Cruise

[Tikicruiser]

I just wanted to throw it out there, that I'm very interested in rallying some members to trek out for cruise Moab weekend next year. My Taco build will be done and ready, and I will be very eager to go to try out the complete build. I think it's time this club takes the fun to the next level and we should do a good old fashioned cross country road trip to a great event. I am in for sure if this idea gets some traction, and we should be able to rally a decent group of guys. Chime in if you would seriously consider joining this endeavor. I figure a minimum of 7 days commitment, but would add another day in a heart beat.

 

[bkfj40]

as someone who has attended cruise moab...I will say you need to do it...

as someone who has driven out there - it's a long drive. we left from Roanoke on an early sunday afternoon drove through the night and was in Vail by the next evening. From there, it wasn't too far of a drive the next day. Basically, if all goes well, you lose two days driving there. If you don't drive through the night, they are going to be two really long days.

I would try to add one more day so that you have at least as many days in Moab as you do driving there and back.

 

[Von Hayek]

Mentally, I'm all in. The question is whether I can make it work out family/schedule wise. As of now, count me in.

 

[NoVaSteve]

What is the date next year?

 

[TRFCSUX]

We have kicked the tires on this trip for years but never seem to be able to pull it off. It is supposed to be a great event and we know its possible. Bay to blue ridge has done it more than once, i believe, and sounds like BK also so we have them as a resource for help with planning. Pretty sure Vince has done it also. This trip is what i had in mind when i started building my 62, although its not done yet i am VERY interested in doing this.
One of the biggest questions that always comes up is to drive or trailer our rigs. Most of us could drive our trucks,they are street legal road worthy trucks but they do travel slower and there is the concern when wheeling that they do need to make the trip home. The second biggest question is always how much time needed for this adventure.

I will check dates for next year and look back on mud for post of previous trips from the east coast. I think we need to do this trip , it would be a great event for our club and its on my bucket list.

 

[TRFCSUX]

looks like May 4-7 not confirmed

 

[Jakes40]

Some of the Bay to Blue Ridge guys would like to do it next year as well.
I would be iffy on that one I would love to go! But don't think I can swing it.

 

[TRFCSUX]

http://www.cruisemoab.com/

 

[Crusha]

I like this idea, and would be interested in tagging along.

I will say this though...it's a loooong (over 2,000 miles, minimum of 30 hours each way), tiring, and boring drive.

I was out that way earlier this year. Shipped my truck to Portland, and wheeled through Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and a bit of Colorado. We did a few days in Moab.

Considering most people's time constraints/schedules, it would be most logical to get a car hauler to transport the rigs there and back. A car hauler could probably carry eight Cruisers, maybe nine. Depends on the 40 to wagon ratio.

I know this has been done before, I believe Gary @shmukster did it some years back.

You would have to balance out the cost for shipping your rig and airfare, compared to cost of fuel/food/lodging (if any) for the minimum of four (very long) days on the road, in addition to the extra missed days from work/home. It could end up being a wash?


One more thing to factor in if considering driving, and that's the fact that some rigs may not be comfortable going 80 MPH on the highway. I'd say the average built 40 would not go over 60 mph for hours on end. I like to cruise at 80 in the 80

My final input...the event is four full days, add to that a bare minimum of four (more than likely, five) long days on the road, and it becomes an eight to nine day event.

But, man, is it beautiful out there! Here are a few teaser pics...

 

[Von Hayek]

I did a back of the napkin calculation of the cost for gas and came up with a hair over $700 for driving the 62 back and forth. And of course, that doesn't count the cost of food or anything else consumed over those four days. That would go a long way towards a hauler and plane ticket.

 

[Von Hayek]

The flip side is that if people wanted to make this a much longer adventure, you could visit fun places on the way there and on the way back. Just sayin'.

 

[Crusha]

And some more...

 

[iptman]

I wonder how much a car hauler would cost.

 

[Jakes40]

I think Bob looked into this years ago and it was not cost affective. With the waight of our trucke they could not haul that many trucks.

 

[TRFCSUX]

i think it is a weight issue for sure but im sure it can be done. we should ship them to Tracey's house. Then we can stop by on the way and pick up Fernando's new ride.

 

[Von Hayek]

I think that we should do some research on the best spots and make camping reservations soon. They can always be cancelled.

 

[Tikicruiser]

We have some great traction on this. I love the idea of shipping trucks I would wheel my forty for sure. Otherwise I would taco it without a doubt if I drove out. This would however make my car trailer. available if someone wanted to borrow it and had a tow vehicle for it. When factoring the cost of shipping vs towing or driving the real cost analysis is pretty favorable. At the typical IRS mileage reimbursement rate around 50cents a mile for a 3000 mile trip, your real cost of driving including wear and tear and tires is about $1500. There is a lot more than gas involved when you look at true cost of long distance driving. Even more trailering with 8 tires on the road. Then also consider the savings of less time off work which greatly offsets airfare. Any way you slice it, it's an expensive outing, but a once in a lifetime bucket list experience. I heavily lean towards shipping trucks personally, but everyone needs to analyze their own personal situation and budget. I am virtually 100% in if this gets a group going.

 

[Tikicruiser]

My friend who is in the car hauling business got back to me tonight on some rough numbers to ship trucks. He is connected with independent haulers with what he calls Wedge trucks. They are single deck which we need because of height and they can haul the weight, but length is the restriction. He believes 4 forties, or three wagons on a load. Depending on vehicle type rough cost per round trip vehicle is between $1600-$1800 round trip. Use these numbers for loose budgetary considerations for now. Each contract is uniquely negotiated as a group lot, and because it's a round trip we are in a much better bargaining position and would deal with specific haulers by individual contract. We could also explore people riding out with the hauling rig if time is less important than time away from work and avoiding airfare.

 

[Jakes40]

Here is my totals with my tow rig!
4000 miles round trip
@12 miles a gallon
$3.00 a gallon
It's going to cost me $1000 just in fuel.
Anouther $480 for service before and after the trip.

SHIPPING sounds really good!!!

 

[Von Hayek]

Well, I received the all-important thumbs up from Rhea so I am a go. The Fraziers are going to make this a family vacation -- we are going to do Moab with the club and then head out on our own to tool around in Colorado or thereabouts.