Living & Working in Great Places
A little advice for those about to drive across country!
Hi everyone,
Originally this was an e-mail to one of my friends, but myspace lost the e-mail and I figured if I was going to re-type all this you guys may as well see it too. This is my 5th year in the biz, my 13th trip across country atleast in my own truck. So here are a few things I've learned.
I plan my route depending on the weather patterns, I've found that driving in rain and blizzards just kills the enjoyment of such an epic road trip. I'm from Georgia yet I work in the rockies, Montana this year. So for example as the snow storms move across CO, WY, Kansas, Nebraska; I would choose to stay south from them and travel I-40 until I get in to NM and go north. I know most folks want to pick the route they follow in order to see certain sites, don't forget your return trip in the fall when the weather is more forgiving.
I make sure my ride is tip-top! Fresh fluid change, filters, tire rotation, rain-x the windshield, max out your tire pressure for best mpg, I use a bottle of STP fuel injector cleaner in the first tank too. Other things I have done to increase mpg: I have always ran Mobil One synthetic oil since my truck was new(2mpg), and I installed a K&N air filter(2mpg) but I take a regular airfilter with me since I travel on dusty roads once I'm there.
I try to only buy gas from a reputable, new looking gas station. I've gotten "bad gas" in my truck anytime I have tried to minimize my stops by running til the gas light comes on. Then I'm forced to get gas where ever I am, I also carry a bottle of STP gas treatment in case I do notice my mpg falling below normal within the first quarter of a tank.
I rest when I need to, driving tired is dangerous! I use to drive rigs when I was working in automotive racing, a commercial driver is limited to 12 hours of driving for every 8 hours of rest. This might be too much for some of you. When I headed west in my own truck I decided to push it and see how long I could go before I was too tired and had to sleep. That first time was 18 hours, I made it to CO before I stopped for rest. Since then I've pushed that time up every trip. My last trip home in march, I made it from Moab, Utah all the way to Atlanta in one 30 hour push. Now the truth is I "stock up on sleep" before I go, sleeping 12+ hours a night for the last 3 nights before a trip. Kinda like a sleep camel as my dad put it! And for those of you wandering, no I don't do speed! But my driving style is crazy and I don't recommend it to anyone! I am usually just ready to be there and over the whole driving thing!
I hope this stuff helps, please comment if you have other tips!
Originally this was an e-mail to one of my friends, but myspace lost the e-mail and I figured if I was going to re-type all this you guys may as well see it too. This is my 5th year in the biz, my 13th trip across country atleast in my own truck. So here are a few things I've learned.
I plan my route depending on the weather patterns, I've found that driving in rain and blizzards just kills the enjoyment of such an epic road trip. I'm from Georgia yet I work in the rockies, Montana this year. So for example as the snow storms move across CO, WY, Kansas, Nebraska; I would choose to stay south from them and travel I-40 until I get in to NM and go north. I know most folks want to pick the route they follow in order to see certain sites, don't forget your return trip in the fall when the weather is more forgiving.
I make sure my ride is tip-top! Fresh fluid change, filters, tire rotation, rain-x the windshield, max out your tire pressure for best mpg, I use a bottle of STP fuel injector cleaner in the first tank too. Other things I have done to increase mpg: I have always ran Mobil One synthetic oil since my truck was new(2mpg), and I installed a K&N air filter(2mpg) but I take a regular airfilter with me since I travel on dusty roads once I'm there.
I try to only buy gas from a reputable, new looking gas station. I've gotten "bad gas" in my truck anytime I have tried to minimize my stops by running til the gas light comes on. Then I'm forced to get gas where ever I am, I also carry a bottle of STP gas treatment in case I do notice my mpg falling below normal within the first quarter of a tank.
I rest when I need to, driving tired is dangerous! I use to drive rigs when I was working in automotive racing, a commercial driver is limited to 12 hours of driving for every 8 hours of rest. This might be too much for some of you. When I headed west in my own truck I decided to push it and see how long I could go before I was too tired and had to sleep. That first time was 18 hours, I made it to CO before I stopped for rest. Since then I've pushed that time up every trip. My last trip home in march, I made it from Moab, Utah all the way to Atlanta in one 30 hour push. Now the truth is I "stock up on sleep" before I go, sleeping 12+ hours a night for the last 3 nights before a trip. Kinda like a sleep camel as my dad put it! And for those of you wandering, no I don't do speed! But my driving style is crazy and I don't recommend it to anyone! I am usually just ready to be there and over the whole driving thing!
I hope this stuff helps, please comment if you have other tips!
Add a Comment
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Comment by Diana Rossetti on October 18, 2009 at 5:45pm - Funny side note/thought...I was looking at Mischka's (yes, I name my cars) mileage and she is only at approximately 70,000 and I bought her in 2001! Now for me, that tells me I have most definitely been ignoring the nomad in me, lol...and it's time TO GO, time to traveltraveltravel! Georgia girl here too so I can completely understand what we put our cars through going from what southerners consider a mild climate to "extreme" ones, ha.ha. :)
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Comment by Diana Rossetti on October 18, 2009 at 5:41pm
- This is terrific information. The places I am applying to are in the Colorado/Arizona/New Mexico region. I have a Honda Civic Hatchback and although I take really good care of her, she will need a little 'extra' for the great trip out west! Thanks!!! :)
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Comment by Todd on April 27, 2009 at 5:05pm - One thing I feel I should add! I mentioned my use of synthetic oil, I started using it when my truck was brand new which is the way it should be done! But if you have a high mileage vehicle it might not be a good thing to switch to synthetic oil. A friend of mine heard my rants about oil one day, the next he decided to switch his work van to synthetic. It had about 80,000 miles on it and I doubt he was very methodical about changing his oil every 3,000. Well long story short, the synthetic cleaned all the gunk outta his engine and deposited the trashy stuff in the oil pan. The pick-up for the oil then clogged with all this stuff, starving his engine of oil and causing the engine to lock-up!! So be careful!
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Comment by Kristi on April 27, 2009 at 3:43pm - Thanks Todd!! I'm about to head from the panhandle of FL to Yellowstone and have never driven farther than a 10 hour trip. I'm a little nervous about driving so far but I think your tips will help a lot!! Thanks!
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Comment by aggie71 on April 27, 2009 at 2:37pm - Good tips Todd ... I am going 1700 miles in my truck in 3 weeks and you mentioned a couple of items I had not thought of. I have fallen a sleep at the wheel before (VERY dangerous) so I am keeping my per day mileage lower than most others would - around 400 miles. I will end up spending a couple of days longer to get there, but getting there is the important point. I plan on arriving early at each overnight point and getting plenty of rest for the next day's drive. The reduced mileage plan also allows for bad weather and road conditions along the way.
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Comment by Andrea on April 27, 2009 at 10:34am - This is some great info. Thanks!
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