figuring out gas costs vs. mileage for a CJ7 cross country trip

[UKCJ7]

I'm thinking about the cost for taking a cross country drive from
Los Angeles - Miami. Possibly around the summer.

I've a 1980 CJ7 automatic tran. V8 302 or AMC 304 (can't recall at the moment,
it's stock) with a 15 gal. tank.
The mileage to LA-Mia is about 2800 miles about 4-5 days.

Being how gas prices are at the moment would anyone here be able to take
a good guess how much I could be spending on gas?

My other alternative is to transport the CJ via auto transporters.
I was quoted between $950-$1100 one way.

I would be spending close to that amount to prepare the CJ for such a trip.

Has anyone done a cross country drive with a CJ7 ? If so, how did you manage, etc.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

No, Ive not done the trip in a cj, Ive flat towed to both coasts with my P/U, but never driven. Ive had two best friends take similar ventures, one from Albuquerque to Chicago pulling an Opel gt behind a 78 CJ5 V8, and the other buddy ran from SAC to Ft Lauderdale in a wrangler, both spoke about the trips as "really bad". They both rode together up from New Mexico.

Id ship the jeep... especially if its a soft top. I dont fit well in my cj with a hard top/hard doors and don't know I could stomach that many miles in my cj. Ive got 436k miles on my work truck from running around the country, your 2300 mile jaunt I dont think of anything, but in a cj, well youd have stories to tell if you did.

All I remember them talking about was something about a "covered wagon" and what the hell where we thinking....

Given all the things that can go wrong on your trip and the money and time held up to repair, Id call it a high risk venture, even before you figure your cost of fuel, food and lodging along the way. Something to think about.

 

[Coach]

I'm thinking about the cost for taking a cross country drive from
Los Angeles - Miami. Possibly around the summer.

I've a 1980 CJ7 automatic tran. V8 302 or AMC 304 (can't recall at the moment,
it's stock) with a 15 gal. tank.
The mileage to LA-Mia is about 2800 miles about 4-5 days.

Being how gas prices are at the moment would anyone here be able to take
a good guess how much I could be spending on gas?

My other alternative is to transport the CJ via auto transporters.
I was quoted between $950-$1100 one way.

I would be spending close to that amount to prepare the CJ for such a trip.

Has anyone done a cross country drive with a CJ7 ? If so, how did you manage, etc.

I would say at 12mpg, you are looking at roughly $940 in gas. If you ship it, how will you get there? If flying, add that to the shipping costs.

I would say the adventure and being able to say you did it, could be fun. Then use your flight money to cover hotels, food, and repairs for the drive.

Me, I would drive it and keep us posted on the adventure you have. How many can say they drove cross country in a CJ?

 

[IOPort51]

If I had to decide between driving a CJ cross country and being beaten by two large men with sticks, I would have to think about it for a bit.
I am a gray haired old fat man so that has some thing to do with my view. The longest single trip I ever made in my CJ5 was Dallas to Denver and back, I was about 25 at the time and it was a long trip.
And the Jeep was almost new.

 

[kickitandholdit]

I have driven from Colorado to new Mexico and then over to Georgia in a constant drive other than the stop to shoot some at the NRA shooting range. This trip was not fun and I have a few thousand songs on my iPod and ran out of music quick haha and I probably wouldn't do it again.

Oh and by the way we were in a nice 05 tahoe.


Honestly doing it is going to suck a lot. But it's only a few days and having done it is awesome. Driving across the states back to back it is just awesome once you get to your destination. I would advise doing it at least once if your in a lexas or a jeep go for it! You will get over the rough trip but you will never loose the story

 

[UKCJ7]

I've put thought into this and everyones replies have been a great help!
But logistically this trip cross country adventure would end up costing more
than shipping it over. I was quoted about $950-$1100 based on gas prices if shipped during the summer months.

As mentioned I need to put work into the CJ which would put me out close to $1K. There may be a "valve problem" that in turn could result in more engine related problems. Mileage on the CJ is close to rolling over 130K original miles.

Airfares are quite competitive, and I saw a rd. trip flight (LA-MIA) for
$181 (before taxes!). It would involve a long layover each way. Much better
than 14-16 fill up stops, and anything else (god forbid) to happen.

As exciting this road trip sounds I feel it's in the best interest of myself
and the CJ to hold off. And save the fun for Miami. :grinjeep:

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Probably a good call, I love a road trip more than the next guy, but very bad things can happen to older vehicles... Ive got an example, I was driving my 93 Roadmaster to SAC in 2003, when a rod let go around North Platte, NE. That was not such a big deal, but I was on my way to start a job,.. and I paid proabably 5 times what it would have cost me to buy a rebuilt longblock and change the motor out myself at home.

That motor had almost 150k, but the oil was crystal clear, and there was no sign of rod knock when it was cold and just started. In other words there was "ZERO" heads up it was coming, it just happened. I was quite surprised...

 

[Coach]

Probably the best call, given your other variables. But I would have enjoyed reading about the adventure.

 

[UKCJ7]

Yes, such a road trip would be THE adventure that's for certain.
When you look at the US map, it's basically a straight run from LA into
Florida. It's just that long stretch of road once you enter Florida down/across
to Miami.

At least if the jeep does get shipped I can share our adventures being in
Florida.

See how things turn out with my beloved CJ7