Chicago to Sunnyvale in a old Toyota

[johnnyh66]

I'm heading to California for the winter... at least.
Packed everything I wanted in the 4Runner: enduro, fat bike, road bike, Melons, Bomber, a bin full of projects including Hera, all my computer equipment, all the camping gear, and my favorite cast iron skillet!

I'm driving straight through to Denver (sleeping in the truck).
I'll spend a few days in CO.

Then a week in Albuquerque.

Then meeting a friend for the rest of the journey and we'll hit the Grand Canyon, Sanoma, and hopefully Brice/Zion.

I bought a (nearly) uncuttable hardened chain to lock the motorcycle and fatbike to the truck... I thought 9 feet would be long enough to get both bikes but it's just short so got a Kryptonite bike lock on the last one.

Also invested in some Brinks 5/8 x 9' cables to lock down everything in the back best I could.

If she's squirrelly on the road... I'm stopping for a U-Haul trailer!

[RANOVRU]

Where's the spare?

[C*H*U*D]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

I'm driving straight through to Denver (sleeping in the truck).
I'll spend a few days in CO...

I'll keep an eye out for you on the road...you shouldn't be hard to spot.

[badhoopty]

sleeping in a packed up 4runner sucks, ive done it recently...

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by RANOVRU

Where's the spare?

My mechanic talked me out of a full size... going with stock.
I was wondering if I should air up the rear tires though.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by C*H*U*D

I'll keep an eye out for you on the road...you shouldn't be hard to spot.

I may have some crawling time.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by badhoopty

sleeping in a packed up 4runner sucks, ive done it recently...

Yeah, I may jump in the passenger seat for a bit more room.

I'll be unloading (and reloading) in Denver, Albuquerque, and Flagstaff.

[BigSki]

Sounds like a hell of an adventure, good luck! You already mentioned a u-haul, I was thinking that it might be a good idea, if nothing else just for security of your stuff. You might even be able to find a small enclosed utility trailer to buy outright, then re-sell it once your trip is over.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

My mechanic talked me out of a full size... going with stock.
I was wondering if I should air up the rear tires though.

Stopped for gas and had the garage air me up to 40psi from 32psi... max is 50psi.

[johnnyh66]

Rush hour traffic has given me time to get used to the load... feels light (obviously) in the front but not too bad at 45mph... brakes aren't too bad either.
I did rear shoes and callipers before I left.

[C*H*U*D]

At least you don't have the heavy-ass fiberglass shell on there too. I've got to get a soft topper some day.

[donny8594]

Thats all you need for a winter? My wife packs that much for a weekend trip.
Be safe have fun.

[KJ10]

You plan on sleeping in that, in Colorado? This month? Hope you have a REALLY good sleeping bag. It's gonna be cold.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by KJ10

You plan on sleeping in that, in Colorado? This month? Hope you have a REALLY good sleeping bag. It's gonna be cold.

I do have a good sleeping bag (2 actually), it's rated to 0F.
But no, I'm just sleeping in it tonight (I assume) and staying with a friend in Denver.

[johnnyh66]

At the lovely Illinois/Iowa border.

[Mike Flea]

Air in the tires will give you better fuel economy, and you may want to get the U-Haul not only for the security, but just so you can get a decent nights sleep. I know you're a small framed man, but if you're going to get a good rest you'll want to stretch out for the night.

[KJ10]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

I do have a good sleeping bag (2 actually), it's rated to 0F.
But no, I'm just sleeping in it tonight (I assume) and staying with a friend in Denver.

Alright. Just don't want to hear about some guy frozen at a rest area or something.

[Dostradamas]

I thought it was a Trailer park adventure


You could have stayed at the Shed-N-Breakfast with Bubbles.

Dang, California, what a let down.

[chevy4life]

You waxing that bitch at every gas stop??
Good looking 4runner. Have a safe and fun road trip.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by RANOVRU

Where's the spare?

X2

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

My mechanic talked me out of a full size... going with stock.
I was wondering if I should air up the rear tires though.

I hate running undersized spares. Yes, air up.

Originally Posted by BigSki

Sounds like a hell of an adventure, good luck! You already mentioned a u-haul, I was thinking that it might be a good idea, if nothing else just for security of your stuff. You might even be able to find a small enclosed utility trailer to buy outright, then re-sell it once your trip is over.

X2, that poor 4Runner is overloaded and with the weight that far back, driving cross country on wet and snowy roads, steering/handling is not going to be good.

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

Stopped for gas and had the garage air me up to 40psi from 32psi... max is 50psi.

Originally Posted by KJ10

You plan on sleeping in that, in Colorado? This month? Hope you have a REALLY good sleeping bag. It's gonna be cold.

X2

Originally Posted by Dostradamas

I thought it was a Trailer park adventure

You could have stayed at the Shed-N-Breakfast with Bubbles.
Dang, California, what a let down.

Bubbles place is the chit!

Road trip, I'm in! Don't rush a trip like that, take your time and smell the roses along the way...and crawl somewhere too. Where in California and why you coming out here? Enjoy, drive safe and keep the updates coming.