Builds DMC South America Expedition and ROTW write-up

[96Cruiser13]

amazing write ups so far

and amazing rig

and pics

 

[Box Rocket]

Great stuff Dave!! Miss you man. Stay safe and hop on messenger when you can.

 

[NorCalSam]

Very cool rig and trip

keep it coming

 

[Atticus]

Inspirational.

 

[dmc]

well I just returned from a 12 hour day at the port. but I got the truck back tonight and I can't wait to hit the road again tomorrow. here a few pics as promised. I'm headed to dinner with floridafj80 but i'll post up tonight when I get back.

the fake deck. it even confused a fellow 80 owner briefly so maybe it's better than i thought. I'll take a better pic in the sun tomorrow.

the rack...

and one before getting her back. I was so happy at 11:45. Little did I know it would be 7:30 before I would actually drive her out of the port.

more later.

 

[dmc]

A funny thing happened on the way to Cruise Moab this year. I took a left and ended up in Telluride, CO When I returned home via CM 4 days later I was ready to go to Ushuaia. You'll notice in the first post of my previous ROTW that I make some comment about building the truck to drive to South America. It was a true statement however it was more like a 5 year plan. After my solo jaunt to CO in May I came home, told my boss I was quitting in November then told everyone I knew I was going so there would be no way I could possibly back out. It didn't happen exactly like that but that is the succinct version.

Then an even funnier thing happened. The summer in Utah was hot as hell. I really wanted my friend who is a Technical Trainer for Toyota to supervise/help me with all of my projects on the truck. which of course took a back seat to me helping him landscape (digging trenches) his new yard. So I spent the summer working on my website, my golf swing, my writing, my attempt to get sponsors and my research with some odd projects along the way. As the Nov 5th launch date drew closer the time for completely projects shrank. One of the benefits however was I was able to find plenty of time to think about the projects I would undertake. The goals were very simple.

Spend money where I had to. Save money where I could. Make the truck as solid and usable as possible. for the most part I think I was successful. There are plenty of things I wish I would have done. long range tank, higher rated winch, tweaked the rear boxes a bit more, strengthened the rear swing out, security film/glass/expanded metal on the windows, morphed a 60 body on the the 80 chassis, drivetrain, suspension and interior, we can call dream right.

however those are all wants. I don't think there is anything, at this point, that I need to make the truck right. everything in my life and with the vehicle was about 90% of perfect to make the trip happen so I pulled the trigger and here I am.

A few more thoughts for anyone looking to do a South American Expedition. DO NOT plan to use Mobil 1 synthetic for your entire trip if you are burning at least the slightest bit of oil. I don't leak a drop but I burn about a quart every 3k miles. The price of Mobil 1 Synthetic in Colombia is $17.50 a quart. yep a quart. sooooo yeah big mistake on my part.

There are certain 'must haves' in an expedition rig and I think I did okay by them. A reliable drivetrain. Valve adjustment, tb cleaning, overall tune up, new rotors, pads, gears including rebuild kit, ujoints, drivelines and all seals in the tcase. leaks fixed and cooling system upgraded. i have with me a cap, rotor, plugs, wires, filters, waterpump, alternator, starter contacts and various other parts. I replaced the low pressure power steering return line while the engine bay was gutted so I can avoid that fiasco. Having seen it done twice on the trail I figured it was worth it. Since my first ROTW I had done the phh, and my intake tube, pcv, as well. the Scangage II allows me to monitor the truck through the various operating environments.

It's not often I allow myself to brag but having set out with a plan when I purchased the truck in the spring of 05 I can't tell you how satisfied I am to have the truck in this state less than 3 years later. the help of this board (i'm a huge lurker/searcher), my good cruiser friends, a great parts sponsor/resource in the local dealership, as well as my other sponsors, made it happen for me. right down to the hood logo and limb risers. (which in the right environment are invaluable, IE panama and costa rica) I'm going to hit the road tomorrow and head toward Medellin but I should have access tomorrow night to check on this thread.
dmc

 

[dmc]

Great work Dave!
This is what I would expect of you when it comes to writing and pic's
Good luck on your travels

and by that you mean i use too many words right? I am trying to make up for that overly concise Baja article in Trails this month. 40 is looking good by the way.
dmc

 

[Vitesse_6]

and by that you mean i use too many words right? I am trying to make up for that overly concise Baja article in Trails this month. 40 is looking good by the way.
dmc

Perhaps...But I wouldnt have it any other way, I envy what you have taken on

Thanks for the 40 compliment, Someday it will be finished

 

[Box Rocket]

So do you have to worry about safety an emissions inspections down there?





I make a joke.

 

[cruisermon]

Expedition Americas stickers/support

So this is long overdue (sorry dmc) but I was given the honor of being Dave's official Expedition Americas sticker/support manager.

I have a limited amount of Expedition Americas Logo Stickers (around 65 at this writing). The stickers are professional quality, die cut, measuring approx. 6 inches tall x 5 inches wide. The price of the sticker is based on the production cost and includes a little extra to buy Dave some petrol, help pay for $$$hipping his truck, a taco or two, a bribe to cross a border, etc.

The stickers are $10 each, minimum. Feel free to pay more for them if you would like to support Dave beyond that. It will be greatly appreciated.

Sticker payment and support funds can be PayPal'd to dave@expeditionamericas.com. I will promptly mail the stickers out to you.

Dave also has a cafepress site with logowear.

And don't forget to sign up for Dave's Expedition Americas blog so that you can follow his journey and adventure.

(mods, I apologize in advance if this post is not appropriate in this thread. Feel free to delete or move to FS)

 

[LIVERUST]

thanks for reminding me Darren

money on the way. buy yourself a quart of mobile 1 Dave. nice write up by the way.

 

[PHAEDRUS]

Still remember The first day I moved back to SLC and saw Dave's truck in the parking lot at work. Looks even better now.
Dave


Pick up a quart for me Dave.
Just send me one sticker Darren, I will have the adress in paypal.

 

[Box Rocket]

The picture of Dave getting his truck back out of the container gives a good idea of the size of the sticker. Dave's got one of them on his liftgate glass.

Edit: here's the shot I was talking about. sorry...

Too bad we can't get the sweet giant hood blackout versions of the EA logo

 

[BLACKGOLD]

Ok...the Mule Rack is looking pretty Bad-Ass. Consider me jealous. Very nice.

 

[ddorsch]

Dave,wishing you a safe and adventerous trip.Great write up.I like the way you detailed all of the different mods and how they are working for you.


Dave

 

[ArmyFJ]

That looks like so much fun. I cannot wait to do a trip like that with my wife. Love the rig and the write up. Thanks for taking the time to keep posting.

 

[Grolar]

Like they said. You're an inspiration and so is your rig. Can't believe it's that clean after those miles. Keep writing long reports and taking breathtaking pics!

 

[dmc]

Like they said. You're an inspiration and so is your rig. Can't believe it's that clean after those miles. Keep writing long reports and taking breathtaking pics!

well it was nice and filthy with 10 countries worth of mud and grime. but the shipping companies required you to clean it. i paid $8 for a detail that would have been $75 in the states (outside only). and thanks for the kind words.
dmc

 

[dmc]

The picture of Dave getting his truck back out of the container gives a good idea of the size of the sticker. Dave's got one of them on his liftgate glass.

Edit: here's the shot I was talking about. sorry...

Too bad we can't get the sweet giant hood blackout versions of the EA logo

and thanks to Box Rocket for designing my logo. solid work as always.
dmc

 

[concretejungle]

Dave, sweet write-up and hell yea on the trip!

Tell me how your liking your tent? Any changes to that at all?