Colombia and S. America Expedtion Summer 2007

[e9999]

I jumped! I went to the dealer today and got the FJC. I should have checked your posts first, I might have changed my mind...

snip


e9999:
We plan on building a foldable plywood platform to be supported by some type of large roof rack. Alternatively we were thinking of one of those Maggiolina roof top tents. I am embarassed to say we were planning on staying in hotels a lot - we're middle aged!!


snip

..

hotels are good. Much more convenient and you can still take in Nature during the day, so nothing to be embarrassed about. Just more expensive.
You the boss and you should do what you think is best for you, obviously, but I would put some more serious thought into taking a new (model and vehicle) FJC on a long third world trip like that. I would contact serious trekkers to ask their opinion. There are a number of sites out there dealing with that stuff.
I sure wish I could do one of these trips myself...

 

[cruiser_guy]

You the boss and you should do what you think is best for you, obviously, but I would put some more serious thought into taking a new (model and vehicle) FJC on a long third world trip like that.

Here in Guatemala I have not yet seen an FJ Cruiser and I was at the dealer the other day getting some parts for my truck. Think hard about the emissions stuff and computers. Mechanics here are NOT very computer savvy and DON'T generally have a scope or any other expensive equipment.

See if the dealer will let you out of the sales agreement. Some states have a law that allows you out of a large purchase within a certain number of hours or days. I know a new car sounds nice and cool and all but trust me, you DON'T want it on a long expedition to the third world. Simple and carburated is good computerized and fuel injected is asking for trouble. I'm sure your US mechanic means well in suggesting a newer car but most of the shops here in Central America won't be able to correctly repair it. This is what a typical shop will look like in Central America https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=76509 ! Most of the tools we used to swap my frame were my own because they didn't have the right ones. I've heard of mechanics here converting fuel injection vehicles to carburator when they can't solve the problems!

Anyways, whichever way you decide, if you want to chat, PM me. We're driving up from Guatemala City starting on Wednesday the 31 of May. I have a brother in Sacramento and we will probably be there on about the 12th of June.

 

[Tapage]

Here last week arrive our first 2 FJ's I thought in a short while ( of course not in this year ) of time we get some parts here .. Anycase I thought the best bet are a old and knowing rig .. as 60, 70 or 80 series Cruiser ..

In Panamá, you can camp in the interior of the country but closer to the City is much more complicated .. also I'm pretty sure you can found a lot's of cheapy hotel ( not stars included hahahaha )

 

[cruiser99]

Hey guys,

So what about a UZJ100 series? It doesn’t have many more “computers” then a FZJ80, does it?


Been drooling over this discussion for a while and still racking my brain how I can join it.
I have some limited expedition type travel in the US and Mexico and quite frankly, I am ready for the next level…and wanted to know if I need to prepare another vehicle. I got mine new in 99 and no one (mechanic or otherwise) had touched it sin then.

A little write-up about my truck
http://www.expeditionswest.com/vehicles/adventurepartners/Doron/doron100.html

 

[TEPUI]

cruiser99, I dont see why your 100 couldn't participate. I'd do just fine. Was your 100 featured on 4WDTO mag?

EDIT: yes, it is your 100, i just checked. I'm a big fan of your rig.

 

[crawford67]

Sounds like a lot of fun! I used to be stationed in Panama, lived there for 3 yrs. It would be cool to see my old stomping grounds and how they have changed. But I think I'll have to pass on this one. For sure skip the Darien Gap...it is Cowboy country. The joes I used to kick out of my helicopter down there always had lots of big guns and bullets because of the threat level. Beautiful area but not safe for the Gringos.

Tapage...Where is that new Bridge? The Bridge of the Americas was the only bridge across the canal when I was there. The new one looks really cool!

ciao!

 

[Tapage]

Tapage...Where is that new Bridge? The Bridge of the Americas was the only bridge across the canal when I was there. The new one looks really cool!

It's a new Bridge " Centenario " ahead Pedro Miguel Locks ..

Panamá still changing ( for better ) very fast !

 

[Live to Ski]

Quixote,

Fill me in on this California deisel stuff. Last time I checked, refitting a gasser w a deisel (any year) was ok. Granted, that was 2 years ago. Do you have a reference to the new regulation?

 

[karoja]

Sounds like my type of fun!

Hi guys, my name is Karl, and I do live in Guatemala (I am a Kraut, but have lived here all my life). I am also a member of http://www.4x4guatemala.org. We would be more than happy to help you guys locally, and may even arrange a 4x4 outing if you care. Heck, if you do not mind, some of us would join you for a country or two.

Shipping wise, I may be able to help, as we are agents for Hapag-Lloyd in Guatemala http://www.transmares.org, but also have close ties to Crowley and or Great White Fleet, among others. We can also help customs wise. Keep me in the loop, if you care.

 

[Quixote]

Live to Ski:

I do not know about diesel retrofitting but according to the dealer tech the regulations for NEW diesel vehicles has changed starting 2006. All I could see is that from empirical evidence most diesel vehicles seem to have disappeared from the market.

 

[Live to Ski]

Hmm, I'll haveto look into the reg's.

 

[Live to Ski]

FloridaFJ80

Did you ever get any prices for shipping your rig down to South Amercia?

 

[FloridaFJ80]

No guys i havent been able to get pricing on that from Panama. But I am gonna try to get some sort of estimate this week.

 

[Quixote]

Timing the trip

As my wife and I get more into the planning for this trip we are finding that leaving in January might work better for us. We plan on spending several months in Central America on the way to Tierra del Fuego and leaving in September would put us spot in the middle of hurricane season.

So the schedule is shaping up to be:
Jan-May Central America
Mid-May Ship to South America from Panama (Venezuela?)
May-December South America
Early December - Arrival in Tierra del Fuego
End of December - Ship car back to US

Feedback, comments?

 

[Tapage]

Mid-May Ship to South America from Panama (Venezuela?)

For central america starting dec jan .. is the best option IMOP .. and I hear some issues ( legal driving issues ) for driving in Venezuela ..

Check the thread I place a link with a lots of info about this trip by Mexican crew.

 

[sJs]

AWESOME INFO GUYS - With the internet its alot easier to plan for all these things and to communicate with other people that have done what ww want to do and they can give us advise, just like RANMA did.

A little about myself -
I am originally from Colombia. I was born there and I was pretty much raised here in the states. For the little time that I lived in Colombia (4 years) I was around my dads huge Cattle Ranches and I was always outdoors and tagging along on my dads Nissan Patrol's, or his Landcruisers. I enjoyed driving them. After owning a 92 FJ80 since new, and seeing all these awesome cruisers in colombia. I started searching for other enthusiasts, and I happened to find this site. Since here I guess you can say the BUG bit me, the 80 is completely stock and never seen mud. I had always liked exploring, wondering through the woods or whatever and finding new stuff. So my main focus for my rig is the expedition aspect of it. It was only until I was reading through a thread in the 70 series forum where they were asking if they could import those landcruisers here. I love that style landcruiser because I owned one in colombia, and had always wanted to bring one here. Well to make a long story short, there was a link about the Darien Gap, and thats where I found my inspiration, a guy in the 70's had traveled through it in his jeep and went all the way to Argentina. Thats when I decided to post here and see if there were other adventurous open minded people who would want to embark on this adventure with me.

I am 23 years old, I speak fluent spanish. I am very easy going and east get along with. I dont fall apart when things dont go according to plan, I actually like when things change or something unexpected happens. I thrive on adventure. With this trip I want to accomplish alot of things. I want to be able to show people my beautiful country, I want to be able go home (colombia) in my own built rig, just getting it there is an accomplishment. I have never been to any other countries in South America, and I would like to explore them and visit them.

I am planning to take my dad with me, this is something he really wants to do also. He enjoys just getting on the road and heading to a new place, But we want to get off the beaten path and visit little towns and meet new people.

I feel that this would be an awesome experience because will establish a bond and when we are out in other countries, we will be a team and depend on one another to get through anything. So hopefully we can all establish some good friendships.

Florida FJ80,

I had to admit, i was rather shocked reading your bio - it sounds almost identical to mine! 23, from Argentina, speak CASTELLANO like a native & english the same way (mainly raised stateside). And grew up with a passion to drive through Central America into Argentina (through Colombia, but of course) and explore as much of SA as possible!

Though I defenitely cannot commit to anything at this time, I am serious in that I will continue to monitor this thread & try to join any circulating mailing list! I probably wouldn't be able to take my rig (it won't be mine soon, NYC doesnt allow much room for a 100 lol), but if anyone in this expedition would like to have a riding buddy, i would totally, totally love to be considered for it!

Out of curiousity, would you all be travelling with your US or Colombian passports?

Anyways, just wanted to poke my head out of the ground, say hello and commend everyone who is considering this journey - its a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Cheers,
Santi

 

[theferg]

Hello all. Haven't been around much this past year as I've been working hard at getting a few things in my life straightened out. I'm doing much better now in case you're wondering... Anyway, I just came accross this thread and I'm lovin' it. It's been a dream of mine for quite a few years to run a north american to south american trip. A buddy and I have talked about it a lot. We really want to do it, and I couldn't think of a better way to do it than go with a bunch of other people. Make a sweet convoy style expedition/journey. Even better to get in on it with some people that have roots in some of the areas. Anyway, I'm gonna be monitoring this thread as well and working towards getting myself in on this. Once in a life time is pretty much the only way to sum up this journey.

So ya, for those who don't know yet, my name is Ben. I'm 29 and from Utah. I'm currently Cruiserless, but working on a little project to get me a new one... I've been into Cruisers for about 8 years and had an '84 FJ60 for 5 of those years. I work in the IT industry, but I'm def not a computer geek like that guy T Y L E R that roams around here... LOL I spend pretty much all of my free time outdoors skateboarding for 17 years now and mountian biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking etc etc.

On a side note (as there was a lil talk about it), I traveled to Venezuela a year ago and went to Salto Angel. It was the best experience of my life so far. We bussed from Maracaibo all the way down to Ciudad Bolivar and then bought a tour package from there for Angel Falls. We flew by prop planes from Ciudad Bolivar to Caniamo. That place was amazing. Got a thread on it already. Check it out at My trip to Venezuela - My new Cruiser...

Anyway, keep it coming. This is going to rule.

-Ben-

 

[Tapage]

We really want to do it, and I couldn't think of a better way to do it than go with a bunch of other people. Make a sweet convoy style expedition/journey. Even better to get in on it with some people that have roots in some of the areas.

Your best bet .. and for sure it was always my trip idea .. 6 - 8 Cruisers .. full armored .. amazing !

So ya, for those who don't know yet, my name is Ben. I'm 29 and from Utah. I work in the IT industry, but I'm def not a computer geek like that guy T Y L E R that roams around here... LOL

Hi Ben .. David from Panamá, I'm 30 and IT security manager .. but as same as you not a computer geek LOL

I spend pretty much all of my free time outdoors skateboarding for 17 years now and mountian biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking etc etc.

Off Road .. chicks, plus chicks and more chicks .

Bolivar to Caniamo. That place was amazing.

Parque nacional Canaima .. and for sure the place was amazing . !

 

[karoja]

I just returned from a road trip traveling on paved roads to San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua (Guatemala to San Juan del Sur via El Salvador and Honduras, and back... it takes 13 hours one way, including borders), and loved it. Also visited Granada and Ometepe island on Lake Cocibolga. Would love to repeat it camping out, and on back roads. I felt quite safe. The borders are now open, in the sense that you only do the paperwork (very little) on one side.

 

[FloridaFJ80]

Hey guys.. Sorry I havent been on here in a while, I just got back from my third trip this year to Colombia. My Fiance is in Colombia.. !! So much stuff is happening around here that I dont know where to start...

Lets see!! Work is going to be taking me to Panama permanently by the end of the year. I dont want to send my rigs via boat because I feel it would be cheating. So I want to drive both of my 80's to Panama. I am thinking by the end of the year or so. But I am still up for the SA Expedition for next year. I just will have to start mine from
Panama.

I got some shipping quotes from panama to Cartagena and its around 700-900 per 40 foot container.

Florida FJ80,

I had to admit, i was rather shocked reading your bio - it sounds almost identical to mine! 23, from Argentina, speak CASTELLANO like a native & english the same way (mainly raised stateside). And grew up with a passion to drive through Central America into Argentina (through Colombia, but of course) and explore as much of SA as possible!

Though I defenitely cannot commit to anything at this time, I am serious in that I will continue to monitor this thread & try to join any circulating mailing list! I probably wouldn't be able to take my rig (it won't be mine soon, NYC doesnt allow much room for a 100 lol), but if anyone in this expedition would like to have a riding buddy, i would totally, totally love to be considered for it!

Out of curiousity, would you all be travelling with your US or Colombian passports?

Anyways, just wanted to poke my head out of the ground, say hello and commend everyone who is considering this journey - its a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Cheers,
Santi

Santi, thats awesome that you also share that passion. I just got back from Colombia, and all I feel is envy wishing my rig was down there with me, I hate seeing so many gorgeous Land cruisers and Prados and not being able to drive one or have mine to take 4 wheeling. I wish you luck on finding a good cruiser. If there is space on one my righs, your more than welcome, to come along.

I am also in IT, but I am more of an extreme sports guy than Geek.