Long Drive Recommendations

[Norm B]

We are moving to Nova Scotia from Alberta. Tried various shipping companies to move my car and couldn’t find anything that met my standards. So now I am planning a long distance drive, 3000 miles in 6 days, and am looking for recommendations from people who have driven their roadster on longer trips. My brother in law is flying out to do the trip with me and we will be travelling in two vehicles, taking turns driving the roadster. I already plan on getting a couple of sets of driving googles and a bunch of earplugs. Have a soft top but, don’t know if I want to put it on and leave it for the whole trip or not.

Any recommendations would greatly appreciated.

Norm

[steno]

I've put serious miles (99k)on my car over the years. The soft top reduces getting beat up by the wind and sun. Get some Bluetooth ear plugs are great for tunes and knocking the noise down. I also have a soft sided cooler that just comes in handy.

[AtlantaCobra]

Hope you're doing it in the summer :)
Man, 3,000 miles in six days is A LOT. I would imagine some parts will be great, but some parts will be miserable. My legs start to hurt after just a couple of hours. Are you sure you've exhausted the shipping options?
It would be a bummer if you got it there and then hated your Cobra and never wanted to get in it again. Probably wouldn't happen, but something to consider.

[egchewy79]

depending on the weather, the soft top sounds like a good options, even though I have no experience doing anything that long.
6 days of sun, wind and possibly rain would be a lot to deal with even with the appropriate protection (hat, sunscreen, ear plugs, etc).

[Norm B]

Thanks for the replies. Trip starts on the 15th of June. Might be a shorter first day depending on the timing of the closing of our home sale in Airdrie. Need to be at our new home in Nova Scotia early on the 22nd so I can fly back to Calgary for a work on the 23rd. I have driven 6 hours with one stop without an issue. Just not sure how my older body will react to longer days in a row.

Norm

[Rdone585]

I would recommend a good car cover, just in case you run into rain and have to stop. There were groups that left from FL and went to the west coast more than once, traveling the historic route 66. Perhaps some of them could lend some wisdom for long journey suggestions. If you're able to enjoy the ride, rather than just going from point A to point B it will be so much more pleasant. If you do planned stops at areas of interest, that might help. Actually 500 miles a day is very doable, especially if you could break it up with a rest day in between. At least we don't have the 55 mile per hour speed limits like we had in the 70s anymore, that was difficult.

[weendoggy]

I drove mine across country, coast-to-coast (USA) and no top! Wife went too! Keep a good cover handy to cover the cockpit in an emergency and carry a full cover as well. Ear plugs for my iPod was great. Ear muffs to cover ears on chilly days, layered clothing and nylon wind pants over your trousers helps keep heat in. I have a heater and heated seats and that was good too. Sunscreen, hat, glasses etc. all the normal stuff. Big help for me is my cruise control for those long drives to give the leg a rest. Masking tape for W/S lower area and door seams to keep rain from getting in too much. Lots more but that's a start. Oh, have fun, it's an adventure!

[Jeff Kleiner]

Pinging Ralph Button and John Phillips :)

Jeff

[Avalanche325]

reliablecarriers.com does Canada as far as I know. These guys transport some of the most expensive cars in the world.

I am all about driving, but you are talking 10 hour days for 6 days straight. The fun meter might get pretty low.

[Papa]

The longest single-day drive I've done in my car was a little over 250 miles and I was beat after that. I can't imagine doing twice that in a day and then doing that for five more days. I'd definitely find a way to ship the car, or rent/buy a trailer and do the trip in a more comfortable car.

[Norm B]

We are going to do split duty in the roadster and my wife’s KIA Sportage. Had planned an enclosed trailer behind my truck but used the truck to pull the boat across. Should have shipped the roadster in the moving truck but the expediter told me they don’t do that anymore so I wasn’t ready when the moving truck showed up. The driver said it would have been no problem��.

[John4337]

Our longest trip was 8 days, about 2600 miles. We try to limit it to 500 miles a day. I suggest the top, really cuts down on the beating you take from the sun and wind, Bluetooth noise canceling earbuds work great to combat the tire/traffic noise.

[Jim1855]

Go for it.

I've done MI, CO, MT and back to MI twice. Each time in 10 days to two weeks with cruises on the CO mountains, about 4,000 miles. Did MI, CO, MI on the last long ride in 8 days about 2800 miles and again cruises in the mountains. 500/day is easily doable. No support car, had to carry everything for the events.

Jim

[Tom Veale]

I did 2600 miles in my '33 HR in 7 days with the Hot Rod Power Tour last June. It was extremely hot all week with Temps on the 90s each day and full sun.
I drove the whole way with the soft top on and was glad for the sun protection. I had a cooler on the floor with me and kept V8 and Propel chilled in it. V8 helps keep your salts up and has no sugar (I'm diabetic) so I kept hydrated.
I put in softer springs a d adjusted the shocks to "soft" for the drive and am glad I did.
Best wishes on your adventure,
Tom

[Peeker]

Drove mine about 570 miles recently. One thing that helped me was a rolled up towel for lumbar support. Someone else mentioned a set of Bluetooth headphones. They are a must.

[Rockman]

This will be a great adventure! Take your time, stop if your are tired and resist get-there-itis. So what if it takes a few more days. This is a once in a lifetime drive. Best wishes and safe travels.

[Railroad]

Not for comfort, but I drive with headlights on high beam during the day.

[Jetfuel]

Big bottle of Advil…

Jet…safe travel..

[Fixit]

Shade & noise/wind buffet protection will be your friend.
These cars ride surprisingly well, but +/- 300 miles is about the limit without a break.

[john42]

Following this with keen interest :-)

Longest trip I've done so far was Hershey, PA to New Hampshire. That was only 400ish miles. Did it in 1 day but took my time, did lots of stops and took many smaller highways. Was about 9 hours total. I was very tired at the end of the day. Doubt I could go 6 days straight like that.

In a few weeks I'm heading to London, OH from New Hampshire. The plan is an 8 hour day and then a 6 hour day.

[abdw-wcw]

Sten (the first reply above) and myself have done several big single day trips. The Texas Cobra Show back to Chicago (about 1200 miles...done this multiple times now). The open house at FF last summer (a short 1050 miles). And east of Orlando back to Chicago for a buddies 'first start' (also 1200 miles). All those legs done in a single day.
This reminds me... Sten, we are getting too old for this $hit. Lets start breaking these trips up. lol

[wickershaw]

I have considered doing this but my biggest concern has not been mentioned: What do you do with it at night? Car cover and just hope nothing happens?

[Jim1855]

I started out covering it. Gave up on that after packing up my first rain-soaked cover. Used a tonneau cover that worked and tried to park in front of the room or the lobby.

Slept with a 45, I was fine, car was on its own.

Jim

[wickershaw]

Slept with a 45, I was fine, car was on its own.

Guess I better buy the Sig Sauer I've had my eye on

[AC Bill]

Alberta, Sask. and Manitoba could get boring as you cross the prairies. Long, flat, straight stretches..same scenery for hours..lol Hope you take radios so you can yack to each other.
The cost of fuel will really rack up since prices have climbed so high in the last few weeks. Hope you have a good trip.

[Norm B]

Two days done and 2065 kms traveled, Started out of Airdrie on Thursday morning. Raining and 8 degrees C or 46 F. Showers only lasted an hour. Windy and cool the rest of the day. Stayed with friends in Manitoba last night and a hotel tonight in Thunder Bay Ontario. Nice driving weather today except for one short rain shower.
Top makes a huge difference and had the side curtains on most of the time. Car draws a crowd every time we stop.
I think we are all the best sales team FFR has.

Norm

[Norm B]

Day three is done and another 1008 kms travelled. Cool temps again made for a nice driving day. A few construction zones and one tank of bad gas were the only setbacks. In Sudbury Ontario for the night. Planning Lévis Quebec tomorrow night. Shorter drive to let weather pass overnight then carry on for our new home. Should be there Monday evening.

[GoDadGo]

Recommendation:
Don't Drive Down In The Deep South Because It Is Freaking Hot Down Here!

[Norm B]

Trip is DONE! Spent last night in Levis Quebec as planned. Had a starter issue during the day that set us back an hour. Thought the geared starter had failed by the noise it was making. Got my brother in law who lives in Ottawa (another one, not the one driving with me) to pick up a replacement and we went to his house to do the swap. Once things had cooled enough to reach in there I discovered the solenoid wire from the ignition switch had failed at the starter. Quick fix and we were on our way.
If you ever have the chance to drive through construction zones in Quebec in the dark after the F1 race, DON’T DO IT!
Got to the hotel and had 2 double IPAs and decided not to post.
Today was uneventful.
5000 kms or 3000 miles in 5 days is easily doable with a relief driver.
I will post lessons learned tomorrow.

Norm

[Cutter 54]

Congratulations on your successful and safe trip. Can’t wait to hear more, including how well your wipers worked in the rain, suggestions for comfortable seating and recommendations for suspension comfort, like springs. Good luck in the new home. Ed K

[Norm B]

Aside from the items listed in my signature line my car is base kit setup. Four link suspension with thr FFR supplied springs on the coil overs. Tires are Cooper high performance all season. I have some videos of the trip that I will try to put together and post a link to when I have time. In the meantime here are the things I learned/did that made the trip better or worse.
There is only one item on the worse list so I will cover that first. Underdrive pulleys are not suitable for this type of use. Long drives at 55 mph (most of Ontario) result in sustained operation at 2100 rpm. That’s with 355 gears in the dif and a T5 in 5th gear. Alternator is not spinning fast enough for heater and headlights when needed. Choice was drive in 4th or speed a bit. Mostly choose the latter when able.
The good items include the top, heater and wipers. We had temps of 8 to 16 C or 46 to 60 F for most of the trip. We had 2 days where we took the side curtains off for part of the day. Wipers worked great but I heavily modified the wheel boxes when I installed them. They can be run on a dry windshield without issue.
Cup holders, phone mount and charging port were important convenience items. The phone holder I got at Princess Auto (Harbour Freight) and suction cup mounted to the dash. Made using the maps app very easy.
Earplug in the left ear is still required with the top as airflow noise is still an issue.
The most important lesson I learned was, don’t be in a hurry. Fuel stops will be long as you answer questions about the car from the crowd that gathers each time. Take the time to stretch and visit with people.

Norm

[Gbeck]

Congratulations on an awesome road trip!

[Tooth]

Great write up. I'm having a hard time imagining that I'm building a car that will be reliable enough for that kind of trip. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[Grubester]

....soft top! I'm building a Mk 4 289 roadster. What/which mfrs out there make soft tops? Especially your experience -- sounds like it made a difference!

[Norm B]

I have the Whitby soft top. Not sure what else is available now.

Norm