Here we go again! In a couple of days we'll be pointing the big, shiny snout of our brand-spankin'-new Dodge Ram West and hitting the go pedal. That's right: We're going cross-country with our new truck so that it may spend its days out in sunny Southern California.
Yours truly will handle the first leg from Detroit to Boulder, Colorado. My goal is to maintain at least 15 mpg. Along the way, I anticipate blogging about corn, highways, corn and also corn. Oh, and I might even keep a tally of how many left-lane dawdlers I can intimidate with our angry-red truck.
Once in Boulder, I'll hand the truck off to some guy named Karl Brauer. I'm told I'll recognize him as the guy standing next to a 1970 Plymouth GTX. The plan is to trailer his GTX back to LA, all the while spreading righteous Mopar all across the land.
Should be a good trip and we'll see how much we regret not having ordered up the optional big gas tank. Join us.
See below, a pic of the last time Karl towed the GTX cross-country.
Daniel Pund, Senior Editor Detroit @ 678 miles
mlevere1992 says:
10:52 AM, 07/10/09
I take it you are driving the boring I-80 trip. It isn't too bad through Iowa but once you get west of Lincoln, NE, you better have a good supply of coffee or Monster drink to keep you awake.
I live in Des Moines, IA and have made that trip many times. Good thing that the speed limit is 75 in NE, which means that it is 85 the whole way to Colorado.
throwback says:
11:12 AM, 07/10/09
Does Brauer actually drive the GTX, or does he just trailer it? Mopars should be driven!
bankerdanny says:
11:42 AM, 07/10/09
I predict that you will miss the bigger tank very much.
Love the GTX an unappreciated muscle car, although not unappreciated enough to be a bargain (for that look for the basically identical Satellite). I like the 68-69 version he has very much, but the 71-72 with the chrome mouth is my favorite. It looks like a fighter jet.
http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/plymouth-gtx/images/plymouth-gtx-1971a.jpg
uncanny_man says:
11:42 AM, 07/10/09
Why are so many of these vehicles bought in Detroit, then dragged all the way to LA to do the testing? Why not have testers in Detroit and get some different regional feedback?
canadia says:
12:07 PM, 07/10/09
@uncanny_man:
Two reasons come to mind, though i'm sure there are many more:
1. It likely would cost more than ~$400 to redistribute personnel from their CA headquarters to their Detroit satellite office
2. It's a good excuse for an initial road trip test
Also, all IL would need to do to simulate Detroit road quality and the driving experience would be to pilot the Ram through a dried up riverbed, put a .38 caliber bullet through the rear window, and maybe slash a tire or two while parked outside at night.
canadia says:
12:11 PM, 07/10/09
Oh, and, that stretch of I-80 through Nebraska really is despicable. The two saving graces are the 75mph limit, and this one rest stop complete with a garden out back and some pretty cool sculptures.
wobbly_ears says:
12:40 PM, 07/10/09
@throwback,
"Does Brauer actually drive the GTX, or does he just trailer it? Mopars should be driven!"
70s era Mopars were DESIGNED to be towed, not driven. They came out of the showroom like that. Self-propelled Mopars are an urban myth.
stephen987 says:
02:36 PM, 07/10/09
I was about to post and tell you guys how sorry I am that you decided to pick this beast over a Kia Soul. Now I wonder how well the Kia would have done towing the GTX!
canddmeyer says:
03:11 PM, 07/10/09
Hopefully there won't be the need to purchase the coil spring air bags many have added because the vehicle tends to squat under load without a WDH, and sway under heavy loads even with a WDH. On several Dodge forums I've read that the air bags are helping to stabilize the trailer sway. The vehicle is only rated to tow 7300lbs, so it's probably going to be approaching its max GCW.
I can't wait for the results, mostly cuz I own one too! However, I'll rarely tow.
uncanny_man says:
03:20 PM, 07/10/09
@canadia
Fair enough. Still would love to see more snow and rain reviews.
greenpony says:
08:42 AM, 07/12/09
15 mpg is a good target when heading into the prevailing winds.
adamb1 says:
06:36 AM, 07/13/09
You should be able to get 15mpg easy enough. I have a 2003 Ram 1500 with the HEMI. Mine does not have cylinder deactivation. I averaged 16.5 mpg on an interstate trip when the truck had 1,500 miles. Enjoy the view from up high.