Trail Report and Pics: Hollister Hills 7/22

[4RunnerRon]

Jeep at the top.

 

[4RunnerRon]

FJs playing at the bottom of Truck Hill.

 

[4RunnerRon]

more

On a side note, just prior to the FJ in the trench is a large burm in front of where my 4Runner was parked. When I left, I didn't see it... actually, I was rushing because my group was leaving and I wanted to catch up... anyway, I drove forward and high centered on the burm. No forward and no reverse! So the FJ guys were kind enough to lift up on my front bumper so I could back off the trench. Thanks guys!

 

[4RunnerRon]

another

 

[4RunnerRon]

Made it home with one or two minor scratches on a side view mirror from driving through some brush. A wash and some ScratchX fixed it right up! I climbed underneath to inspect the skid plates, which took the brunt of the abuse that day. A few minor dings and scrapes, but nothing bad. I tried to avoid the really rough stuff until I can get a lift. After this trip, I definitely have a lot of respect for the guys that mod their 4th gens for off-roading. They're really a capable truck, but it takes a lot of balls to go beat on a $35k vehicle!

Also, I have to give props to the members of the FJ Cruisers forum. Much like this forum, they're a bunch of great guys and are very helpful. Also, their vehicles are quite impressive. They share a lot of the same parts as the 4Runner, but the shorter wheelbase, increased ground clearance, and better approach/departure angles really made a difference. And the ones that were modified (Rock sliders, OME lifts) were super capable for what we were driving on.

Anyway, I had a great time piggy-backing their trip and will probably try to go again if I have the opportunity. I'll also be watching for NorCal trips on this forum, too. It would be great to finally meet up with some of my fellow T4R.org members and go wheelin.'

Enjoy the pics...

 

[4RunnerRon]

See ya next time.

 

[4RunnerRon]

Nice pics!! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Thai! It was a blast... now I need to decide if I should mod the 06 or invest in an old beater Yota to wheel with.

 

[Uneek]

Thanks, Thai! It was a blast... now I need to decide if I should mod the 06 or invest in an old beater Yota to wheel with.

Thanks for the pics T4Runner06. If I only have enough guts to take the mall queen off pavement. I'll let me mine play around the fluffy snow when winter rolls around. I'm glad you had a great time. It takes some serious grapefruits to take an expensive truck off roading.

But back to the question, if I had extra $$$ I want to lift a Taco and save my mall queen or maybe get a quad, opps that wasn't an option. I've seen some sweet looking 2nd gen Taco's with LT kits.

 

[AlphaQup]

Looked like fun caravaning on that trail. Where exactly is Holister Hills? I know Hollister is South of Gilroy somewhere, but I've never been there before.

 

[Koz]

Looks like you had a great time. It's funny, the Heep looks gigantic compared to the FJs.

Koz

 

[4RunnerRon]

Looked like fun caravaning on that trail. Where exactly is Holister Hills? I know Hollister is South of Gilroy somewhere, but I've never been there before.

We took 101 south towards Gilroy, then we turned east off the freeway and drove a short distance into the hills. Pretty easy drive from the bay area.

 

[ksneubec]

Great pics, wish we had that kind of stuff out east!

 

[Jay]

Aww man, looks like you guys had a blast. Truck Hill can be very dangerous at certain times of the year. Loose dusty silty dirt in the summer, and mud as slippery as grease in a frying pay during the rain seasons. At the bottom of Truck Hill, i blew out an upper ball joint on my Tacoma years ago, we managed to get it popped back in, but it wasnt staying. So i had to have it towed from Hollsiter to Antioch where i live. That was a nice $400 tow bill that i wasnt expecting. We should get all the Nor Cal/Bay area 4Runners for a run soon.

 

[Net4n6]

That was fun. Thanks for sharing the pics. Hopefully, we will get one for So. Cal.