I have got the itch.... for an adventure

[ClemsonCruiser]

Well the time I spent this past year out west made me fall head over heels in love with the remote and vast wide open spaces and the grandeur of the scenery out there sadly I viewed most of it at 70mph from the behind the windshiled of my FJC.......... and I miss it terribly already. I want to get back out there and explore, I want to take on a true expedition. I recently picked up my old copy of "Who Needs a Road" and started to read it agian since it has been so long............ and it really got my desire for an expedition in my landcruiser going. I happened to remember a website I found about this time last year detailing an offroad trip that runs from the Mexican border to the Canadian that is 99% offroad and runs through some of the most remotes spots of our country. take a look here;

http://www.mex2can.com/article/National Geo.pdf

it documents a couple that did the trip in their jeep rubicon a few years back; it is a good read.

so with all that said is there anyone crazy enough and confident enough in there landcruiser to take on such a trip? 2500 miles of pure offroad joy??? I have pretty much made up my mind I am going to do it, even convinced mary ellyn My general idea at this point is to shoot for late spring 2009 (may-june) time frame as a trip such as this will require mucho planning. Luckly the guys at www.mex2can.com have done all mapping and gps stuff and I am sure they would share their info if the price was right

I am thinking a group of a group of 4-5 wagons would be ideal.......... the closer to stock and reliable the better and owners who are self sufficent and knowledgable with cruisers... this won't be any really hard wheeling mild to morderate at worst with most of it just being unimproved dirt roads through the desert and mountains........

I know I posted up this same crazy idea about this time last year and didn't really pursue it; but I am soon to be at point in my life where something like this is doable i.e. graudate and having a cash flow

if this sounds remotely like something you'd be seriously interested and willing to commit to please post up, and if I can get a few dedicated capable cruiser heads in on it I will contact the guys that run this trip every year on their dual sports and acquire the route info and details and the planning will start

seriously what else do you guys and gals have going on in spring of 09'

 

[BELMONT148]

I might be interested. The kid will be 2 then, and I can probably get the wife on board. I have some friends in Salt Lake City, Utah I would want to stop by and see, and maybe check out Moab. Don't know if any of that would fall in your plans. I have been thinking about a trip like this all year. I was thinking about a nice expedition setup 100 series for my vehicle. That way it could make the trek out west, up to Canada, and back east. Know way I would do it in the 40. Maybe If I towed it to the starting point and had a pickup at the end, but it would be a real test.

Jeremy

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I might be interested. The kid will be 2 then, and I can probably get the wife on board. I have some friends in Salt Lake City, Utah I would want to stop by and see, and maybe check out Moab. Don't know if any of that would fall in your plans. I have been thinking about a trip like this all year. I was thinking about a nice expedition setup 100 series for my vehicle. That way it could make the trek out west, up to Canada, and back east. Know way I would do it in the 40. Maybe If I towed it to the starting point and had a pickup at the end, but it would be a real test.

Jeremy

yeah this would def. be a trip for wagons just because of all the gear and supplies that would need to be hauled.......... it would be ideal if everyone who attended was in an 80 series with either 33" or maybe 35" tires. specifically because in a worst case scenario if some blows out more than one tire with the six lug set-up of the 80 series axle we could all he the ability to swap out...... that would be the only down side of the hundy is the 5 lug but if there was more than on hundy on the trip your guys could look after each other. just along those same lines everyone would need atleast two full sized spares.

as for the side destinations along the way it would be up to each person what they wanted to do or see....... as long as we all meet up at the set date in LA to begin the trip. The actual route which I think is out lined in the article I linked starts in So Cal on the US/Mex border just above Tecate and goes through Cali into western Nevada thru eastern OR then into Idahoe finishing at the Canadian border.

The expedition for a cure who was documeted here on mud last fall rain a different route that basically followed the contential divide from MT,ID,WY,CO,NM but I believe that had alot more asphalt time than the route I am looking at.

but glad to hear you are interested Jeremy it would be the trip of a lifetime for sure........ just gotta get some solid commitments and then we can get this puppy rolling


JP

 

[BELMONT148]

Don't have time to read the article at work, but will look at it tonight. I am curious as too how long it took them.

The 80 sounds like a good idea, I was just looking at more comfort for the family, since it is such a long hwy ride. Plus I was starting to look into these for my DD. Next year I should be able to get a nice 05' for under $20,000. I think it would be cool to DD drive a rig 4-5 years after you trekked on dirt roads from Mexico to Canada. Pretty cool bragging rights at the office.

Jeremy

 

[CandyPants]

JP, you need to talk to Dan. He's planning a trip too...originally it would have been as a support vehicle for my brother and his motorcycle, but now since his trip was "spoused," Dan's looking for a partner in crime. FYI...he owns the URL www.can2mex.com. He's also done a lot of research and mapping already.

And he does have an 80 series . I think I'll have to wait until the next time for this one...baby will only be 1 and I think Taylor would kill me.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

JP, you need to talk to Dan. He's planning a trip too...originally it would have been as a support vehicle for my brother and his motorcycle, but now since his trip was "spoused," Dan's looking for a partner in crime. FYI...he owns the URL www.can2mex.com. He's also done a lot of research and mapping already.

And he does have an 80 series . I think I'll have to wait until the next time for this one...baby will only be 1 and I think Taylor would kill me.

heather I am a little confused Dan....... your brother owns the website or is this a different Dan??

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Don't have time to read the article at work, but will look at it tonight. I am curious as too how long it took them.

The 80 sounds like a good idea, I was just looking at more comfort for the family, since it is such a long hwy ride. Plus I was starting to look into these for my DD. Next year I should be able to get a nice 05' for under $20,000. I think it would be cool to DD drive a rig 4-5 years after you trekked on dirt roads from Mexico to Canada. Pretty cool bragging rights at the office.

Jeremy

def. the hundy is a nicer ride.......... I wasn't trying to say you shouldn't get one; I was jus expressing it would be ideal if the vheicles were all 80's so that we could switch out tires and other parts in an emergency. it isn't a make or break deal by any means for this trip.


JP

*edit* jeremy as far as time the guys that do the rides on dual sport every year do it in 13 days and in one of the articles a group of guys did the trip in 10days so I would say a safe estimate would 10-14 days..... and hopefully we could keep the round trip out and back home to the upstate around 18-20 days.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

just did some quick rough estimates on roundtrip mileage and my best stab gas cost.........

looks like 8000 miles round trip from the upstate and back and I figured 15mpg for the trip so that equates to about 530 gallons of fuel at 3.50 a gallon and rounded up to a nice round figure of $2000 for total fuel cost ......... and then I figure another 1-2k for all other costs of food, lodging, etc along the way

so roughly looks like a 3-4k adventure ........... that is as much as I am planning to spend on my honey moon

 

[CandyPants]

heather I am a little confused Dan....... your brother owns the website or is this a different Dan??

My other brother...Mike, owns the website. Sorry, that wasn't clear. It defaults to his portfolio page right now, but he bought the URL when they were planning the trip.

Clear as mud?

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

My other brother...Mike, owns the website. Sorry, that wasn't clear. It defaults to his portfolio page right now, but he bought the URL when they were planning the trip.

Clear as mud?

okay got you........ we are talking about two different websites that is what had me confused because I didn't pic up on it.

the one I was referring to was mex2can.com and your bro's is can2mex. com....... when I quickly scanned over your post I didn't notice the difference

 

[BMThiker]

I've talked with Dan about this expedition and can say that I'm honestly interested, but it will come down to how much time I can get away from work at once. Taking a whole month off is going to be an uphill battle. Now if we could arrange for this to help with some charity/fundraising entity, then it might go a little better for all involved. Think sponsorship too.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I've talked with Dan about this expedition and can say that I'm honestly interested, but it will come down to how much time I can get away from work at once. Taking a whole month off is going to be an uphill battle. Now if we could arrange for this to help with some charity/fundraising entity, then it might go a little better for all involved. Think sponsorship too.

Cool rick glad to hear you are interested.......... and I assume Dan will be for that matter as well. As far sponsorship I think I mentioned this in the old thread I started about this last year but maybe I could look into something along the lines of my juvenile diabeties.... might be able to convince the makers of my insulin pump to sponsor us; I'd have to give them some spiel about how there pump allows me the flexiblilty and confidence to do a two week trip across the most remote and dangerous parts of our country who knows?

I am up for any other ideas

 

[concretejungle]

Jason and I have been kicking around the idea of attending the Alaska Cruiser Trek this coming year. Plan is to ship the cruisers out, fly out to them and wheel the cruiser trek. Then, explore some of Alaska, drive down the alaskan highway to Washington. Explore washington and Oregon, then start driving back across the country home deciding which way to go.

Plan on getting a roof-top-tent to limit the hotel stays to a minimum.

Just kicking the idea around.

 

[BELMONT148]

Here is a link to some beautiful pics that I found for inspiration.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ratpuke/ALASKA2007MudMountainsMarkWhatley

This is one of my favorites.

Jeremy

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

yeah the alaska cruiser trek has always been a dream of mine as well............. but I have a feeling it would drawf this mexico to canda thing in cost; but still I don't think you could be a trip like that!!!

 

[concretejungle]

I am trying to cut cost everywhere i can. One being the roof top tent. I figured saving 10 nights in a hotel pays for the tent. Alaska has a lot of rest areas with showers, bathrooms and free internet. THat saves money there too. Get a fridge to throw in the back of the 80 and you can save even more money on food.

The big expense will be gasoline, shipping cost and the flight out. I ran some numbers on microsoft streets and trips and using a average gas price of $3.00/gallon, we were looking at $3,000 in gasoline alone.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

okay guys where is the sense of adventure??? I was hoping for a little more interest than this

right now it looks like
Jeremy
Rick
Dan

no one else wants in once in a lifetime cruiser trip???

 

[slick621]

JP,

This is something that I would be seriously interested in, but I would have to work out a few things first. However, I am interested.

Travis

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

JP,

This is something that I would be seriously interested in, but I would have to work out a few things first. However, I am interested.

Travis

Travis glad to hear it......... I understand it is hard for anyone to commit to something this far out in advance and something so uncertain and I don't expect anyone to commit 100% at this point; I am just trying to gauge if there is any serious interest in such a trip. If there is enough interest to make it worth while I will move ahead with the research and planning......

 

[cruiser4life]

Just don't forget your 2 week commitment this August in knee deep powder in the Southern Hemisphere...