1700 mile trip from Vegas to Wiscansin

Toyota engineers are the world's best, and Toyota cars are engineered to super high standards. I cannot see why you would want or need to limit the miles or driving time for any Toyota car: they are made to last forever.

 

You gotta eat, not much but you gotta eat, hell buy a box of cereal and some milk from a convience store. You also gotta exercise, walk or if you are staying at a motel with a pool use it. Drive during daylight and sleep at night, it is safer. I'm in my 70's and take a lot of driving trips, trust me.

 

1.) Is it safe to sleep at a 24-hour Walmart parking lot? Is it safe to sleep at truck stops? Please let me know your experiences.

Should be (aim for a lot that you see also has multiple trucks/cars parked there)...I slept in a wal-mart parking lot, although I do have tinted windows and I also blocked out my windshield and front driver/passenger windows, it was during winter, so I also just left my car on the good 8hr+ or so while I slept (and it cycled heat with the engine going on and off...would be summer for you, so...probably leave it on for the cycling of AC).

2.) Instead of food, is it safe to not eat during the road trip? I am 45lbs overweight so I think I can lose some fat. I plan on only drinking $1 energy drinks from the dollar store.

I was chewing on like 5+ different flavors of sunflower seeds, bought a variety of chips, snacks, etc (some form of eating activity will probably keep you more awake)...however, I didn't use any energy drinks (water is the way to go and would also stay away from energy drinks on long drives)...energy drinks give you a false sense of being awake/alert (and they really do me no good other than give me migraines from the excess caffeine intake).

3.) I think I can handle night driving as long as I don't feel tired. What are you thoughts? Sleep at 10pm and drive at 6am?

Sleep whenever you feel you need it...don't set an alarm, just sleep till you naturally wake up (and you should be well-rested)

 

You've already read my post. Trucks stops are my preference because people are moving in and out. It's louder but I feel safer than in a quiet empty parking lot. Plus access to the restroom is 24/7. Plus wifi if you it's next to a McDonald's.

I ate at the truck stop in the morning and for dinner. Usually some sort of fast food. Two meals and then snack in between. Would you rather gain weight or fall asleep in a crash due to weakness from lack from food. I think you need to rethink your priorities.

Ditto driving at night. Just drive sun up to sun down. Would you rather rush to your destination or fall asleep and crash? Plus sleeping at night is dark and cool. You can roll the windows down. Sleep during the day and you will need to run the AC.

I'll be brutally honest here: you're asking some really crazy questions. You'll find once you're on the road it won't take 4 days to go 1700 miles. That's a 2 day trip, 3 days max. You'll find when you're tired you'll pull over and nap whether it's day or night. You'll find that snacking on beef jerky and salty chips will keep you awake and alert versus starving and fighting sleep. You'll find yourself missing your exit and have to double back because it's getting dark and then you realize driving at night saves you no time at all.

 

I've slept overnight at Interstate rest stops. It's nice to have the washrooms handy and generally speaking they're spaced at pretty convenient intervals. You're not technically supposed to overnight there, but I figure if a state trooper asks any questions you can just look at your watch and go "holy cr@p, have I been here that long!?!?!" and be on your way. As long as you're not setting up your RV on blocks and plugging into an electrical outlet as I've seen some people do at Interstate rest stops...

I won't comment on the amount or type of food, other than to note that a heavy meal will inevitably make you sleepy and too many fluids will inevitably bring on the need to find a washroom.

Sleep when you feel tired, and that includes during the middle of the day. Don't worry about loosing time - you've got to sleep sometime, and a daytime catnap of even just a few minutes can do wonders to liven you up.

 

1700 miles, that is 2 days at 850 miles each day, about 13-14 hours depending on speed and traffic. Leave at 6am, stop at 8pm. Walk, rest, eat, and the next day, do it again and you will be there. I do numerous 815 mile trips each year (from Indiana to Florida and vice versa)-takes 12-13 hours each way (I try to keep in around 74-75mph on the Interstate), depending on traffic and how many pit stops my bladder forces me to stop. Sometimes I can go between gas stops, but in the Prius, that is a lot of hours... be careful, drink fluids (not energy drinks-bad), snack on fruit, candy (my favorite choice is licorice Twizzlers), etc...when stopping for gas, take a few minutes to use the rest room, wash your face (after you washed your hands), wet the back of your neck/head. The time at your pit stops is going to depend on how long you take to get there, barring traffic backups from accidents (stupid drivers) and construction-you are coming to the Midwest, there will be construction everywhere. Just remember, don't be in a hurry and make good driving decisions.

 

Come on don't keep us in suspense. How did the trip go? How long did it take? What was your fuel economy? You owe us!

 

i think there's a product called bug off or something, if you can't get them off with soap and water.

 

I wouldn't go that far. Here's on of our underbody fasteners, about 5 years in. We're not in the snow belt either:

 

Lots of rain in B.C.

 

Just a-belting down right now, yeah.

But those bolts are pure shite, never saw rust like that with Honda. Someone mentioned the manufacturer's are more restricted now in what coatings can be used. do not know.

 

But for those of us who live on the coast, not a lot of snow and therefore hardly any salt on the roads.

 

No road salt but living on the coast you have lots of salt in the air, does just as much harm!

 

[sarcasm] That must be why you never see any old cars in LA and San Francisco... [/sarcasm]