Cross-country Move with a ‘73 Satellite and a U-Haul Trailer

Brandon Flannery, editor for the Goodguys Gazette, was recently offered the option to telecommute, so he decided to move from California back to his native Georgia. He packed his stuff into a U-Haul trailer, hooked it up to his baby blue Mopar, and headed east. Brandon writes:

The Boss Ride aka Blue Goose had been upgraded with a 360 transplant and a fresh 904, and I drove it out, so I figured the only way to get it back in style would be to drive it. We chucked most of the big stuff, mailed several large boxes and stuffed the rest in the 5×8 U-Haul trailer, the back seat and the ol’ lady’s Jetta. Left on Thursday, got in Sunday night.

Let’s just say a 3,000 mile road trip on the 40 in August with no A/C is an adventure. I earned my stripes…. The only problem I encountered was a blown power steering high pressure hose that I forgot to make a bracket for on Saturday in Arkansas… in the afternoon, at 110 degrees…. Literally…. I foolishly tried to scab it together but it didn’t work. Broke down right in front of a Super 8 and a liquor store so we packed it in for the night.

Actually found a replacement hose in stock at an Advance 70 miles away in Little Rock so we jumped in the chase vehicle and got it, put it on, and kept on truckin’… I averaged 12mpg at about 72-3 mph… 17 gallon tank…. we stopped a lot. I think I used a quart and a half of oil, and had to pull it into low 2 on a few grades, but it never detonated or ran hot.

I hooked up my vintage Cobra CB and it was fun and helpful listening to the trucks for upcoming accidents and cops. I highly recommend one for over-the-road traveling. All in all a fun and a very hot trip.

Thanks Brandon for the cool pics and story. I have a bunch more photos after the jump, and be sure to check out Brandon’s ride page. Oh, and if this all seems vaguely familiar to loyal blog readers, last August Jen moved cross country with a 5×8 U-Haul, too.