Driving a Tacoma around the world

I would be seriously concerned about being over the GVWR. Could cause alot of issues at border crossings, with cops or just a safety issue while driving.

 

Or stopping..... lol

 

I wouldn’t be. Ever seen one of these?



There aren’t a lot of differences between this and a standard pickup. Stiffer springs, brakes are probably the same. I have a 1995 Itasca Passage motorhome on a P30 chassis. It has the same driveline as a Chevy 1500 454SS. Even the brakes are just Chevy HD pickup brakes. It’s slow and doesn’t stop well too, but so what? you drive it accordingly.

 

My wife and I are looking at doing something similar in our retirement but starting off with Alaska, cross Canada, US, Mexico and then down through Central and South America. Planning to leave in 2-3 years. I recently bought a Tacoma for the journey and I'm sure I went through a similar thought process as you did. Figured I would get some 4X4 and recovery experience and then start kitting the vehicle out. I went with the Tacoma for clearance, off road capability, loyalty (I put almost 400,000 miles on a Celica) among other reasons. If it breaks down and we get stuck somewhere for a month I'm not going to worry to much.

I had similar concerns about the GVWR but will do mods to make the vehicle as safe as possible. I'm close to 60 years old and will be taking my time, driving shorter distances and certainly not exceeding any speed limits. Like you I don't want my vehicle to limit where I can travel, and if I only need the capability for a small % of the time I'm fine with that.

I'm looking at the Alu-Cab Khaya and the FWC, leaning toward the Khaya at this time. We plan to do most of the trip in warmer weather and it seems like the Khaya is built more towards spending time outside. We plan to have an outside shower and will likely tuck some sort of cassette toilet in the camper (there is a spot in the Khaya).

I found this link interesting http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/6411-fwc-camper-weight/page-4 (regarding the FWC and the weight)

Good luck with your build, I will be watching closely

 

@motox181, the round-the-world-Tacoma group is growing bigger! I’ve been in contact via private message with another person our age who is planning on taking his Tacoma down to Central and South America and then over to Cape Town, South Africa and then heading up the East Coast to Egypt. He is planning on heading out this Summer or next. He is using a rooftop tent.

We used an Alu cab product with an RTT this summer in Botswana, very nice quality. We were considering the flatbed version called the Ossewa. Unfortunately they are discontinuing it. I was also bummed to find out that it weighs basically the same as the flatbed version of the FWC fleet.

Our next phase is to go to Sacramento early February and visit All Terrain Campers, XP camper, and Four Wheel Camper. The weekend after that we had to Bend Oregon to visit Earth Cruiser, we’re excited!

The other bummer about Alu cab is that their dealership is in New Jersey so it’s hard to get a feel for it. It’s definitely a nice lightweight hybrid between a pop-up camper and a RTT.

Good luck, I love Alaska. We will head there after coming back.

 

I look forward to hearing what you think of all the campers and what you decide to go with! We will be heading to the NW overland rally in June and the BC Overland rally a week later (we live just over the border in BC). That should give us lots of exposure to the various options out there.

Tough to find the sweet spot that ticks most of your boxes and is at price that you can see the value in.

 

Darn, I never realized that there was an Expo in the Northwest. We are flying to Flagstaff, Arizona to the Overland Expo West in May.

I read up on the Khaya, sounds nice but expensive like all the rest. I read that they weigh about 1500 pounds fully loaded. Since you’re in BC, I’ve heard that the police do pull people over there and run their pickups across the scales. You might have to consider that in your camper selection.

 

It could happen I guess for getting your truck weighed, but I have never seen that ever happen.

 

I think you will be hard pressed to get a fully equipped camper (with all your food, water, and other gear) to come in at much under the 1500 lbs. Please let me know if you find something that checks all the boxes including being light weight.

 

Just made a couple of small steps regarding the camper and the truck build. Thank you @Predator Tacoma for swapping hoods! We like the simple lines of a scoop-free hood.

This past weekend my wife and I visited Four Wheel Camper, All Terrain Camper, and XP Camper; all located in the Sacramento, CA area. And in 3 weeks we will go to Earth Cruiser in Bend Oregon. We are very fortunate to have all four manufacturers within easy driving distance. This weekend we will head to Issaquah, Washington and visit Mule Expedition Outfitters to talk to them about helping do a portion of the build. I think I could do it all but should leave some of the most technical stuff to the pros.

I will talk at length about our thoughts including some photos and even a spreadsheet with all of the numbers from all the different campers in another post. My question to you all is should I continue this thread or should I start a build thread? I’m also thinking of doing a build thread on Expedition Portal.

 

I vote start a fresh build thread. Leave this as the B.S and debate thread

 

I kinda like this thread. There are a billion build threads, but only one “round the world in a Tacoma” thread (that I know of). I’d put all your mods and preparations right here. You could always do a synopsis build thread later.

 

Probably easier for you to do a build thread. If you want to concentrate info you can reserve the first several posts as it gets unwieldy to update a single long post. If concentation is not important just retitle this one and move forward.

 

I couldn't read all the posts but.. This definitely sounds like between mods and shipping truck to be a 6 figure vehicle. Wouldn't it be easier to just rent vehicles that are appropriate in each location? Definitely in Australia and other places you can rent a Rover and then in Germany you can move up to a Porsche for those said speed requirements. And if you need a break you can take one. It won't be cheap either way.

End of the day you aren't traveling with your vehicle and you'll have a lot less to lose or deal with logistically. I can think of lots of ways you can get stranded, ripped off, or worse even just getting through customs in that many locations. Plus you won't stick out with a "Rob the American" sign. Just my $.02.

 

The only hope for this world is a bit more mingling, IMHO. It is fear of the unknown that keeps people close to home, eating pizza pockets, and online shopping.

My uncle drove a VW van through Afghanistan/Iran/Iraq with his girlfriend in the 70’s. They were welcomed warmly in all those places and had the time of their lives. He has great pictures of the dusty van in the background while they sit in a circle smoking hash with the locals.

We need to get back to those days. I digress.....

I admire OP for choosing to live his life, and believe within a few thousand miles his 3G Taco will look as dusty and run-Down as any African Hilux. It’ll blend in just fine.

 

How hard would it be to make a new door sticker with a higher rated GVWR?

 

Just as food for thought, and to be a bit of a contrarian. I know everyone is saying you should let professional shops do your build , especially the electrical system. I disagree, you need to be as intimately familiar with these systems. It is you who will need to be able to diagnose and repair them. It’s not rocket science to build a 12v system.

I keep checking for a build thread from you over on expo. I vote for a build thread in both places, you can get knowledge from both places. Also, thanks for this thread, it has been fun.

 

Blue sea systems for marine grade electrical breakers, fuses, dual battery setups and switch overs. High quality stuff, used it many times.

 

I agree. Its fairly easily to do yourself and I'd want to know how everything works and is wired up if I'm traveling the world. The last thing I'd want is to have an issue and then try to learn the system.

Or have a shop do it but spend a lot of time with them and shadow their work to understand everything going on - although some shops probably wouldn't like or allow this.

 

No thank you!

I vote for a build thread still but either way I’m following this post as well.