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Who has dared to drive across country in a classic Mopar?

Here is a thought I would like to throw out. As a former subscriber to the TDR[ turbo diesel registry], which is a quarterly publication that ONLY deals with Cummins powered Dodge trucks. One of their benefits was a separate listing/publication called The TDR Travelers guide[ may have that wrong]. What it is, is a listing of members in whatever area you are traveling through in case of a breakdown or just want to meet. The listing showed the contact info for the member in that area of question. Anybody down for that? I have no problems helping a brother out or blowing the froth off of a beer. Thoughts gents?
 
ckessel said:
Here is a thought I would like to throw out. As a former subscriber to the TDR[ turbo diesel registry], which is a quarterly publication that ONLY deals with Cummins powered Dodge trucks. One of their benefits was a separate listing/publication called The TDR Travelers guide[ may have that wrong]. What it is, is a listing of members in whatever area you are traveling through in case of a breakdown or just want to meet. The listing showed the contact info for the member in that area of question. Anybody down for that? I have no problems helping a brother out or blowing the froth off of a beer. Thoughts gents?
Click to expand...
One of my motorcycle forums had the same deal...but it dated from back when hotels advertising "free Wi-Fi" was a big deal lol. Nowadays we can just get online and hit the forum from the side of the road, to find out who's local.

That said, I'm down for some sort of "where's Waldo" setup that would show/list members and their locations....maybe a map with pins, or just a plain ol list by state...
 
That would be a good registry to help those in need, maybe even add a source of help description like, I have tools, a compressor and even a car dolly.
 
Armyvet25 said:
That would be a good registry to help those in need, maybe even add a source of help description like, I have tools, a compressor and even a car dolly.
Click to expand...
Me too. No dolly though, but have welders. If the listing went by phone number and city/town/area, it would be good. I'm not on my computer surfing constantly, but my phone is always close for a call.
 
Laundry places, and most other services are readily available using a modern phone. Or just cruise the main street. We are often in places we have never been before.
I would caution about using google maps to navigate. You need real paper maps. Recently we met folks trying to get the West Coast of Vancouver Island, who were seriously lost.
A good clue is, the main roads are paved. The Dempster Highway is not.
 
1 Wild R/T said:
500 miles is certainly doable but that's eight hours in a car... It will get old... I prefer to make stops along the way to actually see more of what you are travelling through...

As mentioned in my earlier post realistically the trip will probably be 6500-7000 miles.... Averaging 350 miles a day your looking at 18-20 days... You haven't stopped to visit a single attraction yet.... Or simply a day to rest & stretch while doing laundry... Or do maintenance....
Click to expand...
My experience as an over the road truck driver for 25 years backs up everything Randy has put out there. He's sharing the reality, not the ideal. I've been waiting for someone to mention driving out, and shipping the car back. A high school friend of mine did this a few years ago after retiring. He drove his Harley from Virginia to Santa Monica, California, camped out on the way. His wife flew out to join him when he arrived, and they flew home together when he shipped the bike home.

After that ride, he told me he was ready for a luxury hotel, and air travel home. This guy is a bad *** dude who flew jets in the Marines before becoming a corporate big shot. He was realistic about only going so far in proving what he could still do.
 
I drove my 69 4 speed dart from Buffalo NY to Tampa Fla once but I was 18. Don’t know if I would do that today.
 
71RRHI said:
I'm thinking three guys is going to make a cross country trip too tight. Spare tire and tools in the trunk, doesn't leave alot of room. Figure a small to medium suitcase for clothes per person. You'll probably want a small cooler for water/drinks and snacks.
Click to expand...
On our 2015 trip (70 Road Runner), we had mine and Barry's stuff in the car, plus tools, parts, tents, chairs and cooking stuff for camping, PLUS for a week our wives and their luggage too. We somehow crammed all the into the trunk but it all fit. I think 3 guys is a piece if cake with a B body - we've done that several times with my 73 Road Runner.

Kern Dog said:
My mind has been pondering this road trip idea since Saturday. This morning the thought of clothes and laundry went through my head. Do hotels have laundromats?

I'm not calling you out but I find the 25 day number to be hard to believe.

My concerns keep going to the thought of high elevations and how the car will run.
Click to expand...
On our drives across county, we would stop and do laundry once a week. Laundry places are everywhere, so no big deal.

25 days is not hard to believe if you want to make the trip a vacation. If you just want to drive, then you can do it much faster.

My 73 Road Runner just had a Thermoquad. It ran OK at higher elevations but you could tell it was down on power. But overall, no big deal.


68BabyBlue said:
My experience as an over the road truck driver for 25 years backs up everything Randy has put out there. He's sharing the reality, not the ideal. I've been waiting for someone to mention driving out, and shipping the car back. A high school friend of mine did this a few years ago after retiring. He drove his Harley from Virginia to Santa Monica, California, camped out on the way. His wife flew out to join him when he arrived, and they flew home together when he shipped the bike home.

After that ride, he told me he was ready for a luxury hotel, and air travel home. This guy is a bad *** dude who flew jets in the Marines before becoming a corporate big shot. He was realistic about only going so far in proving what he could still do.
Click to expand...
On my 2015 car trip I had my car shipped back. But is cost $1800 so it was not cheap. That's why we decided to drivee both ways in 2022, but two months was a little too long on the road.
 
HawkRod said:
On our 2015 trip (70 Road Runner), we had mine and Barry's stuff in the car, plus tools, parts, tents, chairs and cooking stuff for camping, PLUS for a week our wives and their luggage too. We somehow crammed all the into the trunk but it all fit. I think 3 guys is a piece if cake with a B body - we've done that several times with my 73 Road Runner.


On our drives across county, we would stop and do laundry once a week. Laundry places are everywhere, so no big deal.

25 days is not hard to believe if you want to make the trip a vacation. If you just want to drive, then you can do it much faster.

My 73 Road Runner just had a Thermoquad. It ran OK at higher elevations but you could tell it was down on power. But overall, no big deal.



On my 2015 car trip I had my car shipped back. But is cost $1800 so it was not cheap. That's why we decided to drivee both ways in 2022, but two months was a little too long on the road.
Click to expand...
A very good friend who is coming 84 rode his 6 cylinder Venture over a lot of USA and Canada, after he took early retirement. Also backpacked Ireland and did Australia for 2 months. Went sailing with him from Blaine Wa, three times.
His philosophy was (take some clothes, if they need replacement, go to a thrift store or something like it and discard the old and buy new). That way you always travel light.
If a laundromat was close by he would use it.
 
Last edited:
Kern Dog said:
Rare is the woman that will put up with inadequate or non functioning A/C, exhaust noise, vibrations and weird car smells like a hard core car guy will.
I'm grateful for Mary being supportive and joining in as I am sure that you are with your wife.
I know when I'm getting close to pressing the limits for what she would be willing to do. I'll bet that you know how far you can go as well.
If this happens, I think that it would most likely be with me and another guy, maybe even three guys! Your car? My car? Who knows?
Click to expand...
My girlfriend rolled with me to Reno 8 months pregnant no AC for hot August nights. On the way back I went by summit got an oil drain pan and filled with ice and water put her feet in. She didn't complain once, she's a keeper.

IMG_0327.jpeg
 
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I met a couple in Tucumcari NM last year ( mid Aug ) That was driving their 1957 Chevrolet across RT 66. ALL of it from Chicago to the CA coast and BACK. They gave them themselves 2 months to do it.
Only driving maybe 300-400 miles a day, if that. Stopping in interesting locations spend to the nite or spend a few days. They were in no hurry
Car was running a basically stock small block but now had an OD auto and vintage air. Just a 4bbl carb and electronic ignition

They were not a young couple either,,,maybe upper 60s or early 70s
If I remember right they have owned the car since the mid 70s . And drive it everywhere / anywhere .

They tried their best to get me to tag along and finish the trip with them. But I head south right after there. They were still headed west
Plus the guy riding shotgun with me was on a time limit

trip1.jpg


trip3.jpg
 
gtx6970 said:
I met a couple in Tucumcari NM last year ( mid Aug ) That was driving their 1957 Chevrolet across RT 66. ALL of it from Chicago to the CA coast and BACK. They gave them themselves 2 months to do it.
Only driving maybe 300-400 miles a day, if that. Stopping in interesting locations spend to the nite or spend a few days. They were in no hurry
Car was running a basically stock small block but now had an OD auto and vintage air. Just a 4bbl carb and electronic ignition

They were not a young couple either,,,maybe upper 60s or early 70s
If I remember right they have owned the car since the mid 70s . And drive it everywhere / anywhere .

They tried their best to get me to tag along and finish the trip with them. But I head south right after there. They were still headed west
Plus the guy riding shotgun with me was on a time limit

View attachment 1886482

View attachment 1886484
Click to expand...
I actually remember seeing that Motel. We were there in 2011, with our b class Dodge 360 motor home. I will have to get the log book out to see what we did while there.
 
gtx6970 said:
I met a couple in Tucumcari NM last year ( mid Aug ) That was driving their 1957 Chevrolet across RT 66. ALL of it from Chicago to the CA coast and BACK. They gave them themselves 2 months to do it.
Only driving maybe 300-400 miles a day, if that. Stopping in interesting locations spend to the nite or spend a few days. They were in no hurry
Car was running a basically stock small block but now had an OD auto and vintage air. Just a 4bbl carb and electronic ignition

They were not a young couple either,,,maybe upper 60s or early 70s
If I remember right they have owned the car since the mid 70s . And drive it everywhere / anywhere .

They tried their best to get me to tag along and finish the trip with them. But I head south right after there. They were still headed west
Plus the guy riding shotgun with me was on a time limit

View attachment 1886482

View attachment 1886484
Click to expand...

We were there August of last year, doing the Route 66 trip ourselves…

We got a pic of that motel too, at night.:thumbsup:

1752769051525.jpeg
 
gtx6970 said:
I met a couple in Tucumcari NM last year ( mid Aug ) That was driving their 1957 Chevrolet across RT 66. ALL of it from Chicago to the CA coast and BACK. They gave them themselves 2 months to do it.
Only driving maybe 300-400 miles a day, if that. Stopping in interesting locations spend to the nite or spend a few days. They were in no hurry
Car was running a basically stock small block but now had an OD auto and vintage air. Just a 4bbl carb and electronic ignition

They were not a young couple either,,,maybe upper 60s or early 70s
If I remember right they have owned the car since the mid 70s . And drive it everywhere / anywhere .

They tried their best to get me to tag along and finish the trip with them. But I head south right after there. They were still headed west
Plus the guy riding shotgun with me was on a time limit

View attachment 1886482

View attachment 1886484
Click to expand...
1995 (94?) 1st Hot-Rod Power Tour, not a whole lot of cars (reverse trip Cal. to Chi.)
& I knew no-one else there, sort of an outcast, me Lisa & my dog Duke/black lab
everyone liked my dog & my car
(Duke rode with dad in the Motor Home, he stayed back really, just cruised leasurely)

Me driving with my old silver 68 RR RM23 479cid 720+hp, + 350 N2O,
sorry no good photos, it's been shared here before, somewhere...
Shitty plastic with some foam Jazz racing seats, harnesses & Cage etc.
TF727 m/vb 3,800 stall (flash to like 4,200), Derale cooler fan assist
& that car ran cool, 185* newer ported alum heads & a lot of new alum. parts
& brand new 4 core MRE alum rad. & 35gph elec. water-pump, 2) 3000+cfm electric fans pullers
in a custom alum shroud, I had just fabed up & a 2500cfm pusher on front just in case (never used it)
Street Beast, It was literally like a racecar in a parade...

I was planning on doing the whole trip...
It was a fresh build & refreshed engine combo, bunch of new or newer parts, ready to roll...
I thought we'd stop at more tracks etc.
I really didn't know the plan or the route, it was on a whim, just went...
Maybe even driving it both ways, had the MH & trailer for sleeping & support
stayed in RV campgrounds mostly, wasn't very organized, I was late to the plan...

I had read about it & just showed up to some parking lot,
that they are were starting out of, maybe 100+ cars maybe more
(Met David Freiberger, he was a lil' younger than me, I was like 36 at the time
he had some crazy big curly/nappy bleached blonde hairdo,
he was driveing a beat up Dart & the Crusher Camaro was in a trailer following...
He didn't know me from Adam, I didn't know anyone else)
most the people didn't real stay together very well,
all spread out taking off at different times too
or just didn't like me (?) :lol:

I had changed gears, swapped to 3.73:1 or 3:91:1 (?) so it wasn't so bad,
it had 4.30:1 IIRC prior, wasn't much slower at all...
(lots of spare parts in the trunk, plugs wires cap rotor gaskets, schematics etc.)
I got bad gas a couple times/water in it (again, it's my nemesis I think)
I got to somewhere in Oklahoma, 4th 5th (? day) I got an emergency call,
from Toyota Dealership, back in Concord Ca.
Some work trouble at a dealership, computer A/C unit on the cool room, crashed,
unfortunately (needs to be kept at 70*s or less at all times)
I had to go back right away, switching off who was driving the RV/Trailer back...

It was my contract & my business after all, tried to get ahold of the A/C guys no go
they were swamped, I had to get back & try what I could, had them buy a bunch of
"dry ice & put it in the cool room" with a fan & we all drove back nonstop right away...
Supposed to be kept at like no hotter than 70*s no colder than 50*s...

anyway
Still spent over $10k in food, drinks, car 'fuel/diesel' for the MH
& places for RV joints parking, for 3 adults & a dog for about 8 days
(maybe, don't remember exactly now)...

Car did great, gas hog like 12mpg, but ran great when I didn't get bad gas...
I lill' stations off the beaten path...

I could only imagine how much I'd have spent, if I made it to Chiraq & back...
maybe 2-3 times that

My dad was driving following somewhere behind us,
in the 36' class A Safari/Magnum 5.9 Cummins/Allison 5 speed motorhome,
towing my 24' tag trailer with tools/full Mac Toolbox, tries & stuff in it
was supposed to be, Santa Monica (?) maker #1 to Chicago,
along Route 66 where it still was, mostly...

anyway you get the gest...
 
Last edited:
Budnicks said:
1995 (94?) 1st Hot-Rod Power Tour, not a whole lot of cars (reverse trip Cal. to Chi.)
& I knew no-one else there, sort of an outcast, me Lisa & my dog Duke/black lab
everyone liked my dog & my car
(Duke rode with dad in the Motor Home, he stayed back really, just cruised leasurely)

Me driving with my old silver 68 RR RM23 479cid 720+hp, + 350 N2O,
sorry no good photos, it's been shared here before, somewhere...
Shitty plastic with some foam Jazz racing seats, harnesses & Cage etc.
TF727 m/vb 3,800 stall (flash to like 4,200), Derale cooler fan assist
& that car ran cool, 185* newer ported alum heads & a lot of new alum. parts
& brand new 4 core MRE alum rad. & 35gph elec. water-pump, 2) 3000+cfm electric fans pullers
in a custom alum shroud, I had just fabed up & a 2500cfm pusher on front just in case (never used it)
Street Beast, It was literally like a racecar in a parade...

I was planning on doing the whole trip...
It was a fresh build & refreshed engine combo, bunch of new or newer parts, ready to roll...
I thought we'd stop at more tracks etc.
I really didn't know the plan or the route, it was on a whim, just went...
Maybe even driving it both ways, had the MH & trailer for sleeping & support
stayed in RV campgrounds mostly, wasn't very organized, I was late to the plan...

I had read about it & just showed up to some parking lot,
that they are were starting out of, maybe 100+ cars maybe more
(Met David Freiberger, he was a lil' younger than me, I was like 36 at the time
he had some crazy big curly/nappy bleached blonde hairdo,
he was driveing a beat up Dart & the Crusher Camaro was in a trailer following...
He didn't know me from Adam, I didn't know anyone else)
most the people didn't real stay together very well,
all spread out taking off at different times too
or just didn't like me (?) :lol:

I had changed gears, swapped to 3.73:1 or 3:91:1 (?) so it wasn't so bad,
it had 4.30:1 IIRC prior, wasn't much slower at all...
(lots of spare parts in the trunk, plugs wires cap rotor gaskets, schematics etc.)
I got bad gas a couple times/water in it (again, it's my nemesis I think)
I got to somewhere in Oklahoma, 4th 5th (? day) I got an emergency call,
from Toyota Dealership, back in Concord Ca.
Some work trouble at a dealership, computer A/C unit on the cool room, crashed,
unfortunately (needs to be kept at 70*s or less at all times)
I had to go back right away, switching off who was driving the RV/Trailer back...

It was my contract & my business after all, tried to get ahold of the A/C guys no go
they were swamped, I had to get back & try what I could, had them buy a bunch of
"dry ice & put it in the cool room" with a fan & we all drove back nonstop right away...
Supposed to be kept at like no hotter than 70*s no colder than 50*s...

anyway
Still spent over $10k in food, drinks, car 'fuel/diesel' for the MH
& places for RV joints parking, for 3 adults & a dog for about 8 days
(maybe, don't remember exactly now)...

Car did great, gas hog like 12mpg, but ran great when I didn't get bad gas...
I lill' stations off the beaten path...

I could only imagine how much I'd have spent, if I made it to Chiraq & back...
maybe 2-3 times that

My dad was driving following somewhere behind us,
in the 36' class A Safari/Magnum 5.9 Cummins/Allison 5 speed motorhome,
towing my 24' tag trailer with tools/full Mac Toolbox, tries & stuff in it
was supposed to be, Santa Monica (?) maker #1 to Chicago,
along Route 66 where it still was, mostly...
Challenger
anyway you get the gest...
Click to expand...
First one was 95, that would have been an awesome trip to make, I am jealous... In 95 I'd just gotten my Challenger vert... There was another car that I'd been trying to buy for 4-5 years prior that was never gonna be sold.... Accept turns out the guy that owned it was cheating on his wife... The wife took the car in the divorce cause she knew he cared about it, sold it and as it turned out a second car a month after I had bought my Challenger... I didn't get the call anyway... But, the guy who did wound up doing the 96 Power Tour long haul... Three guys in a red Daytona... Which BTW was the second car... The primary car was a Petty Blue Superrbird that wound up in Tim Wellborn's collection...

Yeah, in 95 I was 36 years old, a trip like that would have been a lot easier....
 
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