Death Valley road trip in the summer in a cat?

[Av8ing1]

Was thinking today that I've never been to Death Valley. School is out and my son and I could use a father son road trip. The Hellcat is no longer the daily and doesn't get driven as much. Why not go to Death Valley in the cat? Checked the weather and yeah, its hot. Today it got up to mid 120's. What's the point of going to Death Valley though if it isn't hot? That is what the place is all about right? Perfect time to go?

So what do you guys think? Can the Hellcat handle the heat? Am I just crazy? Should I take the Mazda instead? Wait until its not 120+?

 

[jroyk]

Take plenty of water no matter what you decide to drive. 😅 IDK, but it seems the Cat would have extra cooling capacity if not driven hard.

 

[Hellcatcfp]

Life's too short...enjoy and drive it.

 

[AeroF16]

In my experience, as long as you're going fast enough, you can stay cool in Death Valley. In fact, I find it a little chilly around 500 mph or so...

However, if it's a Father and Son road trip, I think there's no doubt about it, the Hellcat is the correct choice.

 

[Diboblo]

Just went from Riverside, to Lone Pine, to Panamint Springs, through Death Valley, to Mojave Desert, to Joshua Tree and back home... took a week, with stop overs and sight seeing.

This was in the wife's Jeep TH.

Nothing to worry about, brother.

Look up Star Wars Canyon. Depending when you're there, you may see some low flying action.

Bob

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

Was thinking today that I've never been to Death Valley. School is out and my son and I could use a father son road trip. The Hellcat is no longer the daily and doesn't get driven as much. Why not go to Death Valley in the cat? Checked the weather and yeah, its hot. Today it got up to mid 120's. What's the point of going to Death Valley though if it isn't hot? That is what the place is all about right? Perfect time to go?

So what do you guys think? Can the Hellcat handle the heat? Am I just crazy? Should I take the Mazda instead? Wait until its not 120+?

But.....it's a dry heat

 

[JRabq]

In my experience, as long as you're going fast enough, you can stay cool in Death Valley. In fact, I find it a little chilly around 500 mph or so...

However, if it's a Father and Son road trip, I think there's no doubt about it, the Hellcat is the correct choice.

We banter about the handling of the HCs, but one thing is for sure, they are GREAT grand touring cars. I have taken 2 trips to Vegas, plenty hot and no overheat issues. Total joy and fun!

 

[jroyk]

But.....it's a dry heat

Yep, we have friends that moved from Chicago suburbs to Sun Valley West, AZ last week. It’s been hanging around 117 degrees since they got there. The old cliche doesn’t cut it when it’s that hot.

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

Yep, we have friends that moved from Chicago suburbs to Sun Valley West, AZ last week. It’s been hanging around 117 degrees since they got there. The old cliche doesn’t cut it when it’s that hot.

Yeah......when it's that hot it's not pleasant, but I can take that more than I can take 90 degrees and 90% humidity.

 

[vortecd]

Just went from Riverside, to Lone Pine, to Panamint Springs, through Death Valley, to Mojave Desert, to Joshua Tree and back home... took a week, with stop overs and sight seeing.

This was in the wife's Jeep TH.

Nothing to worry about, brother.

Look up Star Wars Canyon. Depending when you're there, you may see some low flying action.

Bob

Was that AeroF16

 

[2pac]

Was thinking today that I've never been to Death Valley. School is out and my son and I could use a father son road trip. The Hellcat is no longer the daily and doesn't get driven as much. Why not go to Death Valley in the cat? Checked the weather and yeah, its hot. Today it got up to mid 120's. What's the point of going to Death Valley though if it isn't hot? That is what the place is all about right? Perfect time to go?

So what do you guys think? Can the Hellcat handle the heat? Am I just crazy? Should I take the Mazda instead? Wait until its not 120+?

Why wouldn't the hellcat be able to handle the heat? It's not like there's no air ducts and mesh through the entire front grille and bumper.

It's a modern car, one of the benefits to staying stock is not worrying about reliability in theory.

I would say go for it, no difference between mazda or a hellcat, now a truck might be another story though, they usually stress test them in extreme cold and heat.

 

[John G.]

Look up Star Wars Canyon. Depending when you're there, you may see some low flying action.

I expected to see them bullseye Womp Rats

 

[John G.]

Look up Star Wars Canyon. Depending when you're there, you may see some low flying action.

Reminds me of the movie Independence Day. Good movie.

 

[Purerock105]

I say go for it. It's a strange and desolate drive out there. I've been many times most recently last year in the DSRT, when temps were in the 105-115 range.

 

[1971demon]

But.....it's a dry heat

So is an oven....

 

[Hunter]

In my experience, as long as you're going fast enough, you can stay cool in Death Valley. In fact, I find it a little chilly around 500 mph or so...

However, if it's a Father and Son road trip, I think there's no doubt about it, the Hellcat is the correct choice.

Use what my dad called "Texas Air Conditioning".
Turn off all fans and vents, then just crack the window about 1/2 to 1 inch down.
That air blowing in will feel like heaven.

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

I was walking across the parking lot of my local pizza/sub joint yesterday afternoon and it was so hot and muggy, and it hit me that when I was young, not many people had air conditioned cars, especially if they were cars from the 60's and early 70's. I was fortunate enough to have two cars from that time period that had a/c and I was grateful.

And the weather yesterday made me appreciate remote start and a/c, and having both in my vehicle now

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

So is an oven....

Exactly......and I wouldn't want to live in my oven either, but when the time comes for retirement, I do plan to move someplace that has better weather the majority of the year, lower humidity most of the year, and has no or hardly any grass to cut.

I can take a dry heat much better than I can a soupy mess like it is around me right now.

 

[16GoManGoHC2]

My daughter moved to Phoenix just about 3 years ago, brand new home in a very nice part of Buckeye. Their AC quit one day, they had to go live in a hotel for 2 days, 2 kids 3 and 4 and 2 pit bulls rescues. It hit 143 degrees in there house before the AC was fixed. What happens if there’s a power failure out there???? Was 121 in the shade in her back yard yesterday, kids can’t even go outside to play even in a pool. Where the hell is everybody going to go or do if the power is off for just a day even???? I think I’d have to have solar cells on my roof in my own back up power supply to live there just to keep the AC going or you are going to die without it, literally. Unfortunately Not for me no matter how much I miss my grand daughters

 

[AeroF16]

My daughter moved to Phoenix just about 3 years ago, brand new home in a very nice part of Buckeye. Their AC quit one day, they had to go live in a hotel for 2 days, 2 kids 3 and 4 and 2 pit bulls rescues. It hit 143 degrees in there house before the AC was fixed. What happens if there’s a power failure out there???? Was 121 in the shade in her back yard yesterday, kids can’t even go outside to play even in a pool. Where the hell is everybody going to go or do if the power is off for just a day even???? I think I’d have to have solar cells on my roof in my own back up power supply to live there just to keep the AC going or you are going to die without it, literally. Unfortunately Not for me no matter how much I miss my grand daughters

She might live in my neighborhood! We live in a very nice part of Buckeye. But we were also out in the backyard in the shade with the kids yesterday. It was hot for sure.

Never thought about the power going out. Guess I would just go to a friends house, go to a hotel, or take a vacation out of state to see my family! It would be doable but it'd be miserable trying to sleep.

That also brings up a good point. 110-120 degree heat is standard for driving the Hellcat in PHX in the summer, it definitely won't have any issues. I'd make damn sure I had enough water and a good plan if you had a blowout or something though.