cross country trip- Christmas vacation (with pictures)

flash7210 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:10 am

Seeking advice from forum members.

Planning a coast to coast trip with my wife and daughter.
Will be leaving from Jacksonville FL with planned stops in Dallas TX, Durango CO, Carson City NV, and finally Los Angeles CA.
Return trip will be along I40 and I10 with possible stops at Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns.

Anyway, I've never done this kind of trip while crossing the Rockys in the winter. I have experience driving in snow but what should I do to prepare for this trip.

Also, lots of scenic stuff to see on Utah, especially Moab. Will any of these places be open in winter? What stops would you recommend along these routes in December?

And yes, I will be driving my CRD

SBrooks · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:30 pm **Posts:** 85

Living in the beautiful state of NM, and since you'll perhaps visit Carlsbad Caverns (which is cool in its own right), I'd suggest:

1. Take US 285 north out of Carlsbad to Artesia, then

2. US 82 west out of Artesia to Cloudcroft, then

3. NM 244 from Cloudcroft to tee into US 70, then

4. US 70 to Ruidoso, look around Ruidoso, then

5. US 70 out of Ruidoso to Hondo, then

6. US 380 out of Hondo to Lincoln (famous for Billy The Kid), then

7. On to Capitan (site of the Smokey Bear Historical Park), then

8. On to Carrizozo, then

9. US 54 to Alamogordo (to the Int'l Space Hall of fame), then

10. US 70 to White Sands Nat'l Monument, then

11. On to Las Cruces (to Old Mesilla, for a green chile cheeseburger), then

12. Pick up I-25 south to I-10 to the Grand Canyon

Along that route, you'll see some truly stunning scenes/sights. Hope that helps.

Steve

flash7210 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 1:06 pm

Green chile cheeseburger.
I like the sound of that

flash7210 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 2:55 pm

These are my proposed routes

Return trip

Mike92104 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 6:24 pm

My only concern would be your route between I40 and I70. Sometimes it takes a while for those 2 lane highways to get plowed after a storm. Other than that, just keep your eye on the weather, and be prepared to get delayed for a night. The interstates are usually cleared pretty early in the morning after a storm.

SFHLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 7:07 pm

And make sure you've got a code reader!

greiswig · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 8:57 pm

Looks like maybe you're going up through Los Alamos/Santa Fe on the way there? That'll be good. Gorgeous up there, but I'm biased. Moab in winter is chilly at night, cool and windy during the day, but usually sunny. Good time of year to visit if you don't like the heat.

Steve's suggestion could be partly accomplished, too, just by varying the route back and heading south from Phoenix, over through lovely Deming (wow...) and getting some of that Hatch chile in Mesilla Park. Then up to White Sands, etc.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:24 pm

The I10 route across south Texas will be faster - 80mph limit most of the way

northern - route slows for little towns along the road.

although either route is interesting for the first 5-10 minutes and then it just repeats, and repeats, and repeats - about 500 miles or so.

Topan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 05, 2014 7:57 am

Sounds like a great trip ! :-)

How about the equipment for the KJ ?
Will you mount a set of winter tires or just all weather?
A set of snow chain (if allowed in the US) ?

During winter I keep my 2 Maxtrax in the trunk on top of the snow chain and a tow rope (I use the rope more to pull other cars out of the ditch than for me

)

Hope you will post some pics !

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

The KJ is one of the most capable 4x4 vehicles in the snow that I have ever owned. With that said, I have never used winter tires on my CRD and decent all season tires have done just fine as long as I keep things in 4x4. I even tow a snowmobile trailer in the winter over some nasty snowed in passes in the winter without any issues that made me wishing I had winter tires or chains.

What you should pack:

(1) Blankets, gloves, hats, and other cold weather gear
(2) Food/Water
(3) Small stove (propane) to cook food outside if you get caught in a bad storm or if highway/road is closed and you can't go anywhere ***People have been snowed in/stuck in 4-6 foot snow drifts on non-interstate roads in Colorado in past*** rescuers can take 1-2 days to get to them.
(4) OBDII code reader
(5) Air pump and tire plug kit
(6) Spare fuel filter
(7) Power service white bottle-use religiously so you don't gel the fuel in cold weather
(8) Basic tool kit (harbor freight sells a decent set of tools for <$50)
(9) I always carry a gallon of oil and spare oil filter in case I rip the oil filter off when I off road...a gallon is enough to limp it home though not enough for a full fill
(10) I always carry a tow strap
(11) Extra windshield wiper fluid can be a blessing...don't count on it to be available at a gas station as many and stores sell out during a bad storm.
(12) AAA membership or some kind of insurance that will tow you if you break down.

To do before trip:
(1) Replace fuel filter unless it has <2500 miles on it
(2) Fresh oil change with a decent 5w40 oil. M301 filter is a nice oversized filter that holds an extra quart
(3) Add anti-gel additive to your fuel!
(4) Fresh air filter....mine don't look good after 5,000 miles
(5) Fresh windshield wiper blades

Suggestions:

I have a cheap $99 2 stroke generator from Harbor Freight that I carry with me in the winter months. When I snowmobile or stay overnight at a hotel where it gets very cold (-20 deg f) I often start the generator (ether starting fluid helps reduce how much you pull to get it running) and plug the block heater into the generator for 2-3 hours. When I snowmobile, that cheap generator is running for 6-8 hours continuously so I don't get stranded overnight with a no start condition in a cold climate. The generator can also power a cheap battery charger in case the battery dies from repeated cold start attempts. I also carry an electric blanket that can be run off the cheap generator in case I'm stuck somewhere overnight. I will not freeze to death overnight and I won't die of CO poisoning by running the engine for heat.

Buy a hitch cargo/storage rack...great to carry your necessary supplies I have a nice aluminum one I purchased from Harbor Freight and it serves me well on long trips.

Is your serpentine belt fresh?

Is your battery fresh? Car batteries >2 years old don't do well in cold temps below 0 deg F.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:58 am

Drewd wrote:

What you should pack:

(1) Blankets, gloves, hats, and other cold weather gear GOT IT
(2) Food/Water
(3) Small stove (propane) to cook food outside ...
(4) OBDII code reader GOT IT. Torque Pro on my Android tablet.
(5) Air pump and tire plug kit
(6) Spare fuel filter GOT IT
(7) Power service white bottle-use religiously so you don't gel the fuel in cold weather GOT IT
(8) Basic tool kit (harbor freight sells a decent set of tools for <$50) GOT IT
(9) I always carry a gallon of oil and spare oil filter in case I rip the oil filter off when I off road...a gallon is enough to limp it home though not enough for a full fill GOT IT
(10) I always carry a tow strap
(11) Extra windshield wiper fluid can be a blessing...don't count on it to be available at a gas station as many and stores sell out during a bad storm. GOT IT
(12) AAA membership or some kind of insurance that will tow you if you break down.

To do before trip:
(1) Replace fuel filter unless it has <2500 miles on it DONE
(2) Fresh oil change with a decent 5w40 oil. M301 filter is a nice oversized filter that holds an extra quart DONE
(3) Add anti-gel additive to your fuel! got some PowerService white bottle
(4) Fresh air filter....mine don't look good after 5,000 miles DONE
(5) Fresh windshield wiper blades

Suggestions:

I have a cheap $99 2 stroke generator...
Probably not gonna happen. Carrying too much stuff already.

Buy a hitch cargo/storage rack...
BOUGHT A ROOF BASKET. A beaver tail will make it hard to get into the back which is where our dog will be riding

Is your serpentine belt fresh? about 2 years old

Is your battery fresh? Its one year old

been thinking about carrying a spare batt just in case

Thanks for the advice

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:02 am

Moab UT is a planned stop on this trip.
I've never been there before.
For those that have, what can you reccomend seeing and doing while there in DEC?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:46 pm

So I think my CRD is ready for the trip.
Got new all terrain tires.
New shocks all the way around with a slight lift added.
New 770 CCA battery with 3 year warranty.
Roof rack for luggage and stuff.
Pressure tested cooling system, replaced several leaking clamps.
Fuel system is tight.
New Etecno glow plugs.
New CAC hoses.

Did a map recon of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. Lots of cool stuff to see.
I'm very excited.

SBrooks · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:30 pm **Posts:** 85

Hope all goes well for you. Enjoy the trip!

Steve

cobra_4 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:40 pm **Posts:** 53

Dont forget to take lots of pics and post them up for us!

flash7210 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:33 pm

Loaded up and ready to go.
First stop Nashville.

u

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:59 am

All that stuff on the roof is proving to be quite a drag.
Feels like I'm constantly driving into the wind.
And I'm only getting 20 mpg. A huge drop from my average of 26.
I'm sure there are other factors effecting my mpg but, damm

flman · **Posted:** Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:54 am

I might be taking a road trip next year, any CRD specific electronic parts that should be carried? MAP, camshaft and crankshaft position sensors?

CIMARRON13 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 13, 2014 10:09 am

flash7210 wrote:

All that stuff on the roof is proving to be quite a drag.
Feels like I'm constantly driving into the wind.
And I'm only getting 20 mpg. A huge drop from my average of 26.
I'm sure there are other factors effecting my mpg but, damm

I drove to Colorado with stuff on the roof. We stuffed everything inside on the way back due to MPG loss. Have fun. Looks like a great route.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:40 am

Arrived in Durango CO.
I-40 across OK, TX, and NM was painfull due to strong headwind.
And my Weeks intake elbow popped off which left me stuck on the side of the highway trying to wrestle it back into place and tightened down.
Stopped in Santa Fe for dinner and saw a silverCRD parked in the parking lot there.
Got my best fuel mileage yet going from Espanola to Durango. Even with the steep grades and heavy snow.

cross country trip- Christmas vacation (with pictures)

Who is online