Driving a Tacoma around the world

No thank you!

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

 

I really like this landcruiser to travel the world. Parts should not be a problem too. But it must have cost a small fortune.

http://4xoverland.com/videos/landcruiserbuild/

 

Hi there. Been lurking a while and figured it was time to chime in. We're also planning a RTW trip and considering a Tacoma/4WC for our rig as well - concerned about the weight, but haven't yet ruled it out. Have enjoyed reading and learning from all of the posts here.
@Round the world would so appreciate your shares of the spreadsheet and numbers you mentioned. Will also be watching your build closely... looks like the RTW Taco Tribe is growing...Tres Tacos are better than one

 

I spent a decade in East Africa and India, several hundred thousand miles driving 4wd, MB trucks, VW vans, britbikes. Also decades on rasty lava roads on our Pacific islands. Current Tacoma is so much more reliable over 80k miles than anything I ever drove till recently, as long as you don't screw it up with weight and mods. I would rather have a strap, roll of wire rope and a come along, than a heavy winch weighing down the front end or suspension geegaws beyond great shocks. Extra gas and water, a filter or marine fuel separator if properly installed, great jumpers are a lot lighter than a spare battery. E-range tires and a nail patch kit and air pump and a good jack are your friends. I like a bright LED option.
Keep it Light & Simple!!!

 

You and I brother, are in complete agreeance.

 

K.I.S.S

 

Been there, 1977. Crossing the Aberdare from Nyeri on the side of Mt Kenya to Nakuru. Delayed by a rhino and elephants on the steep mud track in alpine elevations, "followed" by 2 lions for a couple of miles in the dark of night on my Norton single thumper with my girlfriend on the back. Lucas, Prince of Darkness pulled us through our stupidity till daylight, the rangers had taken bets on whether we would make it through.

 

I really would like to do the building all myself. I totally agree that once you’ve installed it then you would understand how to debug it. If we have a shop do it my thin red line is that they must allow me to watch it go in and understand the intricacies of how it works

 

Yikes! Now that you are older and wiser, even if they let you, would you do it again on a motorcycle?

 

Could you not just have the shop do you up an electrical diagram? Speaking of which I need to start planning out my retiring on my truck here for the spring. Should be fun.

 

Awesome! I’ve been in email contact with another Tacoma owner who is heading out next summer to South America then on to Africa using an Alucab Kayla.

 

Definitely drawings. But I’m also kind of a visual-remembering type of guy.

 

Yup, understan, I’m behind on the thread, where do you stand on the camper? Still investigating?

 

The troopy is pretty awesome. I think it’d be a nice setup for that kind of travel.

 

Last weekend we had a chance to look at a Earth Cruiser MOD which is a shell version of the GZL and a flatbed version of the Four Wheel Camper Fleet! That was the last camper manufacturer option

To cut to the chase, we are choosing the flatbed version of the Four Wheel Camper Fleet!!

Hopefully this weekend I will find spend the time writing up why we chose the Fleet along pics of the campers.

Hope to put a deposit down on it this week

 

After I left you over the next 20 miles I got not one, but two rock chips in the windshield! All with less than 1,000 miles on the truck. While my work truck windshield is still perfect after 170,000 miles, not fair

 

Man it sounds like you have a ton of great stories!

 

Most people seem to be debating the electrical aspect of this. So here are some things to consider that are not electrical in nature.

MaxTrax for those deep sand moments and some basic recovery straps/hi Jack so someone can help bail you out if you need it.
Exhaust reroute so you can maximize your clearance underneath and mount more skid plates for protection. Your choice if you want to spend the weight on the extra skid protection, but the reroute would only cost you about $200.
Emergency Beacon. Last ditch effort if all else fails, don't die. I like ACR but you'd have to find one that works globally. Some only work within the US. Just because you're on a road doesn't mean someone else will be coming down it anytime soon and cell reception can be real spotty in places like Africa. Esp if you're in the middle of nowhere.

Someone already mentioned extended fuel tank and Jerry cans which are spot on recommendations.

That's my two cents. Hope it helps.

 

TW is good for specific tacoma knowledge, but ExPo definitely has the "international travel" market captured.

 

My Delorme Inreach comes with me every trip. Cheap insurance against Murphy and his goons.

I also just found out that my work also includes international travel insurance as part of our benefits package. It's actually one of the better ones too.