[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Maybe making a long drive (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/7/2007 6:13:56 AM EDT
With the prices of airfair and rent-a-cars getting up there im contemplating driving from Texas to Utah to see my son (1300ish miles). Ive only done one long trip and I didnt drive, and this one ill be all alone. What am I getting myself into? 
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| You will find that Texas is one long freaking state. It is doable though. You might want to consider finding a place to pull in for an overnight stay. 15 hours is the longest I have driven straight. From Maryland to Illinois. Almost to the Missouri state line. Your trip, if you manage 60 mph average it will take a little over 21 hours. Take a camera. I got a lot of really nice pictures on the trip, and some funny signs. I'm sorry but a river named Kickapoo is hilarious. |
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In November I drove from southwest Virginia to the Hun Farm in west Texas. It was about 1,300 miles +/- as well. The first 12 hours was cake, every hour after that got harder and harder. though only because it was a night. I have always like road trips and can power through most of the time. It does take a lot out of you though and takes a few weeks to recover. |
| I've done a lot of long-distance road trips and I found that about 1000 miles a day is the limit. I try to keep it at 800 miles day. My Jetta gets about that much milage in one tank and it also keeps my back from screaming from saddle abuse. Keep a small sixpack cooler with you and save about 75% over the cost of buying soda/water on the fly. Food is also much cheaper to bring with than buy as you go. Also try and avoid any major metropolitan areas during work day drive time. I load music into my laptop and play it through the car stereo with a Belkin adaptor. I also use my laptop for MS Streets and Trips with a GPS antenae. I built a desk for the passenger seat so everything stays put and makes use real easy. |
 I thought I was going to loose it.
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At least once a year I drive ~1300 or so each way to and from NY from here... If you don't have XM, get it. Especially if you ever consider making that drive again. It's a hell of a lot better than flipping through CD's, or fiddling with the radio all the time. Or, a well-stocked ipod-like device would do the trick as well, if it won't annoy you (considering you've probably heard everything on it before). You'll need to hole up for the night somewhere. Pick a spot a little more than halfway there for it...it'll make the next day seem like a breeze in comparison. Don't skimp on this...the first 3 or 4 times I went back and forth from NY I stayed in Motel 6, Super 8, etc...the cheap chains. After my third "I'm pretty sure this room used to be a methlab" experience, I decided to go and spend the $90+ to get a room at Holiday Inn Express (or some other higher-end place)...well worth the money. Basic sustinance is all I really need, but it really helps after a long day on the road to crash in a room where you're reasonably certain there are no insects or vermin, and the bed never had an encounter with a dead body being on it for a couple days. If you drink, bring a bottle with you, in the trunk. Nothing like getting someplace on a Sunday and finding out everything's closed As others mentioned...bring your own food/drink with you. It's a lot cheaper and it'll cut down on pit stops. Bring 3 or 4 20oz bottles of your favorite soda with you, some Slim Jims (if you like those), a couple candy bars, some of those instant breakfast bars..whatever. The only times I stop on trips like that are for gas, and go to the bathroom then. Other than that....my last drive out here from NY would have cost me around 150-175 between gas and tolls. Then again I only get 25-26mpg highway and my car requires at least 89 octane gas. $40 minimum fillup for gas, 3 fillups total. Budget around that for the trip. Throw in another 100 for hotel. I don't know where you'll be driving through, but toll roads through Ohio, Indiana, and especially Chicago took a huge chunk of change, like around $30 all told. You might not have to deal with those tolls, but be prepared for 'em. |
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Any good books you've been wanting to read? Most of them are available on tape or disc, these days. I've found listening to books on a road trip a great way to pass the time. Just keep an eye on your gas gauge because it is very easy to "read" right through your gas tank if you're not careful. |
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Audio books help. I get sleepy listening to the same old songs I've listened to billions of times before on a long haul (we go to Texas to visit family from time to time, about a 900 mile drive). Fix up a cooler with drinks, snacks, etc. Saves money and downtime hitting gas stations for anything other than fuel and piss breaks. Of course, get your car checked out before you leave - change the oil, give it a good once over, belts, hoses, tire pressure, etc. Not a lot sucks worse than being broke down on the side of the road hundreds of miles away from home. Pull over and rest the first time your head starts drooping so you don't kill yourself or anyone else. Since you're going solo, might want to consider making it a two day trip, stopping overnight at a hotel. It helps me to put a piece of paper over the odometer. The trip seems a lot more tedious watching the odometer. I've got a bad habit of seeing mile marker signs, then looking at the odometer and saying, "Well, we'll be <here> in about another 80 miles..." Seems to draw the trip out a lot more. I cover the odometer up and check it when we stop for fuel. And Texas is one long, boring ass state to drive across. |
+1 Note that some metro areas are worse than others. Chicago traffic, e.g. is close to fubar on a Sunday afternoon, while some smaller cities might only give you a 20-minute penalty for trying to get through at rush hour. My back starts screaming before 800 miles. Yours might vary. Recorded books (unabridged) can be great. Check your library. Have a cell phone and something with a directory of motels along your route (AAA directory? Some GPSrs have these. Does Streets and Trips?) When you're starting to fade, pull off and find a place 20-30 minutes ahead, call and make sure they have vacancies. Don't wait until you're really tired, because Murphy's law says everything within a half hour will be full or closed or too expensive. My biggest concerns would be that you're probably going through some remote mountain areas. a) beware of the weather. b) Don't take GPS or computer routing at face value -- they might give you the shortest route, but perhaps not the best (or a passable one). c) you might not have cell phone coverage in some areas, even along interstates. |
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I have driven to OH and back at least 10 times. That is approximately 1800 miles each way. While I have XM and not Sirius, satellite radio is a must. Plenty of trail mix, jerky, drinks, a handy tooth brush, and capped bottle of water for rinsing.
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| Ive driven many long distances. From east coast t west coast and back. I jus got back from driving 1000miles from Fla to WV for holidays. The drive up wasnt bad, I stayed overnite in NC. The drive back was brutal. I hit all the Gator Bowl traffic coming to Florida and I decided to drive straight thru. I dont care who you are, after 12hours of non stop driving, you get very tired and weary. its not safe to drive like that. The best times to drive are late at nite, less traffic, but also less things to keep you occupied and awake. If you do stop over at a motel. Dont stop late in the evening or nite. I always drive from about 4am to 2pm and then stop. This gives you more time to relax and you get your moneys worth outa the place your staying. jus my .02 |
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OK, mapquest has me heading north to Salina, KS then west through Denver, CO then on to Vernal, UT. This sound about right? I definantly want to stay as much highway as I can to minimize getting lost. Or, if I avoid Toll Rods, I go from Tyler, to Amarillo ti highway 25 then north to Denver and west to Vernal.. This one is about 100 miles less. |
If you have AAA, check with them. IVe gotten TripTik from AAA and their route was diff. than mapquests. And ive seen mapquest take some screwy routes as well. get a good road map and compare with mapquest. Stay on major highways, etc. I had AAA take me on some 2 lane road around jacksonville. It wasnt bad, but I came thru at 4 am, if it had been during working hours, I couldve gotten held up, it was a good 20miles on this road. |
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I don't care what route your are taking, you NEED to take this stuff: EXTRA food and water Sleeping bag(s) Emergency car kit (fix a flat, jumper cables, tools, etc) Emergency first aid and survival kits Get satellite radio, if you don't have it. It's too cheap not to. Pay close attention to weather forecasts. Alot of people got trapped in NM last weekend for DAYS because they didn't check the weather. Lo and behold 2-4' of snow everywhere. Interstates, as well as alternate roads, were down for days. |
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1300 miles is a god awful long way. There is no way around that. One can rationalize it by extolling the virtues of solitude, scenery and adventure, but the fact remains: It is a monotonous, dangerous, and horribly loooooong slog. You will remember my words at the 900 mile mark, and on the day of your trip home. There is a reason why people subject themselves to the indignity of airline travel, or pay millions for a private airplane.  The food and beverage replies are good advice. Nothing ruins a wonderful road trip of self discovery like a case of food poisoning. Bring your favorite music, and lots of it. |
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I did SEA-SJC twice last year, the second time last week. 850 miles one way, 10 hours. You can buy a complete sat radio setup on Craigslist CHEAP (I have bought NIB-$20) Add in online registration, Priceless. I had nonstop sounds for the entire ride. Music, News (CNN, BBC & FNC), Old Time Radio, etc. On my way down Sadam was going to the gallows, coverage was great! When I did all the math, I made about $50 an hour for the additional time I spent driving (4 hours) over flying, plus I didnt get cavity searched. Win-win. |
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You need a rifle and ammo, and spare mags above your normal CCW. You HAVE seen the hills have eyes havent you Seriously on a long road trip carry a bit more ammo and possibly a rifle plus survival gear. Check the state laws for how you need to carry these in the car. Shit could hit the fan real quick if you get stuck in the middle of no where in a freak storm etc etc. If you have shelter/survival gear and a CCW plus a rifle for "just in case" moments or food gathering, you will be much better off. |
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+1 on the 1000mi a day comments. I've done coast to coast solo runs numerous times. Unless I get close to 1000 miles in at a shot, the trip seems to drag on forever. I never set a schedule to follow. I drive until I feel I'm too tired to drive safely... then I stop and get a room in a decent hotel. I sleep until I'm rested (no alarm clock) then I get up, S,S & S, (shit,shower&shave) have breakfast and do it all over again. You start the day clean, rested and refreshed... making it safe to do another 14-16hr run. |
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Do yourself a favor and pay heed to McGrubbs suggestions!! Take winter survival equipment in the trunk. One never knows when you'll need it, but having a case of MRE's and a sleeping bag will come in handy should you get stuck out on the road. MRE heaters can save your life. Tire chains, and knowing how to use them, are also prudent. Les Schwab and some other tire stores will let you return them if you don't use them. Fresh batteries for your flashlights. This time of year, (winter), I'd try to stay on Interstate Highways as much as possible. They tend to be plowed and sanded before other highways. Don't let your gas get much below half a tank. Having lived in the west and traveled extensively in the winter, I believe in being prepared. It would be a lot better to be found having a hot cup of coffee and a hot meal when the National Guard comes to rescue you from a blizzard on the Interstate, than to be frozen to death or critically dehydrated and frostbitten when located. Have a fun but SAFE trip! |
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OK, you are talking to an expert here. For the last 8 years we have made that exact (well, close) trip every year at Christmas. Here is the shortest and fastest route; We are coming from Houston and going to Tooele, Utah (Close to SLC) Start out going North on I-45 towards Fort Worth. Depending on the time of day you can either take the beltway around Fort Worth (if it is not one of the rush hours) or before you get to Fort Worth take HWY 287 around Ennis and by-pass the city. Either way, you want to get on HWY287 our of Fort Worth and head to Amarillo. There are a couple of small towns on 287 that will slow you down a bit but not too bad. Once in Amarillo, get on I-40 and go West to Albuquerque. Stay the night there as it is about half way. Continue on I-40 to Gallup. Take HWY 491 N thru Colorado and into Montacello, UT. Threre get on HWY 191 and take it thru Moab to I-70. Take I-70 a short distance to HWY 6. Take HWY 6 thru Price HWY 191 goes right to Vernal. We usually go to I-15 to go N to SLC. |
I wanna tag along next year and you cna drop me off in Vernal.
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You should count on having to sleep at some point, make sure the car is stopped before doing so.  . I-70 west of Denver can get kind of curvey and almost tricky. It's a good road, and the way to go, but not a good place while tired. (Also, that's where I lost cell coverage.) I'll defer to guys from Colorado here, but I think it might tend to get quite crowded on Friday afternoon / evenings when people head out of town to go to the mountains for the weekend. I'd recommend planning to go no further than Denver on the first day. If you stop a couple hours short of Denver, you've done good. If you stop in the Denver suburbs, you've kicked ass. Then you'll be able to tackle the mountains while you're fresh and have the sun behind you. Let me change my recommendation to call for reservations a half hour before you feel like stopping. That's best saved for when you've got another person in the car to work the phone and directories. Get them in advance so you don't waste a half hour trying to find a place with vacancies. The only risk is if traffic or weather force you to stop earlier. Just check to see how late you can cancel a reservation. I used to like driving real late at night, but I'm no longer 20. Now I find it quite annoying. |
| The drive is not that big of a deal. Do yourself a favor and do it over two days, it will be very enjoyable. No, you don't need a rifle and extra ammo, you need a reliable car. I have learned not to bring supplies, I find that the 10 minute chance to get out and stretch your legs plus talking to people makes the trip more enjoyable. Remember, it's not a race and no one is judging your pace. Just enjoy seeing the country. |
Dragracerart:
Ditto. I've probably done West Coast to East Coast & back 80 to 90 times in the last 30 years or so. Most of the trips have been solo, although I'm sure I've done 30 to 40 with my family or friends. Between NH & Chicago I only get about 1150 miles in in one day. From Chicago to the WY/UT border, then on through OR to N. CA. I always pack my own food for the trip which consists of PB&J, cheese & crackers, fruit & misc. snacks. The key is to make your time awake count by not stopping unless you need fuel, drive until you're too tired to drive, get a good motel room and do it all over again. I find it extremely relaxing driving cross country alone, even though the hours behind the wheel seem brutal to most others. |
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I just got back from a month of leave and drove about 6500 solo miles total. Ive driven from Austin to San Diego several times round trip which is about the most boring drive ever. I can manage about 1200 miles the 1st day and the next about 800 before I have to stop to sleep. The best thing to take is plenty of music or get satellite radio. Some parts of Texas will have one radio station for 100 miles and it was country. Bring some snacks and drinks. I kept a small cooler on the front seat. Id usually get a meal somewhere for the main food and only when I was also stopping for gas. Texas has way more cops than anywhere else Ive ever driven. Dont speed there. I drove through 8 states and I saw atleast twice as many cops in Texas as the others combined. I even got pulled over 3 times in less than an hour for a broken tail light in Tx. Check the weather where you are going. I got caught on Monarch Pass in Colorado during the recent blizzard and ended up having to back track my route which added 700 additional miles to my trip. Cell phone coverage is very spotty out there. Usually if theres not a city nearby you wont have coverage. Ive gone 3 hours or more without getting a signal. When you see signs that say next service 100 miles check your gas guage and stop if you are low. I almost ran out of gas once and made it to a station with 5 miles of juice left. Now if its close to being a 1/4 I stop and fill up. If all else fails if you are getting tired to the point of drifting in the lane pull over and rest even if only for a couple hours. You dont need to fall alseep and kill yourself or someone else. I took my HK USP-C with me and kept it under a blanket when sleeping in rest stops. Park in a well lit area, lock your doors and use common sense. Dont fall alseep with the engine running. In some areas id have to wake up and turn the heater on for 10 minutes and then Id be good for another hour of sleep in sub freezing areas. Dont take back country short-cuts. Let people know where you are stopping for the night and when you start driving again. Good luck! |
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Rest stops are a great place to stop and take a squirt, but I find a nice strip mall parking lot to be a little less hairy as far as the scary-ass "Hey man, want a blowjob?" types. Caffeine is both your best friend and your worst enemy. It'll perk you up some and make you feel more awake, but it's a diuretic and will make you stop more. It also doesn't have a low battery warning, and when the stuff wears off you're worse than you started. +1 to books on tape or CD. The same music you always listen to won't help to shake up the monotony. I get to zombieland after 6 hours or so of driving without some sort of new stimulus. The latest Clive Cussler on CD extended my range a good 3 hours I think. |
The 2nd one is the one you want. I've done it many times. I'ts pretty wide open, take 287 north at amarillo and then cut over on 64 to Clayton/Raton there will be snow there, they got pummeled, but i'm sure the main roads are clear. I used to do long distance motorcycle riding, cars are a cake walk. www.ironbutt.com gives lots of good tips. 800 miles is an easy day, I can do a 1000, but I get worn out. But I can do day after day of 700 to 800 miles. Don't go more than 5mph over the speed limit. The key to making time is keeping your butt in teh seat, getting pulled over for 30 minutes doesn't help. When you stop to pee (cuz you'll have to pee before anything) do everything all at once, get gas, go inside to pee, grab something new to drink, go back outside, pull your receipt and go. 5 minutes tops. Don't stop and get gas, then drive an hour and geta water, then drive an hour and go pee, etc. Pick easy on and off gas stations. (BTW, gas in texas is almost always cheaper) so you can jump off and get right back on. XM radio helps a ton. But have CD's, etc. DON'T DRINK CAFFEINE. Sounds counter productive, but ti's true, you just get hyped up and an hour later you crash and then it's harder than ever. Just keep plugging along. Weather is a serious concern this part of the year. chains, extra water, shovel, emergency blanket, etc You never know Be prepared But 600 to 800 miles a day on freeways in a car (with cruise control) is easy. So, break it into two days, and do the longer day the first one. |
| I drive Alabama To Kalifornia non stop with a co-driver 5 times a year all the advice above is pretty sound but the most important part is the staying awake part. The instant you feel tired or nod your head PULL OFF! Seen far to many people launch vehicles off of guard rails and roadside berms to not take that aspect of the long solo drive very, very seriously. |
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I recently drove from NJ-San Antonio. Before this trip i don't think i ever drove more than 200 miles in a day. I recommened breaking up your trip Going down i drove from northern NJ to Knoxville. It was about 700 miles and took me 11 hours. It wasn't a bad trip at all. The next day i drove from knoxsville to San Antionio. 1150 miles! That was TUFF!! My brother was the copilot. I did all the driving on the way down. On the way home we drove stright through. We left San Antonio Friday morning at 7am. I personally drove untill 7am Saturday, which was acctually 23hours since we changed times zones. My brother than drove for 5 hours and then i finshed up the last 2. It is something i never would recommened to anyone. I had NO close calls. It really wakes you up at 2 am when you are in some section of south tenn and you see 10 cops cars and firtrucks all over the place for a accident! Matt |
+1000 to that, no wonder your guys property taxes are so high, What is the deal with that? I never speed in texas.
March is the snowist month in Colorado on average. April is the 2nd snowiest. It can be 70 degrees It can also be snowing 3 feet and 3 degrees Check the wethear, be willing to be a little flexible and wait a few days or go early. |
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Check the air in your spare. Do you have some kind of pump? Get out your jack and check to see if you have what you need to lift up a tire by actualy doing it. Do you having locking lug nuts? Is the key in the car? Check and make sure it works. Can you get the jack under the axle if the tire is flat? Do you have some thing to block one or two tires if you have to jack it up on a slope? Avoid fix-a-flat. The guy who does the permanent fix will be upset with you. Carry a can if you feel better but only use it after everything else has failed or you have sidewall damage that nothing else will work on and where you should use the spare anyway. Get the tire plugs and tools. These are also supposed to be temporary but I've never had one fail. Also carry a set of diagonal cutters, needle-nose and regular pliers in addition to your wrenches-tool kit; they can be invaluable digging a difficult nail out of your tire. If you drive through the spot where the box of nails fell off the construction supply truck you will be alot happier than the guy who brought one can of fix-a-flat. If there is any possibility of winter conditions including the chance where they may encountered on an unplanned detour come prepared for them. Windshield washer fluid is cheaper than water, carry at least one spare gallon. Sometimes winter road condtions cause a spray that will crust on your windshield that wipers alone won't remove. A tow rope is a good idea, You may be the tower or the towee but it's nice to have when you need it. Waterless handcleaner and rags. If you've been there you will know. Chains: two is one, one is none. On the off chance that you may need them, one set may be enough insurance to get you by but you may be going very long distances in unknown conditions. Chains or cables break down with use and dissolve almost immediately if they are not installed properly and will damage your car as well. There is also the chance they can take out brake lines. The point being, I'd recomend getting two sets and plan on keeping one because no matter what, you should put them on before you head out on your trip to check fit and have one practice session to resolve or learn how to deal with any unforseen issues. If one lets go you have a spare, or if you have to travel hilly or curvy icy conditions you have the option to chain up all four. Basic Rules for chains: Practice putting them on before you need them. Put them on the drive wheels. Yes I've seen this mistake. Pick a safe place to stop and keep an eye on approaching traffic from both directions. Make sure you have the right type. Some cars require low clearance chains-check your owners manual and get the recommended type. If the sound changes, stop immediately and find out why. Carry a shovel. Even a tiny fifty year old folding shovel from the army surplus store is hugely better that no shovel at all when you have to dig snow out from around your tires to get chains on, or digging a path for your tires after you slid into a ditch. Know when to use them-If there is three inches of wet slush but your tires are cutting through to pavement, don't bother. Conversly, if it rains and then night falls and the road ices up, definitely think about putting them on. The point being if your tire is not riding on the pavement, that is when you need them. Also, driving on pavement is what tears them up. In the case of ice, it may be hard on them to get through but that may be what you need to do. Any layer of snow will protect the chains from the pavement and as long as you don't go too fast, they will last a good long time. If the snow layer goes away and you think it will stay gone, that is the time to stop and take them off. When driving in snowy conditions speed is your enemy. Sudden changes in speed and direction are what will do you in. If you see a driver who is hitting the brakes every fifteen seconds, avoid them at least until you can pass them on a straight stretch of road. If you are driving a truck, keep in mind that it really wants to go in circles when you hit the brakes. It is a good idea to keep at least 2-300 pounds (bags) of sand over the rear axle, it also comes in handy if you need to spread it for ice traction. Gloves-even some rubber type gloves make a big difference in comfort, keeping freezing liquid or ice and snow from direct contact or sticking to your skin and does keep your hands from freezing up much longer. Its a good idea to use them as a liner inside regular work gloves which can become soaked. The only product I recomend from Harbor Freight is their nitrile work glove. Some kind of waterproof padded kneeling material. Cutting up an old piece of camping foam is ideal. You WILL be on your knees if you need to put your chains on and you really want to leave the cold and wet behind when you get back in your car. A cheap poncho is a good idea, a rainsuit and/or kneepads won't cause laughter if the arfcommer is standing next to you in these conditions. I'd recomend a flashlight but this after all is Arfcom. Also I suggest flares, a baling or mechanics type wire which can be invaluable for emergency repairs, a basic tool set, first aid, a handheld CB to get road info from truckers, an actual paper road atlas of the states you will be driving through, the road information phone numbers for each state, extra fuel filter (speaking from experience) and know where it is and what tools you will need to change it before you leave. ETA: As far as chains/cables go, I like the Shur Grip Z by SCC (Security Chain Co.) They seem to be good quality, they run smooth and you can install them without rolling the tire over them. I think the Z design also gives you better lateral stabilty. This set I just got has a really strong snubber-the rubber band that keeps the cables tensioned. Even though the snubbers on my last set weren't as strong as this, when I gave them to my daughter I had to show her how to use a short piece of rope to get them on. I think these will be very tough or impossible for most women to handle FWIW. They also cost a bit more so pick your poison. I got mine at Pep Boys. I haven't tried all different types out there, just happened to find something I like. If you go with chains, when installing them, out of the bag they should be straight. Since you are going to practice with them, be careful not to get any twists into them. Before installing them, it is a good idea to lay them out and check for twists. What you are looking for is where the long side chains are twisted in between two crosslinks, or at the very end section where a corner gets twisted. This happens when the end of the chains gets passed in between two crosslinks and pulled through. If you have the cam type, make sure that they go on with all cams loosened and on the outside of the tire. You will notice that all the bent links and hooks in the chains are open facing the same direction. Although some are made so it is safe to place either side against the tire, some designs will chew up the sidewall if you aren't careful to make sure the smooth side is toward the tire. The easiest way to tell is the ends of the crosslinks where they are bent closed to the side chains. If those are facing out so is everything else. Drape the chains over the wheel, tuck the first crosslink under the tread, repeat on the other side and roll the vehicle forward so you have a foot or more of chain laying on the ground behind the tire. This puts the ends of the chain on the lower backside of the tire where you don't have to fight in between the inside of the fender and tire, although you may have to lay down to be able to see and work with both hands behind the tire. If you don't want to do it this way and have room like a pickup wheel well, you can roll to the middle of the chain and work at the top of the tire. The first time you put the chains on, and one of the reasons you want to do this dry the first time is to find the best fitting link especially if you have cams. Make a careful note of it or zip tie it at this time. I try to to have the same or fewer number of links on the inside of the tire, if I have to readjust later it is still pretty even and I only need to take in an outside link. First hook a comfortable link, then pull on the chains with one hand while using the other hand to pull each crosslink up the tire toward the connecting links, then hook the tightest links you can. This will get most of the slack out before you get going and reduce the need to readjust later. Often you will have a length of chain hanging loose and if it is long enough it may hit the ground or fender each revolution of the tire. Cutting off the excess is an option but if you get new tires they may no longer fit. What I do is on the inside, first hook the a link 1-3 from the end, then the correct fitting link. On the outside, most styles of connectors will let you trap the end link after hooking on the fitting link. Another option is zip ties (make sure you have the cutters!). This traps the excess and keeps the noise down. With snubbers or rubber tensioners/bungees you shouldn't need to readjust but you can't drive as fast. When adjusting cams, you should have the chains tight enough that when you tighten them they are snug with one cam still open. Drive a few minutes, then stop and check them. You will almost certainly have to tighten the last cam at this time. Check them periodicly, the chains wear in and loosen over time. Bungees aren't a bad idea to have as a backup. With bungees, make sure the hooks are not chewing up the sidewall. If you "loose" the cam wrench, you can stick the tip of a screwdriver in and put an adjustable wrench on it next to the cam and crank it that way. If crosslinks break, they can be replaced (or temporarily tied out of the way with wire or zip ties). This is why the connecting links to the side chains are not welded. Chain repair tools are used to bend them open and remove them, then bend closed the ends of the replacement crosslinks. |
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sound like a fun trip, the c.b is a great tip. it can really help to avoid road delays and can keep you entertained once you get bored. a small tool box with the essentials including duct tape. satellite radio will make the ride much nicer, i listen to talk radio or the comedy channels a lot when travailing late at night. also a laptop to hit wifi spots at rest stops or truck stops |
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Some *really* great advice in this thread. My only 0.02 is if you have the time STAY THE HELL OFF THE INTERSTATE! If you need to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, fine. If you want to see what really is the heart of this nation (not strip malls, chain stores, cookie cutter travel stops) then stay on the State and rural highways. You'll be VERY glad you did. |