Driving down south from the States?

[Brasil]

I know a guy who took a Harley all the way down. He bypassed Columbia as well.

Don't travel at night and it is a good idea to travel with a caravan of other vehicles in remote areas. A bus caravan is the best usually, busses are usually not targeted as much because they are so difficult to stop. Remember, a Land Cruiser will automatically make you a target. Plan your gas stops well, not as many pumps along the way, and most don't take credit cards.

Brazil and Argentina have beautiful untouched land. Check out the Iguacu Falls if you get that far down, they make Niagra look like a leaky faucet.

 

[canucksafari]

A bus caravan is the best usually, busses are usually not targeted as much because they are so difficult to stop.

I will have to flat out disagree with that one. Buses are easier to stop and provide a better yield for the thieves. Bus hold-ups are very common in Mexico, especially along non-toll roads. My wife's family is Mexican and every single time one of the family has been robbed it has been in a bus hold-up. Think about it, 30-70 people in a bus provide a lot more $$$ than you in your Cruiser. And buses can not turn around or go around obstacles on the road easily.

 

[joshoisasleep]

I will have to flat out disagree with that one. Buses are easier to stop and provide a better yield for the thieves. Bus hold-ups are very common in Mexico, especially along non-toll roads. My wife's family is Mexican and every single time one of the family has been robbed it has been in a bus hold-up. Think about it, 30-70 people in a bus provide a lot more $$$ than you in your Cruiser. And buses can not turn around or go around obstacles on the road easily.

I'll strongly second this actually. I've talked to several backpackers robbed at gunpoint on buses, and the best advice people give you if you ask which is the safer road is often "just avoid the ones the buses go on, they target those...".
A bus is much easier to stop than a landcruiser. To stop a bus you just have to wait at the bus stop. To stop my landcruiser... well, let's just say I regularly take out thick walls by accident with both bumpers front and back...

Now in Peru they videotape everyone who gets on a bus. I think it's partially to identify thieves after the fact, and also partially to identify bodies when the buses crash (which is often, and usually very bad)

 

[Brasil]

To each his own.

 

[sandcruiser]

x3 on the bus holdups. Mexico has a problem there, but you hear about it in other areas too.

The good thing about following bus routes is that if you break down along the way, buses will usually stop to let you get on, then you can grab another bus back with the towtruck or spare parts. Obviously it is unwise to leave your vehicle untended.... yet one more reason to travel with at least 2 people and preferably 2 vehicles (w/ two people each).

 

[joshoisasleep]

...then you can grab another bus back with the towtruck or spare parts. Obviously it is unwise to leave your vehicle untended....

Yeah I was gonna say, why bother with the tow truck. Why not just take a taxi and put whatever parts are still there in the trunk

 

[sandcruiser]

I suppose that "unwise" is a bit of an understatement. Words like "insane", "stupid", "an overwhelming display of faith in the unlikely goodness of others".... etc etc....

 

[Brasil]

I guess I will clarify my position. (trying to save face I guess...)


I would not recommend traveling at night in remote areas.

If you do, don't go at it alone. Stop at the bus stop or truck stop, or gas station or where ever all the trucks and busses are parked. Wait and watch, dozens of trucks and busses will leave at the same time and caravan together. This is planned, get in that caravan.

Busses are a common target when they travel alone, and usually it is only the luxury ones that are easy to spot. They try to stay on time I guess and don't wait.

If the highway bandits want to stop your LC you don't have a chance. Busses usually get stopped with spikes in the road or a shot to the driver, either of which would stop a LC. They can't stop a whole caravan though, and the bus drivers are known to try and hit the bandits, something you may not want to do. Many truck drivers are armed to defend themselves, again something you probably won't legally have access to.


Call me crazy, but I will stick with my buses and trucks.



Edit: I am not speaking for Mexico. I am talking about the land South of "The Gap".

 

[Brasil]

Think about it, 30-70 people in a bus provide a lot more $$$ than you in your Cruiser. And buses can not turn around or go around obstacles on the road easily.

They would steal you cruiser because it is a cruiser, your money would be a side benefit.

A bus is much easier to stop than a landcruiser. To stop a bus you just have to wait at the bus stop. To stop my landcruiser... well, let's just say I regularly take out thick walls by accident with both bumpers front and back...

If they can stop a bus... Chances are they can stop a cruiser. Try going head to head with a bus of your choosing. They don't stop at a wall, they take out the whole building.



All this aside, I think we can probably all agree that the best practice is just to stay off the remote roads at night.

 

[joshoisasleep]

Brasil: I can't fault your logic of traveling with a bus caravan to protect from highway attack. Safety in numbers right?

I think the above comments are mostly just referring to the type of robbery where someone boards the bus pretending to be a passenger, and then robs everybody and gets off. From what I've heard this is the more common form of highway robbery (I haven't yet heard a story of an actual attack as you describe, not that I'm doubting you). As far as someone setting up a roadblock and taking out all the cars coming along, wouldn't they set those up on the main routes that the buses take?

Anyway, if it came to that... well I think I'd just put my hands up and give my girlfriend **** later for not letting me install that gun turret...

 

[Brasil]

I think the above comments are mostly just referring to the type of robbery where someone boards the bus pretending to be a passenger, and then robs everybody and gets off.

I havent heard of this one myself, makes since though. I guess even crime evolves.

 

[cruiser_guy]

As far as someone setting up a roadblock and taking out all the cars coming along, wouldn't they set those up on the main routes that the buses take?

Not necessarily, they want cars of course but they don't want a whole line of cars that they cannot control! If they let a car go unintentionally and they contact the appropriate authorities (NOT the local cop shop) they could be in trouble.

The main roads in daytime are probably safest. When we go off road with the Guatemalan 4X4 club at least 1/2 the guys are packing heat and I doubt any of them would hesitate vary long if some punk or group of punks decided to hold up the caravan! Not to mention the fact that most of us also have ham radios and cell phones to contact whomever we can.

 

[Bogo]

On nail strips and tires. I wonder if it would be wise to run puncture filling goop in your tires. They list this one for highway speeds. There is a thicker one that is only listed for up to 25MPH. I use the thiner commercial grade stuff in most of my farm tires due to the amount of caltrop producing thorn trees we have in the area.

 

[Brasil]

On nail strips and tires. I wonder if it would be wise to run puncture filling goop in your tires. They list this one for highway speeds. There is a thicker one that is only listed for up to 25MPH. I use the thiner commercial grade stuff in most of my farm tires due to the amount of caltrop producing thorn trees we have in the area.

I havent seen nail strips, but they are probably used. What I hear of most common are pieces of rebar bent into various angles, they scatter them around on the road and wait. I have seen a few of these and no goop would stop that hole. Run-flats maybe.

I was on a bus one time on a remote stretch at dusk and the driver slowed down so he could see and have time to avoid anything in the road.

 

[Bogo]

I havent seen nail strips, but they are probably used. What I hear of most common are pieces of rebar bent into various angles, they scatter them around on the road and wait. I have seen a few of these and no goop would stop that hole. Run-flats maybe.

The thicker one I linked to is supposed to handle up to 1/2" diameter puncture sources, but has the 25MPH speed limit. Run flats sounds like it would be the way to go unless they use hollow caltrops.

Mini V plows in front of the wheels. Not very easily done for a short wheel to front of vehicle geometry, but doable.

 

[cruiser_guy]

I havent seen nail strips, but they are probably used. What I hear of most common are pieces of rebar bent into various angles, they scatter them around on the road and wait. I have seen a few of these and no goop would stop that hole. Run-flats maybe.

I was on a bus one time on a remote stretch at dusk and the driver slowed down so he could see and have time to avoid anything in the road.

Nail strips is what the Mexican Army uses at their roadblocks. I've never seen a slow bus, they all seem to be either full on the throttle or full on the brake!!

The best practice is to avoid the dangerous times and places and KEEP ALERT at all times. We've been down here going on 4 years and we have yet to be held up though I've heard of other folks who have been held up.

Here the practice seems to be to cut off the victim with a pickup of armed guys. I figure if I stay alert I hope to spot the suspect BEFORE they get past me and if they do get past the next turn is automatically mine!

 

[Brasil]

2nd the above reply. You can only pay attention and hope for the best.

I lived in various areas of Brazil for over 10 years and got pick pocketed, hats stolen off my head, house broken into and everything electronic stolen, tire stolen off a car, car broken into a few times, and a gun pulled on me in the car one time. You can't be in control at all times, just prepare you self for the worst.

 

[latinoguy]

Buses are targeted by bandits. Buses do go slow in some areas..think about it...Mexico's coastal highway between Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas (State of Michoacan) is an example...hwy there is similar to California's Big Sur highway, full of curves and stuff...which means you can only go so fast. For that reason, plus it is remote, it is a very dangerous highway. Hold ups are very common, bandits either set up road blocks or just stand in the middle of the highway pointing guns at the oncoming traffit. Ask me how I know...

 

[Volcano cruiser]

I will have to flat out disagree with that one. Buses are easier to stop and provide a better yield for the thieves. Bus hold-ups are very common in Mexico, especially along non-toll roads. My wife's family is Mexican and every single time one of the family has been robbed it has been in a bus hold-up. Think about it, 30-70 people in a bus provide a lot more $$$ than you in your Cruiser. And buses can not turn around or go around obstacles on the road easily.

x2 buses hijacks are by far the favorite of bandits from Mexico through Central America. As to bypassing Colombia, I worked there for 6 years and the food is great, the people warm and hospitable, the countryside scenery spectacular and the music varied and hot. As such it pains me beyond description to tell you and any one else STAY OFF THE ROADS!!!

Drive through Mexico and Central America. Spend lots of time exploring Costa Rica, the mountains (Volcan Arenal) and the beaches. Then ship your pride and joy to Ecuador, stay far away from the Colombian border, and enjoy the rest of the ride down. A big ditto on not driving in any of these countries on the roads at night. Even in the safest of the countries. if the bandits using improvised roadblocks at night don't get you, unilluminated speed bumps, farm or wild animals or drunks will appear in your path like pop up targets truly ruining your adventure. Hopefully one day soon peace will come to Colombia, but sadly that day is not today.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Buses do go slow in some areas..think about it...Mexico's coastal highway between Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas (State of Michoacan) is an example...hwy there is similar to California's Big Sur highway, full of curves and stuff...which means you can only go so fast. For that reason, plus it is remote, it is a very dangerous highway. Hold ups are very common, bandits either set up road blocks or just stand in the middle of the highway pointing guns at the oncoming traffit. Ask me how I know...

Yes, that highway is slow. I guess I should have said the buses will be going at the absolute maximum speed possible for any particular stretch of road! They will also be only too happy to pass you even if that means cutting back in and jamming on the brakes for the next stop!

I've driven MX 200 down the west coast twice and it's a beautiful highway. I had no issues either time.