September 2006 T4ROTM - TeryT

[TeryT]

Does this have a chance for 4Runner of the month?

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Hey all, TeryT is the winner of the September 2006 T4R of the Month award - congrats TeryT! Click HERE to see all the past T4ROTM winners.

GG
08/31/06
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We're camping in Colorado for 3 weeks. The 4Runner pulled our 27' travel trailer up here, over 10,000+ foot passes, etc. It also takes us to the foot of 14,000' peaks, through very narrow/muddy/rocky roads, so we can do awesome hiking.

Think these pictures stand a chance of being picked for September - or does anybody want to see more? While I've seen lots of 4Runner off-road pix, I don't know that I've seen many displaying the towing ability of this awesome multi-use vehicle. It really is the star of the show for this vacation (my wife even proposed a toast to it last night "To the 4Runner, which has taken us to all these great places and never showed any signs of hesitation."), because it has made all this possible. BTW: We are just in our 1st week of this vacation.

 

[AlphaQup]

Lovin the scenery in that second pic. Load up more and make sure they're properly sized this time.

 

[iontrap]

That second picture is a winner!

 

[GMZ]

Damn that second pic is awesome! I hate being in Virginia, all flat

 

[Koz]

Great looking set-up Tery! How much are you pulling and are you using any kind of sway/WD systems?

Koz

 

[Thai]

That second picture is a winner!

Yup...beautiful pic!

 

[drake3]

Damn that second pic is awesome! I hate being in Virginia, all flat

Virginia all flat? uhhh Skyline Drive AKA "Blue Ridge Parkway"!?!? How long you lived there?

Try to find a decent mountain in Ohio.

Gorgeous Pic to the original poster BTW!
(The mountain pic, the trailer does not do much for me even though I respect you taking it up the mountains.)

 

[OUTRNNR]

Great Pics!! Great time to be touring the high country of Colorado too, I assume you're going to hang around and watch the leaves turn, if they haven't started doing so already? Its already getting pretty chilly in the mountains. I heard they were forcasting snow above 7000 feet the other night

 

[TeryT]

 

[TeryT]

Hard to see with the glare, but the altimeter says almost 12,000 feet.

 

[T133]

Nice pics. Which trail is it?

 

[TeryT]

And if you thought that was high

this is a pix that looks down on those peaks seen in the earlier pictures. We're on our way up to over 14,000 feet - no way to get the 'Runner up there!

 

[TeryT]

Nice pics. Which trail is it?

I'd have to look in the book for specifics, but it's the trail for Handies Peak that comes out of American basin.

 

[TeryT]

Where the 'Runner can take your home on wheels

This is at about 8,000 feet.

 

[TeryT]

and right beside this rushing mountain stream

actually a little swollen with all the rain up here, but very nice!

 

[TeryT]

Wanna see more?

We're working on week two now.

 

[TeryT]

Great looking set-up Tery! How much are you pulling and are you using any kind of sway/WD systems?

Koz

Thanks! I have the Hensley hitch, which as you may know from being over on RV.net, is the best you can buy (and most expensive, unless you find one used like we did). It really makes this rig sing, and has definaely spoiled us.

The trailer is 3,650 dry, so I figure less than 5,000 wet & loaded, but then again we have a lot of stuff with us this trip (bikes, food, heavy clothing, hiking equipment, etc.). Haven't weighed it in a while, and will have to do that on the way back.

I'll take a picture of the hitch to post. While the 4Runner is the star of the show, the Hensley is the lead supporting actor!

 

[AlphaQup]

I just love this backdrop! And beautiful capture with perfect lighting. What were you shooting with?

 

[TeryT]

I just love this backdrop! And beautiful capture with perfect lighting. What were you shooting with?

Just a little Fugi FinePix A330 3.2 mega Pix with 3x optical zoom. It was only set on 2 megs too. I bought the camera because it was recommended in various reviews as being easy & good, yet cheap. We take it hiking, so I don't want to carry something too heavy or lament too much if it falls off a cliff!

 

[TeryT]

Hensley Hitch

KOZ: This is a pix of the hitch we use. It has full weight distribution (notice the 2 spring bars), and has the best anti-sway. In effect, it puts the pivot point of the trailer's tongue ahead of the rear truck axle, making it tow like a 5th wheel. In fact, some 5th wheelers have said it tows better!

The 4.7L V8 is a great tower, because of its very flat & strong torque curve. But because of the relatively short wheelbase of the 4Runner, towing a travel trailer longer than 20' can get you into a tail wagging the dog situation (I've experienced it - NO FUN!!!). So a good anti-sway & WD hitch is required.

The Hensley comes at a premium - $3,000 new, but people on RV.net will tell you there is no better out there. Other, cheaper hitches may reduce sway, but the Hensley actually eliminates it! I lucked out & found a used one locally for about $1350, and was tickled pink. In fact, many thought I was a little crazy for actually buying the Hensley before the 4Runner or the trailer! (It sat in my garage for months.)