My wife and I did our annual pilgrimage to Billings, MT. In the end, we opted for the 4runner so we could haul back some of her old kid stuff and if we hit any snow, the 4runner would cut through it like butter.

By the time we left, Billings had been hit with an accumulated 8 inches and the snow was still around. While we were there, it dropped another 6 inches and remained icy. Was I glad to have 4 wheel drive in a real truck (not those psuedo truck blazer things).

The best part for me was traversing a 30 degree hill that was snow covered. I tried it in regular 4 lo-no deal. Then I hit the magic button...ahhhh. Up I went. This thing is unstoppable.

I didn't see many other 4runners on the road. MT is all about Ford and Chevy, not much Toyota.

Coming back, southern MT was covered in the lovely ice rink condition seen when wind storms blow through. I was getting tired of sliding around no matter what the speed, so I popped it into 4HI and off I went with no more issues. The thing stuck to the road like glue. I dare say we averaged abouy 65MPH past the little econo boxes who were sliding around.

My evil SUV.

Of course, 4WD with wind and 70MPH equals an average of 16MPG.

No big-when we filled up in Casper, gas was $1.25.

When the snow and ice cleared it was back to 85MPH.

I fell in love with the 4runner all over again.

 

Must be nice, around here gas has crept back up to $1.79/ gal.

 

What tires, engine and tranny? My BFG A/Ts are great on the ice and in the snow. I have no slipping issues in 4x4.
Hehe. Thats how I feel. I dont care about my 17MPG around town as much now that gas is cheaper. My cheaper is still a dollar more than most places down there. The cheapest I can get is $2.34 with my Fred Meyers rewards card, but I rarely get it there because the darn pumps never seem to read my CC I usually get it for $2.43.

 

I'm having issues with my TPS and with gas well under $1.50 I don't care,whoo-hooo

Actually my MPGs have dropped a bit and I throw a CEL in the summer I've been not too in a hurry to fix it simply because it's been costing me only about $21 to fillup my tank and the problem isn't affecting driveability but come spring I better get it fixed.

 

sounds like a new year's resolution to me...

 

Just thought I would chime in with the mathematics...

Your total cost of gas for the trip was $101.25 (assuming $1.35 was the average price per gallon paid)

I noticed that when I slow down to 65mph I can get a solid 20+ mpg in my 4runner.

If you dropped your speed from 85mph down to 65mph you would have only burned $81 in gas (@20mpg).

This works out to be a savings of $20.25, an additional 15 gallons of gas (@$1.35/gal) or an additional 300 miles (@20mpg).

You might want to reconsider your driving style. Not only is 65mph safer compared to 85mph, it is also more economical .

Cheers!

 

Nice to hear that your rig came through in flying colors when needed. I have only actually needed 4wd a few times (mild SC weather), but when I have, it has been the same.

I got a new set of Michelin LTX MS rubber about two months ago and they feel great and seem to do a great job when doing some light wheeling.

 

You'd think in Alaska and Canada it'b be cheaper since we have all the oil.

 

Pure genius!

 

You would think that.....

but, at least in Alaska, we don't have enough refineries. I think we have two, and I can't say for sure if they even use them anymore. All the oil gets shipped in and out, like 95% of everything else . My government teacher always said it was cheaper to bring the refineries to the people rather than bring the people to the refineries. Cali has SO many more people than Alaska, so they make the refineries there.
Also, the U.S. imports most of the oil from like Mexico, the middle east, etc.

Doesn't Canada have refineries?

 

thank you Al Gore

 

Well, first off the speed limit was 75 MPH from end to end. Thank God for conservative states. Anyway....

Let me address your points one by one:
1. Speed choice-gas is $1.35
2. Safety-I don't agree-but thanks. But hey, if it floats your boat, I will gladly pass you.

The tires worked great. I found a PSI that works pretty well. I didn't really know how the 4runner would do at 70MPH in 4hi-but it didn't explode so that is a good thing.