First Adventure, need advice

jeremys73 · 01-12-2006, 02:50 PM

I'm planning a road trip to take (leaving in about 3 weeks). But I'm not sure which route to take. Maybe you guys can lend some advice. The routes I'm concidering are these (all starting in Oklahoma):

New Mexico, Denver Route

New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Utah, Denver Route

Galveston TX, Down the coast to Tampico Mexico

The trip is going to be 99% camping/1% Hotels... so weather is a factor, but I can camp in the cold... I will be heading out early February. I will be driving a bone stock '98 4Runner with street tires. It will be the first outing on the truck so I haven't done any mods yet or off road tires.

It will be me, my girlfriend and the dog. We plan on going for at least a month, maybe a bit more. We are planning on sleeping in the runner. I am curious how comfortable the runner sleeps two people???? Is it long enough for a 6ft person??? how do you guys camp in it??? any tricks???

About the destinations, do you think I should go the United States route or the Mexico Route. I'm worried about the cold in the rockies, but am worried about getting killed and robbed in Mexico (I would prefer to be cold than dead). I would like to go the Mexico route but is there really anything to see on that route? Any good wheeling areas? ANy beautiful beaches? Any good logging roads?

The USA route, I know has some excellent wheeling in NM, AZ, UT, and CO... with grand sights and plenty to do, plenty of trails and everything else... but it's going to be cold as hell...

So what should it be... The Beaches or the Rockies???

Any info on what I should absolutely take, or where I should absolutely visit... I'm looking for easy trails, logging roads, and excelent camping with no camp fees

(expedition kinda style).
I have a lot of camping equipment already (tents, laterns, stove, etc...) and will be buying a hot water system for showers and an indoor safe heater (if going north)
http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Cons...velshower.html

I'm leaning more to the colorado route but would like any opinions on the mexico route as I do love the coast. I am mainly interested in what equipment I should bring and where are the best wheeling spots, logging roads, awesome camping places that I should visit. I will be going solo and will have very limited recovery gear (ie. cell phone and spare tire), and stock tires (and probably open diffs at this time), so I don't plan on getting stuck. But want a lot of off roading...

Thanks for any info

crawler#976 · 01-12-2006, 03:16 PM

Please don't limit yourself to the interstates! I'd avoid'm like the plague with a month off to travel! there are so many neat spots off the beaten path...

The southwest corner of New Mexico and the southeast corner of Aridzona would be a fine destination that time of year. The weather will be a bit more temperate, the scenery is awesome, and the roads/trails are pretty good.

I'd be tempted to see some of the National parks in the off season when they are much, much less crowded. Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands are great in New Mexico, and there are more than a dozen in AZ. to see.

http://www.nps.gov/applications/park...tate.cfm?st=az

http://www.nps.gov/applications/park...tate.cfm?st=nm

Silver City NM, Tombstone AZ, Bisbee AZ. Nogalas AZ or Douglas AZ (take a walk into Mexico!) are all cool too. Loop up to I-40 via the White Mountains of AZ -you'll think your in Colorado...but it'll be cold.

Look at State Parks too - Kartchner Caverns near Benson AZ is awesome!

Later

Mark

Tofer · 01-12-2006, 03:22 PM

sounds like a blast. i agree to avoid interstates and take back highways when ever possible.

tip: unless you plan on having a 3rd person ride wiht you remove the rear seats (the part you sit on, not the part that folds flat) when you goto bed move the front seats as far forward as they go and this will give you quite a bit of more room. yes 2 people can sleep in the back of the 4runner, i've gone camping wiht my gf a couple times., its a little cramped but it would be camping if you were 100% cofortable. right?

also TAKE PICTURES! LOTS OF THEM. and have fun!

jeremys73 · 01-12-2006, 03:28 PM

I for sure will not be following that line on the map... that was just more of a "I want to go to these states but don't know where to visit yet." I've been to all but Utah, but most times it was skiing in CO or on the river in Yuma... With a month to month and a half I would like to see a lot and chill a lot by the fire... and the less pavement the better...
I'm thinking, maybe 7-10 days in each state... hopefully some guys from NM, UT and CO will speak up for their state...
Thanks for the info bro
I'd love to drop on some new shoes for the 4R before I go, but it would shorten my $$$ and my trip... If I can find some used ones real cheap, I may have some bigger tires on, and hopefully they can get my elocker in before the trip... (crosses fingers)

DealMaker · 01-12-2006, 06:38 PM

Darrens's camping set-up...(clicky)

Yotatech camping thread (clicky)

I commend you for bringing your own personal heater, too

rngrchad · 01-13-2006, 09:29 AM

Whichever route you take I'm sure it will be great! I'm pysched for you. I am leaving tommorow for a month also but am going northwest living out of my tacoma solo. I just finished insulating my sleeper in my cap. Have a great time.

Crux · 01-13-2006, 10:58 AM

If you swing through Denver on a weekend I'm sure there will be some folks doing a trail nearby - check the Trip Planning forum a few days before.

jeremys73 · 01-13-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rngrchad

Whichever route you take I'm sure it will be great! I'm pysched for you. I am leaving tommorow for a month also but am going northwest living out of my tacoma solo. I just finished insulating my sleeper in my cap. Have a great time.

Right on, The NW would be my first choice... except for the distance (for me) and I'm going to Washington in July also, but with no Toyota... Where are you leaving from? And if you don't mind, how much $$$ are you planning on for gas and food, propane, etc....? I came to about $600-700 just for gas... I'm thinking maybe $30-$40 a day for food and gas (for 2)... Be sure to take some pics...

Quote:

I commend you for bringing your own personal heater, too

Is that coleman you have rated for indoor use? Do the indoor safe one's also put out co2? If it's too cold, I would like to run it all night. I was looking at this one MR HEATER

This one is also cool ZODI TENT HEATER

Does anyone else know some other "great" places to visit in AZ,UT,CO, or UT? I'm looking for trails but there are thousands of them CO TRAILS

Thanks for all of the advice so far, I would have never thought to take out the lower back seats...

DealMaker · 01-13-2006, 12:39 PM

I meant your girlfriend

I don't use a heater, but you can probably shoot Darren a PM and pick his brain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremys73

...Is that coleman you have rated for indoor use? Do the indoor safe one's also put out co2? If it's too cold, I would like to run it all night. I was looking at this one MR HEATER
...

bflooks · 01-13-2006, 12:55 PM

i HIGHLY recommend you go to the south brim of the canyon! when i was in vegas, 6 of rented a van for the day and hit up the hoover dam and the south brim. we ALL are glad we did it! so beautiful, and something that i feel everyone should see! absolutely amazing!

jeremys73 · 01-13-2006, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DealMaker

I meant your girlfriend

I don't use a heater, but you can probably shoot Darren a PM and pick his brain.

oh!

South brim of the canyon.... right on

rngrchad · 01-13-2006, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Right on, The NW would be my first choice... except for the distance (for me) and I'm going to Washington in July also, but with no Toyota... Where are you leaving from? And if you don't mind, how much $$$ are you planning on for gas and food, propane, etc....? I came to about $600-700 just for gas... I'm thinking maybe $30-$40 a day for food and gas (for 2)... Be sure to take some pics...

I'll take some pics for sure. I'm leaving from Lancaster Ohio. Going first to Jackson Hole Wyoming. I will spend roughly $800 in fuel. I'll drive about 4 thousand miles round trip, maybe more if I go further north into Glacier National Park(can you say COLD!) I will not be using a propane heater. My cap is insulated, I have a futon mattress also, a fleece liner for my sleeping bag and a Marmot zero degree mountaineering sleeping bag.

01-12-2006, 02:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
jeremys73 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North America Posts: 491	First Adventure, need advice I'm planning a road trip to take (leaving in about 3 weeks). But I'm not sure which route to take. Maybe you guys can lend some advice. The routes I'm concidering are these (all starting in Oklahoma): New Mexico, Denver Route New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Utah, Denver Route Galveston TX, Down the coast to Tampico Mexico The trip is going to be 99% camping/1% Hotels... so weather is a factor, but I can camp in the cold... I will be heading out early February. I will be driving a bone stock '98 4Runner with street tires. It will be the first outing on the truck so I haven't done any mods yet or off road tires. It will be me, my girlfriend and the dog. We plan on going for at least a month, maybe a bit more. We are planning on sleeping in the runner. I am curious how comfortable the runner sleeps two people???? Is it long enough for a 6ft person??? how do you guys camp in it??? any tricks??? About the destinations, do you think I should go the United States route or the Mexico Route. I'm worried about the cold in the rockies, but am worried about getting killed and robbed in Mexico (I would prefer to be cold than dead). I would like to go the Mexico route but is there really anything to see on that route? Any good wheeling areas? ANy beautiful beaches? Any good logging roads? The USA route, I know has some excellent wheeling in NM, AZ, UT, and CO... with grand sights and plenty to do, plenty of trails and everything else... but it's going to be cold as hell... So what should it be... The Beaches or the Rockies??? Any info on what I should absolutely take, or where I should absolutely visit... I'm looking for easy trails, logging roads, and excelent camping with no camp fees (expedition kinda style). I have a lot of camping equipment already (tents, laterns, stove, etc...) and will be buying a hot water system for showers and an indoor safe heater (if going north) http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Cons...velshower.html I'm leaning more to the colorado route but would like any opinions on the mexico route as I do love the coast. I am mainly interested in what equipment I should bring and where are the best wheeling spots, logging roads, awesome camping places that I should visit. I will be going solo and will have very limited recovery gear (ie. cell phone and spare tire), and stock tires (and probably open diffs at this time), so I don't plan on getting stuck. But want a lot of off roading... Thanks for any info __________________ 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 3.4l \| Auto \| eLocker

01-12-2006, 03:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
crawler#976 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Chino Valley, Az. Posts: 938	Please don't limit yourself to the interstates! I'd avoid'm like the plague with a month off to travel! there are so many neat spots off the beaten path... The southwest corner of New Mexico and the southeast corner of Aridzona would be a fine destination that time of year. The weather will be a bit more temperate, the scenery is awesome, and the roads/trails are pretty good. I'd be tempted to see some of the National parks in the off season when they are much, much less crowded. Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands are great in New Mexico, and there are more than a dozen in AZ. to see. http://www.nps.gov/applications/park...tate.cfm?st=az http://www.nps.gov/applications/park...tate.cfm?st=nm Silver City NM, Tombstone AZ, Bisbee AZ. Nogalas AZ or Douglas AZ (take a walk into Mexico!) are all cool too. Loop up to I-40 via the White Mountains of AZ -you'll think your in Colorado...but it'll be cold. Look at State Parks too - Kartchner Caverns near Benson AZ is awesome! Later Mark __________________ ...down to the two Taco's, no more SloYota!

01-12-2006, 03:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tofer Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tacoma WA. Posts: 5,769	sounds like a blast. i agree to avoid interstates and take back highways when ever possible. tip: unless you plan on having a 3rd person ride wiht you remove the rear seats (the part you sit on, not the part that folds flat) when you goto bed move the front seats as far forward as they go and this will give you quite a bit of more room. yes 2 people can sleep in the back of the 4runner, i've gone camping wiht my gf a couple times., its a little cramped but it would be camping if you were 100% cofortable. right? also TAKE PICTURES! LOTS OF THEM. and have fun! __________________ 3genRunner: including parts from 3 generations of 4runners, '92 pickup, '80something Land Cruiser, Chevy truck, Ford sedan 89 4runner: Project DD. 3.0, needs a new tranny 81 2wd pickup: 22R \| 5-sp \| long bed \| quad hauler, leaks oil but gets 26mpg 91 Honda Prelude: the Daily Driver WA, OR or CA wheeler?? Check out pacific-crawlers.com and check out yotaworks.com

01-12-2006, 03:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
jeremys73 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North America Posts: 491	I for sure will not be following that line on the map... that was just more of a "I want to go to these states but don't know where to visit yet." I've been to all but Utah, but most times it was skiing in CO or on the river in Yuma... With a month to month and a half I would like to see a lot and chill a lot by the fire... and the less pavement the better... I'm thinking, maybe 7-10 days in each state... hopefully some guys from NM, UT and CO will speak up for their state... Thanks for the info bro I'd love to drop on some new shoes for the 4R before I go, but it would shorten my $$$ and my trip... If I can find some used ones real cheap, I may have some bigger tires on, and hopefully they can get my elocker in before the trip... (crosses fingers) __________________ 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 3.4l \| Auto \| eLocker

01-12-2006, 06:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
DealMaker Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: coastal L.A. Posts: 999	Darrens's camping set-up...(clicky) Yotatech camping thread (clicky) I commend you for bringing your own personal heater, too __________________ '04 4Runner 4X4 SE V8 BFG KO 265/70/17 - Donahoe Coilovers - Deaver rear springs - Bilstein 7100 shocks - Hanna Sliders - Shrockworks Front Bullbar Last edited by DealMaker : 01-12-2006 at 06:42 PM.

01-13-2006, 09:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
rngrchad Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Currently reside in Ohio Posts: 791	a month! Whichever route you take I'm sure it will be great! I'm pysched for you. I am leaving tommorow for a month also but am going northwest living out of my tacoma solo. I just finished insulating my sleeper in my cap. Have a great time. __________________ 2008 Tacoma TRD Access Cab v-6. 97 regular cab tacoma 33x9.5bfg at, 4.10 gears, custom sliders, custom rear bumper, 4xinnovation tube doors, lockright. CB: Connex 3300hp Radio driving a FatBoy Amp doing around 1000watts on AM. Antenna: Monkey Made MM5 -=NO BAMA 08 =-

01-13-2006, 10:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
Crux Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 845	If you swing through Denver on a weekend I'm sure there will be some folks doing a trail nearby - check the Trip Planning forum a few days before. __________________ 97 4Runner SR5 Blue - 135k miles, E-Locker, Armorology front/rear bumpers & sliders, BudBuilt skidplate+belly, MTR 285/75/16s, 2" Tundra/OME Lift, 1" 4Crawler Bodylift, 1" diff drop, Black Aluminum Wheels, Cobra CB 99 4Runner SR5 Black - 57k miles, E-Locker, Daily Driver 06 Girl - destoyer of all things fragile 08 Boy - a fat little hairy sumo wrestler

01-13-2006, 12:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
bflooks Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: boston, ma Posts: 615	i HIGHLY recommend you go to the south brim of the canyon! when i was in vegas, 6 of rented a van for the day and hit up the hoover dam and the south brim. we ALL are glad we did it! so beautiful, and something that i feel everyone should see! absolutely amazing! __________________ 98 4runner/4cyl/5spd with some goodies- fj62 axle w/30 spline longfields and 5.29's fj62 steering box inchworm dual cases w/4.7's all pro hysteer ballistic fab frame plating trail gear 5" springs and dual case skid bbcs shocks cooper stt 35x12.5x15's Work performed by Uncle Scooter's Fab Hut

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