing Blanka peak Modano was not really exciting. It was cool driving at the base of the dunes
That's similar to Metberry Gulch, by Cedar Mountain. Fun trail. We ran Metberry in my son's '97 with rear locker. Used the locker getting through the hole at the bottom of the granite slab and onto the slab itself, and also coming up the whoop-dee-doos above the slab. Otherwise the trail is pretty straightforward.
All three of those trails, Longwater, Hackett, and Metberry are fun early season trails.
All three of those trails, Longwater, Hackett, and Metberry are fun early season trails.
Last edited:
