Driving a Tacoma around the world

I'm only considering driving because I don't want to jeopardize my relationship with my girlfriend by doing it on a motorcycle, and I just don't think we have time to do it on bicycles. I mean, I'd make the time, but she is thinking of going back to grad school. The problem I see is I won't want to turn around, and would just drive all the way to Tiera del Fuego!

 

Always good to keep both happy. You can always do the motorcycle or bike it later.

I agree, once you’re in Ecuador might as well keep going. I hear Bolivia is awesome. A year ago one of my sons shipped a bike to Santiago, Chile and rode south to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego into the late fall.

You can always save going there for later as well

 

Finished the water purification system and the associated storage compartment today! The idea is to be able to drive up to any well, stream, or bucket, throw the intake hose in, suck away, and safely be able to drink it.



In the above photo I’m sucking water from a bucket into a 50 micron pre filter into a Shurflow pump capable of 3 gallons per minute. It then goes into a Pura UVB-2 system. The first filter is a 5 micron washable filter, the second is .5 micron non-reuseable filter with activated charcoal. This will pretty much remove nearly all sediment while at the same time removing any nasty odors. The final process is inside the second filter is a UV light. This light basically prevents any living critter including viruses, bacteria, etc from reproducing, purifying it making it completely safe to drink.



The above photo shows the in-process housing that stores the pump, filter system, and hose.


In the above photo it shows that I removed the rear seat and the under seat storage area.


Need to properly clean up the wiring!

Next project is a mosquito netting attachment to the awning and the camper stairs.

 

Just finished installing an aluminum front skid plate from Greenland off-road of British Columbia.



The fit is great, the install took 10 minutes. It’s made out of 1/4” aluminum. Because i am concerned with weight (believe it or not) and because we’re not planning on rock crawling, aluminum was the perfect choice. It weighs only 12 lbs and after removing the splash guard and its mounting brackets i think it was only a gain of a couple of pounds.



Picture shows the new skid plate, Baja Designs S8, the warn winch hidden behind the license plate, and the CBI T3 bumper.

 

That is a deal with the exchange rate! Just ordered a skid from Greenland.

 

Exactly what I thought. $300 CAD which is roughly $215 is great

 

Finished a few minor mods.

Been trying to figure out how to use the outside shower with some modesty. The shower controls are the 4” square white box located a couple of feet below the red handled suction cup. So for about $25 I think this is going to work:


It’s a 30” by 30” shower curtain rod made out of 3/4” schedule 40 PVC. It has a small piece of 1/2” run through the handle of a harbor freight dual suction cup lifter stuck onto the the camper’s window.



Didn’t want to center it to the suction cup because then the curtain will be near the end of the camper...a bit of wind and so much for modesty, but sags a bit. May need to install a rear “leg” if it deflects too much with the shower curtain attached.



Half of the joints I glued and the other half are slid into the fitting and is secured by using a very large safety pin from Home Depot. At the joints where the safety pins go I labeled them for easy assembly.



Here’s a close up of the safety pins, I had to bend them a little for easy removal

 

Also installed some relatively cheap front mud flaps from Red Hound.



They are a rigid type and at full lock the edge of the tire comes within 1/2” of the mud flap, I guess it will help in removing excess mud from the tire. More likely it will eventually get torn off but until then it will prevent the front of the camper from getting so muddy.



The fit is quite impressive and the install was as hard as turning the steering wheel to lock lock and remove 4 existing screws and reinstall with the flap on, maybe 10 minutes total.

Am going to throw away the rear ones as the flatbed came with them, if anyone wants them there yours for the price of shipping

 

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Final mod of the weekend was to install a traditional AM/FM antennae on the hood as the camper very effectively blocks pretty much all of the signals to the shark fin.



It took quite a few parts but was pretty easy to install.

 

Nice work. That will solve some problems for sure. Water is not too bad in Europe, but cleaning it up will help.
Zim

 

Quantum filtration will remove your need for UV filter and the power required to run it.

https://pulsarqd.com/

just fyi

 

You of all people know what they say about the Rhine river; that it flows through 4 Germans before getting to the ocean. Definitely will make it taste better but it’s really for the potentially dangerous water in Africa and Asia.

 

Haven’t heard of that, do you have any details?

EDIT, oops I see your link

 

Trip idea #4,822....lol. This is the Danube Valley. The Danube river starts in Germany, and is the second longest river in Europe ending in Russia I think. I have camped and climbed in this valley, and it's magnificent.
Camp here: https://www.camping-wagenburg.de/ Most folks in this area speak a little english.
Zim

 

Test the front flaps for contact under flex. I couldn't get short rockblox to work and it got annoying. Sliders help a small bit, but they're not a real answer.

 

Nice area! There’s so many places to go to. We’re excited that Italy has reopened their borders, fingers crossed that we can head out this fall. Didn’t know you were a fellow climber.

 

Man, I read this whole thread from start to finish this afternoon. What a wild, well planned ride! It sucks that your trip is postponed, but I’m glad you are being optimistic about it. I’m really interested in your long range gas tank. I’ll have to PM you for more info. Keep up the good work!!

 

Ha! Happy to provide from relief from the Kung Flu. We’re hanging in there, I’m 1/4 retired. My wife is working three jobs trying to keep her organization, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival afloat.

Happy to chat about the Long Range automotive tank. It works really well, just wished the truck’s range to empty could be adjusted.

 

I love those seats!