Long driving
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: bathurst newbrunswick canada
drove for newbrunswick canada to daytona with 1 18 hour day with the soft top on , also covered 8000 km in a two week period . found the jeep very comfortable to drive and averaged 19 to 20 mpg. loved every minute of the drive.
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 787
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Canada
Long driving
I drove from south Lake Tahoe (did rubicon trail) to Whitehorse,Yukon in 2.5 days alone 
it was crazy, but I absolutely loved driving my jeep, you get all the waves on the hwy, you get to enjoy the scenery with top down, just feel like you own the road!
it was crazy, but I absolutely loved driving my jeep, you get all the waves on the hwy, you get to enjoy the scenery with top down, just feel like you own the road!
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
He-he. I'm heading out on a similar trip soon (to San Diego) and have decided to leave the safari top and Windjammer on. We'll see how wise that decision turns out to be.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Burbank, ca
heading out on a similar trip this weekend, driving from LA, CA to St. Louis MO, to shreveport, LA then to Atlanta GA, all the way back to LA,CA. I plan on doing this trip over the course of a month, wish me luck! I am just going to wash my jeep b4 I leave and get an oil change, should be good to go
JK Super Freak
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
Just got back from a trip from Memphis to the West side of Houston, near Katy. A little over 600 miles and 10 hours. Just got an oil change, checked my air in the tires, took off. It was actually very comfortable, averaged 20-21 mpg. Actually wasn't that tired/fatigued when I got there. Ran through rain, which reminds me, I need to replace my windshield wipers. I usually sit with my seat in the highest position on height, but I would adjust it up and down to keep my legs from getting tired. I've got restless legs anyway. I would drive to Vegas today if I needed too. Enjoy the trip. If you have time, plan some side excursions, I love taking off the main road and go "see" something, whether it be a rock, a river, a lake, whatever. Sometimes you can find some fun little trails. Never know. I stopped by Superlift in Hot Springs on the way back, just because. Drove through the area, ended up going down a "county road" that was more of a trail, north of the park. Main thing is enjoy the ride, my philosophy is get there, but have fun doing it.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 6
From: bay area, ca
Do you have a standard or automatic transmission?
Mine is a standard, and one thing I find annoying on long trips (when I have the whole family loaded up) is that the forward most cup holder is too close to the stick shift. If a large drink (think 44 ounce fountain drink) is in that cup holder and I shift into any of the "downward gears" (2nd, 4th, or 6th) I will jab my wrist right on the straw, ouch thats smarts
My wife and I usually drink the same soda, so we'll buy two, put one in the rear as a "backup" and just literally drink from the same drink. By doing this we therefore avoid using that forward most cup holder for any drinks.
If you're traveling through Oklahoma (and other states are the same) on your trip, get ready for toll roads. The Jeep lacks a good change holder/tray. If you took my above suggestion and didn't use the forward cup holder for a drink you could store your change there, but honestly that kinda sucks. Those little "tabs" on the inside of the cup holder (the one used to secure the cup) often times "eat" change. Not to mention it rattles, and (if you make a pit-stop) poses a security concern. People will steal anything
Do you have a hard top or a soft top? Mine is a soft top, and I find loading the rear of the vehicle with lots of stuff to be a pain in the butt. Its times like that, that I wish I had a hard top so I had the easy open and closing rear window. Instead, I've gotten into the habit of removing my rear vinyle window (and lower support bar) and only re-install it once the Jeep is fully loaded. And, of course, if I have to access anything in the rear while on the road...
Lets hope I packed it so I can access it form the rear seat 
Despite the above issues, I love driving my Jeep on long trips. I actually "beg" my wife to let us take it on our family outings.
Mine is a standard, and one thing I find annoying on long trips (when I have the whole family loaded up) is that the forward most cup holder is too close to the stick shift. If a large drink (think 44 ounce fountain drink) is in that cup holder and I shift into any of the "downward gears" (2nd, 4th, or 6th) I will jab my wrist right on the straw, ouch thats smarts
My wife and I usually drink the same soda, so we'll buy two, put one in the rear as a "backup" and just literally drink from the same drink. By doing this we therefore avoid using that forward most cup holder for any drinks.
If you're traveling through Oklahoma (and other states are the same) on your trip, get ready for toll roads. The Jeep lacks a good change holder/tray. If you took my above suggestion and didn't use the forward cup holder for a drink you could store your change there, but honestly that kinda sucks. Those little "tabs" on the inside of the cup holder (the one used to secure the cup) often times "eat" change. Not to mention it rattles, and (if you make a pit-stop) poses a security concern. People will steal anything
Do you have a hard top or a soft top? Mine is a soft top, and I find loading the rear of the vehicle with lots of stuff to be a pain in the butt. Its times like that, that I wish I had a hard top so I had the easy open and closing rear window. Instead, I've gotten into the habit of removing my rear vinyle window (and lower support bar) and only re-install it once the Jeep is fully loaded. And, of course, if I have to access anything in the rear while on the road...
Lets hope I packed it so I can access it form the rear seat Despite the above issues, I love driving my Jeep on long trips. I actually "beg" my wife to let us take it on our family outings.
No matter how many times I've done this, I keep forgetting to hold my bevvy before I use the brakes.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
I did Houston to Keystone, Co this summer and I'd highly recommend starting at sunset or shortly after night fall and driving through the night - if you are not the only driver and if you can hack it 
.
Driving through flat a$$ Oklahoma at night time is the way to travel IMHO. Believe me you won't miss out on any breath-taking scenery. Then, you'll hit the mountains in New Mexico just in time for a beautiful sunrise and you're home free until Vegas..
Also, bring a lot of Advil. That is going to be one hell of a red eye on the trip back. ouch.
. Driving through flat a$$ Oklahoma at night time is the way to travel IMHO. Believe me you won't miss out on any breath-taking scenery. Then, you'll hit the mountains in New Mexico just in time for a beautiful sunrise and you're home free until Vegas..
Also, bring a lot of Advil. That is going to be one hell of a red eye on the trip back. ouch.
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
From: Monterey, CA
I hate with a passion dirty windshileds so one thing I always have to make sure to remember is to refill the windshield wiper fluid. Bugs come off a lot better if you squirt them as soon as you hit them and with a jeep windshield you are going to be hitting a lot of them.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 139
Likes: 1
From: Fort Collins, Colorado
Also don't be surprised at lower octanes of gas in the higher elevations on your trip. I don't know what octane you need to avoid ping with your setup but the stock jeeps say 87 I believe. I'm above 1 mile high and 85 runs just fine. In fact, you'll be hard pressed to find any gas over 91 octane here.
If you're taking I-40 the majority of the way, you'll be at 5300 in Albuquerque and 7300 in Santa Fe, so you'll definitely be able to drop a grade of octane in most of NM and AZ.
If you're taking I-40 the majority of the way, you'll be at 5300 in Albuquerque and 7300 in Santa Fe, so you'll definitely be able to drop a grade of octane in most of NM and AZ.