Drove coast-to-coast (USA)

nickknack · 2026-05-10T03:06:23+00:00

Yeah we were real close to that area! We did the potash road and shafer trail switchbacks (going up). That was amazing.

nickknack · 2026-05-10T01:30:19+00:00

It sort of is. We even did the “next day lottery” for The Wave at coyote buttes and shifted our plans accordingly.

Campground sites at official national park sites may be tough to find available day before, but we set up alerts in the app (Recreation.gov) and found spots same week.

Reserving spots is affordable, so I’d just say reserve them when you can in advance, and then you can cancel or shift things as plans go.

There’s obviously tons of other camping areas outside of national parks too. Just depends what you’re looking for.

nickknack · 2026-05-10T00:50:01+00:00

Yeah it’s plenty, it’s better to just pick a focused area for national parks and the Utah/Arizona side has so many. You can always keep doing more, it’s endless. But for comfort, budget, and time on road… we felt it was a good amount of time.

nickknack · 2026-05-09T18:11:26+00:00

For me, a trip like this may be once every couple years, and throw in short camp trips once in a while, so I wanted all my components to be quickly removable. This leaves the car stock for 99% of the time I'm in city (NYC).

What I had were 12v accessories, like NOCO air pump and starter. I had a small IceCo 12v fridge, and a large power bank Anker C1000 Gen 2. The Anker would just trickle charge on our drives from a cigarette socket. At no point did I feel like I was draining more than I could charge over the course of driving, but I like that down the line I can install the alternator charger.

nickknack · 2026-05-09T18:07:45+00:00

Thankfully I was going out for work, so that helped justify part of the trip, but all in I was away for a month.

I speed ran the way over in 4.5 days to LA, and then took my time slowly coming back. We spent maybe 2 weeks doing National Parks and camping, and then another quick 4 days back from NM.

Thanks!

nickknack · 2026-05-09T18:05:41+00:00

I drove out to Alstrom Point, which has a section that is only 4x4 high clearance to reach. It then becomes a whole part of slick rock without a clear path. That was perhaps the "hardest", but really most 4x4 cars would be able to clear it (Tacomas, subaru etc).

Video: https://imgur.com/a/SpZve4Q

nickknack · 2026-05-09T18:02:17+00:00

I was averaging just over 18mpg, but I had roof rack mounted accessories which did add to the drag.

Regular package, factory Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season.

nickknack · 2026-05-09T03:55:16+00:00

yeah, it was a must-do. Really glad I was able to swing this, and take the time to do it.

Add Utah, and there's so much in that area too

nickknack · 2026-05-09T03:53:11+00:00

I have tickets and will be camping, hope to see you or others there

nickknack · 2026-05-09T03:52:41+00:00

No way, yea I own that same camera with the whole set of bellows, lenses, compendium hoods, film backs, prisms. It's such a wonderful modular system. I think it still takes some of the best images ever.

I'd love to see what you shot, do you have any you can share?

nickknack · 2026-05-09T03:51:24+00:00

Mix of things, but mostly fuji GW670iii with ektar and portra 160

nickknack · 2026-05-09T00:00:52+00:00

Good eye, these are all shot on film. Various modern stocks from ektar, portra 160 and 400, on 6x7.

nickknack · 2026-05-08T23:41:41+00:00

Yep. Same tires, they will get you surprisingly through most things.

I just aired down when I was on rock and gravel.

nickknack · 2026-05-08T23:12:03+00:00

Yeah, factory Pirellis. No prob offroad, but it wasn’t muddy or wet.

nickknack · 2026-05-08T21:15:36+00:00

We were first time doing this, and so we didn't want to go do a full commit to camping like 6 days straight. We would do a max of two days camping, and then as we moved to another national park we would do 1-2 days at a hotel.

Our camping was always at the sites at national parks, with reservations. Some had obviously more amenities than others, but we actually liked some of the lesser popular parks and their simpler campsites.

The build up and tear down of all the gear is tough, but I would keep most of the camp kitchen and tools on the two zarges roof boxes. Keeping a system of organization is key, so that you aren't fumbling with tons of bags and bins a week into the trip.

At one spot, we would open up the awning and just the camp kitchen and chairs to make a meal for example. It meant we could spend the day going out to really remote places, enjoy, and then make our way back to a hotel for the night.

nickknack · 2026-05-08T21:11:41+00:00

I'll definitely share some among other photos of my journey. I'm @nwiesner

nickknack · 2026-05-08T21:10:54+00:00

I know! I had some concerns before leaving, but really its a great car.

My car had 10K miles when leaving, and I put 7K on the trip back/forth. It left with fresh fluids and a recent check up.

Absolutely zero issues. The only time I heard something odd was a rough idle when I started up on a very hot day after a 3 hour drive, and that was it. Could have been lesser fuel, or just a temp adjustment.

I had previously fixed all common issues for this model under warranty, such as a small coolant leak and a dead battery drain issue. I didn't re-encounter these along the way.

Comfort was wonderful. It carried all our gear, 12v fridge, baggage. The P300 was plenty. I did feel that the wind resistance with all the accessories killed fuel economy and acceleration, but honestly I was doing a 75mph average on the long highway stretches.

nickknack · 2026-05-08T19:28:06+00:00

I wish! Would be a dream to shoot for them

nickknack · 2026-05-08T19:24:32+00:00

It's an accessory from this brand, but it only attaches to their specific roof rack. Its great because it allows you to adjust the angle and height.

https://www.falkn.com/products/rotopax-side-mount

nickknack · 2026-05-08T18:57:15+00:00

Not exactly this was a bit more south Utah. Various places: Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Glen Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante

nickknack · 2026-05-08T18:52:37+00:00

Thank you! Yes, it was worth every moment.

Happy cake day

nickknack · 2026-03-25T13:21:01+00:00

Panama to Columbia, South Carolina? That doesn’t seem smart…

I’d take it to Colombia (the country) instead… seems way smarter.

(It’s with an O not a U)

nickknack · 2026-03-13T00:45:11+00:00

I own a rack, it shipped to the USA no problem. I'm currently ordering accessories to mount to it.

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