In an attempt to bring a bigger, better and overall cooler CO4RJ to you this fall, I am curious about a couple things. First, as we discussed, location is up in the air, but I am getting a firmer grasp.

Second, I am curious as to why you have attended the CO4RJ's in the past or why you want to attend them in the future. Answers like for the wheeling or for the camraderie are important to me. Also, more importantly, do you come for the people or for the trails? Some of the guys I met at my first CO4RJ have become my closest friends and wheeling buddies.

Again, the purpose is not what you like, but why you have come, will come or want to come.

Thanks,
Adrian

 

Not that I can attend this one, but if I were going the reasons would be:

1. camaraderie
2. wheeling

Keep in mind because it would be my first time, meeting new people would be at the top of the list. If I already knew a lot of the people, my first priority would probably be wheeling.

 

Same reasons here;to meet other 4Runner guys and learn how to wheel and enjoy another side of Colorado that I've never seen and I've lived here for over 20 years. I'm gonna try to swing a vacation for this year's jamboree so hopefully I'll have my springs/shocks and a new set of Revos on by then.

 

I enjoy hanging out with friends that I have met through these events. It's also cool to see the changes that each of us makes to our rigs year after year.

Of course, I also enjoy wheelin' and CO has some awesome trails. Last year it was my goal to do things that I couldn't do the year before. If it's in Buena Vista again this year I will have the same perspective.

Although, if I have to make a choice between seeing new trails and hanging with old friends, I'd rather hang with old friends. And, I need to get with Brent at least once every 6 months or so.

So for me, I guess it's the people...

 

I have to say ditto to what Jim said. It was a long drive from NC but well worth it in my mind because of the great people I met, the experience I gained and the sights I saw. If I had the time the wife and I would drive out for this years event but due to our upcoming military retirements (and the preparation for that) we won't make it. Instead we will be planning our move out west.

 

Same here. I only made it out for a day two years ago but it was definitely worth it, I met some great people had had a good time wheeling. I can't make it this year but will try again in the future.

 

Wow, more response from people who cannot come than can.

To me, it is a combination. I can do the trails any time, but I can only do them with certain people at the Jambo.

If the priority is meeting locals and close out of staters, then the venue change seems like a bad idea. The camping is great, the trails are good and it should be more feasible for more people.

As far as I am concerned, Holy Cross, Chinamen's and Iron Chest are some of the best moderate trails in the state. Those three are all pretty darn close to Buena Vista.

If things work out, my whole fam will be there, that combined with some people's dislike of camping tells me keeping a city reasonably close is important.

What about those who have done and will likely redo the other trails? I am hunting for people to say they would skip if it was in the same place.

 

Since I organized the first 3 years of CO4RJ's, I'll weigh in on my goals for it.

I started them for the purposes of: (1.) meeting fellow late-model 4Runner owners in this part of the country since there were gatherings getting started in the east and west coasts, (2.) do some fun trails and introduce 4Runner owners to the trails and the capabilities of their vehicles, (3.) share ideas about mods and see what others have done, and (4.) explore some interesting areas of Colorado.

I intentionally got as many newbies to CO4RJ each year as I could. That was always one of the most rewarding parts of organizing these gatherings.

Since I started the Moab gathering last year (M4R4A), more out-of-staters and serious wheelers seem to be more interested in Moab instead of Colorado. Even though I definitely didn't aim for the Moab thing to be only for well mod'ed vehicles and serious trails, that's what it became last year. That turned out to be fine and lots of fun.

Even though the number of attendees at the 4th annual CO4RJ (last year) was still about 30 vehicles (same number as the previous year), there was a fair amount of growth with new people due to attracting more locals and newbies last year. Quite a few out-of-state "regulars" went to Moab instead.

My original intention of the location was to see cool scenery and a variety of Colorado -- quite possibly in a different location each year. I figured we'd cycle through a few locations. So far it's been in Buena Vista 3 times and Ouray once. It's very tough to find good locations (towns) in Colorado that provide a wide range of nearby trails for all abilities. In contrast, that's what makes Moab so perfect for the full range of abilities all near one town, but mostly only the serious wheelers seem to want to go to Moab. But Moab has other challenges too, such as the BLM permit issue and having a max number of vehicles that can come without us going through the PITA permit process.

BTW, I'm very glad other people have taken on the challenge of organizing CO4RJ, since I'm quite busy with other things now, although I still plan/hope to attend it.