Expedition Americas FZJ80

[tltaylor22]

Dave,
I was checking out your Cafepress site and just had one question for you. Does the "classic thong" come in different sizes and will it make me look fat? I'll get my wifes approval and order placed.

 

[dmc]

Dave,
I was checking out your Cafepress site and just had one question for you. Does the "classic thong" come in different sizes and will it make me look fat? I'll get my wifes approval and order placed.

did you read the description? you can get it in different sizes but it's now been removed. just a joke for a friend who claimed she wanted one.
dmc

 

[tltaylor22]

I missed the description and now I missed my opportunity I guess. I need to be more of an impulse buyer.

Take a rebuild kit with stiker for you Jet boil. We use those in our Alaska trips. great stove, but we had issues with one of them wanting to light this last trip. I haven't tried my fyring pan yet. I talked to them at the OR show because I think I can modify the design to decrease their boiling times. I wouldn't tell them what I was going to do, but they just laughed and said their engineers had squeezed out every last bit of heat tranfer they could realistically find. Classic last words. They have a great product but the sales people were a little cocky.

 

[1point4]

what a trip/adventure! I've dutifully subscribed to the blog, looking forward to updates.

Question: why no bumper/bull-bar on that rig? Want to avoid the extra weight? An ARB seem to be a good choice for this trip?!

 

[cmadness]

Question: why no bumper/bull-bar on that rig? Want to avoid the extra weight? An ARB seem to be a good choice for this trip?!

He does. Looks like he's pretty well covered.

Good luck and have fun. Looks like a blast.

 

[1point4]

i guess i was looking at some older stock photos on the blog...

 

[dmc]

i guess i was looking at some older stock photos on the blog...

those are photos i've taken. i'm working on a page for my truck but getting the truck ready to go is taking longer than i wanted. my truck is pretty much set up just like it is on the header of this page rack and ezi-awn roof top tent go on this week. mount the shovel and pull pall and it should be ready.
dmc

 

[1point4]

thanks dave. looking forward to following your travels.

 

[reffug]

I love the bookshelf.

classic.

 

[TEPUI]

you're added to my list of contacts. chile is about 4.5 months away but as i get closer i'll take you up on the offer. thanks
dmc

We'll be here

 

[CF1128]

Mods

Any last minute mods?
Excited???I am
Nervous????Wish i was riding shotgun, just a little longer till showtime!!

 

[dmc]

Any last minute mods?
Excited???I am
Nervous????Wish i was riding shotgun, just a little longer till showtime!!

got a ton done. been either out of town or working too hard to post up. i'm done working at 3:30 pm tomorrow. i'll get pics of the rack tent and others posted up this weekend. truck should be loaded and ready to go by sunday. gives me a week to think of what i've forgotten or overpacked.
dmc

oh yeah and excited as hell about the trip.

 

[Kaderabek]

My bet is that you just keep going....

TJK

 

[OGBeno]

My bet is that you just keep going....

TJK

x2.

Next a cargo ship to New Zealand and another one to Oz. Then another one to Thailand, then overland to France, ferry to England, and then a cargo ship back to the States.

Anticipated return time: 2010.

 

[joshoisasleep]

Grolar:
Dont let the kids put you off. I had my 8th birthday in the back of a white FJ60 overlanding across australia, best thing my dad ever did for me. You have less room for gear, but a family of four CAN do it

Now Im 22 and in Costa Rica, ALSO on my way to Argentina from Canada with my girlfriend. DMC, drop me a PM when you get down south (I have no phone) and lets convoy or have a beer or something! You are so much better prepared than we are... we`re rushing fast as we can to Ecuador in our hammered-together BJ62, which has pulled us through with nothing but gusto so far. With a 27 year old engine (3b) the only complaint my beloved cruiser has given me is with the home-made power steering setup, which will be easy to replace here in Costa Rica (cruiser mecca?).

Sorry if this is a bit of a hijack, but for those interested please feel free to check out my rarely updated trip log also at www.wanderinglost.com (only really works in firefox because I suck at ajax). Would love to get in touch DMC, it would be awesome to hook up with a fellow overlander and cruiserhead down south here.
Thanks a bunch to the awesome mudders who have helped me on my way so far!

Fair enough. Can you just elaborate about the countries you're going to cross and about how you're going to go past the Darien gap and Colombia? I assume you'll drive in Chile, if so don't miss the obvious (Atacama, Valparaiso) but also the Valle del Elqui in between, which is a great hideaway, far from the Panamerican (feel free to PM me if you are interested about cool spots in Chile). And do you plan to have the rig shipped back to the US, or will you be traveling all the way northbound?

And about making the big splash: I'm really thinking about it and it's not about money and time (I'll have both in two year's time), but two young children in the back seats might add a little to the payload, as well as the burden when it deals with safety. I'm all the more anxious to see how well you travel down there. Your blog is in my bookmarks already, looking forward to reading you. I'm impressed by your dedication. All the best.

 

[CF1128]

x2.

Next a cargo ship to New Zealand and another one to Oz. Then another one to Thailand, then overland to France, ferry to England, and then a cargo ship back to the States.

Anticipated return time: 2010.

...and then back to France, and you take over France, then your really our hero, then as a total slap in the face, you just give France back to the French, because you just realizeed why they are such idiots and they have no backbone...They drive Citreon's and other things I can't spell, they drive Under Engineered Vehicles, you teach them about Land Cruisers,and your hand made boxes and shelves and it saves France! they actually start to get a clue and they actually learn to have pride, not just in Clothes and Wine. They start to understand that you have to give a s***.
You are the man that made the World actually like the French, so you kind of Save World, and then you keep going and going...
Your may save the world or at least the French on this trip.
I knew this a great thread.

 

[CF1128]

and going...

x2.

Next a cargo ship to New Zealand and another one to Oz. Then another one to Thailand, then overland to France, ferry to England, and then a cargo ship back to the States.

Anticipated return time: 2010.

...and then back to France, and you take over France, then your really our hero, then as a total slap in the face, you just give France back to the French, because you just realizeed why they are such idiots and they have no backbone...They drive Citreon's and other things I can't spell, they drive Under Engineered Vehicles, you teach them about Land Cruisers,and your hand made boxes and shelves and it saves France! they actually start to get a clue and they actually learn to have pride, not just in Clothes and Wine. They start to understand that you have to give a s***.
You are the man that made the World actually like the French, so you kind of Save World, and then you keep going and going...
Your may save the world or at least the French on this trip.
I knew this a great thread.

 

[CF1128]

On a serious note

DMC,
What about poor quality fuel?
Maybe I missed it, but water and stuff in the fuel, some of the places you will go will obviously be questionable as to tanks in the ground leaking and stuff, are you running standard fuel filters etc, traps etc...
Is there a fuel additive that all expidition people know of that we balless commoners know nothing about?

 

[Box Rocket]

DMC,
What about poor quality fuel?
Maybe I missed it, but water and stuff in the fuel, some of the places you will go will obviously be questionable as to tanks in the ground leaking and stuff, are you running standard fuel filters etc, traps etc...
Is there a fuel additive that all expidition people know of that we balless commoners know nothing about?

Dunno if it is really necessary but I had a certain cruiser shop recommend using a bottle of "HEET" in the fuel at the beginning of spring and fall when the temperature would change and there would be possible condensation in the tank. This was with my FJ40 so don't know if it would be effective on the 80.

Would be easy to throw a few bottles in the truck for the cases of "watered-down" gas.


More importantly, post some pics of the new rack you bum.

 

[Kaderabek]

Dave has a girlfriend?

TJK