General Auto Chat

So our older 2017 Jeep Wrangler Sahara started to develop transmission problems right after the warranty expired. This is what we get for buying the first model year of a re-design (our other 2DR 2020 JL Wrangler Willys seems totally fine). We replaced the Wrangler Sahara with a 2019 Toyota 4Runner (yes, should have listened to you guys in the first place and paid more for the Toyota).

The 4Runner VIN starts with a J. That means made in Japan and likely slightly better quality / long-term use to Toyota's made in the USA by the nature of the Japanese being utterly insane when it comes to quality control. Anyway, we are loving the 4Runner because it's so basic. No Car Play, no Apple Play. The head unit is radio only and does not control any other critical functions of the car. There's even a CD player. There is no bullshit auto climate control (never works anyway). Just a cold to hot DIAL. And a fan speed DIAL! Big Fing honking dials. This is how cars should be designed. Car controls shouldn't be like those panels on the Enterprise E. I blame the evil of Musk for these bad car UIs.



Threw some 275/70/R17 KO2s on and away we went on a road trip up through Boulder, then to Moab, and on to Los Angeles, and then back to CCTX. This was day one at Moab. My intention was to pick an "easy" trail because the 4Runner, while being a TRD Off-Road, is otherwise stock, without a lift, armor, rock rails, etc. Also, because I wanted to be 99% sure that we would be able to make it the rest of the way. Well, I think I had a brain fart and picked a "moderate" trail. Because my brain was thinking I was on an "easy" trail, I ended up going a bit too fast not paying close attention and slammed the left front wheel into a steep drop. Ooops. In hindsight, I may have wanted to take the harder trial unintentionally intentionally. Like the hike we took a day earlier up one of the flatirons in Boulder. Life doesn't seem all that fun if there isn't a chance of death or injury (or breaking something).

It was enough to put the 4Runner into 4 wheel drive low and lock the diffs (I wish Jeep had Toyota's combination of A-trac and locking diffs) to pull the car back out. It felt awesome and my son was totally geeked! Finally some battle damage. (My wife did forbid that we do anything that may flip the 4Runner over). The lower bumper got shifted a bit (will need to disassemble and reassemble), there's a big gap at the front of the hood (betting hinges need replacement), and the front skid plate armor is bent. Thank goodness the TRD Off-Road has that! It's kind of weak compared to the TRD Pro or aftermarket plates, but it probably saved the oil pan. We would have been in deep doo doo if the oil pan got busted.



We made it the rest of the way through. The trail got way more technical and I had to kick Julie out of the car to be the spotter. This was something she was new at. Eventually she figured how to keep moving back up while keeping her eyes on the tires, the clearance underneath, and obstacles ahead - instead of always standing in front of the car. Being a good spotter requires lot of multi-tasking. And no, now that I think about it, I did not intend on this. The Wrangler Willys would have been better equipped for this situation. However, I would have preferred that the 4Runner had a slight lift with better front armor and rock rails.

 

Anyway, the damage isn't that visible from a distance. The kids (in the distance on top of the berm) found some geodes and fossils. Neat!



On our way up, we let a few others going downhill pass by. Two 4Runners, one Bronco. People were super cool. We traded warnings, tips, traction issues, what to expect. Kids were blown away that "educated" rednecks were a real thing. In Texas, some people with big trucks can be a bit too vocal (immature) about things, like ginormous Trump or AK15 flags. I respect people who don't have to advertise (and I could care less how they vote).

We warned one set of people in a Ford or Chevy midsized pickup (2WD) to not proceed and turn back. I think me telling them "some parts will need a spotter" convinced them. It's etiquette for people to look out for each other on these trails. (Although no one ever gave me - the person going up, the right of way - although that's cool). I've saved plenty of people on the sandy beaches of CCTX from getting stuck or getting them unstuck (got a tow strap in my Jeep).

Anyway, this was our reward at the end. Yeah, we took the hard way up.


And here's to @Rex Aeterna (RIP). Evidence of ancient aliens and what appears to be blueprints to some kind of energy reactor.

 

P.S. I have a newfound appreciation for all the shit put on their 4x4s: the winches, the armor, the lifts, the heavy duty suspensions, the gigantic tires, the big bumpers. (Trust me, it's better to hit deer with a bull bar than with your stock bumper). Most of my off-roading has been either in CCTX (mud and sand, occasional flood) or Hill Country. It's not that I didn't know it, but to experience it gives one much better appreciation. Although I am still convinced that 80%+ people with the decked out 4x4s in Texas and California are posers posing at the mall.

 

Yeah. Will post more shit on my adventures from Texas to Boulder to Moab to Bryce. Just made it to California tonight.