I had a charge account at a full service station in Independence, Va. Back when gas was in the mid $2's, we got to talkin' about gas prices and money, they said they made 3 cents a gallon, by the time they pump it they're in the hole.

 

I made 2 cents a gallon on gas after station rent was deducted. from sales. All inside merchandise and mechanic work were not part of Chevron's billing, so profits from that were mine. But if your pumps are shut off due to rationing, no one comes in. Don;t now what the margin is on gas today, but I bet it still does not favor the ownere/operator. Big oil has choked us all for as long as I can remember.....and I'm nearly an old fart.....

 

It has not changed up here it's .02c a liter, and I am sure you are awere by the time you do all the paper work for just the gas you make very little unless you are a major seller.

 

I say, strip the truck down to nothing and drive at night! Go ultra fast and blow through the entire drive in one night!

I say night time driving is the best as you "tunnel" out and time flies during the night... before you know it, you're already there.... less traffic = less idiots, cooler at night = easier on truck, wearing your sunglasses at night = badass.

My two cents... you can tell I'm a safe driver!

 

It's a hundred and six miles to chicago, we have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark out, and we're wearing sunglasses.

 

Half a pack may get you there, but not enough to get back....

 

There sure is alotta talk bout smokes round here lately, makes it hard to quit! Not that I was gonna, jus sayin if I was...

 

lol thanks for the sugesstion but i cant drive long distance at night, because i fall asleep. besides i cant carry all my tools and parts if i fall asleep, and i bellive in being prepared.

on a side note i picked up an old metal jerry can off of craigslist yester day for 10 bucks

 

here is my updated list(im almost done lmao)

tool kit
2 spare hub assemblies
spare front axle shaft
2x quarts trans fluid
1 guart gear oil
1 big bottle of brake fluid
bottle jack
2x jack stands
high lift
jumper cables
insulated sleeping bag
random assorment of sensors and electrical repair items
20ft chain
tow strap
18 lb CO2 tank(need to get a regualtor and hose)
2x spare brake calipers(if youve ever blown a hub going down the highway youll understand)
8x spark plugs
reflective gear
flash lights
a hug for 2x1972
3x changes of uniforms
3x changes of civies
lots of clean/dry socks lol
jerry cans for gas
fullsize spare
ratchet straps
spare wheel studs
2x quart gear oil
fire extinguisher




stuff i still need to get


2x jugs of aqua
3 day worth of MRE's
spare rearwheel bearings
1 ga motor oil
first aid kit
serp belt

 

my pops was a vice president of a decent sized convenience store chain- and he has opinions galore about the oil companies... and the grip they maintain with impunity..

gas is commonly referred to as a 'lost leader'.. meaning, it's the hook to get you to come inside and buy stuff that has a decent margin.. most often, they lose money..

there was a 'sting' op by the feds when pops was in that position.. they were looking for 'price fixing', and were looking to roll heads.. Dad narrowly escaped charges- and mostly because he was in charge of operations and not the oil side of the house.. most of those guys, and most of the guys in the competitors ranks went to jail.. here was the biyatch of it all- they were fixing prices- busted- but, they were fixing LOW..

they had discovered that altering prices every day @ 2pm had cost them a sizable amount of money over the year.. (understand, this is before it was completely automated).. so, they decided to fix at as low a price as was comfortable, and maintain it for the week.. an entire week..

who do you think turned them in?

the oil companies they were contracted with, of course..

the oil companies zapped the afternoons prices through the satellite link to each companies HQ, and the companies were to adjust prices.. curiously, all the big oil companies zap at the same time, and the prices are duplicates.. the small companies were then to call and adjust prices at each store..

instead of doing this, they picked a figure that was 'safe', and stuck to it throughout the week.. they may make more per gallon, or break even, or lose- but once the figure spent for the actual 'adjustment' was figured in, they realized it was going to save them a mint..

the big oil companies didn't like this- so they whispered to the feds, who had them charged with price fixing- huge news that made the small companies look really bad- when it wasn't the small companies doing the damage- it was big oil.. who came out smelling like roses..

don't fool yourselves- the small operations aren't making any profit worth mentioning with petrol.. all of that is reserved for big oil.. on top of that, if you buck the 'big oil mechanism', you will lose..

Somebody better hide my soap box now..

Backwoods: you are about as prepared as anyone I've ever heard of for this trip.. I figure you'll be fine no matter what pops up.. one thing not on your list that you could possibly add:

find members of the forum along the route.. if you have trouble- contact them.. chances are, that would be a nice little ace in the hole if mechanical issues happen.