PirateMcGee's Introduction (Montero Sport 3.5XS)

[PirateMcGee]

Hello all, name is Scott, I live in Medford OR right now but will be moving to Ft. Collins CO on the 7th to start a new job at Colorado State with the National Park Service. This upcoming move led to me recently selling my 86 1st gen 4runner (pic below) that was semi restored and modded; it hurt getting rid of the yota but I need something to tow a uhaul trailer so I tried to pick up a 3rd gen 4runner but they were outrageously priced in this areas (over $11k for one with around a 100k miles). So I began looking at other options when I noticed my new rig at a lot one day...

a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 3.5XS w/ 97,000 miles. One of the best maintained vehicles I've ever seen. It was owned by a local doctor's wife, garaged it's whole life, owners bought it new (still have window sticker, dealer pamplet, etc.). Have records for every single service since new. All major service performed at dealership well before it was even due. They were so meticulous that whenever it would get a door ding they would take it to the dealership to be removed haha. Future plans include OME 2" lift, arb air locker, full infinity sound system, custom skids/sliders, and a lot of gas for exploring around. The other idea is to leave this one as a stock daily and pick up a landcruiser once the bank account recovers from moving and student loans haha.

I don't know a soul out in CO and have never even been there so I'm looking forward to exploring what appears to be an awesome state and meeting new people! I have a lot of experience exploring around on abandoned roads and fs roads but have little experience doing trail runs.

On to pics (not my best work but I promise better to come)
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0096.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0095.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0094.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0093.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0092.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0091.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0089.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0087.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0085.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0084.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0082.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Montero/DSC_0081.jpg

and my old 4runner :(

[PirateMcGee]

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/4runner/301524_10150362269121483_511086482_8446613_2281988 45_n.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/4runner/294665_10150334894891483_511086482_8292155_4513016 76_n.jpg

[jesse05lj]

welcome to FR4X4

[Chris]

Welcome to Front Range Scott!

[Mporter]

Welcome. What are you doing with the park service? That's one of the areas I'm hoping to find a job once I graduate college.

[Cr33p3r]

Welcome Scott, and have a safe move!

[Fordguy77]

Welcome! Shame ya had to loose the runner, but the montero looks pretty nice. What kinda Landcruiser would you be looking for?

[MelloYello]

Welcome

[PirateMcGee]

Welcome. What are you doing with the park service? That's one of the areas I'm hoping to find a job once I graduate college.

I'll shoot you a pm

[PirateMcGee]

Welcome! Shame ya had to loose the runner, but the montero looks pretty nice. What kinda Landcruiser would you be looking for?

It was very sad, I put a ton of work into that runner but a 22re + 31's + being 25 years old doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in being able to haul even a small trailer 1,500 miles.....plus it was very noisy and had no creature comforts other than a good stereo. So far I'm loving the monty...other than the lack of aftermarket support. Probably be looking for a 60 to put a diesel in as a "keep forever" kind of build/resto.

[PirateMcGee]

Thanks for the welcome guys, if any ft. collins people are up for hanging out let me know as I'm usually up for anything

[Popsgarage]

Howdy and welcome to the Front Range! Sad to hear about the Runner. Monty's nice though.

[Heather]

Welcome!

[Rob]

Welcome aboard!

[Michael4rnr]

Welcome to FR4x4.

[Pathrat]

Welcome to Front Range.

[Geno]

Welcome to FR 4x4 and to Colorado

[Brody]

Welcome to the forum, Scott!

You picked a good group of folks here. We are always happy to show someone around, suggest trails, etc.

There are also quite a few folks on the forum, including myself, who do fabrication, so when it comes time for sliders (highly recommended modification for our trails here, BTW) give any of us a shout. You will also find that any questions, including total 'newb' questions, will get answered.

Where do you expect to be working? RMNP, Red Feather Lakes area, or??

[glacierpaul]

Welcome Scott, here and to Colorado! Have a safe trip out here.

[Java]

Welcome!!! Cool rig, look forward to meeting you / wheeling!!

[PirateMcGee]

Welcome to the forum, Scott!

You picked a good group of folks here. We are always happy to show someone around, suggest trails, etc.

There are also quite a few folks on the forum, including myself, who do fabrication, so when it comes time for sliders (highly recommended modification for our trails here, BTW) give any of us a shout. You will also find that any questions, including total 'newb' questions, will get answered.

Where do you expect to be working? RMNP, Red Feather Lakes area, or??

Already glad I signed up, look forward to meeting a bunch of you, some mild wheeling, camping etc

....already missing my Toyota (though the Monty is super nice) so I don't think it will be too long till I have a cruiser to play with haha

Sweet, I'll definitely be needing help on fab work. First because I am losing a lot of my tools in the move, secondly because I may not be the greatest fabricator (although I spent 3 years going to school for Mechanical Engineering so I techincally can do AutoCAD, 3dmodeling, welding, and machining haha), third the place I'm moving into garage space is limited.

I will actually be working at a bunch of National Parks all over the country....my office/headquarters/majority of time are in Ft. Collins though.

[mattzj98]

Welcome! That's a really clean Montero you got!

[Funrover]

Welcome! Both rigs are nice, it always hurts selling one you really like. I too am intersted in what you will be doing. Would be a great job area! Have fun and be safe!

[Bunyon & Babe]

Welcome ! Love that 86 Runner. That's a sweet looking Montero too.

[Hypoid]

Welcome aboard!

[sdhill]

Welcome. That is one clean Montero, I would not want to take it wheeling.

[PirateMcGee]

Thanks all, hitch/wiring installed and made the Uhaul reservation....hoping the weather holds.

[Jackie]

Welcome Scott! You will love Colorado and for sure love this group. Lucky-you will be moving to a state where you already have a bunch of good friends you haven't met yet!

[KnuckleHead]

Welcome aboard.....

[Roostercruiser]

Welcome

[Stephen]

Welcome!

[RockyMtnHigh]

Welcome, nice avatar by the way! :lmao:

[PirateMcGee]

ya thanks for that bwhahaha...think I might just keep it :)

Well I made it out safe n sound! Here's my limited pics I took. Hoping to get out an explore the area a bit this weekend!
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0134.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0128.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0120.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0108.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0106.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0097.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0095.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0088.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0085.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0082.jpg

[Popsgarage]

Looks like you had a good trip and its nice to know you made it out in one piece.

[Rick]

great and welcome

[Rick]

:p:p:pi meant great scenery

[Pathrat]

Nice pictures. How does the Mitsu do with towing? I had a white 99 Montero Sport, which I sold to a doctor, who is a doctor's wife. It's like we're all parallel universe and stuff. :D

[Andrew]

Welcome! I'm in FoCo as well. Don't live too far from CSU either.

I see the bike up there - pretty bike friendly town here too.

[4runner freak]

ya thanks for that bwhahaha...think I might just keep it :)

Well I made it out safe n sound! Here's my limited pics I took. Hoping to get out an explore the area a bit this weekend!
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0134.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0128.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0120.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0108.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0106.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0097.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0095.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0088.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0085.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/piratemcgee/Trip/DSC_0082.jpg

Beautiful pictures.
What are you shooting with? What glass?
Settings? I've got a Canon 40D and am just starting to learn how to use it.

Oh, yeah. Welcome to a, mostly, free state.

[Funrover]

Great pics! I see you have a nice bike, you ride much?

[Brody]

Did you get all settled in? Quite a few folks in the Ft Collins area....

[PirateMcGee]

Getting settled, my place is about 2.5 miles west of CSU off Elizabeth. So far I really like it out here.

I use to bike a lot but fell out of it during college, hoping to get back into it. I was biking to CSU (where I work) this past week but my clearance is through so now I'll be working at a different office that's too far to ride during the winter.

I use a Nikon d3000 with 18-55 and a 55-200mm Nikon both VR lenses.

[PirateMcGee]

Nice pictures. How does the Mitsu do with towing? I had a white 99 Montero Sport, which I sold to a doctor, who is a doctor's wife. It's like we're all parallel universe and stuff. :D

My sport has the 3.5L in it and did great towing, about the only pass that sucked was coming out of Salt Lake City. Mostly because it was icy and I had to go at a speed that kept the motor out of the power band. Overall really happy with it, pulled the trailer great and netted 15mpg on avg. which is pretty good considering the passes/mountain I went through, plus the trailer loaded to the max, and the stuff on the roof.

[Andrew]

Getting settled, my place is about 2.5 miles west of CSU off Elizabeth. So far I really like it out here.

I use to bike a lot but fell out of it during college, hoping to get back into it. I was biking to CSU (where I work) this past week but my clearance is through so now I'll be working at a different office that's too far to ride during the winter.

I use a Nikon d3000 with 18-55 and a 55-200mm Nikon both VR lenses.

You don't live that far from me then.