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Black SXT
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
06:50:59
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 Subject: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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I just completed a 4800 miles in 7 day road trip (had to attend my Moms funeral),from central Fl to Ogden UT. These are just a few observations from the trip. I have an 03 CC SXT with an auto trans.
Gas mileage ,overall MPG 22.7,driving 75 mph almost the entire trip.Worst MPG 19mpg (stuck in Atlanta rush hour,bad timing) Best mpg 25.1 going across NE with a 25 mph plus tail wind (thought the gas gage had broke)
Gas prices for regular unleaded Lowest $1.29 in Kennasaw GA(1.30-1.35 thru most of GA on I 75) Highest $1.79 in Kearney NE on I 80). The popular price across the country seems to be about 1.49 a gallon.
Biggest Rip Off (sorry to those who live there)
Kearney NE. Gas prices 20 cents agallon higher than the next exit and Motel prices higher that anywhere else , even the McDonalds was higher priced that any where esle. We stoped there after a 1000 mile day.I would try and avoid this place.
2nd biggest rip off Gas in UT and WY regular gas is only 85 octane, forcing me to buy the mid grade stuff, ( truck ran like crap,with 85 Octane)for 10 cents a gallon more
Roughest roads. a tie bewteen NE and MO.,but a close runner up would be WY. For those who haven't taken a long trip in a Dak those wash board roads are extremly hard an your kidneys
Most Road construstion: GA (I 75)seemed like there was a constustion zone every 10 miles
The truck ran great ,the only problem was I blew a tire in downtown St Louis. Spent 2 hours trying to find a place that had a replacement Goodyear Eagle LS, before giving up and driving the reat of the return trip on the spare.
Worst Drivers: Sorry to say was the semi drivers in most states. I was run off the road in St Louis (caused the rear tire to blow).Mo state troopers response was I must have been in his blind spot, no way I was right next to his cab door. And had several very close calls in others states. The drivers off these trucks are using the I am bigger method of driving and not watching what they are doing, figuring the cars will move out of the way.(sorry to all who drive 18 wheelers for a living, but thats my 2 cents worth)
Overall i was extremly pleased with the Dak
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GB2000
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
07:28:53
|  RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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Nice observations and sorry bout your mom...
I learned something about truck drivers (besides the fact that many will run you right off the road). The drivers are usually driving tired as hell. They have a bunch of regulations to make sure the drivers get plenty of rest, but it loses them so much pay that they don't follow it. My aunt used to work at a trucking company and she told me about how they used to use 2 logbooks. One with the real info so they could get more money and one in case they got pulled over so they wouldn't get caught for driving for waaay too long. ...or something like that.
Josh
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J and J Auto
GenII
9/26/2003
14:45:17
| RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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Also sorrie to hear about your mom passing on.
Truckers, a few years ago I was crusing through
the smokies in Ten. doing 90 and was passed by
a semi.
Its unreal how fast they get those locomotives
moving. I just moved out of the way and let him
go by. I don't think my little Dak whould be a
very good contender with a semi. a few minits
later the old lady hit me in the head with an
alarm clock for driving to fast and not waking
her and stoping to eat.
Thought I was egging the semi on.
My Dak is also excellent on long trips.
Larry
J&J Auto
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whitedakota2
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
16:09:53
| RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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LOL, Larry your not the only guy that happens to.
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jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
16:14:37
| RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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hey, I used to live just north of ogden. I used my 02 sxt to move my butt to new york. I'm trying to figure out why you went through wyoming. I'm guessing you went on I 80 though NE? Isn't that the most boring road ever? I mean the damn thing doesn't even curve once.
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Boat Anchor
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
20:52:15
| RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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Jeremy,
Yes, I-80 from Omaha till the Rockies is about the most boring drive I can think of. I once drove from Minnesota to Western AZ non stop except for refuels and a 20 min nap somewhere in texas just off I-40 (old section of route 66). I lived on M&M's, Mountain Dew, and Skoal to keep me awake. I can't remember now but I think it was roughly 36 hours, and when I reached my destination I slept for about 15 hrs. Wouldn't do it again though.
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J and J Auto
GenII
9/26/2003
20:55:46
| RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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whitedakota2
I hear it all the time that is why I installed
an infinity radio in my dak with 8 speakers so
I can just crank the radio and egnore her.
Funny thing though she still has 4 speeding
tickets on her record and I have none. LOL
When I mention that she usualy shuts up for
a while
Good thing she was not with me this morn, I
deliverd a 1972 road runner with a 440 six pack
and could not resist running it up to 140mph
I know most of the copers around here and they
don't bother me to much, they always stop by
and look at the mopars we are working on
Larry
J&J Auto
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S. Hardy
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2003
22:15:56
|  RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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Sorry to hear about your mother.
I get feed up with the truckers when traveling the inter-states.
They wait to pass until their going up a hill and ride your butt going down.
I had a 4x4 post drop off a trailer right in front of me on I-75 in down town Dayton. Thank God I had some room between us. It took a few bounces and went into the left lane of traffic. I looked in the mirror and saw some little car drive over it and bounce it's wheels off the ground. I just know there had to be an accident because of it.
I've had truckers pull into my lane as I was coming off the on ramp, getting onto the road, and force me off the road doing 60, with the wife and kids in the car.
While I was stationed in Germany I found out the truckers there have a graph kept in their truck that records their speed and time spent behind the wheel. Their not allowed to pass on uphill grades, and they must use the right lane unless passing. The Police strictly enforce the laws over there.
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Billy
Dodge Dakota
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9/27/2003
00:04:23
| RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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When Going through NE, you stop for gas in Omaha, the Flying J just before North Platte, then you should make it to CO, just out side of Denver. If you are heading through WY, you should make it to Cheyenne for gas and there is a Flying J there too.
That seems to work for me in a Focus, 1500 Ram, and my Dakota Quadcab. Miss any of those and it can be pricey for gas.
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Nanook
Dodge Dakota
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9/27/2003
02:55:04
| RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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Man,
I just got done with a road trip to Seattle from Camp Pendleton (San Diego area). We paid $2.37 for a gallon of the cheap stuff, well if you can call it the cheap stuff. My brother was driving my 02 SXT 4x4, I had to suffer and drive my wifes 03 Tahoe Z71. We were using her Tahoe to tow our trailer. It is a 22ft travel lite, weighed down it weighs about 4,000lbs. We used the Monster Dodge (my Dak) to tow it to Mississippi last month. Thank goodness for 3.92 gears but the Dak loved gas. I was getting anywhere from just over 7mpg to just under 11mpg. I had the AC on all through Az, NM, and Texas. Sometimes I would have to drop her to third just to go 55mph. I have some minor mods
air intake, gibson exhaust, 3.92 gears, tow package and 10" MTX thunderform speakers.
Got a chance to take the Monster out 4x4 while in Seattle though. Just North of Goldbar by Isabel Lake, I ended up with some body damage, oops. My brother put the worst damage on her though. When I got home I had to prime and rattle can her until she can see a body guy. Sorry for ramblin..
Mark
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jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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9/27/2003
18:07:46
| RE: Dakota Road Trip Observations
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Flying J sucks though man. Their gas doens't have any of the cleaning chemicals in it.
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