Help me with my trip to Trail Tailor to pick up my new FJ60 and drive from CA to TX.

[stevema1214]

Not sure if you have your heart set on that HMB stop. You have a short leg from Redding to there, and a really really long leg from HMB to Hermosa. If you wanted an overnight stay a little further down the road, Prewitt Ridge is about a half hour south of Big Sur has some great dispersed camping options with amazing views. It’s about a 25 min climb from the highway, but you’ll be sitting at 2700 feet with some awesome views. and of course you’d need to have your own water, etc as there are no facilities up there. Just did a two night camping trip there a few weeks back and it did not dissapoint.

 

[DFXR]

Like the title says - I'll be flying up to Trail Tailor in Redding CA to pic up my new FJ60, then drive it back to McKinney, TX. If there's a different place I should post this please let me know.

The build

Major Nelson 60 Series Trail Tailor Build

10/85 White 60 Series Commissioned by @Major Nelson to build his wife this cruiser. Details to come. In parts stockpiling mode now. Last 2 days and 24 orders later parts will start arriving soon.

forum.ih8mud.com

The planned route
View attachment 3010683


How I'm planning to split the drive up

View attachment 3010685

Once upon a time you could pull over and sleep on a pullout or day-use parking area along Hwy 1 near Half Moon Bay… those days are gone for various reasons, vanlifers included. Sheriff will roust you.

The two state campgrounds in that general area - Butano and Big Basin - are still partially closed due to wildfire damage. So, car camping in either of those parks is not an option.

If you want a sure thing in the area, and don’t want to load/unload at a motel, consider Costanoa. There is a classic KOA site there in addition to a very upscale lodge and glamping thing. You won’t be roughing it but you won’t be breaking the bank either. I think the KOA sites are around $50, which is just a little more than a state park site. Some have RV hookups and others are just for tents, but you can always sleep in the 60 and get up and out efficiently.

^ Prewitt Ridge and that whole part of Big Sur/Los Padres is epic, but it’s a bigger push from Redding. And a lot of the dispersed camping along the forest service roads in Los Padres (Prewitt not included) has been curtailed as well. Too many hobo campfires!

 

[Paul DiNapoli]

@Major Nelson

your truck (err... your wife's truck) is a beauty!!!

couple trip thoughts come to mind. leaving Redding late afternoon - maybe you just want to get some fuel and some provisions and get an hour or so down the road - crack a cold one (or 10) and enjoy the sunset...my wife and I have camped here a few times...
Black Butte Lake Recreation Area

Black Butte Lake Recreation Area · Orland, CA 95963

âââââ · Park

goo.gl

rolling hills / oak savannah right down to waters edge. Pretty place...easy camping.

heading down the Cali coast - dont forget to stop along the pull-outs around Big Sur and look for Condors. (bring binoculars)

Hermosa Beach to Tuscon....yikes!! plan for a lot more time to get out of the LA Freeway hell hole - with stops for gaz you're looking at 9 ish hours (being realistic) I would split this up and stop at Joshua Tree for the night. (that's just me - I'm always happier when I stop the driving early enough in the day to casually make camp and drink a few beers - rather than push push push - and finally make camp in the dark)


Tucson Area:
if you're willing to go a little beyond Tucson - this area is FANTASTIC:

Chiricahua National Monument:

Chiricahua National Monument · 12856 East Rhyolite Creek Road, Willcox, AZ 85643

âââââ · Park

goo.gl

there's an awesome dirt road pass that leads to a tiny "town" Portal - just east of the monument area. My wife and I were on birding expedition - and someone said "dont miss Portal"
sure enough after the mountain pass adventure there's a market/cafe/bar thing with good burgers and cold beer on tap. The drive over the pass was good too!

Portal Peak Lodge Store & Cafe · 2358 S Rock House Rd, Portal, AZ 85632

âââââ · Southwestern restaurant (US)

goo.gl

 

[BlackCat]

@Major Nelson

your truck (err... your wife's truck) is a beauty!!!

couple trip thoughts come to mind. leaving Redding late afternoon - maybe you just want to get some fuel and some provisions and get an hour or so down the road - crack a cold one (or 10) and enjoy the sunset...my wife and I have camped here a few times...
Black Butte Lake Recreation Area

Black Butte Lake Recreation Area · Orland, CA 95963

âââââ · Park

goo.gl

rolling hills / oak savannah right down to waters edge. Pretty place...easy camping.

heading down the Cali coast - dont forget to stop along the pull-outs around Big Sur and look for Condors. (bring binoculars)

Hermosa Beach to Tuscon....yikes!! plan for a lot more time to get out of the LA Freeway hell hole - with stops for gaz you're looking at 9 ish hours (being realistic) I would split this up and stop at Joshua Tree for the night. (that's just me - I'm always happier when I stop the driving early enough in the day to casually make camp and drink a few beers - rather than push push push - and finally make camp in the dark)


Tucson Area:
if you're willing to go a little beyond Tucson - this area is FANTASTIC: View attachment 3016684
Chiricahua National Monument:

Chiricahua National Monument · 12856 East Rhyolite Creek Road, Willcox, AZ 85643

âââââ · Park

goo.gl

there's an awesome dirt road pass that leads to a tiny "town" Portal - just east of the monument area. My wife and I were on birding expedition - and someone said "dont miss Portal"
sure enough after the mountain pass adventure there's a market/cafe/bar thing with good burgers and cold beer on tap. The drive over the pass was good too!

Portal Peak Lodge Store & Cafe · 2358 S Rock House Rd, Portal, AZ 85632

âââââ · Southwestern restaurant (US)

goo.gl

Yep, super cool area. Patagonia too.

 

[garfieldthecat]

Like the title says - I'll be flying up to Trail Tailor in Redding CA to pic up my new FJ60, then drive it back to McKinney, TX. If there's a different place I should post this please let me know.

The build

Major Nelson 60 Series Trail Tailor Build

10/85 White 60 Series Commissioned by @Major Nelson to build his wife this cruiser. Details to come. In parts stockpiling mode now. Last 2 days and 24 orders later parts will start arriving soon.

forum.ih8mud.com

The planned route
View attachment 3010683


How I'm planning to split the drive up

View attachment 3010685

I'm in Hermosa. PM me if you have time to meet. Always great to meet other 60s owners.

 

[OGBeno]

Great to see you today, Kevin! Awesome to finally meet up after all of these years!

Safe travels home.

 

[Paul DiNapoli]

Great to see you today, Kevin! Awesome to finally meet up after all of these years!

Safe travels home.

View attachment 3022112

@Major Nelson you made it to Patagonia! curious to hear your MPG and general trip report.

 

[OGBeno]

@Major Nelson you made it to Patagonia! curious to hear your MPG and general trip report.

Sonoita.

 

[Paul DiNapoli]

Sonoita.

i stand corrected!

 

[Major Nelson]

Made it back to TX today....I'm going to post more details on the build thread, but thanks to @OGBeno for the hospitality yesterday. It was more than worth the detour to finally get to meet you in person brother. The OLC4X4 setup is sweet. Wish I'd had some time to hang around Patagonia.