Would I be safe to drive a 23 year old truck for 7 hours / 450 miles? Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 23, 2019 at 23:30 UTC (7:30pm US/Eastern) April 2019 photo competition, “Road trip” (Read, rules are different.)Is it safe to drive in Morocco if you don't understand Arabic?Is it safe to drive the Baja Peninsula?Is it OK for someone to follow their family's rented moving truck into a weigh station?How to pass time / manage a very long drive (25+ hours) with a group of peopleWhere to drive an old car in HavanaWould it be safe to travel from Europe to South-East Asia overland with an ex-USSR-military truck?How can one get a permit to drive the Chinese section of Karakoram Highway with a foreign truck?Driving a truck from UK to Africa for charityCan you drive with an international heavy vehicle license in New York a bus/truck?Is it safe for someone with a British Passport to drive from the UK around the Black Sea and back?

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Would I be safe to drive a 23 year old truck for 7 hours / 450 miles?



Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 23, 2019 at 23:30 UTC (7:30pm US/Eastern)
April 2019 photo competition, “Road trip” (Read, rules are different.)Is it safe to drive in Morocco if you don't understand Arabic?Is it safe to drive the Baja Peninsula?Is it OK for someone to follow their family's rented moving truck into a weigh station?How to pass time / manage a very long drive (25+ hours) with a group of peopleWhere to drive an old car in HavanaWould it be safe to travel from Europe to South-East Asia overland with an ex-USSR-military truck?How can one get a permit to drive the Chinese section of Karakoram Highway with a foreign truck?Driving a truck from UK to Africa for charityCan you drive with an international heavy vehicle license in New York a bus/truck?Is it safe for someone with a British Passport to drive from the UK around the Black Sea and back?



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3















Apologies in advance if this question should be posted on the mechanics Stack Exchange rather than here, but after seeing a similar question or two, I figure this one may not hurt:



I've been driving a '96 Chevy S10 for about five years now, and coming from a family of mechanics and/or vehicle enthusiasts, the truck's been pretty well-maintained in that time frame. I'm on a brand new set of tires (not even two months old), I just refilled the coolant, the oil is fresh, the current heater core has not even had a year of use, etc. It's sitting on about 147k miles.



Against all odds, I somehow managed to get an internship for the summer that's all the way in New Jersey. I live in Virginia. I (with the advice of friends that have travel experience, whereas I have none) have already established that it'd be cheaper to drive there (rather than fly), and I would need a vehicle for getting around once I'm there anyways.



The route seems to be mostly highway/interstate driving for miles on end, which should be pretty smooth on the truck.



So, in summary:



  • Well-maintained '96 Chevy S10 with 147k miles

  • Virginia -> New Jersey, 7hr, 450mi trip

  • Mostly highways/interstates

Would it be safe to make the journey? Or is the paranoia from parents justified? Let me know if more information is needed.



edit: Is there anything outside of vehicle maintenance/check-up and self-preparation that I may be forgetting that'd be a good idea to prepare for?










share|improve this question









New contributor




my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 6





    "You're right, Mom, the old truck is unsafe. You'd better buy me a new one..."

    – Nate Eldredge
    3 hours ago







  • 1





    How long ago and how many miles ago did the truck last break down in the middle of a trip?

    – phoog
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    I don't know about "mechanics" but it is most obviously off-topic for here!

    – WGroleau
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @WGroleau why? It's about traveling.

    – phoog
    3 hours ago






  • 2





    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's about vehicle mechanics not travel as defined here.

    – DJClayworth
    2 hours ago

















3















Apologies in advance if this question should be posted on the mechanics Stack Exchange rather than here, but after seeing a similar question or two, I figure this one may not hurt:



I've been driving a '96 Chevy S10 for about five years now, and coming from a family of mechanics and/or vehicle enthusiasts, the truck's been pretty well-maintained in that time frame. I'm on a brand new set of tires (not even two months old), I just refilled the coolant, the oil is fresh, the current heater core has not even had a year of use, etc. It's sitting on about 147k miles.



Against all odds, I somehow managed to get an internship for the summer that's all the way in New Jersey. I live in Virginia. I (with the advice of friends that have travel experience, whereas I have none) have already established that it'd be cheaper to drive there (rather than fly), and I would need a vehicle for getting around once I'm there anyways.



The route seems to be mostly highway/interstate driving for miles on end, which should be pretty smooth on the truck.



So, in summary:



  • Well-maintained '96 Chevy S10 with 147k miles

  • Virginia -> New Jersey, 7hr, 450mi trip

  • Mostly highways/interstates

Would it be safe to make the journey? Or is the paranoia from parents justified? Let me know if more information is needed.



edit: Is there anything outside of vehicle maintenance/check-up and self-preparation that I may be forgetting that'd be a good idea to prepare for?










share|improve this question









New contributor




my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 6





    "You're right, Mom, the old truck is unsafe. You'd better buy me a new one..."

    – Nate Eldredge
    3 hours ago







  • 1





    How long ago and how many miles ago did the truck last break down in the middle of a trip?

    – phoog
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    I don't know about "mechanics" but it is most obviously off-topic for here!

    – WGroleau
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @WGroleau why? It's about traveling.

    – phoog
    3 hours ago






  • 2





    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's about vehicle mechanics not travel as defined here.

    – DJClayworth
    2 hours ago













3












3








3


1






Apologies in advance if this question should be posted on the mechanics Stack Exchange rather than here, but after seeing a similar question or two, I figure this one may not hurt:



I've been driving a '96 Chevy S10 for about five years now, and coming from a family of mechanics and/or vehicle enthusiasts, the truck's been pretty well-maintained in that time frame. I'm on a brand new set of tires (not even two months old), I just refilled the coolant, the oil is fresh, the current heater core has not even had a year of use, etc. It's sitting on about 147k miles.



Against all odds, I somehow managed to get an internship for the summer that's all the way in New Jersey. I live in Virginia. I (with the advice of friends that have travel experience, whereas I have none) have already established that it'd be cheaper to drive there (rather than fly), and I would need a vehicle for getting around once I'm there anyways.



The route seems to be mostly highway/interstate driving for miles on end, which should be pretty smooth on the truck.



So, in summary:



  • Well-maintained '96 Chevy S10 with 147k miles

  • Virginia -> New Jersey, 7hr, 450mi trip

  • Mostly highways/interstates

Would it be safe to make the journey? Or is the paranoia from parents justified? Let me know if more information is needed.



edit: Is there anything outside of vehicle maintenance/check-up and self-preparation that I may be forgetting that'd be a good idea to prepare for?










share|improve this question









New contributor




my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












Apologies in advance if this question should be posted on the mechanics Stack Exchange rather than here, but after seeing a similar question or two, I figure this one may not hurt:



I've been driving a '96 Chevy S10 for about five years now, and coming from a family of mechanics and/or vehicle enthusiasts, the truck's been pretty well-maintained in that time frame. I'm on a brand new set of tires (not even two months old), I just refilled the coolant, the oil is fresh, the current heater core has not even had a year of use, etc. It's sitting on about 147k miles.



Against all odds, I somehow managed to get an internship for the summer that's all the way in New Jersey. I live in Virginia. I (with the advice of friends that have travel experience, whereas I have none) have already established that it'd be cheaper to drive there (rather than fly), and I would need a vehicle for getting around once I'm there anyways.



The route seems to be mostly highway/interstate driving for miles on end, which should be pretty smooth on the truck.



So, in summary:



  • Well-maintained '96 Chevy S10 with 147k miles

  • Virginia -> New Jersey, 7hr, 450mi trip

  • Mostly highways/interstates

Would it be safe to make the journey? Or is the paranoia from parents justified? Let me know if more information is needed.



edit: Is there anything outside of vehicle maintenance/check-up and self-preparation that I may be forgetting that'd be a good idea to prepare for?







usa driving






share|improve this question









New contributor




my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 3 hours ago







my_s10_goes_wheeee













New contributor




my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 3 hours ago









my_s10_goes_wheeeemy_s10_goes_wheeee

243




243




New contributor




my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 6





    "You're right, Mom, the old truck is unsafe. You'd better buy me a new one..."

    – Nate Eldredge
    3 hours ago







  • 1





    How long ago and how many miles ago did the truck last break down in the middle of a trip?

    – phoog
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    I don't know about "mechanics" but it is most obviously off-topic for here!

    – WGroleau
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @WGroleau why? It's about traveling.

    – phoog
    3 hours ago






  • 2





    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's about vehicle mechanics not travel as defined here.

    – DJClayworth
    2 hours ago












  • 6





    "You're right, Mom, the old truck is unsafe. You'd better buy me a new one..."

    – Nate Eldredge
    3 hours ago







  • 1





    How long ago and how many miles ago did the truck last break down in the middle of a trip?

    – phoog
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    I don't know about "mechanics" but it is most obviously off-topic for here!

    – WGroleau
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @WGroleau why? It's about traveling.

    – phoog
    3 hours ago






  • 2





    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's about vehicle mechanics not travel as defined here.

    – DJClayworth
    2 hours ago







6




6





"You're right, Mom, the old truck is unsafe. You'd better buy me a new one..."

– Nate Eldredge
3 hours ago






"You're right, Mom, the old truck is unsafe. You'd better buy me a new one..."

– Nate Eldredge
3 hours ago





1




1





How long ago and how many miles ago did the truck last break down in the middle of a trip?

– phoog
3 hours ago





How long ago and how many miles ago did the truck last break down in the middle of a trip?

– phoog
3 hours ago




1




1





I don't know about "mechanics" but it is most obviously off-topic for here!

– WGroleau
3 hours ago





I don't know about "mechanics" but it is most obviously off-topic for here!

– WGroleau
3 hours ago




1




1





@WGroleau why? It's about traveling.

– phoog
3 hours ago





@WGroleau why? It's about traveling.

– phoog
3 hours ago




2




2





I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's about vehicle mechanics not travel as defined here.

– DJClayworth
2 hours ago





I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's about vehicle mechanics not travel as defined here.

– DJClayworth
2 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















5














Truckers drive much longer distances every day, and the highways you are likely to take (particularly I-95) are major arteries of the US highway system. This is most likely safe, as long as you take reasonable precautions:



  • Plan for the truck to break down. This could mean AAA, carrying your own spare parts and tools (which you know how to use), or any other contingency plan.

    • If relying on AAA, you may want to verify that your cell service provider has adequate coverage over the entire route.

    • It may also be a good idea to have a mechanic check the truck, but this is not a substitute for AAA or a repair kit. Nobody is ever going to give you an absolute guarantee that the truck won't break down.


  • Plan to stop. Seven hours is short enough to do it all at once, in principle, but I-95 has plenty of rest areas which you can and should take advantage of. In general, these will consist of a food court, gas station, and bathrooms, and occasionally a miscellaneous shop or two, but the precise set of amenities will vary. Some places may be little more than a parking lot.

    • Much of this region is either urban or suburban, so it's often a safe bet to pick a random exit and start looking around for local restaurants and gas stations. Check a map if uncertain.


  • Drive during the day if possible. Night driving is harder than day driving for most people.

  • Make sure you get plenty of rest before the trip. You can also re-caffeinate or even sleep at the rest areas, if necessary. However, overnight parking is frowned on in both VA and NJ. If they bother to enforce it, they are fairly likely to just ask you to move along, but you could theoretically get a ticket.

  • Bring paper maps, because paper generally does not run out of batteries. If you will be using your phone to any significant degree, either plug it in to charge, or bring a spare battery.





share|improve this answer




















  • 4





    Another reasonable precaution might be to have the truck checked by a professional mechanic before leaving.

    – Nate Eldredge
    2 hours ago











  • Rest areas will vary widely in what amenities are available - in my experience in that region, restrooms are about the only solid guarantee - though there are a few that are "truck rest areas" designed simply for truckers to sleep overnight, and have no facilities (or car parking) whatsoever. If there are restrooms, overpriced vending machines are more common than a restaurant or food court. Gas stations are just as rare - though there will be plenty of exits to urbanized areas: the USA is basically one continuous urban area from DC to NYC.

    – GalacticCowboy
    30 mins ago












  • Source: I grew up on the central east coast, and travel through the area (DC/Baltimore/Philly) 2-3 times a year.

    – GalacticCowboy
    26 mins ago


















2














There are quite a few variables, but yes, it should be safe. Get AAA if it helps you sleep at night.






share|improve this answer


















  • 1





    Could you elaborate on any of those variables? I may or may not be able to fill in some blanks

    – my_s10_goes_wheeee
    3 hours ago











  • Maintenance being key and how the truck has been driven. I often drive a '92 Lexus SC300 with 150k miles across WA state (about 400 miles total) no problem. I say give it a go!

    – Chicken_Hawk
    3 hours ago











  • The truck hasn't really seen anything other than normal road use, whether that be in towns, highways, or up and down rural mountains. The furthest I've ever driven it is about 70-90 miles over the course of 1.5-2 hours (going between hometown and college, depending on which route I take).

    – my_s10_goes_wheeee
    3 hours ago


















1














There's some level of risk in all travel. And risk in staying at home, for that matter. So there's no way to declare a certain trip to be objectively 'safe'. Best you can do is make sure your car is in good shape and that you know where you are going.



VA to NJ is a not a very long drive at all. So if your parents are concerned, why not drive there and back once w/ a family member first? You can probably even do it in one long day if you really want to, switching drivers as needed.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.



























    0














    To look at another angle of safety of the car and yourself, carjackings are incredibly rare on the interstate simply because of the speed of the vehicles involved (and not involved too). And then the entire state of New Jersey have only seen 184 carjacking offenses in 2016 according to the report and only 17 of the 565 municipalities reported even one. So, the chances of a bump-and-rob is nil on the long drive and not significant on the other end either.






    share|improve this answer























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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      5














      Truckers drive much longer distances every day, and the highways you are likely to take (particularly I-95) are major arteries of the US highway system. This is most likely safe, as long as you take reasonable precautions:



      • Plan for the truck to break down. This could mean AAA, carrying your own spare parts and tools (which you know how to use), or any other contingency plan.

        • If relying on AAA, you may want to verify that your cell service provider has adequate coverage over the entire route.

        • It may also be a good idea to have a mechanic check the truck, but this is not a substitute for AAA or a repair kit. Nobody is ever going to give you an absolute guarantee that the truck won't break down.


      • Plan to stop. Seven hours is short enough to do it all at once, in principle, but I-95 has plenty of rest areas which you can and should take advantage of. In general, these will consist of a food court, gas station, and bathrooms, and occasionally a miscellaneous shop or two, but the precise set of amenities will vary. Some places may be little more than a parking lot.

        • Much of this region is either urban or suburban, so it's often a safe bet to pick a random exit and start looking around for local restaurants and gas stations. Check a map if uncertain.


      • Drive during the day if possible. Night driving is harder than day driving for most people.

      • Make sure you get plenty of rest before the trip. You can also re-caffeinate or even sleep at the rest areas, if necessary. However, overnight parking is frowned on in both VA and NJ. If they bother to enforce it, they are fairly likely to just ask you to move along, but you could theoretically get a ticket.

      • Bring paper maps, because paper generally does not run out of batteries. If you will be using your phone to any significant degree, either plug it in to charge, or bring a spare battery.





      share|improve this answer




















      • 4





        Another reasonable precaution might be to have the truck checked by a professional mechanic before leaving.

        – Nate Eldredge
        2 hours ago











      • Rest areas will vary widely in what amenities are available - in my experience in that region, restrooms are about the only solid guarantee - though there are a few that are "truck rest areas" designed simply for truckers to sleep overnight, and have no facilities (or car parking) whatsoever. If there are restrooms, overpriced vending machines are more common than a restaurant or food court. Gas stations are just as rare - though there will be plenty of exits to urbanized areas: the USA is basically one continuous urban area from DC to NYC.

        – GalacticCowboy
        30 mins ago












      • Source: I grew up on the central east coast, and travel through the area (DC/Baltimore/Philly) 2-3 times a year.

        – GalacticCowboy
        26 mins ago















      5














      Truckers drive much longer distances every day, and the highways you are likely to take (particularly I-95) are major arteries of the US highway system. This is most likely safe, as long as you take reasonable precautions:



      • Plan for the truck to break down. This could mean AAA, carrying your own spare parts and tools (which you know how to use), or any other contingency plan.

        • If relying on AAA, you may want to verify that your cell service provider has adequate coverage over the entire route.

        • It may also be a good idea to have a mechanic check the truck, but this is not a substitute for AAA or a repair kit. Nobody is ever going to give you an absolute guarantee that the truck won't break down.


      • Plan to stop. Seven hours is short enough to do it all at once, in principle, but I-95 has plenty of rest areas which you can and should take advantage of. In general, these will consist of a food court, gas station, and bathrooms, and occasionally a miscellaneous shop or two, but the precise set of amenities will vary. Some places may be little more than a parking lot.

        • Much of this region is either urban or suburban, so it's often a safe bet to pick a random exit and start looking around for local restaurants and gas stations. Check a map if uncertain.


      • Drive during the day if possible. Night driving is harder than day driving for most people.

      • Make sure you get plenty of rest before the trip. You can also re-caffeinate or even sleep at the rest areas, if necessary. However, overnight parking is frowned on in both VA and NJ. If they bother to enforce it, they are fairly likely to just ask you to move along, but you could theoretically get a ticket.

      • Bring paper maps, because paper generally does not run out of batteries. If you will be using your phone to any significant degree, either plug it in to charge, or bring a spare battery.





      share|improve this answer




















      • 4





        Another reasonable precaution might be to have the truck checked by a professional mechanic before leaving.

        – Nate Eldredge
        2 hours ago











      • Rest areas will vary widely in what amenities are available - in my experience in that region, restrooms are about the only solid guarantee - though there are a few that are "truck rest areas" designed simply for truckers to sleep overnight, and have no facilities (or car parking) whatsoever. If there are restrooms, overpriced vending machines are more common than a restaurant or food court. Gas stations are just as rare - though there will be plenty of exits to urbanized areas: the USA is basically one continuous urban area from DC to NYC.

        – GalacticCowboy
        30 mins ago












      • Source: I grew up on the central east coast, and travel through the area (DC/Baltimore/Philly) 2-3 times a year.

        – GalacticCowboy
        26 mins ago













      5












      5








      5







      Truckers drive much longer distances every day, and the highways you are likely to take (particularly I-95) are major arteries of the US highway system. This is most likely safe, as long as you take reasonable precautions:



      • Plan for the truck to break down. This could mean AAA, carrying your own spare parts and tools (which you know how to use), or any other contingency plan.

        • If relying on AAA, you may want to verify that your cell service provider has adequate coverage over the entire route.

        • It may also be a good idea to have a mechanic check the truck, but this is not a substitute for AAA or a repair kit. Nobody is ever going to give you an absolute guarantee that the truck won't break down.


      • Plan to stop. Seven hours is short enough to do it all at once, in principle, but I-95 has plenty of rest areas which you can and should take advantage of. In general, these will consist of a food court, gas station, and bathrooms, and occasionally a miscellaneous shop or two, but the precise set of amenities will vary. Some places may be little more than a parking lot.

        • Much of this region is either urban or suburban, so it's often a safe bet to pick a random exit and start looking around for local restaurants and gas stations. Check a map if uncertain.


      • Drive during the day if possible. Night driving is harder than day driving for most people.

      • Make sure you get plenty of rest before the trip. You can also re-caffeinate or even sleep at the rest areas, if necessary. However, overnight parking is frowned on in both VA and NJ. If they bother to enforce it, they are fairly likely to just ask you to move along, but you could theoretically get a ticket.

      • Bring paper maps, because paper generally does not run out of batteries. If you will be using your phone to any significant degree, either plug it in to charge, or bring a spare battery.





      share|improve this answer















      Truckers drive much longer distances every day, and the highways you are likely to take (particularly I-95) are major arteries of the US highway system. This is most likely safe, as long as you take reasonable precautions:



      • Plan for the truck to break down. This could mean AAA, carrying your own spare parts and tools (which you know how to use), or any other contingency plan.

        • If relying on AAA, you may want to verify that your cell service provider has adequate coverage over the entire route.

        • It may also be a good idea to have a mechanic check the truck, but this is not a substitute for AAA or a repair kit. Nobody is ever going to give you an absolute guarantee that the truck won't break down.


      • Plan to stop. Seven hours is short enough to do it all at once, in principle, but I-95 has plenty of rest areas which you can and should take advantage of. In general, these will consist of a food court, gas station, and bathrooms, and occasionally a miscellaneous shop or two, but the precise set of amenities will vary. Some places may be little more than a parking lot.

        • Much of this region is either urban or suburban, so it's often a safe bet to pick a random exit and start looking around for local restaurants and gas stations. Check a map if uncertain.


      • Drive during the day if possible. Night driving is harder than day driving for most people.

      • Make sure you get plenty of rest before the trip. You can also re-caffeinate or even sleep at the rest areas, if necessary. However, overnight parking is frowned on in both VA and NJ. If they bother to enforce it, they are fairly likely to just ask you to move along, but you could theoretically get a ticket.

      • Bring paper maps, because paper generally does not run out of batteries. If you will be using your phone to any significant degree, either plug it in to charge, or bring a spare battery.






      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 6 mins ago

























      answered 2 hours ago









      KevinKevin

      55658




      55658







      • 4





        Another reasonable precaution might be to have the truck checked by a professional mechanic before leaving.

        – Nate Eldredge
        2 hours ago











      • Rest areas will vary widely in what amenities are available - in my experience in that region, restrooms are about the only solid guarantee - though there are a few that are "truck rest areas" designed simply for truckers to sleep overnight, and have no facilities (or car parking) whatsoever. If there are restrooms, overpriced vending machines are more common than a restaurant or food court. Gas stations are just as rare - though there will be plenty of exits to urbanized areas: the USA is basically one continuous urban area from DC to NYC.

        – GalacticCowboy
        30 mins ago












      • Source: I grew up on the central east coast, and travel through the area (DC/Baltimore/Philly) 2-3 times a year.

        – GalacticCowboy
        26 mins ago












      • 4





        Another reasonable precaution might be to have the truck checked by a professional mechanic before leaving.

        – Nate Eldredge
        2 hours ago











      • Rest areas will vary widely in what amenities are available - in my experience in that region, restrooms are about the only solid guarantee - though there are a few that are "truck rest areas" designed simply for truckers to sleep overnight, and have no facilities (or car parking) whatsoever. If there are restrooms, overpriced vending machines are more common than a restaurant or food court. Gas stations are just as rare - though there will be plenty of exits to urbanized areas: the USA is basically one continuous urban area from DC to NYC.

        – GalacticCowboy
        30 mins ago












      • Source: I grew up on the central east coast, and travel through the area (DC/Baltimore/Philly) 2-3 times a year.

        – GalacticCowboy
        26 mins ago







      4




      4





      Another reasonable precaution might be to have the truck checked by a professional mechanic before leaving.

      – Nate Eldredge
      2 hours ago





      Another reasonable precaution might be to have the truck checked by a professional mechanic before leaving.

      – Nate Eldredge
      2 hours ago













      Rest areas will vary widely in what amenities are available - in my experience in that region, restrooms are about the only solid guarantee - though there are a few that are "truck rest areas" designed simply for truckers to sleep overnight, and have no facilities (or car parking) whatsoever. If there are restrooms, overpriced vending machines are more common than a restaurant or food court. Gas stations are just as rare - though there will be plenty of exits to urbanized areas: the USA is basically one continuous urban area from DC to NYC.

      – GalacticCowboy
      30 mins ago






      Rest areas will vary widely in what amenities are available - in my experience in that region, restrooms are about the only solid guarantee - though there are a few that are "truck rest areas" designed simply for truckers to sleep overnight, and have no facilities (or car parking) whatsoever. If there are restrooms, overpriced vending machines are more common than a restaurant or food court. Gas stations are just as rare - though there will be plenty of exits to urbanized areas: the USA is basically one continuous urban area from DC to NYC.

      – GalacticCowboy
      30 mins ago














      Source: I grew up on the central east coast, and travel through the area (DC/Baltimore/Philly) 2-3 times a year.

      – GalacticCowboy
      26 mins ago





      Source: I grew up on the central east coast, and travel through the area (DC/Baltimore/Philly) 2-3 times a year.

      – GalacticCowboy
      26 mins ago













      2














      There are quite a few variables, but yes, it should be safe. Get AAA if it helps you sleep at night.






      share|improve this answer


















      • 1





        Could you elaborate on any of those variables? I may or may not be able to fill in some blanks

        – my_s10_goes_wheeee
        3 hours ago











      • Maintenance being key and how the truck has been driven. I often drive a '92 Lexus SC300 with 150k miles across WA state (about 400 miles total) no problem. I say give it a go!

        – Chicken_Hawk
        3 hours ago











      • The truck hasn't really seen anything other than normal road use, whether that be in towns, highways, or up and down rural mountains. The furthest I've ever driven it is about 70-90 miles over the course of 1.5-2 hours (going between hometown and college, depending on which route I take).

        – my_s10_goes_wheeee
        3 hours ago















      2














      There are quite a few variables, but yes, it should be safe. Get AAA if it helps you sleep at night.






      share|improve this answer


















      • 1





        Could you elaborate on any of those variables? I may or may not be able to fill in some blanks

        – my_s10_goes_wheeee
        3 hours ago











      • Maintenance being key and how the truck has been driven. I often drive a '92 Lexus SC300 with 150k miles across WA state (about 400 miles total) no problem. I say give it a go!

        – Chicken_Hawk
        3 hours ago











      • The truck hasn't really seen anything other than normal road use, whether that be in towns, highways, or up and down rural mountains. The furthest I've ever driven it is about 70-90 miles over the course of 1.5-2 hours (going between hometown and college, depending on which route I take).

        – my_s10_goes_wheeee
        3 hours ago













      2












      2








      2







      There are quite a few variables, but yes, it should be safe. Get AAA if it helps you sleep at night.






      share|improve this answer













      There are quite a few variables, but yes, it should be safe. Get AAA if it helps you sleep at night.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered 3 hours ago









      Chicken_HawkChicken_Hawk

      412




      412







      • 1





        Could you elaborate on any of those variables? I may or may not be able to fill in some blanks

        – my_s10_goes_wheeee
        3 hours ago











      • Maintenance being key and how the truck has been driven. I often drive a '92 Lexus SC300 with 150k miles across WA state (about 400 miles total) no problem. I say give it a go!

        – Chicken_Hawk
        3 hours ago











      • The truck hasn't really seen anything other than normal road use, whether that be in towns, highways, or up and down rural mountains. The furthest I've ever driven it is about 70-90 miles over the course of 1.5-2 hours (going between hometown and college, depending on which route I take).

        – my_s10_goes_wheeee
        3 hours ago












      • 1





        Could you elaborate on any of those variables? I may or may not be able to fill in some blanks

        – my_s10_goes_wheeee
        3 hours ago











      • Maintenance being key and how the truck has been driven. I often drive a '92 Lexus SC300 with 150k miles across WA state (about 400 miles total) no problem. I say give it a go!

        – Chicken_Hawk
        3 hours ago











      • The truck hasn't really seen anything other than normal road use, whether that be in towns, highways, or up and down rural mountains. The furthest I've ever driven it is about 70-90 miles over the course of 1.5-2 hours (going between hometown and college, depending on which route I take).

        – my_s10_goes_wheeee
        3 hours ago







      1




      1





      Could you elaborate on any of those variables? I may or may not be able to fill in some blanks

      – my_s10_goes_wheeee
      3 hours ago





      Could you elaborate on any of those variables? I may or may not be able to fill in some blanks

      – my_s10_goes_wheeee
      3 hours ago













      Maintenance being key and how the truck has been driven. I often drive a '92 Lexus SC300 with 150k miles across WA state (about 400 miles total) no problem. I say give it a go!

      – Chicken_Hawk
      3 hours ago





      Maintenance being key and how the truck has been driven. I often drive a '92 Lexus SC300 with 150k miles across WA state (about 400 miles total) no problem. I say give it a go!

      – Chicken_Hawk
      3 hours ago













      The truck hasn't really seen anything other than normal road use, whether that be in towns, highways, or up and down rural mountains. The furthest I've ever driven it is about 70-90 miles over the course of 1.5-2 hours (going between hometown and college, depending on which route I take).

      – my_s10_goes_wheeee
      3 hours ago





      The truck hasn't really seen anything other than normal road use, whether that be in towns, highways, or up and down rural mountains. The furthest I've ever driven it is about 70-90 miles over the course of 1.5-2 hours (going between hometown and college, depending on which route I take).

      – my_s10_goes_wheeee
      3 hours ago











      1














      There's some level of risk in all travel. And risk in staying at home, for that matter. So there's no way to declare a certain trip to be objectively 'safe'. Best you can do is make sure your car is in good shape and that you know where you are going.



      VA to NJ is a not a very long drive at all. So if your parents are concerned, why not drive there and back once w/ a family member first? You can probably even do it in one long day if you really want to, switching drivers as needed.






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor




      GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.
























        1














        There's some level of risk in all travel. And risk in staying at home, for that matter. So there's no way to declare a certain trip to be objectively 'safe'. Best you can do is make sure your car is in good shape and that you know where you are going.



        VA to NJ is a not a very long drive at all. So if your parents are concerned, why not drive there and back once w/ a family member first? You can probably even do it in one long day if you really want to, switching drivers as needed.






        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






















          1












          1








          1







          There's some level of risk in all travel. And risk in staying at home, for that matter. So there's no way to declare a certain trip to be objectively 'safe'. Best you can do is make sure your car is in good shape and that you know where you are going.



          VA to NJ is a not a very long drive at all. So if your parents are concerned, why not drive there and back once w/ a family member first? You can probably even do it in one long day if you really want to, switching drivers as needed.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.










          There's some level of risk in all travel. And risk in staying at home, for that matter. So there's no way to declare a certain trip to be objectively 'safe'. Best you can do is make sure your car is in good shape and that you know where you are going.



          VA to NJ is a not a very long drive at all. So if your parents are concerned, why not drive there and back once w/ a family member first? You can probably even do it in one long day if you really want to, switching drivers as needed.







          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer






          New contributor




          GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          answered 1 hour ago









          GrandmasterBGrandmasterB

          1111




          1111




          New contributor




          GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.





          New contributor





          GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.






          GrandmasterB is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.





















              0














              To look at another angle of safety of the car and yourself, carjackings are incredibly rare on the interstate simply because of the speed of the vehicles involved (and not involved too). And then the entire state of New Jersey have only seen 184 carjacking offenses in 2016 according to the report and only 17 of the 565 municipalities reported even one. So, the chances of a bump-and-rob is nil on the long drive and not significant on the other end either.






              share|improve this answer



























                0














                To look at another angle of safety of the car and yourself, carjackings are incredibly rare on the interstate simply because of the speed of the vehicles involved (and not involved too). And then the entire state of New Jersey have only seen 184 carjacking offenses in 2016 according to the report and only 17 of the 565 municipalities reported even one. So, the chances of a bump-and-rob is nil on the long drive and not significant on the other end either.






                share|improve this answer

























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  To look at another angle of safety of the car and yourself, carjackings are incredibly rare on the interstate simply because of the speed of the vehicles involved (and not involved too). And then the entire state of New Jersey have only seen 184 carjacking offenses in 2016 according to the report and only 17 of the 565 municipalities reported even one. So, the chances of a bump-and-rob is nil on the long drive and not significant on the other end either.






                  share|improve this answer













                  To look at another angle of safety of the car and yourself, carjackings are incredibly rare on the interstate simply because of the speed of the vehicles involved (and not involved too). And then the entire state of New Jersey have only seen 184 carjacking offenses in 2016 according to the report and only 17 of the 565 municipalities reported even one. So, the chances of a bump-and-rob is nil on the long drive and not significant on the other end either.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 2 hours ago









                  chxchx

                  39.3k485195




                  39.3k485195




















                      my_s10_goes_wheeee is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









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