Massive road trip to CO

[lhsoulrebel]

Off topic:

Where in VT are you? I'm from Brattleboro and now live in Boulder. Maybe i'll see you around!

I Live in burlington... I talked with you about the ultimate lift, and its now up and running... rides great. already been on a bunch of trails in vt in prep for the big trek next aug!

 

[lhsoulrebel]

I drive out to CO from Alabama every summer, camping every stop along the way. San Juans are beautiful. I don't go hardcore off road in the 4runner while there, since my cousin I visit has a Land Cruiser and knows every road and trail in the state, it seems. You will definitely lose lots of power, as many areas are over 10000 ft. Use a tent for camping. Don't use a hitch haul, you will drag it on the ground very easily. I used one the first summer I was there, big mistake. Ouray is a nice place to stay, and soak in the hot springs. Have fun....

The bear reports have me a little concerned about sleeping in a tent... unpacking the car every night to sleep in it also sounds like a pain... I guess your damned if you do, damned if you don't! The hot springs sound like a great idea... especially when the wife starts getting mad about the very bumpy ride!

 

[lhsoulrebel]

Loss of power. Nothing you can do about it, just accept it.
I have a Engel Fridge and would never do a long trip without it. It kicks butt. No need to buy ice. No wet food. No sloshing water. It is a true fridge. A lot of the plug in coolers only chill ~40 degrees cooler than the ambient temp.

Boy, you will only be 5 or 6 hours from Moab. Moab is epic! I would spend less days traveling out and back so you can make it to Moab!

I know, I'd love to make it to moab... 2200 miles to san juans.... nothing I can really do about the drive time, and I'll only have 2 weeks vacation. I've been to the moab area, really cool, I hiked around saw the parks close by... It may have to be another trip.

 

[lhsoulrebel]

I would do some "shakedown" trips if you haven't already. These will tell you what you need, don't need and are nice to have. I think the biggest thing on long road trips is to get and stay organized. You can do this with plastic bins or you could build a storage platform. Some platforms just get you organized and some also can be slept on. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/81843-rear-cargo-box-thread.html

Pre-trip maintenance is a big one. If you think it should be done then you should do it.

I would consider some type of rooftop storage. Hard cases (bins or top carriers) are easier to stay organized and some are more aerodynamic. Soft roof bags work fine and keep things dry, weigh less and cost less. I would use the roof for chairs and stuff.

You could consider a hitch type carrier. This keeps stuff out of the wind and is easier to access. But it will hinder getting into the hatch and will drag on wheeling obstacles. I would use some type of plastic bins on this.

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I would recommend, if wheeling alone, some type of winch. (Come-a-long etc)
If you want to do some harder trails, hook up with some locals so you don't wheel alone.
I would definitely have a CB radio to talk to locals when wheeling with them. Also great to find out why traffic is stopped on the highway. Ham? your choice. I know of a few wheelers that use them.
Window screens? The Skeeter Beater - Magnetic Screen for your car, truck, SUV or RV. They work well.
High altitude clothing. YES! It does snow all year long at altitude. Be prepared. The mountains can get rain in the afternoons. Colorado is #2 on lighting strikes too. You may want to think about some type of tarp/awning for camp.

I'll def be getting the skeeter beater for the option of sleeping in the car... Undecided on the cargo box idea... just had a vision of a raised platform with tote boxes stored underneath... floor style joists on the sides of the boxes.... seems like it may be easy... anyway.. A pre trip trip will be a must! Thanks your input.

 

[Gerdo]

Here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...tweiler-semi-build-thread-thanks-looking.html is a simple but effective storage system. May be something like you were thinking. I will tell you to keep it low if you want to sleep on top of it.

 

[lhsoulrebel]

Thanks for the link! Pretty close to what I had in mind. If I go that route, I'd have it go full length for sleeping purposes, but that's the idea. Has anyone on this forum ran those trails (engineer, cinnamon, ouray passes, mineral gulch and california basin)?? If so, would they require sliders or winch... I've read a bunch about them, and the only ones in the area that seem pretty questionable are mineral creek, and black bear??

 

[Gerdo]

I have not run BB or MC but after looking at the Trail Damage ratings (4-5) and pictures I would not see any need for sliders. A winch? doubtful, but I would carry a come-a-long. I have slowly pulled myself out of some jams with my C-a-L. Colorado mud is pretty sandy and usually not very sticky.

 

[lhsoulrebel]

Thanks Gerdo, thats what I was thinking... just wanted some experienced opinions. Hoping the hi lift winch kit will handle any possible sticky situations.

 

[lhsoulrebel]

Oh, hows cell reception out in the san juans?? I'm guessing non existant.... but I don't want to invest in a cb or ham unless I have to.

 

[Geolander]

The bear reports have me a little concerned about sleeping in a tent... unpacking the car every night to sleep in it also sounds like a pain... I guess your damned if you do, damned if you don't! The hot springs sound like a great idea... especially when the wife starts getting mad about the very bumpy ride!

The bears won't bother you in your tent unless you store your food in there. I've had quite a few bears wander through my camps without any issues whatsoever. Just keep all your food/coolers in a bear locker if the campsite has one, or below the windows of the truck if it doesn't. Bears have learned to recognize coolers even if they can't smell them and they'll rip the doors off your car to get to them.

If there are lots of bears in the area, don't store your food in the open or it will be gone in the morning, guaranteed. They'll even take them in broad daylight if they can get away with it. Camping with a large group in two sites, I once had a cooler stolen from the second site while everyone was over cooking in the first one.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I would actually advise very strongly against a trailer-hitch basket-style carrier.

The Rocky Mountains are called "rocky" for a reason. On the trails you mentioned you can expect your vehicle to be rocking violently back and forth, for miles at a time. Anything heavy is either going to fall off of that rack or the rack or hitch is going to break. You also have to be mindful of departure angle - if you go into a ditch with steep sides you're going to damage or destroy that basket.

Bottom line, if you get a hitch basket, use it on the highway only, and take it off before you go on the trail.

As for your setup, I run trails like that in CO and I don't have half of what you've got. People 'wheeled these trails long before things like lockers became common. A winch is OK but do you know how to use one? Sliders are good for really rocky trails (like the ones in Moab) but IMO are not neccessary for the trails you'd be running.

As for the cooler, I just use an ice chest, it's easier and I don't have to worry about plugging it in. Once you get up to altitude, it cools off considerably and you probably won't be away from an ice source for more than a day or 2 anyway (heck, you'll need to go into town to get gas, and anyplace that sells gas also sells ice.)

Sleeping in the 4runner? Yeah, I've done it. You have to unload all your gear in order to do it, though, so where do you put it? In DVNP I just stacked it next to the truck but that does get to be a bit of a PITA.

I didn't see when you are planning on doing this. Next year I'm guessing? If you are planning on hitting those trails this year, you better get moving. Most of them will be closed by early to mid October.

Also remember that this is hunting season so wear a blaze orange cap if you're outside walking around.

 

[lhsoulrebel]

I would actually advise very strongly against a trailer-hitch basket-style carrier.

The Rocky Mountains are called "rocky" for a reason. On the trails you mentioned you can expect your vehicle to be rocking violently back and forth, for miles at a time. Anything heavy is either going to fall off of that rack or the rack or hitch is going to break. You also have to be mindful of departure angle - if you go into a ditch with steep sides you're going to damage or destroy that basket.

Bottom line, if you get a hitch basket, use it on the highway only, and take it off before you go on the trail.

As for your setup, I run trails like that in CO and I don't have half of what you've got. People 'wheeled these trails long before things like lockers became common. A winch is OK but do you know how to use one? Sliders are good for really rocky trails (like the ones in Moab) but IMO are not neccessary for the trails you'd be running.

As for the cooler, I just use an ice chest, it's easier and I don't have to worry about plugging it in. Once you get up to altitude, it cools off considerably and you probably won't be away from an ice source for more than a day or 2 anyway (heck, you'll need to go into town to get gas, and anyplace that sells gas also sells ice.)

Sleeping in the 4runner? Yeah, I've done it. You have to unload all your gear in order to do it, though, so where do you put it? In DVNP I just stacked it next to the truck but that does get to be a bit of a PITA.

I didn't see when you are planning on doing this. Next year I'm guessing? If you are planning on hitting those trails this year, you better get moving. Most of them will be closed by early to mid October.

Also remember that this is hunting season so wear a blaze orange cap if you're outside walking around.

Yeah, I think the hitch carrier is out. Plus I don't have a hitch, so kind of a non issue. Yakima mega warrior... Think thats where everything will go at night... Minus the cooler (front set below the window????????)
Got a year to go... aug 2012... Just doing my research now, so I know what to take, and how serious the trails are. My wife and I will be doing these trails alone (at least most of them, may try and get together with some folks from the forum for a trail or 2) Been thinking about an lsd in the rear. Auto locker is out, due to the icy roads in vt. ARB I think is out as it'll be crazy expensive. LSD (not the drug) may provide just what I need for the trails around here and the icy snowy roads.