Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Ah dang…just caught up to the thread and saw this. I think there is plenty to be had going on a trip that ends in Panama.

The other option is shipping the 4runner from Miami past the Darrien gap and starting your trip in South America. That way, you can maybe avoid using the shippers that will squeeze you hard if are waiting at the darrien gap with everybody else.

But even then, you would need to drive to florida, fly back here to wait, then fly down there to start the trip. Might make for a safer trip though, and allow you to go through larger countries that will cut down on frequent border crossings.

Or, maybe shipping from the west coast down to the west coast of south america. I think there’s plenty to explore in Chile and Argentina. You would have to keep in mind the time of year depending on how far south you go, since our summer is their winter.

 

When I was in the 9th grade back in 79ish I stole an issue of FourWheeler magazine from the school library. It had an excellent article about a group of 5 Jeeps led by Mark Smith and their adventure of doing the Darien Gap.
There are some YouTube videos about his trip.

https://youtu.be/Y0mJ4HXMHvQ?si=rT4LZ6E-L5XAk6Pl

 

Last I read about the Darrien Gap, it’s just something to avoid all together. It seems the whole area is run by cartels. It’s a world wide destination for people looking to sneak into central america, then Mexico, then the US. The most desperate people are willing to pay to get through, and the cartels are more than willing to take advantage and take their money and other things for “help” crossing. If you try to get through without their help, you’ll have them as an enemy in addition to nature.

 

Thank goodness. That ranch dressing bottle one was not working.

 

The BBC never had a problem getting gear and film crews anywhere. Then again, they're pretty much the most powerful organization in the world.

Some say, they bribed the cartels to let only the film crews in, and that the 3 presenters had to bribe the BBC to let them ride in shipping crates.

All we know is....

 

We were in the infantile stages of getting this set up. Don't have a departure date set, just sometime next summer. I am on a 'lil bit of a budget, Moab in Oct., KenTWukey next March, gettin' a dual battery set up for fridge and (hopefully) lockers. I'll need tires next spring, also. The extra cost of the boat, time in town, hotel for a week minimum, bribe money and hoping all my stuff stays my stuff, blah,blah, blah, just isn't in the cards.
After reading what I have just posted, if I blew off Moab and KenTWuckey, that would free up a bunch of cash.

Still not sure I want to deal with the headaches and paperwork at the ports. My patience has its' limits.

 

I hear you. I have never seriously considered a southern run because I don't have the patience for or trust of banana republics. I just want to explore and not worry about getting killed by banditos! I hear rumors that there is a part of Chicago that is good practice for these types of adventures. Seriously, at my age North America is plenty big enough. I get amused with a simple stump and logs in my yard for crying out loud.

 

What he said. Yup.

 

Very understandable. Trips crossing multiple countries truly are more about patience than anything else. Second, they’re about recovering from insect or food-borne illness. Then scenery and driving adventure.

I’ve read the adventures of various world-roamers. It makes more sense when you’re doing a long term, open ended trip where you just kinda move into a country and stay until they kick you out, then move on to the next one.

 

I think the season has officially started. Sliders coming off for stripping and painting.



I found a nice out of the way spot for them until I get them done. Hopefully that doesn’t mean they stay in that spot all summer lol

 

And there is the whole issue about transporting small mechanical devices.

 

I rode my bicycle through that part of Chicago in '98. Word to the wise...stay away from the Indianapolis Bvld area.

 

yeah that’s one of the biggest hurdles I’ve seen on that trip. I believe long way up and expedition overland both cover it in their series

The other option is to do it in two trips. Ship to the southern tip and then ship back to the states from the north end. Might be easier logistically to do that than try to ship around the gap.

I’d do the North America half first, then the trucks will have had a good shake down and you’ll know they are ready to go or can head home for a bit if they are gonna need some upgrades.

Then ship to the south tip, come back up, ship the trucks back home. Then you aren’t really on a schedule other than making sure the trucks get on the ship.

 

The gap is all jungle. From anything I’ve ever seen, it’s 100% not drivable on 2 or 4 wheels.

 

Your next truck?

 

North America is huge. Definitely no shortage of places to go just staying in the us

I didn’t truly realize how big the US was until I went to Europe..