Driving a Tacoma around the world

Don’t you need a license to have his ham radio?

 

Yes you need a license for HAM. It’s super easy to get though and good for like 10 years

 

Cool. Is it good in all countries? Otherwise I can see the customs people causing hassles

 

Depends on the country but for the most part there is reciprocity agreements in place or just a form you have to submit

 

The locals probably drive around in cars or whatever, a Sport will be fine.

 

Yes you need a license, but the basic test is very easy to pass with a little preparation.

There are reciprocity agreements between countries as well, though i would check to see what the rules are for the countries you will be visiting. Usually there are band restrictions and some minor things you may need to do (like add an area suffix to your US ham call when transmitting in Canada)

One tip I have been encouraged to follow is have the antenna on the vehicle able to be unscrewed or folded down for border crossings. While you may be completely able to use your ham license in other countries, aerials attract attention, so the less attention you attract the easier an already stressful crossing will be.

 

Thanks @Track and @Gunshot-6A! I’ve been checking out ham radios, man they’ve changed over the years, super lightweight, definitely will be caring one on the trip. thanks again

 

Take 2 tests.

The technician class will get you onto VHF/UHF, which is mostly good for line of sight. You can talk to repeaters, and other tacos, but no communication over hills. I was surprised to find that from the mountain tops of Death Valley, I could not hit repeater in Pahrump or Ridgecrest. You could use CW (Morse code) on HF bands, but most off-roaders would rather use voice while driving.

The general class is only a tiny bit harder than the technician class. If you study a bit, you might be able to pass them both during the same exam. This class lets you talk on the HF bands, most notable 20/40/80m. The equipment is a little more expensive and antennas a little more tricky, but you can almost always talk to someone in the next state (or country) on one of these band. Most stationary hams will have a telephone, and would love to be able to brag about helping to rescue someone. If you are stranded, you can throw up a long wire antenna, and have a better chance of contacting someone.

Plus, I would like to talk to more people on the road, not just in the shack.

73, WE4BY

PS. A buddy of mine went around the world in a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Maximum off-road capability was not an issue in most places.

 

I am not sure why you said OR sport, there is no such thing. It is an OR or a Sport. Plus, are you going across Europe, if so, how are you getting the Taco over there?

 

Snorkel obviously

…or a boat

 

To the OP, I wouldn’t let all the naysaying dissuade you in your vehicle choice. Im a die hard Land Cruiser guy (also have a 3rd gen). I don’t think the Tacoma is a bad choice at all. Make keeping it lightweight (as much as possible) your number one priority. Drive the truck like you care about it, and I think it’ll be great.

 

Now if he has lots of cash, he could fly it over, but doesn't that make it NOT around the world? In my book around the world would have to be in winter and drive across from Wales, Alaska to Naukan Haykah, Russia in winter so the tires don't leave the ground.

 

Weight is going to be a huge problem for you. I have one of the options you are considering (Tacoma with a flatbed and FWC Fleet) and even though I am super careful about weight, I am still 600 - 1000lbs over GVWR depending on my load. This is without a whole bunch of stuff you have on your list (toilet, shower, 2 deep cycle batteries, bumper, winch, long range fuel tank, skid plates, spares etc) . With that stuff, you will be at least 2000lbs over GVWR, possibly more like 3000lbs. This will effect your handling, reliability and safety.

In terms of the camper, the FWC and XP camper are probably the best choices. The others are 'fair weather only' campers, great for a week in Baja, terrible for a month on the taiga. Even so, while I like my FWC, it is still not a good choice for a RTW trip. The pop up is not really insulated so it takes a lot of propane to keep it warm in cool conditions, and condensation will be a perpetual issue. Having spent a couple months, late season in the Yukon and NWT, I guarantee you condensation issues will be a major annoyance. While the structure is built well, most of the fittings and appliances are still 'US RV Grade' which means cheap and crappy.

If you are starting from scratch, then I really don't think the Tacoma/Pop Up option is the best way to go. Follow in the steps of those who have done this before (yes it has been done in everything from a Yugo to a Tatra) and go with what seems to work for most people - which appears to either be European spec medium duty trucks/vans or J70 series landcruisers with composite boxes.

 

Wow this sounds like an awesome trip you have planned out.

Im sure theres been a ton of good info and comments made here so far, and clearly Im not going to read them all haha..
But a few things I would say:
Right off the bat, I'm guessing money is not an issue for you, but you can always look into some less expensive alternatives. For example I would guess an 8k winch isnt going to be enough for a truck of that size (unless you want to spend time rigging up a snatch block etc. every time). So you could look into a Smittbilt 9.5 or 10k for way less than a Warn.

I do not agree with some of the comments on the first page telling you that to avoid electrical work. The stock system wont be adequate for this level of travel, imo. There are plenty of good threads on here / articles online that will teach you how to do proper electrical work. Its not like this stuff is high voltage, but it is (can be) high current which is where the risk of fire comes in. But again, not that hard to do good work if you take your time. Proper fusing, good connections, and shielding from abrasion are key. Plus you will be much more likely to have the skills you need to fix issues when they arise on the road.

Lastly, and probably most important - the best way to learn what will work for you is to use it and test it. Even doing weekend trips will help you figure out what you need vs want vs dont need etc. Im sure others have said it, but thats probably the best advice - make as many shake down trips as you can, because at the end of the day everyones application is different.

 

If I was traveling around the world, I sure wouldn't cheap out on a winch...

When you are going to be in the build $80k, what different does $500 make?

 

valid, and as I said, it sounds like moneys not an issue for OP. Just tossing the idea out haha

 

Oh and @Round the world I hope you start a build thread on here with plenty of pics as this progresses!

 

Sorry I said it out of ignorance. I mix up "TRD" and "OR". I should said that I have a TRD sport

 

...and to answer the question regarding how the truck will get to Europe, we're planning on having it fit inside a 20' shipping container, that way parts won't go "missing"

 

What is your Round the World Route. North and South America first, then Europe and Asia?