California to Tierra del Fuego... in a 40?

[joshoisasleep]

Do you still have the info for the people you got that RORO quote from? Really interested!

 

[1tontoy]

depends on the country. not any issues selling in Chile. a little more difficult in Argentina for sure. i'm sure it can be done for cheaper, althought i was quoted $6800 by a different company, but after the month long hassle of finding someone that could actually make it happen i was okay with the price. i did have a quote from brazil to fla, roll on roll off, for $2400 total but the visa issues etc with brazil sort of killed that plan.
dmc

6800-2400=4400

I guess after driving into Brazil, shipping to FLA, and driving back West, $4400 would have been spent. Good analysis.

But, FWIW, brazil visa etc is not any harder than from other countries that require visa. brazil is a pretty well run country.

 

[joshoisasleep]

maybe he's an outlaw in Brazil

 

[dmc]

6800-2400=4400

I guess after driving into Brazil, shipping to FLA, and driving back West, $4400 would have been spent. Good analysis.

i didn't pay $6800. i paid $4800. (see earlier post) $2400 for RORO didn't include the US side of the fees, which ended up being almost $1k. between the cost of fuel (to get home from fla AND driving another 4k miles farther north into brazil with their outrageous fuel prices), my lack of any desire to go to brazil and the cost of flying to fla to get my truck it was a wash to ship from BA to Long Beach.

that doesn't include the fact that i don't trust RORO. i've read about too many people having issues with stuff disappearing from their truck, or random damage happening while out on the deck of the ship.

as i said, there may have been cheaper options but i don't mind paying more for the comfort of knowing things were done right.
dmc

 

[dmc]

maybe he's an outlaw in Brazil

sssshhhhh. don't tell anyone.


i did cross into see iguazu illegally from paraguay. from the website i was using for all my visa info (bookmarked on my other laptop) i read that Brazilian vehicle visas had to be applied for in advance. perhaps the site was wrong but i had no desire to find out. i barely get by in spanish so venturing into another language, while being alone, was not something i was eager to do either.
dmc

 

[joshoisasleep]

that doesn't include the fact that i don't trust RORO. i've read about too many people having issues with stuff disappearing from their truck, or random damage happening while out on the deck of the ship.

I can confirm your fears. It's cheap, but you get what you pay for.

I was talking to a Brazilian guy a while ago and he said you can get really cheap biodiesel in Brazil. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[dmc]

Do you still have the info for the people you got that RORO quote from? Really interested!

Barwil Agency. They are the company that arranged my Darien Gap shipping. I worked with Evelyn in Panama City and she gave me a quote via email when I was in Chile. here is her contact info...

Evelyn N. Batista
Sales Executive
Barwil Agencies, S.A.

Panama City Office
Avenida Balboa
Galerias Balboa Building Second Floor, Suite 35
Phone: 507 263-7755
Evelyn.Batista@transcanal.com

She speaks english and spanish and is very good at explaining all the steps in the process and taking care of all the small stuff. i can't say enough good things about my experience with her. i'm sure she'll have to refer you to an agent in brazil but she'd be a good place to start.
dmc

 

[lostworldexpedition]

Great info, thanks for the opinions. You brought up some good points:

I figure that this trip is in the next 1.5 year timeframe

- Storage in the 40...

Now, regarding planning... I'm going to start drawing up a route that hits the things I'd like to see. [Part of me knows I'll enjoy the "unplanned" destinations more, but saying "I want to see Machu Piccu etc" feels like a good way to get a rough route drawn"]. I'm going to put off worrying about the Gap for now. This should help me budget/pack and I'll try to research entry/exit requirements for each country on the list (I've read that libretta requirements are almost non existant now...?) to ID any problems. Once I know how much it'll cost, I'll know how long I have to save for

I have not done the trip myself, I am in the planning stages of my own Overland trip of a lifetime... but in my research I have found some really cool people and web sites including Josh and Anya (joshoisasleep), Dave (DMC) here in MUD. You should really look at the guys from Ihana, they made the trip around central and south America on a beat up old diesel Land Rover 110. If they could do it you can do it and better in the Cruiser (and maybe a rooftop tent)! For some great stats (fuel used, mileage, etc.) and route maps check out the guys at Lodzi, another Land Rover... It sounds like our trips might be at around the same time frame next year, we should plan on meeting up somewhere, maybe share a container for the Darien Gap jump. PM me if you are interested.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Damn ! I was mising this thread ..

1. Drop a mail to Sand Cruiser, he is in Costa Rica, at this way you have contact in Guatemala, El Salvador ( I have a friend in Nicaragua ), Costa Rica and me here in Panamá .. so you are not alone !

Amaurer,
Tapage is right you have mudders ready to assist you in Guatemala, El Salvador (me), Costa Rica and Panama(Tapage) and it sounds like Tapage has some folks in Nicaragua. I know my 4x4 club knows guys in Honduras as they come over here to wheel. How's the trip plan going? As I am thinking about looping around CentAm and then accross the USA I'm following your 40 expecition prep thread. I'm very curious on your choice of roof/tire racks and RTT, if you decide to go that way.
John