The first 3 weeks of ownership

[Mistaken]

Very cool! This makes me really wish I could find a day to take my 4Runner out and explore.

 

[Hondarider]

Now this is a road made for WRC rally cars! Unfortunately, the 4Runner simply won't drift in the corners.

 

[Hondarider]

Here's the route from TinCup to St. Elmo via the pass. I'd say that Google Maps is wildly optimistic about the time to complete this route. I'd say 2-3 hours is more realistic depending on your willingness to sacrifice the undercarriage to the rock gods.

 

[Toyota4runnerguy]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing your adventure with your T4R and your dad...

 

[Hondarider]

This cruiser has nothing to do with my story...I just saw it out on the street while walking one morning. Colorado 4x4s all seem to share a certain design rationale...whether Jeep or Landcruiser or Bronco...they all seem to value function over form...simple...understated...competent. It's like they have a rule book for how to build the perfect mountain town machine. I rarely see those flashy, over-the-top machines with ridiculous lifts and senseless accessories that seem to be prevalent in other parts of the country. Older Colorado vehicles also have a special patina that can only be attributed to the arid nature of high altitudes. I love me some old Colorado iron.

 

[Hondarider]

4:00 AM on Day 10 of my trip and its time to head home. I've glossed over most of the trip as I was primarily there to ride bikes and this is a 4Runner forum. Suffice it to say, there were many mountain passes, many chicken-fried steaks, and at least a few near death situations. However, the 4Runner spent most of the time sitting in the hotel parking lot. Time to start the 2100 mile trek back across the country.

 

[Hondarider]

THe roads are desolate as we depart from Gunnison. I'm perpetually surprised by just how quiet and comfortable the Toyota is at highway speeds. Anything over 65 and my Rubicon (4.10s/BFG Mud Terrains) sounded like I was punishing it. The 4Runner zips along happily at 75...getting over 20mpg on top of everything else.

 

[Hondarider]

No trip to Colorado can be complete without a ride up Pike's Peak. I prefer Mt. Evans, but this was my father's first trip west of New York state and I wanted him to get as much exposure to the beauty and grandeur of the Rockies as possible.

 

[Hondarider]

Pictures simply do not do these views justice.

 

[Hondarider]

Does anyone else ever feel the primal urge to punch the pedal and surrender to the Abyss in these situations? I sometimes think I have predilection towards suicide. Niagara Falls and the Pacific Coast HIghway both fill me with this nearly unassailable compulsion to jump. Just saying...

 

[Hondarider]

WHen I'm in New England in February, I hate snow. When I'm in Colorado in July, it's somehow exciting and fun.

 

[Hondarider]

Obligatory father and son photo at the summit. Oxygen seems to be in short supply...you don't want to go jogging up here.

 

[Hondarider]

Pikes Peak is really quite spectacular...as if anyone needs convincing.

 

[Hondarider]

Now for the mind-numbing flatness of eastern Colorado and Kansas. We came out on I80 through Nebraska, but opted to return via I70 so that my father would get the full experience of crossing the Great Plains...mostly I just wanted to punish him for a week of snoring in the hotel room.

 

[Hondarider]

Look kids!!! Windmills!!

 

[Hondarider]

A single windmill blade...pretty freakin' impressive if you ask me. I googled everything about windmills as my father drove us across Kansas and I regaled him with all sorts of fun facts.

 

[Hondarider]

So we drove all day and into the night...struggling for hours to find a hotel room in Missouri. Apparently there's something exciting that happens in the Columbia, MO area on the weekends because we drove for 2 hours trying to find a room. We finally found a place around 11:00PM...brought a minimal amount of necessities into the room...slept until 4:00AM...and got back on the road by 4:30. From there, it was a nonstop marathon back to Massachusetts. I finally pulled into my driveway at 1:30AM after driving 4,710 miles in 86:15 minutes of drive time. The average mileage for this entire loop, including our offroad foray, was 20.4MPG. Not bad for a new engine that hasn't seen a lot of break-in miles. The 4Runner performed flawlessly. The Maintenance Required message came on just as I neared home...crossing the 5000 mile threshold...I assume in need of tire rotation. Generally speaking, I am very pleased with the first few weeks of ownership. It's comfy on the highway and very capable off road despite the less than aggressive tires. I really have no complaints whatsoever.

Now I suppose I should make that first payment.

 

[Hondarider]

I spent the first day at home cleaning every square inch of the truck...inside and out. The bugs were pretty disgusting, but my father's Cookie Monster impression while eating potato chips in the passenger seat was much worse. Thank God for leather seats and Weathertech mats. I found a couple small chips in the front facia, but nothing on the metal panels. Two of my wheels are a little buggered up and I haven't looked underneath it, but I'm not overly concerned. It was worth it for an epic road trip with my old man. Next year, I think I'll take the wife and kids.

 

[wanderMT]

Enjoyed pics and narrative - thanks for sharing. Next year, check out Big Sky Country, MT. Charles Kuralt said Beartooth Highway near Red Lodge is most scenic in US. Going To The Sun Highway in Glacier Park is also impressive, not to mention the 450 miles of scenery between the two.

 

[Hondarider]

I don't disagree. We spent almost 3 weeks of July out west last summer and a week of it was in Montana. The bulk of it was in Glacier NP. If you're going to visit, I highly recommend the Lake McDonald Lodge within the park. Accept no substitutes.