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480 miles in a 50 Dodge Wayfarer?


DLK

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I forgot to mention when I bought my 47 Plymouth in Frazee, MN my son drove me up to pick it up and when we got there said he had to get home quick so did not tail me on the ride back. :( The generator went out about 70 miles from home near St. Cloud but luckily it was daytime and the battery had enough to get me home.

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Newly rebuilt generator and new regulator and you are good to go. I don't know your entire route, but once you are west of Madison, I wouldn't hesitate one bit on I-90 all the way to Sioux Falls SD. IMHO, interstate is safer in an antique vehicle as the passing lane is readily accessible for faster vehicles. Old two-lanes tend to get impatient drivers backed up that then do stupid things like passing too many cars at once, on curves, no-passing zones, etc. There is the stop and go aspect of two-lanes as well. Better service available if you do have some sort of a break-down along the way. Too many towns along the two-lane that roll up the sidewalks at 5:00 PM. I live in one!

For a pleasure cruise in a car that has been run through its paces, there is nothing more enjoyable than a leisurely cruise down an old "scenic" two-lane, but to get from Point A to Point B, I recommend the Interstate if you aren't traveling through a metroplex.

Every year, I take at least one long trip with my P15. Best trips ever! As I've mentioned before, in my neck of the woods it is over 150 miles round-trip just to go for "a steak and a beer" so 450 miles doesn't faze me one bit.

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Newly rebuilt generator and new regulator and you are good to go. I don't know your entire route, but once you are west of Madison, I wouldn't hesitate one bit on I-90 all the way to Sioux Falls SD. IMHO, interstate is safer in an antique vehicle as the passing lane is readily accessible for faster vehicles. Old two-lanes tend to get impatient drivers backed up that then do stupid things like passing too many cars at once, on curves, no-passing zones, etc. There is the stop and go aspect of two-lanes as well. Better service available if you do have some sort of a break-down along the way. Too many towns along the two-lane that roll up the sidewalks at 5:00 PM. I live in one!

For a pleasure cruise in a car that has been run through its paces, there is nothing more enjoyable than a leisurely cruise down an old "scenic" two-lane, but to get from Point A to Point B, I recommend the Interstate if you aren't traveling through a metroplex.

Every year, I take at least one long trip with my P15. Best trips ever! As I've mentioned before, in my neck of the woods it is over 150 miles round-trip just to go for "a steak and a beer" so 450 miles doesn't faze me one bit.

Even though I chickened out and am having the car shipped I am looking forward to a nice 300 mile round trip this fall once I am comfortable with the car. We live 145 miles from Duluth and Lake Superior so what we will probably do is go one way on the Interstate and one way on the old 2 lane roads.

Now I just need to decide who to insure the car with. Reading all the threads on the website I am not sure if Hagerty, American Collectors or someone else is the best choice. I do want a company that is not going to hassle me over whether I was driving to a show or just pleasure cruising as long as I don't exceed 2500 miles. I would not use it for shopping and have two late model cars. :)

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Living in Minnesota, I'd try Tri-State. They were originally based in Luverne MN. My father has been their customer for decades. Very happy with them. I have American Collector's, but that was simply because they will insure my 15 year old vehicles and they don't insure vehicles in my state.

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I went with Grundy, mostly because they don't limit the use to parades and shows, and they don't prohibit trailering or camping like Hagerty does. They do require that the car be kept in a locked garage. Rates are pretty inexpensive. On the application they did ask if the car would be used for errands (like going to the market). I answered yes with a short explanation that I might do that occasionally. apparently that was OK because they approved the app and insured me.

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Even though I chickened out and am having the car shipped I am looking forward to a nice 300 mile round trip this fall once I am comfortable with the car. We live 145 miles from Duluth and Lake Superior so what we will probably do is go one way on the Interstate and one way on the old 2 lane roads.

Now I just need to decide who to insure the car with. Reading all the threads on the website I am not sure if Hagerty, American Collectors or someone else is the best choice. I do want a company that is not going to hassle me over whether I was driving to a show or just pleasure cruising as long as I don't exceed 2500 miles. I would not use it for shopping and have two late model cars. :)

Hope all goes well for you. The drive between Duluth Mn and Thunder Bay Ontario is a beautiful set of scenery, anybody who gets the chance should take the opportuinty to do so, and better yet in an old Mopar......Fred

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After waiting 8 days for a pickup with no action :( I called the broker and cancelled my shipment. My son and I are off to Illinois in the morning to drive the car back with him tailing me. I must confess a little apprehension but I figure in a worst case it breaks down on the road and I have the car towed to the nearest shop and start the shipping process over again...

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..Hope you and your son have a nice trip.Looking forward to hearing back from you on the experience. :)

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After waiting 8 days for a pickup with no action :( I called the broker and cancelled my shipment. My son and I are off to Illinois in the morning to drive the car back with him tailing me. I must confess a little apprehension but I figure in a worst case it breaks down on the road and I have the car towed to the nearest shop and start the shipping process over again...

Send Greg G a PM and let him know your route to see if anyone who has volinteered to help is on your route.

Dennis:cool:

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If i was closer i would come get it for ya. i don't think you will have any major problems, remember just take it easy and avoid any sudden stops and keep it reasonable on the speed, if ya get the rump riders on ya just pull over and let them pass.

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Concidered a U haul unit with a car trailer? I've done it a couple of times with great success Penski and Ryder also have car trailers

They work well as long as you have the correct Truck to pull with and U haul makes sure you have the right vehicle.

I suppose you could rent a truck, then ther U haul trailer, would be a few bucks, but maybe worth it in the end.....Fred

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Throw in a long log chain and a motorcyle tire. If you need to tow the car, put the tire between the two cars. It works as a shock absorber. It makes no difference where you put it. A tire is essentially a cable covered with rubber. I've done this numerous times over the years. Good luck!

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  • 1 month later...

Hope you made it home already if I missed the post all safe and in one peice. I got mine in salt lake..had to get it home to sacramento, ca . My family took off at 8pm and og to salt lake at 9am next day. We took my ridge liner..I figured I drive it home as..I love road trips summer before I bought a stock 56 canadian std vw, and drove it home with the wife and two boys 11 at the time..from kelowna BC to santa maria, ca ..6 volts, no radio, heater..we had a ball 5 days on the road, getting a cheap hotel at dusk, ferry ride to victoria, then another into port angeles then down 101..what a balst. ok back to my wayfarer.. got there, drove the car, paid headed to a u haul (just in case, my wife will follow with a dolly..just in case..made it a block and after a test drive, run to bank a mile away..guess it over heated a bit. and the knuckle head put a 22 lb cap on it and the top front of radiator blew..so parked it, got the dolly..Note they want big trucks to rent dolly.. I did not tell them it was a boat the ss wayfarer but a 79 honda accord. grabed the dolly, headed to the dodge , cranked it down and heaxed for home. My honda pretty kool, but the dodge was a pig so I kept it at 55 mph, even stopped at bonniville and we were back home in sac at 3 am..

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Hope you made it home already if I missed the post all safe and in one peice.

Yes I have probably put 200 miles on the car since getting it back to Minnesota. Since it has no heater (hopefully I can change that in the next year or two) I am getting close to the end of the driving season. I love the maroon color on your "new" Dodge.

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