SD County > Ramona > Black Mtn Road 10/28

[jhmoore]

Am trying to take the advice of some and just get out and drive local offroad trails--to start learning both about offroading in general and about my new 4Runner.

Last weekend was the Otay Mountain Truck Trail. Today we went and tried the Black Mountain Trail north of Ramona. Black Mountain was a much more rough road than Otay Mountain, and the views from the road were not anywhere near as spectacular as Otay Mountain. Today was my wife's first time out offroading in the 4Runner with me & between the rough road (which she wasn't really liking, although she was being a trooper) and the lesser views, I was regretting having this be her first outing...

...until we got to the top. Wow! It was really, really nice up there! Totally worth the drive.

I also was feeling pretty good about my decision to buy the TRDORP after one section of the road... a pickup who'd just passed me had some real difficulty getting up one section of the road. I put the 4Runner in 2LO, 1st gear, and just drove up it--no issues at all.

Am going to try to keep going a couple times a month through the winter desert season. Will try to plan some a little in advance and post them here... see if anyone wants to join me...

 

[85straight]

Am trying to take the advice of some and just get out and drive local offroad trails--to start learning both about offroading in general and about my new 4Runner.

Last weekend was the Otay Mountain Truck Trail. Today we went and tried the Black Mountain Trail north of Ramona. Black Mountain was a much more rough road than Otay Mountain, and the views from the road were not anywhere near as spectacular as Otay Mountain. Today was my wife's first time out offroading in the 4Runner with me & between the rough road (which she wasn't really liking, although she was being a trooper) and the lesser views, I was regretting having this be her first outing...

...until we got to the top. Wow! It was really, really nice up there! Totally worth the drive.

I also was feeling pretty good about my decision to buy the TRDORP after one section of the road... a pickup who'd just passed me had some real difficulty getting up one section of the road. I put the 4Runner in 2LO, 1st gear, and just drove up it--no issues at all.

Am going to try to keep going a couple times a month through the winter desert season. Will try to plan some a little in advance and post them here... see if anyone wants to join me...

Good on you for going for it! Good piece of advice though know the area a little before taking the wife if she’s new to it as well. You could end up losing your copilot by giving her a bad impression.

Head out to Anza borrego, it’s all very easy terrain and scenic. But again do a little prerun first before taking her too:becky:

 

[jhmoore]

Good piece of advice though know the area a little before taking the wife if she’s new to it as well. You could end up losing your copilot by giving her a bad impression.

Head out to Anza borrego, it’s all very easy terrain and scenic. But again do a little prerun first before taking her too:becky:

Very good advice! This occurred to me partway through today's outing: next time, I'm going to drive it myself first before bringing her!

The problem isn't so much not liking adventures or not being up for trying stuff... she's having some difficulties with her neck, so the constant bouncing around was getting painful. I kept suggesting that she drive--I think you probably bounce around less when driving... you're more tense... you're holding the steering wheel... you're very focused on what's coming on the road... but she was worried that she'd drive us off a cliff!

Anyway, she was a good sport & I've learned to pre-run trails before I bring her!

 

[jhmoore]

Views from the top:

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RBtO_6AncBA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[85straight]

Very good advice! This occurred to me partway through today's outing: next time, I'm going to drive it myself first before bringing her!

The problem isn't so much not liking adventures or not being up for trying stuff... she's having some difficulties with her neck, so the constant bouncing around was getting painful. I kept suggesting that she drive--I think you probably bounce around less when driving... you're more tense... you're holding the steering wheel... you're very focused on what's coming on the road... but she was worried that she'd drive us off a cliff!

Anyway, she was a good sport & I've learned to pre-run trails before I bring her!

That’s funny, my wife and I used to wheel every weekend for years (before kids happened lol) and she was always fine. After our first son she has developed neck pain that gets bad enough to make her sick. So now I take my boy (almost 5) on every run. She wants to start going again so now I have to start all over with super easy trails to ease her back into it. She says she doesn’t want to drive cuz she’s scared of breaking it hahaha the stuff I do to the truck is far worse

 

[phqduphead]

Main divide up in Orange County is a nice mellow dirt road with great views.

 

[Barcelona4runner]

Views from the top:

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RBtO_6AncBA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That’s a great view ! Nice job getting out there

 

[4Runner fun]

sounds like a good trip, keep going some are good some are bad, track the ones you like and go back, take friends, and just have fun. its all at your comfort level.

 

[jhmoore]

I was unaware that fashion was a necessary part of offroading... but now I know!

(I did insist that she throw some sneakers and socks in the back, just in case...)

 

[4Runner fun]

I was unaware that fashion was a necessary part of offroading... but now I know!

(I did insist that she throw some sneakers and socks in the back, just in case...)

That beats the Sh!t out of a tent or awning,
Seriously glad she went along, and hope she catches the bug and is willing to test new trails. And continue to go. with my wife it was trusting that I was good with where we were, and over the years she has learned to trust when I ask her to get out it might get stupid. she's watched me flop the rig and know that I asked her to get out prior.

you may never do that, but don't tell her your ok when your not, she'll stop going.
keep wheeling...….

 

[grave]

i've been meaning to get to santa rosa truck trail up off the 74 near anza. you can see the salton sea from the top.

 

[modelstudent101]

Am trying to take the advice of some and just get out and drive local offroad trails--to start learning both about offroading in general and about my new 4Runner.

Last weekend was the Otay Mountain Truck Trail. Today we went and tried the Black Mountain Trail north of Ramona. Black Mountain was a much more rough road than Otay Mountain, and the views from the road were not anywhere near as spectacular as Otay Mountain. Today was my wife's first time out offroading in the 4Runner with me & between the rough road (which she wasn't really liking, although she was being a trooper) and the lesser views, I was regretting having this be her first outing...

...until we got to the top. Wow! It was really, really nice up there! Totally worth the drive.

I also was feeling pretty good about my decision to buy the TRDORP after one section of the road... a pickup who'd just passed me had some real difficulty getting up one section of the road. I put the 4Runner in 2LO, 1st gear, and just drove up it--no issues at all.

Am going to try to keep going a couple times a month through the winter desert season. Will try to plan some a little in advance and post them here... see if anyone wants to join me...

Awesome views - may need to get out there soon.

By 2LO, do you mean you just slapped the shift limiter in S-1? Wasn't aware you could shift to a lower gearing in 2WD. Just moved from a 3rd to 5th Gen (ORP!), so not sure if I'm missing something here.

You running stock tires on that thing?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[jhmoore]

Awesome views - may need to get out there soon.

By 2LO, do you mean you just slapped the shift limiter in S-1? Wasn't aware you could shift to a lower gearing in 2WD. Just moved from a 3rd to 5th Gen (ORP!), so not sure if I'm missing something here.

You running stock tires on that thing?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Stock tires—yes. And by 2LO I meant 4LO! I don’t know why I’m forever saying that wrong. Even my 10 year old corrects me... “Dad, don’t you mean 4LO?!?”

 

[85straight]

Stock tires—yes. And by 2LO I meant 4LO! I don’t know why I’m forever saying that wrong. Even my 10 year old corrects me... “Dad, don’t you mean 4LO?!?”

Well older rigs have the option of 2low, it’s awesome to have :mullet:

 

[jimmynotjim]

Thanks for this trip report. Spent the weekend camped on Palomar Mountain and was looking for something fun to run on the way home. My fiance has never done any real trails so I stayed off Black Mountain and opted for Black Canyon. Road was well graded so no serious obstacles, just slow going with some tight turns with serious drops. Your wife may not enjoy it because of the constant rumble from the pattern the grader leaves behind. I could see it aggravating a neck issue.

If you're ever looking for a someone to pre-run trails with hit me up. I'm new to SoCal so I have zero experience with the trails around here, but I used to do some offroading in AZ and NH so I'm decently confident.

 

[jhmoore]

If you're ever looking for a someone to pre-run trails with hit me up. I'm new to SoCal so I have zero experience with the trails around here, but I used to do some offroading in AZ and NH so I'm decently confident.

I need to sort out which day this weekend I'm going diving, [MENTION=272937]jimmynotjim[/MENTION] , but was thinking about hitting a trail whatever the other day is...

(SCUBA diving, that is)