Driving my Suburban from So. Cal to Eastern Pa.

[rustyg]

We're tired of the rat race here in so. cal. I sold my house and accepted a job in Gap, Pa. where my wifes family has lived for many generations. Got me a farm house built some time around 1830 on 5 acres, a small creek runs about 40' from the side of the house, you can hear the water with the windows open. We're staying in another place until I get some upgrades done on the house. I'm a little scared of the weather, but I think I'll adapt. It's got a 30x50 shop, It's an old tractor barn so it's going to need some love, I've been paying alot of attn. to the shop heater talk going on. A moving company is hauling all of our stuff, including my 71 k10 in the trailer. My wife is driving her truck and I'm driving my new (to me anyway) 72 suburban, along with my two Great Danes I just put a new motor in her and I'm trying to get her as roadworthy as possible, I got a new carb on the way so everything should be cool with the powerplant, the 700r4 is shifting funny so I'm gonna tinker with that in the next couple days. I just got the heater/defroster working today, just got the wipers going too. The squirters kinda work. New tires are going on this coming week. I'll be bringing various tools, spare water, fuel, fire ext. I want to be well equipped for this 2850 mile trip, so could you all let me know if there's something I'm overlooking....Tips/tricks......I'll probably cruise the I-10 pretty far east to avoid weather and head north. I welcome all of your feedback, even if you think i'm for moving. Thanks

[Already Gone]

You will probably need to install an engine block heater in your Burb if you are going to drive it through the winter, that is unless you have heated indoor parking.

[chevyboy55]

As an ex califourncatior I don't even blame you for wanting out. Might want to make sure you have a set of tire chains GOOD LUCK!

[71swb4x4]

Good Luck on your move. If you get lost and find yourself in South Dakota give me a shout

[rustyg]

Yeah, I plan on getting one of the coolant heater/circulator that I seen here on the board. I wouldnt mind a remote starter to get her heated up before I hop[ in.

[ddsmith]

I did that trip before out of San Diego to Western PA. Lots of different ways to go. It's a pretty long trip but isn't bad if you take your time. There are lots of board members all over the place and it might be nice to figure out your route so you could get some contacts along the way. If you break down along the way a board member in the area could help or at least give you a good idea who to use in the area. Not that I wish you a break down. I didn't do this when I flew to Oregon to get my truck and drive it to Maryland where I now live because I didn't know what my schedule was going to be. I drove the first leg 23 hours straight. When I got the truck within about 3 hours from home I had a alternator bracket break. All I needed was a welder and I could have repaired it easily. I didn't know anyone in the area to ask for help. I ended up limping it home. Stopping frequently do to engine heat. The water pump was slipping because of the broken bracket. This is why I said that board members along the way are good insurance. Another plus is you may get to meet some of the great people who are on this board.
As for Eastern PA, at least you get away from the lake effect snow. You could make some money bringing an extra truck from CA to PA. It is the rust belt and people eat up rust free 1967-72 chevy trucks. Ask anyone who lives there. That is also why I went to Oregon to get my truck. Good luck on your move.

[Vince Putt]

Welcome to PA Rusty G. I live in Dallas for 19 years got tired of the rat race too. I moved back to eastern Pa. I moved up here with 10 vechicles. 3 ryder trucks 5 trailers It was an adventure to say the least.

[special-K]

Doesn`t sound like East Coast suburbia,that`s the key.Living in a historic house,elbow-room,and a shop,dip-in to pull some bucks,then head back to the creekside,not to shabby.There are some nice places to live in CA.Either no work there or too expensive.It`s not that cold.I run out,start the truck,go in for 10,come out to a warm truck,never use an ice scraper.I don`t even plug my diesels-in unless we`re gettin`an Alberta Clipper.It`s the humidity in summer you`ll need to get used to(if possible).You learn to appreciate A/C,swimming pools,and boating in a new way. The trip?Are you back-flushing that tranny?I-10 is a good idea.Keep an ear on weather as you get east of the Mississippi and have alternative routes.You may be able to stay south farther east,then head north to avoid weather.Maybe not the shortest,but better all-in-all.What is your proposed route north?The weather either comes across from the Pacific,down from NW(sometimes dry coldfront/or mixing with moisture on it`s way),or up from the Gulf and turning to snow or ice at some point north.Listen to the weatherman for your general idea and timing.Usually you can move ahead of weather.Buenos Suerte.

[LUV2XCLR8]

If For Some Reason You End Up Turning North Towards Memphis,
And Then Taking I-40 East From There Look Me Up Ya Need A Place
To Stop, Relax, Crash, Etc...... I Am Only 15 Minutes From I-40.

[OLDROCK&ROLLER]

Good luck on your move...

[Chevy67Tk]

Welcome to PA
If you find your self going threw western PA and need help give me a call.
PM sent with numbers.

[dwaite72lnghrn]

I live about 85 miles north west of GAP, Lancaster county. You don't need no stinking block heater down there. Winter temp at night average 23* day time temps average 38*. Up here I only plugged the van (GAS Engine) in when the temps dropped below 0* which happens occasionaly. The biggest thing is the culture shock, No cable possibly, No DSL, and freakin Buggies everywhere on the back roads. PA route 10 and US 30 are the biggest highways and they are 2 lane sometimes with a turn lane in the middle. Also like no surf dude, and Rainy days (although you've been having them now) cloudy days where you are in a sun-less haze for a week before you see that bright thing in the sky.
With all that said I love the Peoples Democratic Republic of Pennsylvania. Lots of forest and game lands, and down there you are in Horse country all the rich yuppies from maryland and philly keep their horses for the race tracks.

[Smokie55]

Good Luck on your trip. I don't blame you one bit for making the move. the rat race has had me and the wife down for awhile now. We are looking to do a similar move soon (just not so far north).

One thing I think wuld be cool is to do a trip log of your journey. i remember reading a story from a guy who bought a 57 Chevy off ebay. he chronicalled the trip home driving this old classic across country. Alot of interesting stuff happened. i can bet the same will happen to you. he took some cool pctures along the way and even some from the drivers seat. It was very entertaining to read his story of the Loooong trip. I bet some of the folks here would love to hear the Burb across country trip from you. Hey I know I would read it.

Good luck again, and enjoy the USA in your Chevrolet!!!

[dons454s]

I agree I have never used any kind of block heaters. It does get cold and windy here as long as you have a good battery you will be good. I am about 30 miles from you when you move here.

[jeffnstef]

If your worried about traction you could look into some winter tires with studs. I havent seen a set of chains since I left California.

[mooneyes]

...if your running an h.e.i. i would throw an extra module in the glove box..they always seem to go bad at the wrong time....and while your at it bring some warm weather with ya too....last week we were in the 50's and 60's now we're back down into the teens...

[ddsmith]

I didn't use a block heater ever in PA and I didn't know what all those hitching post were for when I went to Idaho. Starting a 454 with the temp below 20 with 20W-50 oil is a real adventure. It's a long story.

[70 shorty]

you'd better start the loan application process for the loan your gonna need to be able to fuel that thing all the way to the east coast!

[rustyg]

Thanks for the input, I'm liking it! A trip log sounds like a fun thing to do, I'll take lots of pics. Thanks for the hei tip, sounds good. As for the fuel Let the prices keep dropping, my rough estimate goes like this: 10 mpg( I know thats pretty weak but it's a 4x4 sub w/a 750 carb) 2650 miles=265 gallons x $2 a gallon = $530 in fuel, ouch.

[dwaite72lnghrn]

Is that the gap east pf lancaster or Water Gap?
Also even $600 bucks isn't bad with the dogs air flight for them would be more than that.
Down there no chains they are a pain in the arse. The difference between chains and no chains is about 2-3 hours. Normally thats how long it takes them to clear the streets. PennDot is pretty good at that, but township roads take a bit longer.

[rustyg]

East of Lacsaster, We have a city of Lancaster here in Ca. but if I pronounce it the way I do here in Ca. in Pa. I get corrected quickly.

[ABHaulR]

good luck on your trip, hope everything goes good for you and your family, dogs too...LOL I just made the trip to Riverside, Ca from Grantsville, Ut..(40 miles west of Salt Lake) Towed a small enclosed trailer to pick up some stuff , got 7 mph, felt more llike 7 gals to the mile...LOL, yes i drove my sub on 40,s... thats the second trip in 3 months. we just moved back up here in oct. got tired of the rat race also..
Dwayne

[QKENUF4U]

PA. native here (pennstate area/state college for you pa. folks) if your doing the trip over from SOUTH cali. then take EAST I40 over to NORTH I81 and it will be smooth sailing since you will be on main highways the whole way. (plus I81 will prob. go right by your new home) cant say i blame ya for leaving communistfornia i moved back to phoenix and love it. i dont bother worrying about everyone else and how they drive/talk/eat etc. im gonna do my thing and enjoy the PERFECT WEATHER unlike PA. which is 11 months of crap (snow,ice,sleet,rain,etc) im into riding motorcycles and PA. is NOT the place for it. i lived there 30yrs of my 33yrs on this earth and it was time for a change. you can have the cold/wet/snow/ice crap !! i will say you picked a good place since you wont get anywhere near the bad weather that my dad does in CENTR county (wallecton/philipsburg to be exact)
good luck with your move and i hope your ready for the vehicle inspections EVERY year (used to be 15$ and is now 50$+ since they started doing an emissions visual inspection also)
later
lance

[XLR8N]

I left westlake village ca, headed I-10 east go right though not left when you hit the east coast good luck on your move!!!! sounds nice

[special-K]

Arizona is the place to live for maximum ridin`time.But don`t exaggerate about Mid-Atlantic weather.Worst case,your bike will sit Nov-March.That leaves 7 mos.This year,there`s only been a few days that were too cold.I lived in Flagstaff and unless you liked gettin`cold,your ridin`time was restricted.The benefit is:we have old curvey hilly roads to ride everywhere you go.Not just canyon & mountain roads.Some of my best rides have been in the west.But,the good rides are right out your door most anywhere you live in the east.