CO in winter.... RWD or AWD?

I know.... I know....
play stupid games win stupid prizes....

 

It sounds like you should be all set. Have a blast. Purgatory is a hoot.

 

i'd pick the AWD. and i'd pick a week not between xmas and new years.

 

Reason for timing? Unfortunately, that timing is not of my choosing.
If anything, I think we will get heavy snow during the end of the year, with record number of people in that area.
We are there for a week (arrive on Sunday and leave Saturday) but we are taking it easy with 3 day skis only.

 

mainly just the sheer amount of people. the advantage of skiing on weekdays is gone because just about the entire country is off work that week

you'll have a blast either way

 

Real men use RWD and chains.

Just remember the following:
1) Don't ever stop driving up a hill or you'll lose your momentum and get stuck
2) Have good tires or you may get stuck at every intersection
3) Having a limited slip rear is even better
4) If you wife is driving ignore what I just said and get the AWD

 

Thanks. Yea, with kids in school and work and all that, I don't really get to choose when we go. But, I am not going hardcore skiing 6 days straight, as this will be kids' first snow (aside from that ass-freeze we had in 2021 Valentine's Day in Houston) so we just want to enjoy the whole thing.

Understood 1 & 2, I drove in the snow before, muscle memories will kick in before my brain does, haha.
LS, wishful thinking, I am dealing with a CEL on the Pilot due to cat/O2 sensor issue...
And she will be driving (part of the way, it's a close to 1300 miles one way), so yea, we are taking the Pilot.

 

So, the worst has happened.
Pilot went out of commission 85 miles east of Albuquerque, glad I had Geico and they sent a tow truck out to get it to Albuquerque, but no dealer open due to Christmas so sitting in the tow truck yard until Tuesday. However, talked to a few mechanics and most agree that it may not be worth fixing it out of state, and definitely get rid of it ASAP once fixed drivable.
The question now is: anyone know of good transportation company that can pickup in Albuquerque and get it to Houston?
I'm under enough stree with the car and family so I'm not entertaining the option of coming to tow it myself.... Thought about it but not worth it at this point.
Any ideas/suggestions are welcome.
Otherwise, CO is beautiful, at least what I can see at 4:30pm when I crosses the state line.....

 

Wow. Bad luck. Glad you made it to CO. What are you driving now? Can't help with the dead Pilot issue. Keep the stress down for now. Enjoy your time here. Be safe. This will get figured out. Super bad timing. Post up when you get settled in.

 

Man that stinks. What happened to the pilot? Trans failure?

 

What a bummer - sure adds an unwelcome element to a winter roadtrip with the family in tow. Is it worth the $$ and hassle to get it back to Houston if you’re being advised to ditch it ASAP? Maybe a local shop would be willing to buy it for more than it would cost to transport and repair.

 

I got a rental 4Runner from Albuquerque airport and so far, it's fairing ok, no loving the 4 bangers as it is very under powered. But it drive and works, can't complain.
The Pilot most like suffered either transmission and/ECU failure, cause from all the codes, it's either power steering or ABS, so not safe to drive. However, if unfixed, it might be sold at metal scape rates, though, I'm not open to unlimited repair, but if around $2k can get it moving, I can sell it since it moves and drives.
Getting in back to Houston would allow me some more time as well as not to get knocked off outrageous pricing cause they know you are desperate.
Found a transporter for around $780, should be able to find one around $700 which given the circumstances, I'm ok with that price. Get it home then it's in our own playing field and easier to do things.

 

So sorry to hear of your pilot issues. If I was closer I would offer to help get it towed but I'm five hours away. As @Black Wolf already said, at this point try and enjoy what you can of Durango, purgatory and the surrounding areas. Deal with the mess after the vacation. Merry Xmas and Godspeed.

 

Sorry about the Pilot. That nobody saw coming.

Good news (for me) is I was one of five people who won the poll.

 

Thanks, Jay. Yea, what's done can't be un-done, so it is what it is, but it does allow me a bit more time to think.
Now the idea is to get it back to Houston and back to the last Honda dealer since they did fix the fuel injector and now it threw codes. I know it is far stretch, but at least, that's something.
@T-Rex266 not profit, but at least better than just scrap price.

Honestly, the whole thing is really shit. I can complain about the whole ordeal, but what good is it? I don't want to ruin a vacation that cost me over $4k before I even left the front door and now maybe $50k more. I'll try and enjoy the vacation, but it sits in the back of my mind constantly, but I'm determined to get this done.

Thanks everyone for your kind words, Merry Christmas and stay safe, wherever you are.

 

So what happened to your pilot?

 

From that same page.






I think they just did a shit job of separation of topics. Typical for bureaucratic rules. These appear to be what apply to any roads in Colorado.




Edit: Don't know why I missed the whole second page here. Bummer about the vehicle troubles, but a 4Runner is a great snow rig. 99% sure it's a 6 not a 4 banger, though. I don't think they have a 4 cylinder version. I could be wrong. Either way, lack of power for speedy driving will be a thing for the 4Runner, but it will go just about anywhere if you've got good tires.

 

They used to make a 4 banger 4Runners. My buddy had a 2001 2WD 4cyl. Auto. What a dog. I doubt they make one in a 2023 model. The next gen will be 100% 4cyl. Turbo from what I read (like the Tacoma) , so they are bringing it back.

 

I took a look under the hood and it's a 6 banger, my bad. But it does lack power but will go almost anywhere, just need time.
It's a TRD off-road and thankfully, roads are very clear due to a very bad snow season so far.... Still haven't figured out half if the tech in that car.....lol

 

I owned a 3rd gen 4cyl 4Runner and to say it was a dog is an absolute understatement…dumbest purchase of my life. The 5th gen 4Runner is an excellent SUV but I think it’s underpowered. I really did not like towing with that truck at all.

 

My wife and I built her a 5th gen 4runner on 33's. She hated it. Always compared it to a fat kid running uphill in regard to power. Once she started driving my best gen tundra she sold the 4runner for a first gen sequoia. Hasn't looked back since.

 

I'll look for a better pic of ours. I think we had those same pro comp wheels, pelfrey built sliders, Toytec lift. So mall crawler Colorado. We could've been twins if we weren't the CO fav; MGM

 

Don't get me wrong, I think this 4R looks good, drives ok, but power is just so under that I question the reason behind a 4.0 that puts out less (or feel less) than a 3.6 V6 on a Pilot.
I don't need a rocket ship, but I need something faster than Grandma's sleeper....true sleeper

 

Damn, Ian, I feel for ya man. This Texan flies then rents once I land lol.

Hope you get it all figured out - can't help but think you'd been better off in a chained up 2WD trusty Tundra.

 

Couldn't agree more that the underpowered 4runner is a dog.