College graduation 30 day cross country trip

[glc]

If you are looking at a Vandura minibus conversion, you might as well take the Expedition and tent camping gear. It should get 15 mpg on the highway, and it will run on gasoline. The 6.2 liter GM diesel wasn't particularly reliable or inexpensive to maintain and I question how well it would run on veggie oil.

[boylanj64]

A loop of the US is generally possible with a month available, but it does mean you need to pick and chose where you go. There are so many days where you're simply planning to do vastly more than is possible in a day that we can't possibly go through all of them, but simply put you need to drastically cut down on your destinations. Trying to drive even 600 miles in a day, simply isn't going to leave time for sightseeing, but you've got repeated days where you are trying to drive 700, 800, or even 900 miles and spend time at multiple national parks, or driving on scenic drives that will take 2-3 times more time than you are planning. That's not even including the extra time you'll need to factor because you are driving a very old bus. Trying to cover even 500 miles in a day is going to leave you very little time for any sightseeing. What destinations and drives you still do is up to you, but if you've already spent a lot of time on the east coast, then heading west would make some sense as a starting point.

Thanks, that makes sense. What is a reasonable daily distance, in your opinion?

Again, for the bus, I think you are massively underestimating the cost, massively overestimating the comfort, and simply not anticipating the many potential problems and downsides with your plan.

What would you suggest as an alternative?

[Midwest Michael]

600 miles is really the max you should be looking at for a full day on the road, where you don't do any significant sightseeing and you are spending your day on the freeway. 500 miles will allow time for a few short stops to break up the driving. However, if you end up going with a bus, even those numbers are probably going to be too high.

On days where you want to do any major sightseeing or plan to spend a lot of time on 2 lane roads, you need to plan to cover less ground than that. And you really need to eliminate all of the days where you think you'll be able to drive through the night, while some people sleep. There are many reasons why that just won't work.

For transportation, I'd very much agree with GLC that if you have an Expedition available already that would be the first place I'd start. The other option with 6 people would be to take 2 cars, in fact, there could be some big advantages of taking 2 cars on a trip of this size as you would be able to mix-up who is traveling with who, and be able to get away from each other when people have different priorities or simply need a break from being in constant contact. I'd say there is a 97% likelihood that either of those options would result in a much cheaper and more enjoyable trip.

[Southwest Dave]

Have to agree with the above. Two vehicles could make a lot of sense, some of you are bound to get cranky with each other all being crammed in a can for long periods of time.

The other thing with the bus idea that you may not have thought through, is that in most States the seat belt laws will not allow people to travel without being buckled up, so no one can lay down and get some half decent rest while moving along. [If that's even possible in a moving vehicle]

[boylanj64]

The model I'm thinking of is entertainer buses - surely bands have been sleeping in buses as they travel between gigs for decades? I know that this probably won't be as comfortable or as smooth a ride, but I think that would at least address the legal aspect. As for a CDL, that only kicks in when you go over a certain GVWR, or number of passengers, neither of which we'd hit. I think I'd only planned to do night-time driving twice, once to get out of the NE corridor, and once across the midwest to Chicago - is even that too much? I actually got the idea of nighttime driving from a few older threads on this forum - with 6 of us, it seems we could do a reasonable job of spelling, and even having two people awake to keep each other company.

In general, we're under 600 miles a day - I think we go over four times, although I certainly understand the concern about slower speeds on two-lane highways, and that 600 miles still doesn't leave us much day time.

I'm looking at what makes sense to cut to generate a shorter route, and the first thing to go seems like it would have to be Glacier Nat'l Park - plotting it on google maps, nothing else seems to be overly out of the way - am I wrong about that? At about 9000 miles round-trip, the average is only 300 miles; would it make more sense to have fewer rest days and spread out the miles more?

[Midwest Michael]

Clearly, you've got your heart set on a bus. I think if you focus on that, you're never actually going to get your trip off the ground, and even if you do, you are looking at a much more expensive and difficult trip than it needs to be. I don't think there is much more we can say on the topic at this point, other than it is your trip, and you really need to think about it beyond the positive aspects as you make your decision.

I think I'd only planned to do night-time driving twice, once to get out of the NE corridor, and once across the midwest to Chicago - is even that too much?

Yes, even your two times of overnight driving is too much. You might be able to make it there safely by sticking to a solid rotation of 2 people being awake at all times, but then what? You're all certainly going to be exhausted from (not) sleeping in a moving, bouncing bus, and certainly whoever has been driving the last couple legs will not be able to have any fun at all when you arrive at your "destination." In fact, that sort of thing lingers and makes it real difficult to enjoy anything for days, and the different levels of sleep when between group members will simply add more tension to your life in a tin can.

In general, we're under 600 miles a day - I think we go over four times, although I certainly understand the concern about slower speeds on two-lane highways, and that 600 miles still doesn't leave us much day time.

600 miles is the max that is recommended and the days you go over that number, you don't just touch that number and go slightly above, you destroy any sense of reality. The two "overnighters" you are planning are 900 mile days where you are planning major stops along the way. San Francisco to Portland via the coast is a 3 day drive minimum, and you hope to slam that out in a day! The other day where you go over 600 miles, you are hoping to drive 800 miles, which is just not reasonable.

And even more to the point, again, is the 600 is a full day of all freeway driving with basically no extra stops. You've got multiple days where you hope to travel 550-600 miles and plan see lots of things on those days. The days you plan to visit Atlanta, Death Valley (your mileage estimates can't be to Sequoia National Park, you are likely looking at the National Forest where there are no Sequoia Trees), Pebble Beach, Glacier, Beartooth/Tetons, and Black Hills are all cases where you hope to drive nearly 600 miles, spend many miles on 2 lane roads, and still have a full day of sightseeing.

[Southwest Dave]

The model I'm thinking of is entertainer buses - surely bands have been sleeping in buses as they travel between gigs for decades? I know that this probably won't be as comfortable or as smooth a ride, but I think that would at least address the legal aspect.

It would still be worth checking the laws. Most States will not allow passengers to sleep in a bed in a moving RV and they have to be properly seated with a seat belt for each passenger. I doubt you can buy a van and put some beds in there and convince the Sheriff that it is a 'Tour bus' even if the rules are different.

Don't get disheartened, you and your mates can have a great trip and although we are not saying what you want to hear we are only saying so for your benefits. I would start by cutting back your options and limiting yourselves to a a max of around 500 miles for travel days and have a few where you just relax and have fun. With a month you can have a great trip from coast to coast to coast, but just try and focus on a narrower line instead of going as far North and as far South as you can as well as East to West.

[Lifemagician]

You've got some great advice here, and following it to lay out your route will help you create a trip to remember. Just one thing I would like to add, for your consideration.

The mileage per day quoted above, and you will now be quite familiar as to how it is worked out and how to calculate, works well for two or three people. Remember, that the more people you have in a party, the longer it takes each time you stop, be it for food, fuel, bathroom, or even just to look around.

Factor in, that you are travelling with a large party, and despite your, and everyone else's best intentions, a lot more time will be lost each time you stop. Keep your mileage on the conservative side. Leave enough flexibility in your plans, so that you can make adjustments as you go along.

[boylanj64]

Thanks for all the advice, it makes sense and is very useful. I guess what I need to do now is go over the route and try to trim it down to a more manageable size.

As for the bus, I understand what everyone is saying, and I'd be happy with the expedition, but some of the other guys who are going are pretty keen on the bus conversion, and it won't be easy to dissuade them.

As for mileage and time, yes, I realise I will have to add some padding there, and will do so in my revised schedule.

Thanks

[Mike and Mandy]

What are you guys doing with that monster after the trip (assuming it makes it)?

My girlfriend and I are hitting the road for 2 full months starting four weeks from today.

I have spent 1.5 - 2 years planning this trip. I have gone over so many different vehicle options you would not believe.

It was originally supposed to be a group about your size but everybody bailed (I'm not surprised). So, first off, I have to say that it is AWESOME that you guys are doing this. I wish my friends had that dedication.

I'd have to agree with everyone here saying that the purchase and conversion of the bus alone very may well put an end to your trip very quickly or before it even starts. That doesn't mean it will..... The odds are just against you.

I came close to building my electric car for our trip but because of many factors I decided against it.

Do you really want to drive hundreds/thousands of miles to find you guys cannot obtain fuel? That alone would ruin my trip. It's not like you can hike/hitch a ride to the nearest gas station. You can't pull in to a neighbor hood, flip someone a $20, and ask to plug-in to their wall outlet for a couple hours.

Field repairs? Granted you guys are doing the conversion so you're obviously mechanically inclined but what if you get to a point where you need a mechanic or don't have the necessary tools?



At this point it makes more sense to me to rent a vehicle. Are you guys 25+? If not, then you will get an underage fee. Hertz has a deal going that will wave the fee for ONE underage driver but not all. Just rent a Clubwagon or something similar. They fit 12 people. Sounds much more reasonable to me (and you can usually remove unwanted bench seats). Unlimited mileage, don't have to worry about breakdowns, scratches, buying, etc. For one underage driver, 10 weeks, unlimited miles in a sedan, I was looking at about $3500. It'd be prob. about half of that assuming the drivers are 25 (maybe less).

Don't get too carried away with the bus project, in my opinion. That is a much bigger project than you guys anticipate. I can promise you that.

(btw - they do have coolers that you can set to hot/cold and plug in to a cigarette lighter that do a decent job. Used one in Scouts.)

There are many ways you can have the comfort you are looking for with a standard vehicle. You just have to get a little creative and think outside the box (and this site is one of the best resources for it!!!).

If you rent a Clubwagon they usually have a hitch. Then you buy a hitch rack that you can strap cargo to. No added wind resistance and more storage space.

All of that being said, I wish you guys the best. If I see that maroon beast driving down the road, I'll be sure to flag you guys down and we can all grab a beer.