Question About Imogene Pass and Black Bear Pass

Hey everyone! Last year I purchased a 2019 T4R Off-Road. I love the truck, but haven't done much wheeling because I don't have any armor on it.


My previous vehicle was a 2019 Tacoma Off-Road with full RCI sliders and skids. I loved that truck, and it was SO capable off-road. Arguably the T4R is even better with the shorter wheelbase and manual shift transfer case.


Anyway, I'm thinking about doing Imogene and Black Bear Pass with my brother in early September. Do you think I need any armor? I was going to get a full set of RCI skids and sliders, but didn't know if I should splurge for the fuel tank protection too.The truck came with a decent set of Nitto Terra Grapplers on the Pro wheels.

What do y'all think?

 

I have removed Black bear off my list. I feel like it's too dangerous for a 4Runner. I'd go there when I get my self a Jeep.

 

Dumb question - How is a Jeep safer than a 4Runner?

 

Wheel articulation while keeping the body level. So less chance of rollover.

 

That makes sense. Well, for now, let's focus on armor. Do you think I need a fuel tank skid?

 

Haven't done Black Bear so let see if anyone done Black bear answers.

However I have full skids in aluminum so it would protect me in case. I bet steel would be the best if you do hard trails normally. I have RCI and they are budget friendly.

 

I would worry about your tires. The grip might be fine but are the sidewalls reinforced?

I once took a relatively new Land Rover stock tires on a rough rocky road. Hey it's a land rover right... Anyway the Land Rover did fine, one of the tires, not so much...

Oh and off road capable Jeeps often come with multi-terrain tires...

 

TLDR: The 4Runner can do it well. The driver is the most important part of those trails.

I've done Imogene for 2 years in a row, most recently being caught in multiple mudslides while coming down to the Telluride side.

I've done Black Bear in 2020, a few days before that infamous video of the Red jeep rolling down it.

Stock Offroad skids. 2" lift and 265/70/r17 BFG KO2.

You could do both stock, might use the factory skids a little but they are fine if you're not banging hard on them.

What I'd recommend:
1. Tires first and foremost. You want traction. The Stock ORP tires kinda suck. You want tougher sidewalls, you do NOT want to be changing a tire out there.
2. Do not go alone. If you're asking these questions you're not ready for that level of trail solo. Go with a guide, a friend, someone who can show you the lines or spot for you.

I found Black Bear not difficult until the steps, then the difficulty ramps up considerably until you are done with the switchbacks, then back down to pretty easy. You can get tot the summit from 550 without doing those obstacles and head back down. It only becomes a 1-way trail after the summit.

Imogene is more technical but less chance of "immediate death due to mistakes" that Black Bear was.

Having done them both, I did Imogene again the next year. I did not do Black Bear again. I probably won't either, considering it was pretty mentally tough for me to stare down those sheer cliffs, inches from the side.

Bonus: The only upgraded skid I'd consider would be the fuel tank skid. It's low, and you bang it a lot.

 

Most types of 4x4's have succeeded and failed at Black Bear and Imogene, just search for videos on YouTube. A major portion of whether you win or get door prizes is based on the driver and/or spotter. Here's a rather spectacular destruction of a Jeep on Black Bear:




And in the interest of fairness, a very lucky Runner that's wheels up:

 

^ The above video of the Red Jeep is the one I was referring to in my post above.

 

You can do it stock. You don’t go alone. Make sure you have at least one person in your group that has done the pass frequently.

If it’s a busy day, turn around because some jackass will either get stuck on the trail, creating a massive traffic jam or a falling 4Runner or Jeep will land on you.

I have seen some retards out there with Subarus.

If you have all that Instagram camping shit on your roof, take it off, that will make you top-heavy and prone to tipping.

 

Thanks for all of the feedback.

To add a bit more context, I have already done a portion of Black Bear Pass. In my 2019 Tacoma I went up the switchbacks from Telluride to the Bridal Veil Power Station. The Taco had full RCI sliders and skid plates, but no fuel tank skid. Portions of that trip were exciting and require your full attention, but nothing I couldn't handle.





For the T4R, I was more curious about what type of armor you would suggest to do both passes completely (Imogene and Black Bear). As I mentioned above, the truck currently has a set of Nitto Terra Grapplers on the Pro wheels, so it's got good tires on it.

I'm 99% sure I'm going to get the full RCI skid package (engine, transmission, and transfer case), RCI sliders, and the fuel tank skid plate. I think that will offer plenty of protection for anything I want to do.

Thanks again for the feedback!

 

I wonder how others feel about the rear bumper of the 4Runner. I've touched the underside of the rear bumper on trails. May be I'm just a bad driver.

 

I’ve gotten hung up on the spare tire and the hitch receiver but never the bumper.

 

I try to keep my tires on the rocks vs keeping them in middle. When ever the back tire drops it scratches the bumper. Either I have to learn driving or if there is any kind of slider like thing to protect the underside of the rear bumper.

 

https://www.skidmark4x4.com/

 

Imogene can be done stock, I've done it in an SR5.

 

The Ouray side of Imogene is fairly tame compared to the Telluride side near the top. A stock 4R could get through easily with some spotting in places. It's great to be at the top of the pass looking down on both sides. Been there 5 or 6 times, albeit never in a 4R.

I've also done Black Bear in several Jeeps over the years, but have no interest in going on that trail in the future. @will van - I'm curious how you were able to go up that direction from the Telluride side. I thought that was one way only, down from the top.

 

Na, not a bad driver. I scratched both my 4Runners in the same spot I'm sure yours is scratched.

It's a bit of a magnet.

Good news? It's kinda hard to rip off. But if it does come off, the entire fascia can easily be held in place by 4 wood screws....

 

There's a portion of the switchbacks down near the bottom that are 2 way, but the "big 3" right after the steps are 1 way only unless you're doing that once a year event where they run it backwards.

Also....if You think doing it the normal way is scary (and I do), no freaking way I'd do it backwards UP the steps.

 

I think a portion of it is two-way traffic. Because people go up and down from Telluride to take wedding photos and crap. But beyond the power plant (toward the steps) I think it becomes one-way only.

 

I have done both trails with a Jeep Rubicon (easier with the Jeep 2015) and a stock 4R ORP (2019), if you not afraid from height's, negotiate the switch-backs on black bear very well and with a spotter, doable. I had Nitto Terra Grapplers 265/70/17 on the pro wheels as well. Hence, I would strongly recommend, to do this with a better tire and air down, take the weather in consideration, not advisable in rainy, or snowy conditions, the weather is unpredictable up there.

I don't know your experience with trailing, if you don't have much trailing experience, I would not advice you doing Black Bear Pass, I have done this trail twice, first time 2015 last time was in 2019 and I have to mention that in 4 years time the deterioration of the trail was significant and much more difficult & dangerous. (Anyone who has been up there felt The Pucker Factor, haha).

Another nice trail over there is the Engineer's pass, very close to Ouray, about 7 miles out on the left side of the Million Dollar Highway, less technical, hence beautiful and enjoyable to drive.

 

I did Black Bear pass when I first came to Colorado in 2013 in my TE and then as a passenger/spotter in 2020 in a Rubi and it had changed drastically.

 

Having only done it in 2020 and no reference before that, in what ways can you describe the change?

Mainly curious.

 

A lot of the technical sections were a bit more flat and smooth and easier to pick a line through, even without a spotter, and to me at least it seemed that the drop offs weren’t as close to the actual trail as they are now.

 

The trail became narrower on some places, rocks came most likely down on the ravine side, much more rocks on the trail itself making negotiate more difficult, the overall trail deterioration was obvious. I experienced that on other trails as well, rain, snow, mud slides etc., it's a never ending process.

 

Great intel. Thank you. Maybe I’ll do Imogene and Engineer Pass.

 

No, not for these trails.

 

Wise decision. Good luck, enjoy and be careful.

 

If you do Engineer then you may as well do Cinnamon and do the loop ...