Route 66

[VitaminCRR]

Has anyone taken a trip on Route 66? Either a small part or the whole thing? Thinking about doing it sometime but wondered about what kind of tools to take. And no matter what spare parts I take, they won't be the ones that break. BTW, I'll be driving my 69 Roadrunner, 383/727 auto. Any suggestions or good stories to share?

 

[myk r sanchez]

Got a AAA membership?

 

[VitaminCRR]

Got a AAA membership?

Get one, right?

 

[themechanic]

Don't do it around planting or harvesting. Too many slow vehicles in no pass zones. I've driven the portion between OKC and Tulsa Oklahoma. It was very underwhelming. Skip that part by taking the turnpike.

@Dennis H drove some of it from OKC to LA last in 2019.

 

[Budnicks]

AAA insurance/towing roadside service is a good idea
don't skimp on what service

be careful where you buy fuel too
The last time I did it 1995-ish got some crappy fuel (lots of water)

there's big hwys close & bigger towns, big stores if need be too

there are lots of great places to stop, depending on your interests

the lil' mom & pop eateries are great

if you stay in Motels, try to plan it & check them out online 1st
(AAA is a great trip planner too)
depends on where you start & finish the trip
it goes from a pier in LA to Chicago waterside,
it meanders all over
& much of it is gone now

bring basic tools, spare ignition parts & plugs,
spare tire, a fuel jug
just be smart it won't be a big deal

I did it in a 68 RR borderline racecar, with license plate
crappy fuel was my biggest issues, that was 25 years ago too

good luck

 

[myk r sanchez]

Get one, right?

Yes, because like you said, when something breaks it might be something you won't be able to fix on the side of the road. AAA can at least guarantee a tow back to safe harbor with reduced expense...

 

[themechanic]

Get cell service with 2 different networks. AT&T and Verizon, perhaps.

One phone can be a burner pay as you go type.

 

[themechanic]

Watch Billy Connolly's Route 66 before you go. Youtube and others have it.

 

[33 IMP]

I bumped my doorlock button by accident as i got out of my truck at a potty stop in Ludlow, ca. Locked myself out without a spare key. Hwy 40/route 66, in the middle of the california desert. AAA sent a guy to get me in from Barstow, nearly a hundred miles away, the nearest available.
Get AAA !!

 

[Dennis H]

Ran into a few stretches that said “Road Ends mostly in the West in Arizona. Was forced onto 40 a number of times in Texas. Skip the Cadillac Ranch. Overated. Had the 69. Watch gas stop intervals. Have fun.

 

[68BabyBlue]

I did it in 1997 from Arizona to Chicago. Bought an old Cadillac Seville from a widow in Tucson. Carried hand tools, duct tape, etc. Got my first tow an hour out - turned out fuel tank uptake had bottom of tube worn away, would only draw top half of gas in tank. Get AAA! Then got to Tucumcari, New Mexico. Double checked all the fluids, and the differential turned out to be dry and full of shavings. I was lucky I made it that far. Guy who owned the station was great. Went to a junkyard up the road, pulled a good assembly, and had me back on the road in five hours. Calling wife to wire money on Easter weekend was not one of the better moments in our marriage. Drove the car for 3 years after that with no problems. Trip of a lifetime, but get AAA!

 

[mopar 3 B]

Don't did it alone if you don't have to. We hope to do it in a few years just got to get some vehicles done.

 

[Dennis H]

Beer/Ice.

 

[themechanic]

Lumbar support pillow if you have the factory style seats.

Good jack. Not the OEM jack.

Wheel chocks.

Check tire manufacturers date. Change if 5 years old or older unless you are the lucky type.

 

[Outlawd]

Don't do it around planting or harvesting. Too many slow vehicles in no pass zones. I've driven the portion between OKC and Tulsa Oklahoma. It was very underwhelming. Skip that part by taking the turnpike.

@Dennis H drove some of it from OKC to LA last in 2019.

My daughter lives in Catoosa,OK north and east of Tulsa she took me to the Blue Whale an iconic stop somewhere along route 66 outside of Catoosa. Very cool and still open all these years.

 

[440 4 speed]

Through the years we have driven some of it, point was to do it slow and easy, more enjoyment.
We have been on it in Illinois,Missouri, Oklahoma,Texas,New Mexico,Arizona, California. We liked Arizona stretches.

 

[themechanic]

My daughter lives in Catoosa,OK north and east of Tulsa she took me to the Blue Whale an iconic stop somewhere along route 66 outside of Catoosa. Very cool and still open all these years.

It was a run down bacteria infested eye sore when I saw it. Maybe they cleaned it up.

 

[themechanic]

The few times I took a Hwy 66 turnoff there was NOTHING but farms and 66 was a back country road.... I wouldn't waste your time

There's better ways to spend your money. But, if you insist on driving it drive a comfortable modern vehicle.

You'll thank me later.

 

[mopar 3 B]

The few times I took a Hwy 66 turnoff there was NOTHING but farms and 66 was a back country road.... I wouldn't waste your time

Just what is wrong with that? Tourist traps are not the thing for some of us.
The idea of traveling is to get out and see the country side.

 

[440 4 speed]

Just what is wrong with that? Tourist traps are not the thing for some of us.
The idea of traveling is to get out and see the country side.

History isn’t for everyone, but we enjoyed seeing what those roads were like back in the day, when so many were excited to have that available.
As far as doing it in a newer vehicle, you are basically in a cocoon. We had driven some of 66 in our Charger, no a/c but had vents and vent windows wasn’t really a hardship.
We got a lot of thumbs up driving the Charger, sure didn’t many driving our 1985 Camper van.
1993 drove to a TDC Meet in Aurora Missouri pulling a hardtop camper with one Charger and our son with with our nephew and a friend in another Charger.
I was going quite fast on the interstate in Iowa, look in the mirror and see a State Trooper coming up very quickly, first thought was how much will it cost. He pulled up looked at us a thumbs up, waved and took off. Don’t think that would have happened in a newer vehicle.
Just my thoughts.