Posted on 07/05/2023 12:14:43 PM PDT by CedarDave
The quintessential American summer road trip is an epic journey that unites families and friends. It’s an adventure that lets you meander through the tapestry of America’s landscapes, steeped in captivating scenery, quaint towns, and timeless charm. However, behind the enticing postcard-perfect panoramas, a summer trip can quickly become dangerous if you breakdown in a remote area with extreme summer temperatures…
Gunther Mitsubishi commissioned QuestionPro to run a survey of 3,000 regular roadtrippers, and asked them to rank which routes (in each state) across America they fear breaking down on the most.
#1st Most Feared: US Route 285 in New Mexico
The most feared route among American roadtrippers is along US Route 285 in New Mexico. This stretch of road traverses vast areas with limited access to services and amenities. Its remoteness means that breakdowns could leave travelers stranded for extended periods before help arrives. The route often passes through arid desert regions, where extreme temperatures can take a toll on both vehicles and individuals. Moreover, the highway stretches across long distances between towns and gas stations, increasing the risk of running out of fuel or encountering mechanical issues without immediate assistance.
The stretch between Vaughn and Roswell can be desolate, with long distances between towns and limited services available.
(Excerpt) Read more at znewsservice.com ...
“””But don’t forget running the heat full hot with the windows down to help cool the engine. That was always fun. “””
Man, what a thing to have forgotten, that was one of the weirdest things of all but a real part of the experience, but at least we had an AM radio to play with as we fruitlessly searched for a station.
Thanks I had never heard that.
Learn from the Donner Party and travel with someone fat and tasty.
The 5G Phone tech hype notwithstanding, there’s no shortage of US Highway miles without cell phone coverage.
That seems to be a potential issue these days.
OnStar for GM.
A small convoy of Toyotas would be a minor improvement on survival probability, but your basic plan is good.
Check the tires....
I accidentally got off the Freeway in St. Louis one time and the road back to the next on-ramp was truly terrifying.
Somehow they missed South Martin Luther King Drive through the south side of Chicago.
I’m sure there are plenty of EV stations.
“...no air conditioning and the open car windows air frying you...”
6/60 A/C...
[I used to carry a canteen of water just to dump over my head for cooling in the Summer while driving a VW Bug.]
Back in the 90’s a buddy of mine from back east had to travel to Artesia (south of Roswell) and on 285 he hit the seek button on the radio and it just went round and round, not a single station to be found.
Grew up in Carlsbad, drove Vaughn to Roswell coming and going many MANY times. There is a bar halfway and when I was 16 we never failed to stop in…
Aren't the flying saucers enough entertainment?
At night there was a “flame thrower” station in Oklahoma City you could get very well. There used to be a station in Carlsbad (in the 60s) but you couldn’t hear it in Roswell.
Ahhh, yess! Wolfman Jack on late at night!
And the advertisements for chinchilla farms, and cardboard coffins that you could store under your bed till required, with all payments to go to a PO box in Del Rio, TX.
Those were the days!!!!
“Grew up in Carlsbad, drove Vaughn to Roswell coming and going many MANY times. There is a bar halfway and when I was 16 we never failed to stop in…”
I think I’ll put the route on my “bucket list”.
I think the hottest southwest trip I had was from Albuquerque down to Tuscon, in the dead of summer.
We had a newish car (a 1974 Volvo station wagon), and we also had a niece and nephew with us. I made cardboard inserts for the middle and back side windows, covered in foil on side facing out and magazine articles on the side facing in. The luggage was on the roof and the kids had the whole back covered in sleeping pags, pillows, games and stuff. The aircon worked ok and we didn’t overheat the engine.
It's why I finally got my Ham license. New Mexico has the New Mexico Megalink. It's 37 VHF (or UHF, depending) repeaters on 35 mountains in the state. Hit one and you reach them all. Can hit just about anywhere in the state and the near portions of the surrounding states and Mexico.
” running the heat full hot with the windows down to help cool the engine”
Been there done that.
Last time was maybe 20 years ago.
Forget what car or truck it was.
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