Driving Dallas to Phoenix temps- towing!

[eastontracks]

What everyone else said is good. You'll be fine as long as all your car maintenance is up to date.

Prob the thing to worry more than breaking down is having gas in the tank & driving the speed limit in New Mexico around Deming as there's a speed trap there.

[dogdayze]

Thanks, all! Yeah, I'm just nervous. I suspect we're gonna have a hotter than normal summer and I don't know what an average summer would be like, either. So, I'm doing what I normally do- Plan for the worst, expect the best. :-) Sure is beautiful out there and can't wait to get back.

[43north87west]

Take a close look at the shrapnel that people take down the road on a daily basis, and you'll feel a lot better.

The route you are taking, apart from the heat, is not very taxing on a vehicle. It does have some elevation, but it's pretty gradual; not like climbing mountain passes. Even though an endless list of potential problems "could" happen, they almost never do. Chances are, you're going to arrive without a single hint of trouble. Just make sure you're prepared to keep the pets in the shade and with plenty of water, just in case something unexpected happens.

I've driven across the country more times than I can even remember, in every possible direction. Some of it has been towing heavy boats and trailers (like 5 tons +). My experience suggests that all the maintenance in the world doesn't prevent some failures, and tires are the most likely problem, regardless of age or miles. A new tire can pick up a piece of metal in the road, and lose air. Walk around the trailer every time you stop, and check tires on the trailer and tow vehicle (this is where you can catch a lot of potential issues). Check fluids when you get fuel too. Just basic smart things to do when you're on the road.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

Take a close look at the shrapnel that people take down the road on a daily basis, and you'll feel a lot better.

The route you are taking, apart from the heat, is not very taxing on a vehicle. It does have some elevation, but it's pretty gradual; not like climbing mountain passes. Even though an endless list of potential problems "could" happen, they almost never do. Chances are, you're going to arrive without a single hint of trouble. Just make sure you're prepared to keep the pets in the shade and with plenty of water, just in case something unexpected happens.

I've driven across the country more times than I can even remember, in every possible direction. Some of it has been towing heavy boats and trailers (like 5 tons +). My experience suggests that all the maintenance in the world doesn't prevent some failures, and tires are the most likely problem, regardless of age or miles. A new tire can pick up a piece of metal in the road, and lose air. Walk around the trailer every time you stop, and check tires on the trailer and tow vehicle (this is where you can catch a lot of potential issues). Check fluids when you get fuel too. Just basic smart things to do when you're on the road.

So true. And good advice!

[MalteseJane]

Originally Posted by eastontracks

What everyone else said is good. You'll be fine as long as all your car maintenance is up to date.

Prob the thing to worry more than breaking down is having gas in the tank & driving the speed limit in New Mexico around Deming as there's a speed trap there.

The gas in the tank is soooo true. There are miles and miles without any possibility to fill up. So if you get down to a 1/4 and you have the possibility to fill up do it, you don't know where the next station will be.
There are speed traps in Texas too.