Route 66 in a Buggy

[Luftwagen 2180]

First time posting so I hope it works. I'm planning to do route 66 with a Manx clone late August and Sept or a little longer. We're starting in Chicago, so will be ending there also. We're doing an Ontario Canada to Kenosha WI for an AMC show and some touring around there for awhile, I'm taking the daily driver (someone should have AC). The wife drives a 77 Gremlin. Since we have 2 "old" cars we're taking both cars for route 66 (I feel better having a spare car)

I've checked out posts on spare parts and tools to take for long trips and I think I have what I need. I'd like to have cruise but I hooked up a hand throttle with a lock so I can avoid leg cramps, I hope. Anybody think of what I should see or avoid on the trip? Always thinking I'm forgetting something.

[oprn]

I know nothing about Route 66 so post a travel thread please. Personally I would love to do a tour in our Buggy from here to the Canadian east coast. Friends of ours did it on a bike and there is so much to see and experiance right here at home too. If you haven't seen the Rockies out west here you need to put it on your list. Majestic beyond words, we never tire of driving our Buggy though them.

I totally get the leg cramp thing. We have done several 10 to 12 hour runs with our Buggy and it's real! Cruise control would be nice and I did an inquiry thread about it a while back. It seems that nobody on this site has done it but it is in the back of my mind to do one day. For now we just switch drivers often.

Have a good trip, there is just nothing quite like seeing the country without a roof in the way and the wind in your hair!
_________________
Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[Tom_Kathleen]

If you are going to be driving in the desert with a buggy in the summer heat, here are some tips we learned driving to Big Bear in July 0f 2007.

#1 - you need a roof on the buggy so you have some shade.

#2 - you need insulation of the floor of the buggy to reduce the heat coming off of the road into the car.

#3 - you need large bath towels that you can soak with water at every stop to put around you neck area.

#4 - you need spray bottles to spray your self to keep cool.

#5 - you need to drink liquids like Gator-aid, water won't be enough.
_________________
Manxter #16, 1968 Meyers Manx & Kick-Out SS #16 (WIP)
Manx Club & CVA

[MrGoodtunes]

[cbeck]

St. Louis, mo embraces rt 66.

Chain of rocks bridge across the Mississippi is where the bridge scenes in Kurt Russell/escape from New York were filmed. Don’t leave your stuff unattended.

Route 66 state park is just west of St. Louis. After dioxin tainted oil was sprayed on the gravel roads, Times Beach,Mo ceased to exist and became one of the largest epa superfund sites in the country.

South St. Louis must visit, Ted Drewes frozen custard.

Did I mention to not leave your stuff unattended? Did you see the scene in family vacation where Chevy stopped for directions?
_________________
My cut in half and rebuild thread
www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647779

[Luftwagen 2180]

Seems my sister who lives in Phoenix warned me about St Louis. What happened to "The show me state". Is it the "Watch your stuff" state now? However for everywhere, I put on storage boxes years ago when I had the 3 kids in the back seat, before they grew legs. Saw this in a pic of an Aussie VW show and they work great. Ammo boxes welded to square tube sliding inside square tube welded to the floor. Planning for long shackle locks to keep them from sliding out. When they're slid in the tire stops you from opening the back latch and the body keeps you from lifting the front high enough to open.

I saw your post about cruise control awhile ago Oprn, and no decent responses. A couple of years ago I was driving a float in our Oktoberfest parade and it had a hand throttle to. Made me think about the buggy. Hooked this up with a bicycle brake cable and it seems to work well. Not enough to open the secondary barrel on the carb but holds the buggy to 70+ MPH. I tighten the bolt to adjust the friction on the bolt/lever.

I do have a roof, with side curtains, to give me shade and keep me dry. I'm planning to drive with the roof off as much as possible. However my days of driving with the wind in my hair has come to, driving with wind in my hairs! No roof=hat.

If I have a breakdown, are there good spots on the route for parts/repairs? The Gremlin will probably be more of a concern though.

[oprn]

Slick trick with the ammo boxes!

Maybe one of us will be the first to come up with a workable cruise control.
_________________
Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[clonebug]

Here is my security lock......it locks the shifter and the E-brake so the buggy can't be moved unless they work at it a bit.
Sure....they can cut the lock but for the thieves that want a simple take it isn't that easy.
I also have no ignition key anymore. Power to the keyboard is activated with a remote FOB and unless they are agile enough to crawl under the dash and find out how to jump power to the myriad of wires going to the PMU and ECU....they will be pushing a long ways.

As for parts......it's not the parts you take.......it's usually the parts you don't take that you need. You can only carry so much....

You are better off having a good credit card and some better friends that will come save you.........
_________________

[cbeck]

Just NE of St. Louis is the great river road dune buggy club. You can find them on facebook. Might try to network with them before your trip. Seems like a good group of people.

_________________
My cut in half and rebuild thread
www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647779

[sick_boy]

How far west are you planning on taking the 66? There a lot of cool places in the AZ-Ca end. Try the Roadkill Cafe in Seligman, Az. Check out Calico ghost town in Ca (its technically off the i-15, but in the vicinity). Stay in laughlin nv, (if your buggy is off road you can take the Mojave trail from near Laughlin to Barsto, Ca. Obviously not the 66, but fun). Lastly, if you take the 66 all the way through, years ago they blocked access to go through Essex to get to Amboy, Ca on the way to 29 Palms. Not much out there anyway, but the salt mines are cool with neon blue water. Btw, the next couple months will be HOT in these places. Think 120*f plus.