My First Six Months

[Atomic 4Runner]

I've had my first 4Runner for six months, and just turned over 12,000 miles. For the past six months, the V-8 has averaged 18.0 mpg (calculated), and it has been more fun to drive than any other vehicle I've ever owned.

Here's some of my photos:

My first trip to the Great Smoky Mountains:

Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains

Northern New Mexico near the Echo Ampitheater

Monument Valley

Valley of the Gods

Rocky Mountains

The start of Black Bear Pass, where the 2007 4Runner Brochure photos were taken

This is my first 4Runner, but it won't be my last!

 

[MW 4Runner]

Those look like a 4Runner brochure. Great Pics!!!

 

[lee]

holy crap

12K miles in 6 months?!

where do you drive? hahah

 

[blindside]

^^^ i was gonna ask the same thing... LOL Pics looks great! thanks for sharing...

 

[iRCaDiKz]

Nice view and nice truck

 

[Atomic 4Runner]

holy crap

12K miles in 6 months?!

where do you drive? hahah

Thanks to all of you for the kind comments about the photos. I think it's a sharp looking truck, and I love taking photos that's a cross between National Geographic and Car and Driver. Perhaps an explanation is in order for the high mileage.

I ordered my truck in December of '05, and this trip out west has been a dream of mine for over 30 years. I made a similar trip with my folks when I was a high school senior, and 36 years later I get to make the trip with my new truck.

The two-week trip from East Tennessee to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, the Navajo Nation, Las Vegas, Silverton, CO, Albuquerque, NM, and spots along Route 66 came to 5,500 miles. (the trip mileage just for this trip was 19.2 mpg, and that's with the V-8. I averaged 65-70 mph on the interstates, and the higher altitudes definitely improved the fuel economy.)

I expect the mileage to slow back down for a while. Rest assured I will continue to document my truck's travels in the future.:

 

[kruton]

Great pics! I live just down the road from you in Kingston.

 

[Falls]

Beautiful shots !!!!

I have had mine for 8-9 mo and have 15+ K on it.

 

[Atomic 4Runner]

Great pics! I live just down the road from you in Kingston.

My truck will be easy to recognize, it's the only one with a T4R.ORG sticker on the back window. Holler if you see me.

 

[GatorGreg]

My truck will be easy to recognize, it's the only one with a T4R.ORG sticker on the back window. Holler if you see me.

Great pics and thanks for the plug

 

[jwyshrek]

Ah, East Tennessee...I miss it...grew up there.

If you ever get a chance to visit California...I highly recommend Yosemite and Death Valley.

 

[rx900]

wow that's one serious trip. That's 100 miles more than my New York trip, coast to coast, last year I did. I only placed about 5,400 miles on the rental, and that was driving from New York, to DC, then back up to Toronto, then back down to Rhode Island, then to Boston Massachusettes, then to Joplin Missouri, then back to Fresno CA. And I thought that was a lot for a 2 1/2 week tour. lol.

 

[AlphaQup]

You seem to have a great handle on photography. I especially love Monument and Grand Canyon shots. The backdrops look 100 times better with your 4R up in the mix.