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Tell us about the long hauls!

MattLaurence

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Its been a wild year so far, but one positive to come out of it is that I'm finally heading out on a 5,000+ mile trip in the Jeep with secluded destinations in mind.

I'll be driving my soft top 2019 JLU Sport, Manual trans, (52K on it so far and counting). I'll also be towing a small homemade camper to park at a friend's place to use as a base to come back to. This drive is going be at a snails pace though, as towing with a manual trans pretty much limits me to 60-65 mph in 4th gear. 5th and 6th? Those are fantasy land now...

Hoping to do morrison jeep trail in Wyoming along the way, without the trailer of course, along with a host of seldom traveled areas.

So, I'd like to hear from people who have done long hauls, things to keep in mind, places i should go, etc.

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LadySapphy

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Last summer me and the wife did our "Tour of the South" Started in Central Ohio, went to Charlotte NC, then over to Ashville NC. Then from there we headed own down to Hilton Head, did a jaunt from HH to Savanna as wee as a jaunt HH to Charleston SC. Both Savanna GA and Charleston SC are awesome. Loved the Museum at Patriot's Point (USS Yorktown) as well as taking the boat out to the Fort. From Hilton Head we then went up to Virginia Beach for a night then on home to central Ohio.

Mine jeep is a soft top, and we MIGHT have been too trusting of the weather, other than that, we had a great time with the jeep and the trip.
 
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MattLaurence

MattLaurence

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Sounds like a great Adventure ahead ; did you build that trailer ?
Yep! Original bought it on fb marketplace, but it was so water damaged and rusted out that I ended up completely rebuilding it. Can send you PLENTY of pics if you wanna see the build
 

fdFifty

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We do quite a lot of road tripping in our 6-speed 2door. Over all, I find it to be really enjoyable. A little more steering wander and susceptibility to cross winds come with the territory. But it's a small price to pay.

Only big things I've found are:

Keep a close eye on fuel range, especially in remote areas. A change in wind direction can have huge impacts on highway mpg and sometimes it's not readily noticeable.

The 3.6 seems to really be susceptible to changes in elevation. My guess is that it's fairly high compression ratio has something to do with this. Not a huge deal, but be prepared to hold gears for a little longer if you head up into the mountains.

And lastly, it's a blast. For me, taking the jeep on a road trip makes the drive just as fun as the destination. Sounds like you have an awesome trip ahead. Enjoy!
 

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RagTopDeluxe

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That sounds like a wonderful trip!

We towed a small camper with our JK and it was a most memorable adventure and had a blast in Colorado. My advice would be to get gas whenever you can when you’re out in less populated areas.

Our set-up:
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ps: would love to see pics of your camper build!
 

Darter02

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In early September I had to go from south-central Wisconsin to Oregon. A 50 decades "lost" family member needed a lift away from the fires and smoke. Eighty five years old female cousin to my wife in need of a ride home. I was given three days to get there.

I took as many back roads as possible. It took me more miles out of my way but I got there in time. I also got there my way.

I finally wore out my stock tires. New Duratracs going on Monday. 285/70/17 in the D class. They'll go nicely with the Rubi takeoff suspension.

Now I know what's been here and there. Now I can go back just for fun!

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wibornz

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My group does long haul trips often. Since the end of July, we have went from Michigan to Moab, Utah, to Rubicon Trail, California, Idaho, to camp along the Snake river, Wyoming for the badge trail. back to Michigan. It was 5734 miles. I towed a camper.
Then we did a trip from Michigan to Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia before heading back to Michigan. Just got back from a trip to Rausch Creek, Pennsylvania. Plus many trips north in Michigan. I had 23,000 miles on the Jeep in July and now I have 38,000+ today. I have threads about the trips, but don't want to hi jack your thread.

I hope you had/have an awesome time. I find no better joy than exploring the US.

We are trying to put together a 2000+ mile trip to Cape Lookout NC, right now for over the thanksgiving holiday weekend. Not sure if it is going to work out yet.
 

aldo98229

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Taking a slightly different angle: the best side-effect from COVID-19 has been working from home.

This was my “Zoom meeting” last Thursday.... :angel: :LOL:
Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970
 
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MattLaurence

MattLaurence

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My group does long haul trips often. Since the end of July, we have went from Michigan to Moab, Utah, to Rubicon Trail, California, Idaho, to camp along the Snake river, Wyoming for the badge trail. back to Michigan. It was 5734 miles. I towed a camper.
Then we did a trip from Michigan to Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia before heading back to Michigan. Just got back from a trip to Rausch Creek, Pennsylvania. Plus many trips north in Michigan. I had 23,000 miles on the Jeep in July and now I have 38,000+ today. I have threads about the trips, but don't want to hi jack your thread.

I hope you had/have an awesome time. I find no better joy than exploring the US.

We are trying to put together a 2000+ mile trip to Cape Lookout NC, right now for over the thanksgiving holiday weekend. Not sure if it is going to work out yet.
Post some links to your threads about the trips! I'd love to read them

All of your trips sound amazing and have me thinking more about where out west to go
 

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MattLaurence

MattLaurence

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In early September I had to go from south-central Wisconsin to Oregon. A 50 decades "lost" family member needed a lift away from the fires and smoke. Eighty five years old female cousin to my wife in need of a ride home. I was given three days to get there.

I took as many back roads as possible. It took me more miles out of my way but I got there in time. I also got there my way.

I finally wore out my stock tires. New Duratracs going on Monday. 285/70/17 in the D class. They'll go nicely with the Rubi takeoff suspension.

Now I know what's been here and there. Now I can go back just for fun!

Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970
Thats exactly the kind of stuff I'm shooting for! Looks amazing

My goal is to avoid major interstates as much as possible and take all the back roads
 
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MattLaurence

MattLaurence

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That sounds like a wonderful trip!

We towed a small camper with our JK and it was a most memorable adventure and had a blast in Colorado. My advice would be to get gas whenever you can when you’re out in less populated areas.

Our set-up:
Jeep Wrangler JL Tell us about the long hauls! 1603976618970


ps: would love to see pics of your camper build!
As a sidestep, here are a few pics of my camper build. It's still a work in progress. I'm working to keep the weight just under 2,000 lbs for towing purposes.

As with most things, it turned out to be a WAY more involved job than I was hoping. I thought I'd just replace some wood in the back corner where there was rot. How wrong I was haha

Ended up completely rebuilding it because the only thing not rotten was the roof supports and the floor (which was great news).
Hopefully my rebuild with better materials will get me a decade out of this

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Oldbear

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Nice little camper. As noted watch your fuel, there are places where fuel stops are few and far between in the west. Also, I’d suggest you head South and stay in Tx, Az, and NM until spring and warmer weather. Big Bend has some great trails and camping spots. Living in a camper in extreme cold can be “interesting” and towing one in snow or ice will not be a fun time. I’m in NM at the moment in the mountains. We had almost 12 inches of snow Monday, and temps down to 19F with daily highs in the teens. We were fine (Lance 4 season camper) but every other righ in the campground had frozen water tanks and folks were running propane and electric to keep warm. Enjoy your adventure!
 

Dkretden

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OP, a couple of things.....

I see that you live in the snow belt so you likely know how to drive in snow and drive in snow pulling a trailer. I have lived in the South for 35 years and this is really the first winter in the snow for me in a LONG time. I have never pulled a trailer.

I too suggest that you really monitor gas consumption and, while it is unlikely that you might need to use it, get some Rotopax or something and bring along just for a pinch.

i would also be concerned (having never pulled a trailer) that your max speed might be only 60mph-ish. If that’s true, Wyoming and Utah (among others) have 80mph interstate speed limits (Which means people do 85+). That speed difference would concern me a bit.

I just returned on I-70 from Moab to Denver. A winter storm had passed through on Sunday/Monday (3 days ago). We counted no less than 15 vehicles spun out and still on the road/ditch. Of those, one UPS truck had jackknifed, 2 large RV trailers (the big ones that are pulled by big pickups mostly) had rolled over and were probably destroyed, one RV camper with engine/cab, had rolled over and was absolutely destroyed As the sides and part of the front over the cab had come off, and then, to top it off, one small vehicle pulling a small camper was involved in an active accident (just happened) with some kind of Commercial truck. the car was smashed in a ditch and the camper/trailer was destroyed on its side.

I wondered how this accident could have happened (it was on the other side of the freeway) and It dawned on me.... 3 days after the storm all bridges were still LOADED with thick bumpy ice. The accident happened ‘right after’ a bridge. I can only assume that the driver of the trailer lost it on the ice over the bridge And the collision came thereafter.

i am not trying to scare you.... not at all.... I don’t know how to pull a trailer but you likely do And likely do it in the winter as part of second nature. That said, I think that the advice above of staying “south” as much as you can might be a good one.
 

wibornz

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Post some links to your threads about the trips! I'd love to read them

All of your trips sound amazing and have me thinking more about where out west to go

Michigan to Colorado and Moab Sept of 2019
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...west-from-michigan-pic-and-video-heavy.38104/

360 video of Colorada and Top of the World.



Just watch the video. It is awesome.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-videos-i-have-seen-it-is-a-must-watch.58013/


Moab, Rubicon Trail, and Montana July of 2020

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...eet-forum-members-in-the-oddest-places.55768/


Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia Sept 2020

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...picture-heavy-3-more-badge-trails-done.57960/

Rausch Creek Pennsylvania Oct 2020

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...picture-heavy-and-so-vids.60433/#post-1295661


Winter Camping Winter of 2020
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-the-wife-said-fuck-it-lets-go-camping.44962/


Sand Dunes in Michigan
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...sing-the-dunes-many-pics-and-some-vids.35500/

Can't find the ones from Windrock or Red Bird...... Or the trip across the UP. hum...
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