AM coast to coast, and stop a lot for the hell of it.

Drive at night to avoid crowds and "ragers", never stop for gas at a place you can't see from the highway, and never let your tank get under a quarter.

Bail for chow at sun up, and sun down - so the suns glare is on your steak and eggs, not in your mirrors.

Water is a good thing. Stash a gallon or three behind the seat. If you ever need it you'll need it bad.

Always carry a good knife, and some tape. Don't ask why, just do!

A clean towel and a wash cloth can be a beautiful thing at a rest area. The wash cloth travels well in a large ziplock bag. The towel goes over the back of the seat.

If your mind wanders, so will your truck! Pull off and watch the pretty lights go by for a while. You can put a lounge chair in the bed, but keep a tire iron handy...

 

Take some Windex and lint free rags.

Also I second the idea of books on tape, if you haven't tried them you should. Keeps you mind sharp following the story line.

Best radar detector is the Valentine. Pricey but worth it.

Vary your seat adjustment frequently.

 

Ha, My dogs name is Hoss

 

here is how NOT to do a road trip. about 8 years ago when i was married,I was working 3rd shift. My then wife's Grandpa died,and relatives of hers from Jacksonville,FL came up for the funeral. The ex wanted to go to florida with them for a week to visit because they didn't see each other very often. I didn't have a problem with that. Well,she was supposed to stay 2 weeks unitl I could get a 3 day weekend to go pick her and my one year old son up. Well,you know how that goes,she was down there a week and got home sick (and was missing me I like to think ).so I told her I would come pick her up that weekend(only 2 days off). I got off work Friday morning,thinking I would go to bed and get my normal days sleep. well,I layed down about 8 a.m.,and woke up at noon to go to the bathroom,couldn't get back to sleep,to excited about the road trip. So I hit the shower,the bank for cash,and am southbound for a 1,050 mile road trip,I told myself and the wife I would stop when I get tired and get a room or sleep somewhere for a couple hours. well,that didn't happen, I couldn't force myself to stop except for gas,and pulled into her aunt's driveway 15 and a half hours after I had left mine. I can't tell you how many times I almost nodded off even when I had the radio blaring and the windows down. Slept for about 4 hours before the relatives decided I needed to go sight seeing. that was saturday. we planned on leaving sunday morning early,and I could still get back in time for work sunday night if all went well,but then I had the bright idea we would leave saturday night so the baby could sleep all night and not get ansy or uncomfortable. I wasn't thinking my ex had a medical problem at the time that she couldn't see well enough to drive at night,so I wouldn't get any driving help from her. so we leave about 10 pm after our final good-byes,which let me tell you they were almost our final good byes. I am going on 4 hours of sleep in the last 30 or so hours,and feeling good at the time we left. about 6 hours into the trip,you guessed it,the nods hit again. stop for gas even though didn't need it good for a few more hours with the ex doing everything she could to keep me awake . finally day light comes and I am refreshed again until we get home. That is one road trip I will never forget even though it all was a blurr at the time. never again will I do it that way.....TAKE A BREAK WHEN YOU GET TIRED!!!!...........ok,off my soap box now

 

Man your slow, I've done a 530 mile trip in under 7 hours. I have done the exact trip your talking about 5 times since June of last year. I'm doing three more in February, ugh Feb is gonna be a hard month.

Trip 1, New York to Detroit

Trip 2, Detroit to Pittsfield PA and back again

Trip 3 Detroit to Union City TN, and back again.

And you guessed it, my wife doesn't drive, that and the first two I'll be on my lonesome. I usually won't let her drive, unless I'm at the point of complete exhaustion, I can't ride in a car with anyone else and sleep. Just a quirk of mine.

 

Snake: I am the same way. I cannot sleep and let someone else drive. Just too jittery.

One thing, if I do stop for some sleep, I usually go to a WalMart or Krogers or someplace like that which is open for 24 hours. Park near the store entrance and go to sleep. Anybody seeing you will think that the wife is shopping and leave you alone. This even goes for the cops unless you are there over three or so hours.
Don't go to a truckstop. The lounge lizards will drive you crazy.

 

my job takes me out of town ALOT!! drive at nite plenty of times so i can start work in the morning, the best thing is to listen to talk radio, have little snacks, and stop and walk around BEFORE you are tired, little breaks do a lot of good and doesn't slow you down really all that much. and eating a real lunch i.e. denny's, is also alot better and makes you feel better than "roughing it" by just eating snacks and truck stop food all the time(it is nice every now and then!)

 

Iv'e done a Minnesota to NE PA run in 21 hours several times - but there is one thing to be aware of - when the sun just starts comming up, you're at your worst in terms of alertness and concentration. Just be aware of it.....