Road Trip in my New Forester.
Oct 5th, 2019, 01:25 PM
#21
mlgb. I'm planning (weather permitting!) to go San Diego -Phoenix- Flagstaff, so Williams would be backtracking. There's always Sedona. That would be just awful! LOL!
I've started putting my bad weather kit together. Ordered a small snow shovel and an ice thingy and snow brush. Have a quite big first aid kit already. Need to get kitty litter. I have camping lanterns and lots of batteries. I read somewhere to take a big bucket with some sand in it and thick black trash bags to make a makeshift toilet. Sound like a plan. There never seems to be one when you really need it! And air freshener! Also, don't let the gas tank get less than half full.
I'm putting together a list of pet-friendly hotels. I don't know how many hours, or miles, I'll be able to do in one day even in good weather and I don't really want to be driving in the dark. I'll probably have a better idea of that after the first day. My son told me to break it up into two or three-hour segments or so and we'll have to stop for the dog (and me!) periodically anyway.
I've started putting my bad weather kit together. Ordered a small snow shovel and an ice thingy and snow brush. Have a quite big first aid kit already. Need to get kitty litter. I have camping lanterns and lots of batteries. I read somewhere to take a big bucket with some sand in it and thick black trash bags to make a makeshift toilet. Sound like a plan. There never seems to be one when you really need it! And air freshener! Also, don't let the gas tank get less than half full.
I'm putting together a list of pet-friendly hotels. I don't know how many hours, or miles, I'll be able to do in one day even in good weather and I don't really want to be driving in the dark. I'll probably have a better idea of that after the first day. My son told me to break it up into two or three-hour segments or so and we'll have to stop for the dog (and me!) periodically anyway.
Oct 5th, 2019, 02:11 PM
#22
LaQuinta.
www.lq.com
I can't tell you how many times I've spent the night at the one in Amarillo on cross-country trips. I'd pre-book the hotels if it were me if you need a pet-friendly one.
Amarillo by morning
www.lq.com
I can't tell you how many times I've spent the night at the one in Amarillo on cross-country trips. I'd pre-book the hotels if it were me if you need a pet-friendly one.
Amarillo by morning 
Oct 5th, 2019, 02:16 PM
#23
LaQuinta.
www.lq.com
I can't tell you how many times I've spent the night at the one in Amarillo on cross-country trips. I'd pre-book the hotels if it were me if you need a pet-friendly one.
Amarillo by morning
www.lq.com
I can't tell you how many times I've spent the night at the one in Amarillo on cross-country trips. I'd pre-book the hotels if it were me if you need a pet-friendly one.
Amarillo by morning I'm actually looking at LQ. Thanks for the rec for the one in Amarillo. I'd prefer to pre-book, it gives me less to be anxious about. I suppose I can always cancel before 3pm if I have to.
Oct 5th, 2019, 02:33 PM
#24
Good idea! Without a dog, you can stop and stay almost anywhere. With a dog, you really have limited options. Some that are pet friendly add on charges. Some that don't are really sub-standard (IMO). LQs are consistent, friendly staff, welcoming to pets and no stress. The free breakfasts tend to be carb-heavy, but that's the only thing I have negative to say about them. The one in Chattanooga was the cleanest hotel I've been in ANYWHERE! It sparkled and had a dog park. I love LQs when traveling with pets. There are about 3 in NYC that don't allow pets but the others are wonderful and welcoming.
Oct 6th, 2019, 08:52 AM
#25
Getting back to the original post, with a new Forester you have a car with one of the best balanced all around AWD systems out there among a number of systems that are quite different from each other in their driving characteristics, so you should have confidence just from that.
I would skip the studs but consider snow tires depending on how nervous you are about the drive. Metal studs cause road damage and are thus illegal in a number of jurisdictions. Moreover they negatively affect handling on dry or wet roads and even though they can have some use on ice any benefit is outweighed by their negative aspects. A good winter tire should do fine or even one that has the mountain/snow flake symbol.
I have owned an older Subaru and also a classic Land Rover Defender (the kind seen on the old Africa movies. When I had the Land Rover I lived in a heavy snow belt in the Berkshires and my daily drive was over what they called there a “mountain “ from one valley in NY to another in Mass., a steep and winding drive. I never switched to dedicated snow tires and never had a problem.
I would skip the studs but consider snow tires depending on how nervous you are about the drive. Metal studs cause road damage and are thus illegal in a number of jurisdictions. Moreover they negatively affect handling on dry or wet roads and even though they can have some use on ice any benefit is outweighed by their negative aspects. A good winter tire should do fine or even one that has the mountain/snow flake symbol.
I have owned an older Subaru and also a classic Land Rover Defender (the kind seen on the old Africa movies. When I had the Land Rover I lived in a heavy snow belt in the Berkshires and my daily drive was over what they called there a “mountain “ from one valley in NY to another in Mass., a steep and winding drive. I never switched to dedicated snow tires and never had a problem.
Oct 6th, 2019, 09:31 AM
#26
Basingstoke, thanks. This car is really great. I'm not nervous, I just want to have the correct stuff in case I need it. Better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it. Plan for the worst, etc, etc. I could be lucky, although slightly disappointed to be honest, and never see a flake of snow the whole trip.
Oct 6th, 2019, 10:28 AM
#27
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We LOVE our Subaru Forester but have yet to take it up into the Sierra.
On another note, friends of ours--one a teenager, the other the mom--recently drove from Washington, DC to Palo Alto, CA--in 6 days, including a visit to Yosemite. They were accompanied by two adorable Munchkin cats.
The daughter raved about the trip and says everyone should get to drive across the U.S. to see what it looks like on the ground.
On another note, friends of ours--one a teenager, the other the mom--recently drove from Washington, DC to Palo Alto, CA--in 6 days, including a visit to Yosemite. They were accompanied by two adorable Munchkin cats.
The daughter raved about the trip and says everyone should get to drive across the U.S. to see what it looks like on the ground.
Oct 6th, 2019, 11:05 AM
#28
Driving cross country is fantastic. We once drove R/T Cincinnati-San Diego. It was similar to the OP’s trip. Nothing much to be seen on the way out until Oklahoma From there we hit the main sights including the Grand Canyon. We took a southerly route back with main stops in Houston and New Orléans. Most memorable is that it was springtime and many cactus were in bloom. Weather was perfect. We made the trip with DW‘s 2 cousins and 4yo son in a 1969 Chevy.
Oct 6th, 2019, 12:53 PM
#30
When I first came to live in the US we lived for a year in Houma, LA. The following summer, we took a three and a half week road trip in a small camper van through Texas, New Mexico (Carlsbad Caverns), Colorado (Continental Divide) , Wyoming (Yellowstone), Montana (niece in horsey summer camp, massive mosquitoes, even by Louisiana standards!), Alberta (Calgary), British Columbia (bear in our campsite, Lake Louise, Victoria) Washington, Oregon, California (bought house in San Diego!), Arizona, New Mexico, Texas (always seems neverending!) and home. No internet! No cell phones! Just Rand McNally and guide books. It's so much easier today.
Kureiff, Thanks.
Kureiff, Thanks.
Oct 6th, 2019, 12:57 PM
#31
When I first came to live in the US we lived for a year in Houma, LA. The following summer, we took a three and a half week road trip in a small camper van through Texas, New Mexico (Carlsbad Caverns), Colorado (Continental Divide) , Wyoming (Yellowstone), Montana (niece in horsey summer camp, massive mosquitoes, even by Louisiana standards!), Alberta (Calgary), British Columbia (bear in our campsite, Lake Louise, Victoria) ....
Oct 6th, 2019, 01:15 PM
#32
We live in Colorado, and frequently drive over Berthoud Pass in all sorts of wintry conditions. We have never needed chains on our AWD vehicles. Our Volvos are tanks, and get everywhere on all-weather tires. Our older Santa Fe is AWD, but it needs snow tires.
What route will you take?
What route will you take?
Oct 6th, 2019, 01:48 PM
#33
We live in Colorado, and frequently drive over Berthoud Pass in all sorts of wintry conditions. We have never needed chains on our AWD vehicles. Our Volvos are tanks, and get everywhere on all-weather tires. Our older Santa Fe is AWD, but it needs snow tires.
What route will you take?
What route will you take?
Not through Colorado! Most likely I-8 to I-10 to I-40 to I-44 unless the weather reports are bad. In that case, I-8 to I-10 to I-20 to I-40 to I-44. The second route is longer, but the weather should be OK.
Oct 6th, 2019, 02:32 PM
#34
I was just giving you Colorado, as an extreme example of tricky winter driving. I think you’ll be fine.
However, the very worse weather I’ve ever driven through was on the flats of Kansas! Wow— the wind gets whipping and the ice gets thick. Time to find a truck stop and hunker down!
However, the very worse weather I’ve ever driven through was on the flats of Kansas! Wow— the wind gets whipping and the ice gets thick. Time to find a truck stop and hunker down!
Oct 8th, 2019, 04:58 PM
#35
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We did a cross country drive from Kentucky through Colorado and on west through Wyoming and Montana and into Seattle, stopping at National Parks along the way, and driving on into Vancouver for an Alaskan cruise. Afterwards, we drove home across the northern part of the U.S. I had never been to South Dakota and really enjoyed seeing the sites in that particular state.
We have also done driving trips through New England and all over the south and southwest. This is one big and varied country.
We have also done driving trips through New England and all over the south and southwest. This is one big and varied country.
Oct 8th, 2019, 06:26 PM
#37
This is one of my favorite books and it illustrates how varied the people are.
by (Author)
The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless Across America Paperback – March 2, 2014
by (Author)
Oct 8th, 2019, 10:23 PM
#38
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We LOVE our Subaru Forester but have yet to take it up into the Sierra.
On another note, friends of ours--one a teenager, the other the mom--recently drove from Washington, DC to Palo Alto, CA--in 6 days, including a visit to Yosemite. They were accompanied by two adorable Munchkin cats.
The daughter raved about the trip and says everyone should get to drive across the U.S. to see what it looks like on the ground.
On another note, friends of ours--one a teenager, the other the mom--recently drove from Washington, DC to Palo Alto, CA--in 6 days, including a visit to Yosemite. They were accompanied by two adorable Munchkin cats.
The daughter raved about the trip and says everyone should get to drive across the U.S. to see what it looks like on the ground.
If the 2019 Forester had been made in manual transmission as Subaru claimed that it was going to be, then I might have ended up with another Forester. My 2019 Crosstrek has manual transmission and a CD player which is great. I’ve only owned manual transmission cars since I was a young teen.
While owning my 2008 Subaru, I never needed to drive it in the snow. But, I have known lots of folks with Subarus and the ones who have driven them in snow have mentioned that they didn’t have chains on them while driving in snow.
Happy Travels!
Oct 9th, 2019, 09:01 AM
#39
Thanks everyone for all your advice. I've decided not to bother with chains at all. If I need them for the freeway, then as Jubi said, I need to get off the freeway and find a hotel until the road is cleared. I may take a couple of bottles of wine instead, just to be prepared for that stopover!
Keep your comments coming, though. Some lovely memories here.
Keep your comments coming, though. Some lovely memories here.
Oct 9th, 2019, 09:38 AM
#40
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I also absolutely loved my Forester. I had a brand new 2008 one that I bought in 2007, but sold to a neighbor 11 months ago when my brand new 2019 Crosstrek arrived from Japan. I ordered the 2019 Crosstrek in 2018.
If the 2019 Forester had been made in manual transmission as Subaru claimed that it was going to be, then I might have ended up with another Forester. My 2019 Crosstrek has manual transmission and a CD player which is great. I’ve only owned manual transmission cars since I was a young teen.
While owning my 2008 Subaru, I never needed to drive it in the snow. But, I have known lots of folks with Subarus and the ones who have driven them in snow have mentioned that they didn’t have chains on them while driving in snow.
Happy Travels!
If the 2019 Forester had been made in manual transmission as Subaru claimed that it was going to be, then I might have ended up with another Forester. My 2019 Crosstrek has manual transmission and a CD player which is great. I’ve only owned manual transmission cars since I was a young teen.
While owning my 2008 Subaru, I never needed to drive it in the snow. But, I have known lots of folks with Subarus and the ones who have driven them in snow have mentioned that they didn’t have chains on them while driving in snow.
Happy Travels!
My 2010 (manual transmission ) legacy only has 117,000 miles on it( many in snow) so i am far from needing a new one, but I love and use the CD player.
