From Long Beach, CA to Anna, TX

Whats up guys. I've been on TW now for about 5 years I think haha. I've gotten to know a lot of great people out here in socal but some great career opportunities are bringing my girlfriend and I to Anna, TX. Which is a little north of Dallas.
We will be hitting the road in a little less than 3 weeks. I just wanted to throw this thread out to maybe catch the eye of some of you close to Anna, and fill me in on some of the insides of the Tacoma grounds out there.
Would be cool to hear from some of you close and get to know you guys soon!
Any advice as well as far as the move is concerned or the drive. That would be amazing as well!

Thanks!

 

Welcome to Texas friend.

 

Welcome to Tx. There's quite a few of us here in the DFW Area! Some of which are from around the Anna Area. Check out the DFW Thread, come on over and say hi. We try and set up monthly meet ups and some of us are planning on meeting up with The Golden Triangle group the weekend of Jan 14th for some wheeling at Barnwell Mountain Rec Area which is 2.5-3hrs away.

 

Don't get excited when you cross Texas state lines, you're only halfway there LOL

 

Okay sweet yeah I'll be out there by then!! Is this area 2WD friendly??

Hahahaha so I've heard!! Will be making it a 3 day trip since my girl and I are following each other there. I want her to be able to rest. Any good/safer cities to stay the night in with some decent hotels/motels on the way?

 

I've never been out there myself, I'm planning on going for atleast 1 day. From what I've learned there are 2wd friendly areas, I think @NEWBIETACO who told the DFW group about it has a prerunner, I could be wrong though. I'm all stock but 4wd and will prob get in over my head.

I go out to Phoenix to see my sister occasionally and just that drive makes for a really long day. Never stayed anywhere though because I do it in 1 day.

 

Damn you're a trooper haha my old job had me working 12 hours 7 days a week for a couple weeks but even I can't drive more than 10 hours without checking out. Especially with the exhaust being dumped under my passenger seat haha. Well hopefully I can go and check that out with you guys!
I left a post in the DFW thread so will be glad to hear what everyone has to say.

I'm a little excited to be getting out of Socal! Haha

 

Excited to leave Cali! Are you feeling ok? I lived in the OC when i was young, almost 20yrs ago now and have missed it since. No place is like it that i have ever lived. Its too expensive for me to be willing to move back though. Texas is like a whole different country!

 

Yes the expensive part is one of the main reasons haha. And the traffic is beyond annoying. The people don't help anything either haha. But OC is nice, can't lie there.

 

The drive is around 16 hrs to or from phoenix to Plano, TX. Its about my max for a single day.

 

Traffic is probably better here but I wouldnt consider it good.

 

Hopefully in the Anna area it won't be too bad. But I can get passed that. I guess the excitement of taking this big step is making cali look worse than it probably is haha. My optimism has taken over my head.

 

Yeah out in Anna you are getting kinda far out from Dallas so it will help a whole lot. Once you get up past 121 it def lightens up and even more so at 380. I dont remember traffic that well in cali but i do remember the crazy bumper to bumper during rush hour was insane. The last time I was in Cali was the first time I ever drove there and that was 10+ yrs ago.

 

I'm 4x4 but do some of the trails in 2wd, of it's raining and you don't have 4x4 or locker than ride along with someone. I've done Gilmer in bald tires and open diffs and been ok. This Jan it will be way different.

 

Well looking forward to it and appreciate the kind welcome! Hopefully get to meet you soon enough man!

 

Ahhh yeah i wouldn't want to be "that guy". Will probably do the smart thing and take a ride along.

 

I try and make it to all the meet ups. I've only been a TW member for 4-5 months now and made it to 2 meet ups. So far everyone i've met have been great guys.

 

Crap one of the most important questions. What are some good off-road shops out there. So many out here like Sick Nick, SMP, solo Motorsports, are there many privately owned shops out there or should I say around the Dallas area?

 

I've heard of some but cant recall any names. The DFW forum would be the place to ask.

 

It's cool couple guys that I go with and myself have a winch, snatch block, 80-100 foot worth of straps and shovel in each truck. We can get you out, but won't put you in a situation we don't think you can make it through

There are not that many honestly, what work are you looking to do and how mechanically inclined are you?