Road Trip Hotel Stay Car Safety/Security Suggestions

[Midlife]

I've made your I-10 trip across Texas quite a few times. I ain't doing it no more though. I realize it's a little bit longer, but I-40 is a much better route. Let's see... Palm Springs, Vegas, the mountains of AZ, Flagstaff, the mountains of NM, Albequerque, and then down into Katy..... which BTW a LOT of this route is the famed Rte 66 route and is absolutley beautiful scenery..... 1603 miles

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=FYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g%3BFZg3FQIdZBHD-SkdpjGOsnQchzFgfRwkxLdf5w%3BFbl-xgEd9NVJ-infijWu-d9AhjElESt8DW6WFw&q=los+angeles+to+katy+TX&sll=34.161818,-107.490234&sspn=25.083154,39.418945&ie=UTF8&ll=31.765537,-107.050781&spn=25.750566,39.418945&z=5&saddr=los+angeles&daddr=34.9449203,-104.6565401+to:katy+TX&via=1


..... or a 1518 mile trip through a desert wasteland of pretty much nothing except for tumbleweeds and dead amarillos...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=FYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g%3BFbl-xgEd9NVJ-infijWu-d9AhjElESt8DW6WFw&q=los+angeles+to+katy+TX&sll=34.161818,-107.490234&sspn=25.083154,39.418945&ie=UTF8&ll=31.765537,-107.050781&spn=25.750566,39.418945&z=5&saddr=los+angeles&daddr=katy+TX

But I-10 has The THING!

 

[daveSanborn]

True that... we stopped to see it. WTF?

Should be called the NOTHING. If nothing else, the 1264 billboard signs 100 miles in any direction do break up the otherwise bleak scenery.

 

[joesgt281]

True that... we stopped to see it. WTF?

Should be called the NOTHING. If nothing else, the 1264 billboard signs 100 miles in any direction do break up the otherwise bleak scenery.

What an awesome marketing scheme!
When we went across the country when we were kids in the 60s, dad had NO option but to stop.
We kids were so psyched up by the time the exit came up we felt like our lives would have no meaning if we didn't stop.
So here's some pics from last years trip....at least it is someTHING.
(and no jokes about which of the two in the 2nd pic is older!)

 

[AzPete]

+1 million on all said. Lived in Az. 71-08.....hated it any time I went to LA or the I10 route into Tx. I have parked Honda Gold Wings (2) in motel rooms, hired locals to secure them, and slept with one eye open. I would head to I-40, stay in small towns off the interstate, and talk with the owners about parking in in front of the office if they have a night clerk. Oh yea, pay up on your ins. just in case.....

Another option is to take a second driver and just do not stop over night.....

 

[camachinist]

I'd bring an extra driver and drive straight through. Right now you can get a IAH-LAX oneway for 228, which is the same or cheaper than two hotel rooms and the food is a wash, plus security isn't an issue. 1600 miles or so is no biggie. We towed that plenty straight through with two drivers. I had the same security concerns for the race car and didn't have an enclosed trailer so hated hoteling.

 

[gtscode]

Gee we all sound so paranoid!!! When I got married my wife and I drove back from San Francisco to San Antonio with a car full to the roof with wedding presents, we didn't intend to but ended up just driving the entire way one sleeping the other driving we just wanted to get home.

I do say it's a modern car that won't be easy to steal, I wouldn't over think it.

 

[camachinist]

Here's a picture of the D-coder at the HIX Expo the day of Johnpro's funeral with Dale Earnhardt Jr's car in the background. I got in around midnight the night before and parked under a light under my room window and left the window open. Yeah, it's just a car but there are a lot of memories attached to it. I figured with Dale's car under glass, mine would be insignificant. I don't know the popularity of a late GT500 with thieves but better safe than sorry....

 

[Kats66Pny]

I remember one trip from San Diego to Buffalo TX (little town located mid way on the 45 between Dallas and Houston) hubby and I made one time. We drove non stop on the 10, took turns driving. Made it in 27hrs only stopping for gas/bathroom breaks. We were driving my Mits. Eclipse and I admit I was having fun hauling butt doing no less than 90mph with the music blasting. :lol

I was only.. umm... 20? or 21 at the time so having a few hours of sleep was no issue. If I tried driving like that again, no way I could do it.

 

[abrahamfh]

Here's a picture of the D-coder at the HIX Expo the day of Johnpro's funeral with Dale Earnhardt Jr's car in the background. I got in around midnight the night before and parked under a light under my room window and left the window open. Yeah, it's just a car but there are a lot of memories attached to it. I figured with Dale's car under glass, mine would be insignificant. I don't know the popularity of a late GT500 with thieves but better safe than sorry....

Awesome photograph

 

[blu67]

Placentia...Not Placenta, dork... :lol
Placentia is a very nice area. As always, just be cautious about where you park and find the best location you can. Pull the coil wire, put a club on it, whatever you want to do to feel safe. Placentia is a far, far, far cry from L.A. and is a nice suburb of Orange Co. i wouldn't worry too much about your car but I would do what I can to ease my own mind no matter where I was.

 

[joesgt281]

I remember one trip from San Diego to Buffalo TX (little town located mid way on the 45 between Dallas and Houston) hubby and I made one time. We drove non stop on the 10, took turns driving. Made it in 27hrs only stopping for gas/bathroom breaks. We were driving my Mits. Eclipse and I admit I was having fun hauling butt doing no less than 90mph with the music blasting. :lol

I was only.. umm... 20? or 21 at the time so having a few hours of sleep was no issue. If I tried driving like that again, no way I could do it.

so that was only like a couple years ago, right?

hey nice to meet another Texan. I'm in Katy but we're always up in Bryan/CS visiting my daughter.

 

[Kats66Pny]

so that was only like a couple years ago, right?

hey nice to meet another Texan. I'm in Katy but we're always up in Bryan/CS visiting my daughter.

I wish. More like 10yrs ago. :lol