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frankenwabbit
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Joined: January 04, 2007
Posts: 90
Location: california
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 Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 2:28 pm Post subject: Southern California to Texas and back.... |
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So... I'm leaving June 5th from Los Angeles to visit some friends in Dallas/Austin/San Antonio.
Here's where I'm planning on stopping to keep from driving too long.
I'm taking the I40/Rt 66 to Texas and coming back will be taking the I10 to I8.
Starting with Los Angeles and then to...
Needles
Flagstaff, AZ
Alburqurque NM
Amarillo TX
Dallas Ft Worth
Austin
San Antonio
Ft Stockton
Las Cruces
Tucson AZ
Yuma
San Diego CA
Home!
Any recommendations for good food, sight-seeing, cheap places to stay, etc on this route?
I'd like to sleep in the bus here n there (weather dependent) just for the experience as well.
I'm planning on bringing my AAA, tools, and etc.
Mechanically, my bus is pretty much ready with exception of balljoints...going to take care of that in the next week.
It does have A/C but the compressor is long gone. If I have enough time, I might try to fabricate brackets for the r134a compressor and do what's necessary to get it going.
If not...redneck ice chest a/c . 
Oh... is 300 miles a day asking alot out of a healthy type4 motor?
TIA
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One Owner
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Joined: August 09, 2005
Posts: 243
Location: Nahville,TN
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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I just did 3100 miles a couple of weeks ago...300 miles a day is nothing, its really driver dependent. I just checked the oil everytime I filled up, I would take my time filling up, stretch my legs..then check the oil. Sleep in the bus, nothing better than picking a cool place to wake up in. Oh I would say a cross country trip is easier on the bus than stop and go traffic.
good luck
Ray
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Bala
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Joined: December 04, 2003
Posts: 667
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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I can recomend plenty of things to do in Austin.
Do you have a guestimate of when you'll be here?
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Kirk 
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Joined: December 05, 2003
Posts: 4765
Location: North Texas
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have any idea when you'll be in the DFW area?
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 19930
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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My 1800 has seen many days of around the clock driving. Went coast to coast once in 2 1/2 days. Slap in some synthetic oil so it can handle the heat of the Sonoran Desert and give it a good all around tune up and inspection before you take off. If something begins to not feel right, stop and find out what it is then and don't let it get worse. Watch for leaks and sniff for strange smells at each gas stop and in the morning before you start out.
Needles is the pits in the middle of summer, I would make camp somewhere before I dropped down into the Colorado Valley. |
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okcattleco
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Joined: July 27, 2005
Posts: 78
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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The Pilot Truck Stops and the Flying Js are pretty camper friendly along I-40 from Topock AZ to Amarillo. I like the Flying J's better; I think the Pilots generally have more semi truck traffic. Just my impression. The drawback to both is noise and light, but there are usually plenty of people around to make one feel safe. Also, there are 24 hr restrooms, coffee, cokes, food, etc. Things to see: Williams AZ is a fun town to walk; Don't miss the Grand Canyon if you've never been there; At Holbrook get off I-40 and take 180 to the South entrance of the Petrified Forrest then drive the forest rd back to I-40. At Albuquerque, I would stop at "Old Town"; eat something with green chiles in it - not fiery like jalapeno. There are art shops and indian jewelry shops around the square. The church there is worth a visit -- the Art Museum is within walking distance from the square, and if you buy admission to the museum the parking is free. It's not far from I-40 easy off and on. Santa Rosa Flying J is a good one for camping.
It will really be HOT in June from Amarillo to Dallas - best travel morning or evening if no AC. Hottest part of your trip except maybe for the desert around Needles. |
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WestyMan1971
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WestyMan1971
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grandpa pete
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Joined: July 06, 2008
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Location: St. Petersburg, FL
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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when you get to your first truck stop spend $6 and buy the truck stop guide for the US ..you can tell where the next fuel is and plan your nights in the truck stops...please don't park inbetween the big trucks:they arn't looking for you to be parked and might run u over!!!! YES i have seen it...more than once...Check out the thread on a $15 swamp cooler;very easy to do 
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Wildthings
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| With million of acres of public land spread across the SW, why would anyone overnight in a truck stop? In the northeast maybe or even in Wyoming in a snow storm, put a big chunk of the SW still belongs to you for your year around enjoyment. Besides, you don't want the coyotes to be lonely. |
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blue77bay
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Joined: February 11, 2006
Posts: 510
Location: Brisvegas Australia
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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awesome trip, when you leave needles go I40 to the rt66 junction and turn left past topock bay and follow the old rt66 thru oatman ,then on to Kingman and your back on your planned route ,BUT, the drive thru oatman on rt66 is really a must do, make sure you stop n say g'day to the burrows wandering the streets . We have every intention of doing it again next year ,we love the place
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Desertbusman
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Joined: June 03, 2005
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Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| blue77bay wrote: | | awesome trip, when you leave needles go I40 to the rt66 junction and turn left past topock bay and follow the old rt66 thru oatman ,then on to Kingman and your back on your planned route ,BUT, the drive thru oatman on rt66 is really a must do, make sure you stop n say g'day to the burrows wandering the streets . We have every intention of doing it again next year ,we love the place |
Yes, for sure, that is a must do. Everyone loves it and particularly in an old dub or any other old classic. Funny thing is I get by there once in a while and for some reason don't do it. But I have good fond memories of how awesome the old route was in the early and mid 60's before I40 bypassed it. It was the coolest stretch of all of 66.
On 66 in north Flagstaff is the KOA. Stop in and say hi. The managers are big bus folks and host a big VW Kampout every summer. Consider it a bus stop and not a truck stop.
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| 73kombi wrote: | | when that red light goes on, you have to make a choice. |
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vdubzen
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Joined: November 15, 2006
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Location: ABQ, NM 87110
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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drop me a line when you get to albuquerque, lots of good vw people here. there is a lot of things going on on rt 66 in new mexico during june.
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frankenwabbit
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Joined: January 04, 2007
Posts: 90
Location: california
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Bala wrote: | I can recomend plenty of things to do in Austin.
Do you have a guestimate of when you'll be here? |
June 13-14th
| Kirk wrote: | | Do you have any idea when you'll be in the DFW area? |
June 9-11th
| Wildthings wrote: | | With million of acres of public land spread across the SW, why would anyone overnight in a truck stop? In the northeast maybe or even in Wyoming in a snow storm, put a big chunk of the SW still belongs to you for your year around enjoyment. Besides, you don't want the coyotes to be lonely. |
I'll have to check that option out. I was figuring truck stops mainly bc they're right off the hwy and I could get in a quick shower. I funk up fast!!!
| Desertbusman wrote: | | On 66 in north Flagstaff is the KOA. Stop in and say hi. The managers are big bus folks and host a big VW Kampout every summer. Consider it a bus stop and not a truck stop. |
Will try to do that...you usually there?
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I've been reading hours n hours on end searching on truck stop, road trip, hot weather driving topics here. My eyes are pretty cross-eyed right now!
To get my A/C working, I need to fabricate a bracket for the compressor to go above the fan (where a smog pump would normally go), fab up the pulley and belt arrangement, and new lines for the r134a compressor. Then get the wiring sorted and HOPEFULLY the a/c could work.
I've looked into making an evaporative ice chest cooler with a fan, bilge pump, fan blower and heat exchanger....might be less time to fab that up.
Still have to give the bus a quick tuneup, ball joints, insulation install, stereo and cb install, and tinted windows.
Anywho...keep the info/suggestions comin! thanks!
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-frankenwabbit
'78 16vT rabbit
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5508504-sigh...another-16vT!
'74 Campmobile |
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jtauxe
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Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2159
Location: Northern New Mexico
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: | | With million of acres of public land spread across the SW, why would anyone overnight in a truck stop? In the northeast maybe or even in Wyoming in a snow storm, put a big chunk of the SW still belongs to you for your year around enjoyment. Besides, you don't want the coyotes to be lonely. |
I must agree with this. I can't imagine wanting to overnight in a smelly fume-soaked noisy truck stop, where there are places where you can sleep under the stars in the quiet clear night.
I guess it's a case of different strokes for different folks. Me? I'd head out on some forest service road where no one else is and just enjoy the solitude. Of course, you won't find that in Texas, where there is, surprisingly, essentially no public land. The TX state parks are good, through, since they have showers.
One place that is easy to get to and is simply awe-inspiring is the Beringer Crater, aka Meteor Crater, east of Flagstaff near the Painted Desert. This is where a 10-m diameter meteor slammed into the earth at something like 10,000 mph, making a huge hole in the ground (the crater). Huge means like over 4000 ft across and 500 ft deep. It really gets you thinking about those NEOs that are circling us out there!
- John
Edit: NEO = near earth object
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"The bus came by and I got on. That's when it all began..." - Garcia/Weir/Kreutzman
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Last edited by jtauxe on Wed May 23, 2012 9:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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jhicken
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blue77bay
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Joined: February 11, 2006
Posts: 510
Location: Brisvegas Australia
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| jhicken wrote: | Dude, if you are traveling on Rt66, you gotta sleep in a Wigwam!
In Holbrook AZ http://sleepinawigwam.com
It's a must stop on the way. Also, if you can, get a Rt66 map and stay on it as much as you can avoiding Rt40. It'll be the time of your life.
-jeffrey |
HAHAHAH forgot about that one ,,while you are tourin' be sure to stop in Winslow ,on the corner,wait for a bit and i guarantee there will be a flatbed ford come by -----you will be ----standin' on the corner in Winslow AZ ,such a fine sight to see ,there 's a girl my lord in a flatbed ford slowin down to take a look at me
EAGLES awesome ,i have my pic somewhere,have i told you how much we love it over there!!!!
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notchboy
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Bring lots of water and ice! Its going to be hot all the time- dry in the desert and muggy as hell inside Texas 
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Kirk
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Location: North Texas
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| notchboy wrote: | | Bring lots of water and ice! Its going to be hot all the time- dry in the desert and muggy as hell inside Texas |
And the news expects record mosquitos this year.
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frankenwabbit
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Location: california
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 10:26 am Post subject: |
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| vdubzen wrote: | | drop me a line when you get to albuquerque, lots of good vw people here. there is a lot of things going on on rt 66 in new mexico during june. |
Will do.
| Kirk wrote: | | notchboy wrote: | | Bring lots of water and ice! Its going to be hot all the time- dry in the desert and muggy as hell inside Texas |
And the news expects record mosquitos this year. |
I'll make sure to do that....and get my screens fitted back on the jalousies!
I have friend's places to stay in in Austin/DFW/San Antonio, so I won't have to suffer sleeping in the hot muggy weather.
Everywhere else I'll have to brave it. Worse case...I'll just get a motel for the night! 
oh...my bus... in the link.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=474186&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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-frankenwabbit
'78 16vT rabbit
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5508504-sigh...another-16vT!
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