New 2001 owner in Colorado

[AspenTarHeel]

Howdy folks. I just puchased a 2001 SR5 4WD with 110K on it for $11k a few weeks ago after reading these and other forums. My cousin purchased it for me in NC and my old college roommate is driving it out here to Colorado. Of course, I'm hooking him and his girlfriend up with a free place to stay in Aspen over New Years Eve and the following week.

I haven't had a vehicle in 3 years and have been relying on the bus system and my own feet (work is only a few blocks away), so I'm pretty excited for it to show up hopefully tomorrow. Anyhow, I wanted to thank everyone for all the good information I've read on these forums. It really makes me feel confident that I purchased a solid vehicle for the conditions here.

Hopefully we'll get some more snow here soon, so I can get some good pictures to post.

-ath

 

[josh220]

What do we have to do to get a place to stay in Aspen? :biggrin2: :biggrin2: :biggrin2:

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Congrats and welcome to the board. :bigok:

 

[Ron Helmuth]

welcome aboard and we will have you scaling Taylor Pass and other shortcuts over to Crested Butte-this next summer no doubt

stay safe in the new year

 

[AspenTarHeel]

Thanks y'all! They made it Denver yesterday and I had to tell them to stop because I-70 was closed. It just reopened at about 3:30 today, so they have started moving in this direction again, but I think the road is still pretty hairy.

Ron, I was reading about the Taylor Pass trail the other night and the guidebook had it listed as dificult. Are there any modifications I should consider getting before takling such a beast (besides removing the running boards of course)?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=118

From this report the trail doesn't look too bad and it appears a stock runner minus the boards should be able to do it with no problems.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Taylor Pass is a beautiful trail but...

I have done Taylor Pass in my stock 95 and 99 Runners but there are a couple of butt pucker spots I would encourage you to check out on foot if you are not a seasoned off roader.

First off I have only ever travelled it from north to south-out of Aspen and travelling to Crested Butte/Taylor Reservoir. Immediately after crossing the top at Taylor Pass and descending you will encounter a large boulder field to traverse-there is no real roadway at this point so it is kind of a matter of point and shoot and pick your own line through the boulders. It gets very rocky but of course airing down the tires will help some. Not all that difficult but it seems to go on forever-perhaps 1/2 mile of solid boulders.

At another point you make a steep descent into a creek bed and actually drive within the creek bed for perhaps 1/8th of a mile. This is a steep steep descent and done slowly in 4lo is no big deal except once it is you behind the wheel and your truck is leaning off camber.

Stay in touch and we'll guide you down in the summer-it is one of my favorite and scenic off road places to travel.