Family road trip in your CTD? How far?

[Wayne M.]

Hi all, just got back from a round trip to Disney World and back. 2400 miles total. My Son who's a bit frustrated because "everyone else" flies wants to know who else does what we just did. So, I'm starting a poll.



The truck ran fabulous, but I was loaded for bear with a tool kit able to change a fan belt, and Joe Donnely's tool list for changing an injector, and of course the travel companion printed out. I didn't need any of that BUT I did need to change a tail lamp bulb @ Savannah Ga. I didn't crunch fuel uasge yet but the overhead hung around 19. 5 with a 23 high while traveling the slower speed limits.

 

[SHobbs]

Few years back I hauled the fifth wheel to Oregon, 4200 miles total. Most trips now are to Colorado for skiing and fishing. Usually two trips per year about 1600 miles total every trip. Dad loves road trips in the truck, he says the seat is comfortable and does not hurt his back or hips. Says I have a great traveling truck, lol.

 

[jgillott]

All of our trips over the last 10 years or so have been in one of the Rams. Usually it is with 4 adults, a child, and a bed full of stuff needed to hold us over for a few weeks. We've done the trip from PA to Florida 14 times now. In fact, we just returned home from the last one a few weeks ago. It's just a little over 2000 miles round trip for us. The vast majority of the miles on my '07 have been pleasure/vacation road trips.



I had planned to take a cross country trip this year but we couldn't get to it with my work obligations. Crossing fingers, it will be first thing next summer.

 

[dresslered]

Ctd

How can you rule out the RVing? That is one of the reasons I bought the Cummins (Dodge wrapped) in the first place. Then, I would choose a SLS AMG Roadster for my vacations. Until I own that, I'm stuck in the 'ol CTD.



P. S. I don't do public transportation very well

 

[BIGNASTY]

That would depend on where the vacation is. We went to France cant drive there. But if in the North American Continent then Drive the Dodge. But taking the RV would be a must. With all the bed bug stories in the news. I dont need the bugs. Besides if you stay in a motel then this noise would keep you up all nite :-laf Most of our truck and RV trips for Vacations are about 2k to 3k in distance sometimes more.

 

[Wayne M.]

dresslered, I called for no RV because that would be a closer description to what I did. I know most people use our CTD's to camp with, so that would skew the result I wanted. Believe me I saw lots of nice campers being towed.



SHobbs, I feel I have a great driving truck as well. That's why I choose to use it. 90K miles and 7 years later, I still love it.



BIGNASTY

Thats not the BigBoy is it? that's huge! We worry about the bugs too. We rip the beds apart pretty good before we sleep in 'em.

I wouldn't count out trailering someday but now isn't the time.

 

[Wayne M.]

I had planned to take a cross country trip this year but we couldn't get to it with my work obligations. Crossing fingers, it will be first thing next summer.

I would LOVE to do that. Of course I would drag a trailer along and really see the country. I have no clue how long you would need. I need to do it before my kids get too old and opinionated. :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

dresslered, I called for no RV because that would be a closer description to what I did. I know most people use our CTD's to camp with, so that would skew the result I wanted. Believe me I saw lots of nice campers being towed.



SHobbs, I feel I have a great driving truck as well. That's why I choose to use it. 90K miles and 7 years later, I still love it.



BIGNASTY

Thats not the BigBoy is it? that's huge! We worry about the bugs too. We rip the beds apart pretty good before we sleep in 'em.

I wouldn't count out trailering someday but now isn't the time.

Not that im aware of Its the train that runs from Durango to Silverton CO along the Animus river (I think thats how you spell it ) if you haven't been on it by all means go. Do yourself a big favor and take the trip both ways. You can take the train 1 way and take the bus back. But everyone we talked to said that they wish they did the train both ways. Its a full day but it's one of the best trains and I try to find all that I can. One more thing if you do this ride in the gondola cars the other's are VERY stuffy and you cant see. The gondola car that you want to ride is in the back of the train. One reason is the coal smoke and two is the coal cinders in the front car's plan on getting smoked out and your shirt burnt. Talk about hot that train crew REALLY worked for their money

 

[Flexiheep]

We have taken trip with the kids both under 5 in the truck, in the car and by plane, just depends on the trip... .

I take the Dodge when the trailer goes with us (10 mpg), the Taurus when I don't need the trailer (did 5200 mile trip this summer, 29 mpg) and fly when we don't have the time needed to drive.

Can't say I have a favorite really, just depends on the trip purpose and the time we have.

 

[mwilson]

Take the '06 if I'm going any distance at all. Seth and I cranked 3300 miles on it going to Warren and Columbus in June.



Every time that I fly for business I seem to be a victim of delays, missed connections, etc.

I have come to completely hate flying on any of these Commercial Cattle Car Airlines!!!!



I will rent a car from Enterprise the next time I have to attend a Daimler meeting, at least I am in control of my destiny that way.

 

[Wayne M.]

I will rent a car from Enterprise the next time I have to attend a Daimler meeting, at least I am in control of my destiny that way.

Thats my big deal. I want to be in control of my destiny. That's also why I don't really like roller coasters and rides like that. I can recall a couple of times where I had to adjust my pace to avoid something I didn't like on this trip, either it was a car drifting or a truck tire that sounded like it was gonna explode.

 

[Tryingit]

We've traveled with the kids since the youngest was in a crib, he's 13 now. They travel better than we do now. Now I'm the one stopping for the "potty" break and their complaining. We've only flew once as a family. Two years ago to Hawaii. Now they question why we have to drive when we could just fly.

But my perferred method is driving my diesel (second diesel). I get good fuel mileage and I can drive nearly 700 miles on a tank, when not towing my 5th wheel.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

That would depend on where the vacation is. Vacation.

Exactly Tough poll to answer.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Years ago, before wife and kids, I used to make a lot of road trips in my old '96. The highlights would have to be: I made it up to Pahrump one year, spent the night in the back of my truck, and then left out for Montana to see some friends and family in Helena. Ended up in Kansas on a horse, punching cows for a friend's dad... . I think I was gone two weeks and burned up 4-4500 miles. Later that same year, I took a trip to Seattle with a college friend to pick up a car his dad was letting him have. We ended up at UCLA at his sister's house, took a road trip in a road trip to Lake Tahoe, and by the time I got back to Texas, I was about 2000 overdue on my oil change... . I'm sure that trip was well over 6000 miles, and I wouldn't have done it any other way. The ol' 96(then fairly new) handled it with class, power, and speed!! We found the cruise control would only hold at 92mph coming back across AZ and NM..... but being able to drive myself, having a few tools, and doing just what I want mean a lot to me. A friend and I went to Florida a few years back, too. I didn't go to Disney, but I did drive my '97 down to Zephyr Hills and over to Miami. We had to leave suddenly due to a physical confrontation on the beach, but it was a fun trip. We stopped in Bossier City for the night, but we didn't get much sleep..... My CTDs have been an important part of my life. These days I don't get much further than Colorado, but if I have a choice, I'll drive one of my CTDs. Seems if you fly commercial, they seldom make allowances for Ogres.....

 

[Bill Stockard]

I'm retired... every day is vacation! I swore when I retired 18+ years ago that I would never set foot in a hotel/motel or an airport ever again and so far I've kept that promise. If my six wheels hauling my Lance camper can't get me there, I ain't goin'!



Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

I'm retired... every day is vacation! I swore when I retired 18+ years ago that I would never set foot in a hotel/motel or an airport ever again and so far I've kept that promise. If my six wheels hauling my Lance camper can't get me there, I ain't goin'!



Bill

Good for you Bill !!!! When I did my trucking I would always think some day Im coming back to SEE this. When your in a 65 ft 18 wheels not many campgrounds welcome you with open arms. If I can get there by ground I take my truck and trailer. I will agree with the Hotel/motel when we went to France it was the B & B, and airports well you just never know who's going to BLOW UP these days I think our days of leaving the US are done. There's allot that we havent seen here and Canada AND IF IT ENVOLES GOING SOUTH OF SAN DIEGO FORGET IT

 

[Wayne M.]

Exactly Tough poll to answer.

Well in my case; traveling the eastern seaboard. It's possible to do any of the choices. What would your choice be? I know some people in my social circle who think Im crazy for doing the drive- especially with kids - double especially in a pick up. I don't like to fly/ I like to be the pilot. If you read my first post, you'll understand what I'm getting at.

 

[Wayne M.]

I'm retired... every day is vacation! I swore when I retired 18+ years ago that I would never set foot in a hotel/motel or an airport ever again and so far I've kept that promise. If my six wheels hauling my Lance camper can't get me there, I ain't goin'!



Bill

Now THATS nice!

 

[Wayne M.]

Thanks everyone for jumping in... .

 

[Crunch]

I couldn't imagine driving any distance over 50 miles in a clown car, and a vacation would be a nightmare. In my CTD I gots the leg room, I gots the luggage room, I gots the range, and my fuel economy has been nothing short of stellar for eight years, especially since fuel prices shot up and my foot came off the accelerator. Plus, if someone abandons a nice trailer on the side of the road I can snag it and tow it home with one of my slides and trailer balls. :-laf