Newb from Binghamton, NY (Upstate)

[Tierlifer]

Greetings all! Found this to be the best site out there for 4 runner discussions and decided to take the leap!!

I recently bought an '07 Sport Ed over the summer due to the high miles I run for work (sales)..almost 3K a month and sometimes more in the summer months! So I needed something that would be dependable, handle that many miles across the hilly upstate, ny terrain as well as be no match for these rugged upstate winters that we face...especially the snowbelt up near Cortland/Syracuse where my territory runs!


I already made my tire purchase based on this site and have not been let down! (Revo's)

Thanks again all!

 

[Uneek]

Welcome to T4R.org. You made a great choice with the 4Runner.

 

[Climb14er]

I graduated from Harpur College, the old SUNY Binghamton, now Binghamton University, the 'Crown Jewel' of the Public University system in NY.

Know the roads well, especially how icy and snow-packed and darn cold it can be in the dead of winter.

The 4Runner will be excellent.

Quick story... one time we were on I-81 returning from Syracuse to Binghamton, blizzard conditions, January- dead of winter, driving my VW Bug with four studded snows. Couldn't get any warm air to defrost the front windshield. Anyone who drove the old bugs knew they were notorious for lack of heat and lack of defroster, especially when the temps dropped big-time below zero.

Windshield began to freeze and the only solution... get outside and pee on the windshield, to melt the ice forming all over. Since we had beer in us, this was no problem. :beer:

Route 17 and the old-route 7 along the Susquehanna and the road up north along the Chenango River, man... they used to get iced up and the fog would settle in... driving was down-right dangerous.

The 4Runner is the ideal vehicle for those roads.

BTW, I grew up in the Catskills, three miles from the original Woodstock Festival, in White Lake, Town of Bethel. Used to take 17B to Route 94 north along the Delaware River to Hancock where we picked up Route 17 to Binghamton.

The fishing was the best... trout, walleye, small-mouth bass.

Good times!

 

[Tierlifer]

I graduated from Harpur College, the old SUNY Binghamton, now Binghamton University, the 'Crown Jewel' of the Public University system in NY.

Know the roads well, especially how icy and snow-packed and darn cold it can be in the dead of winter.

The 4Runner will be excellent.

Quick story... one time we were on I-81 returning from Syracuse to Binghamton, blizzard conditions, January- dead of winter, driving my VW Bug with four studded snows. Couldn't get any warm air to defrost the front windshield. Anyone who drove the old bugs knew they were notorious for lack of heat and lack of defroster, especially when the temps dropped big-time below zero.

Windshield began to freeze and the only solution... get outside and pee on the windshield, to melt the ice forming all over. Since we had beer in us, this was no problem. :beer:

Route 17 and the old-route 7 along the Susquehanna and the road up north along the Chenango River, man... they used to get iced up and the fog would settle in... driving was down-right dangerous.

The 4Runner is the ideal vehicle for those roads.

BTW, I grew up in the Catskills, three miles from the original Woodstock Festival, in White Lake, Town of Bethel. Used to take 17B to Route 94 north along the Delaware River to Hancock where we picked up Route 17 to Binghamton.

The fishing was the best... trout, walleye, small-mouth bass.

Good times!

That 81 corridor from Jan to Feb when the lake effect machine is in full swing, from Watertown to about Cortland can be some of the most dangerous driving conditions in the entire country. I will stand by that statement forever and have traveled much of this country in all seasons.

Anyone who has encountered the lake effect machine knows what I am talking about. It will be clear and sunny for one moment and then on the horizon are black clouds that you would see in the late afternoon of summer except the next thing you know you are driving in white out conditions. The snow is not like in a typical snow storm with big flakes, picture small, sand like granuals that blow in all directions and cover the road in seconds. Brutal! The wind whips and there's nothing you can do. It's white knuckle driving for the next 20-30 mins. They don't last long but they are intense as you put it.

Good stuff about the "human defroster". Love it!

As far as BU (SUNY) goes...see the mens hoops team in the news lately? Not good. To think they played Duke in the big dance last year and now this. Ugh.

 

[Tierlifer]

I graduated from Harpur College, the old SUNY Binghamton, now Binghamton University, the 'Crown Jewel' of the Public University system in NY.

Know the roads well, especially how icy and snow-packed and darn cold it can be in the dead of winter.

The 4Runner will be excellent.

Quick story... one time we were on I-81 returning from Syracuse to Binghamton, blizzard conditions, January- dead of winter, driving my VW Bug with four studded snows. Couldn't get any warm air to defrost the front windshield. Anyone who drove the old bugs knew they were notorious for lack of heat and lack of defroster, especially when the temps dropped big-time below zero.

Windshield began to freeze and the only solution... get outside and pee on the windshield, to melt the ice forming all over. Since we had beer in us, this was no problem. :beer:

Route 17 and the old-route 7 along the Susquehanna and the road up north along the Chenango River, man... they used to get iced up and the fog would settle in... driving was down-right dangerous.

The 4Runner is the ideal vehicle for those roads.

BTW, I grew up in the Catskills, three miles from the original Woodstock Festival, in White Lake, Town of Bethel. Used to take 17B to Route 94 north along the Delaware River to Hancock where we picked up Route 17 to Binghamton.

The fishing was the best... trout, walleye, small-mouth bass.

Good times!

And I know right where you grew up. This time of the year to me it's the most beautiful part of the state! I like taking country cruises in and around the NYC resevoirs up past Deposit into Margaretville and such to check out the foliage. All kinds of good pull offs to take in the scenery!

 

[96743runner]

Welcome!

Good decision on getting the 4Runner. It will never let you down!

 

[proudrunner]

Welcome and great choice!

 

[Climb14er]

That 81 corridor from Jan to Feb when the lake effect machine is in full swing, from Watertown to about Cortland can be some of the most dangerous driving conditions in the entire country. I will stand by that statement forever and have traveled much of this country in all seasons.

Anyone who has encountered the lake effect machine knows what I am talking about. It will be clear and sunny for one moment and then on the horizon are black clouds that you would see in the late afternoon of summer except the next thing you know you are driving in white out conditions. The snow is not like in a typical snow storm with big flakes, picture small, sand like granuals that blow in all directions and cover the road in seconds. Brutal! The wind whips and there's nothing you can do. It's white knuckle driving for the next 20-30 mins. They don't last long but they are intense as you put it.

Good stuff about the "human defroster". Love it!

As far as BU (SUNY) goes...see the mens hoops team in the news lately? Not good. To think they played Duke in the big dance last year and now this. Ugh.

Yeah, I've been reading about the problems on the team. Mentioned to my close friends before the March Madness Tournament that Kevin Broadus, the coach, is known for recruiting players while an assistant coach at Georgetown and prior, from 'the hood' with less than stellar reputations and with 'marginal' grades. The President fired the Athletic Director and 'moved' him to another administrative office at the University.

This is what happens when sometimes a new coach tries his best to win. :wtf: :

 

[Climb14er]

And I know right where you grew up. This time of the year to me it's the most beautiful part of the state! I like taking country cruises in and around the NYC resevoirs up past Deposit into Margaretville and such to check out the foliage. All kinds of good pull offs to take in the scenery!

I grew up fishing the East Branch of the Delaware below Margaretsville and Pepacton Reservoir and the Beaverkill River and Willowemoc Creek closer to Roscoe and Livingston Manor. Used to hike into the Neversink River reservoir where the river enters and the stream there was incredibly pristine and wild. As you might know, this is the area of the birthplace of dry fly fishing in the United States.

Also fished the West Branch below Cannonsville Reservoir on the way up to Binghamton but I liked the water better on the East Branch. On the Susquehanna, the river was loaded with huge walleye and an occasional Muskie.

Route 97 was once voted in the top ten of all roads in the United States for scenic driving. It's also a helluva road for turning up the speed as the turns and ups and downs of the road along the Delaware make for hair-raising fun. Used to turn north at Callicoon on 97 to go to Route 17.

 

[Mark86]

Welcome to the board and enjoy your new 4Runner! I drove I-81 on my way to and from Toronto but it was in the summer. Then it was easy to speed