Holy crap man, that cruiser has been an albatross around your neck from day one. Hmmm. Just thinking out loud, some ideas, extrapolating on points already made...
- seek advice and consider using a motor oil as thick as molasses, thickest there is. Might not be a good idea in cold weather on cold starts.
- if you can curb the oil consumption with thick oil, it might help your fuel mileage noticeably. Higher compression, less blow by, more efficient fuel burning.
- quick change oil shop for free oil. Get it from the pan of a vehicle vs. the shop holding tank if possible.
- not familiar with cruisers, if it's fulltime 4x4, can disconnect the front driveline for better mpg's perhaps?. Part time, keep it out of 4x4, and can still do a disconnect maybe?
- air your tires up to max for mileage.
- Greyhound is about the cheapest transpo going. They are flexible on tickets, baggage.
- can check the wreckers, east coast vs. western U.S. as well, see what you can get for your vehicle.
- put the word out, sell your bumper/s (ARB?), everything you can, before taking it to the wrecker.
- maybe find a $500 dollar toyota or geo metro, good mpg's, with tags.
- can ditch the vehicles all together, they are money pits.
- if you have a job waiting for you, that you can start now, just get there. Put off the sightseeing and visiting.
Edit: some posting done while typing, hope some of this is still relevant.