put a rubber hose for the breathers on the diffs if you're doing river crossing.. dont want to blow out the seals in the middle of nowhere

 

secretly enjoying this thread

 

hey bud, i just picked up this compressor from amazon for $50, may be more reliable than a cadillac junker

http://www.amazon.com/Industries-MV5.../dp/B000BM8RT8

fills up my 33" in about 5 minutes from dead-flat

this guy used one to rig up a portable OBA
http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/portable_oba/

 

i am slowly collecting good tools to take with me, a good set of sockets and drivers, good set of racheting wrenches, breaker bar, various screwdrivers etc

 

+1 on the grease gun and knowing how to use it, i dont know how to use it myself yet but the mechanics i am working with are going to teach me what to do to keep the drivetrain lubed up on the trip

 

i am also looking at an aussie locker for the rear, they are fairly cheap and from what i hear they are indestructible

 

lockrite will work as well and is very similar to the aussie. also a spool of some electrical wire just in case you need to bypass or re-wire something that fries. a good jack - make sure your stock bottle jack works at a minimum. you may need to add some sliders or something so you can use your hi-lift jack to pick up your rig in emergency. get the full Toyota FSM or print out the PDF version. bailing wire, JB weld + some 2-part liquid epoxy. extra light bulbs. perhaps think about adding in some accessory gauges for things like oil pressure, tranny temp, etc. hard-wired power inverter. dual battery setup so you can install an on-board refrigerator for cold drinks and food vs carrying ice. secure, hidden stash spot with enough money to get you home if something bad happens and you end up having to sell your stuff and fly home or buy another rig - you never know...

 

picked this up off amazon used for $50, its a must have

 

ive been looking into the fridges but godamn are they expensive, looking like $750 for one small enough to not take up too much room in the sleeping area

the MT17 is nice

http://www.google.com/products/catal...CAcQ8wIwADgA#p

 

i'm not familiar with that manual you've got there. i do know that the actual Toyota Factory Service Manual is the most extensive one you can get and is not the abbreviated version like all the Chilton and Haynes ones are.

as for the fridge...there are some that are cheaper but make sure they've got a good warranty. i'd assume price is kinda related to volume. i think Summit fridges are cheaper than the Engels.

 

ya this is a Toyota FSM, it has details on how to take apart the entire truck bolt by bolt, its about 6" thick

 

thanks for the tip Ill check out the Summit fridges

 

much better pricing on the summit!

http://www.google.com/products/catal...CAcQ8wIwADgA#p

 

i'd also recommend doing a full service on your front end since you're going on such a long trip. dunno how many miles you've got on your rig, but it might not be a bad idea to replace all the consumables in your front suspension like upper and lower balljoints, tie rods/ends, wheel bearings, steering stabilizer, idler arm bushings, etc - then keep at least one of all those paired up parts in your rig as a back up. that'll also make it handle much better! also depending on mileage, checking the condition of your radiator for potential weak spots would be smart while you're in there changing ALL of your vehicle's fluids.

also, if you do any work on the rig like swapping out parts or servicing something - make sure you give yourself enough time to drive the rig around before just jumping on the road for your trip - it would suck to find out you did something wrong an hour from home.

 

defrag4, glad you joined the discussion! I suppose this is all pertinent for you too.
I've been a little surprised by the lack of zerk fittings on my truck...I did grab one of those little grease guns though. Gotta save space where I can. FYI, make sure you put that grease gun in a ziploc
highonpottery, great input. I'm still a little iffy about the Aussie, I don't know anything about the lockrite, and I honestly have never driven a truck with lockers in it so I'm hesitant. It sounds like they will really mess with driveability. An air locker sounds ideal, but holy smokes that's a lot of money I could spend on the trip!

In a few months I'm going to weld some sliders and some bumpers that will be hi-lift friendly. My laptop & external hard drive are loaded up with emergency medical references & repair PDF's to save space & weight including the FSM...I probably will end up printing the FSM out so I don't gunk up my keyboard on the side of the road. My rule is all books have to be on PDF, but I think the FSM will be the exception.

JB Weld, bailing wire, & two-part epoxy? I never leave home without it. It's saved my butt on a remote canoe trip in March...Dual batteries are in the forecast. My plan is dual Odyssey PC1200's (got one in April, just need one more) controlled by a Hellroaring Isolator. I'm getting ready to wire 12v sockets in the back for my new fridge. A friend gave me a 250W inverter so I can charge our laptop thru the cig lighter, but I recently bought a big 2000/4000W one for this trip. I'd like to be able to power a drill, sawzall & angle grinder off of it if I have to.

In about 2,000 miles my mileage will finally match up with the SR5 gauge cluster I found so I will swap that in. I'm thinking about getting an A-pillar gauge cluster too so I can keep an eye on the 2nd batt voltage, vacuum, & air/fuel ratio...I never thought of tranny temp though. It's a 5 spd, so it should be pretty bombproof as long as I keep an eye on the fluid right?
I got my fridge from Compact Appliance after reading the tons of reviews on Expo Portal.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...t=23350&page=3
http://www.compactappliance.com/Scra...ratch_and_Dent
If you keep an eye on their Open Box or Scratch N Dent supply, you can score a 43qt Edgestar (what I got) for $348...after tax & 3 year warranty it cost me $375 with free shipping. I'm very happy with it so far, but it's yet to prove itself thru the TX summers. I will say I'm a little discouraged with how big it is. I wish Edgestar made a smaller fridge/freezer, the MT17 may be perfect...but spendy! FYI, Compact Appiance said my fridge had "severe cosmetic damage on each panel"...very minor scratches and one tiny dent on the corner.
I just hit 250,000 miles a few days ago
2 months ago I replaced all 4 ball joints & both CV axles. One of the CV axles was still good so I'm bringing it as a spare. I'll definitely bring an upper & lower ball joint. I replaced the idler arm in April? I may get this kit for spare front end parts though:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

I recently replaced all my radiator hoses, thermostat & coolant, but I guess I forgot to pressure test the radiator (it's not very old). Maybe before I leave I should replace the water pump just in case??? I'd like to do the supra MR2 alternator swap/upgrade before I leave, and I'll pick up a spare alternator since that's kinda important for keeping the truck running. I suppose the water pump should be replaced due to the same concept?

Whenever I do repairs or just general maintenance I make sure and keep the parts that are still usable for emergency spares. Doing this I've accumulated spark plugs, wires, cap & rotor, hoses, belts, axles, etc.

Luckily, I have over a year to do all of this. Defrag4, you're leaving in a few months right?...I guess there's one thing I forgot, a trailer to tow all this crap!

 

Just got one, thanks for the heads up. We'll see how it works out.

87-4runner, great pointers. I'm going to extend my differential breathers like 4crawler did...

As far as a lockbox goes, I'm going to do what Nick from Ramblewriter.com did http://ramblewriter.com/ramblings/?p=181 and add exterior "hockey-puck" locks for the tailgate & doors, and weld up cage panels to work with the soft top. Everything that's worth anything will be locked under the sleeping platform. Aside from that, each seat already has a little gun safe underneath for documents & money. I'm also going to make window bars similar to what VW vagabonds did for the front door windows http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Security.html
...can you say overkill? Obviously I overplan things a little.

 

No, don't spool it. Do some sort of LSD or locker in the rear. When you get to Chile and see the snow on the ground, a full spool in the rear is the worst thing to have. I am actually in the build up stages of doing a trip like you are planning. To give you an idea of what I will be carrying, I am taking:

Full metric and standard sockets and wrenches and 54mm axle nut socket
Prybars, screwdrivers, tire bars, work lights

Electric 1/2" impact with solar charger
portable wirefeed welder
York air compressor

2 spare tires with rims, hi lift jack, shovel, chickasaw, front and rear winches with extra isolated batteries, small chainsaw, recovery straps, chains, tire repair kit, 20 Gal gasolina

as for parts: extra idler arm, u-joints, manual hubs

Also, since you are going into mexico with a nice Toyota, I would carry:

Bear Mace, .40ACP Sig Sauer with hollowpoints, Tazer, Satellite Telephone, GPS, road flares... and don't take any drugs with you! Not even prescription. At every border they have drug sniffing dogs and may hold you for an undisclosed amount of time for an undisclosed reason.

I am curious, what are you going to do about the Darien Gap? I haven't decided if I am going to charter a barge (and armed escort) or ship my truck to Peru and pay off the dockmaster when I get there.

 

Confession: I honestly don't know what a spool does...
That's a great list. When are you planning to leave for your trip?

Our plan for the Darien Gap is to split a 40' container with someone and ship from Colon, Panama to Cartagena, Columbia. As long as we go with a reputable company who lets us personally load/unload the vehicle in the container and use our own padlocks...it should be fine. Never use Roll-On/Roll-Off if you have a vehicle that will fit in a container (I've heard horror stories) While the vehicle ships, we might sail thru the San Blas Islands to Cartagena.

As far as Mexico goes, the plan is to cross the border very early in the morning and drive like crazy along the Pacific coast, getting as far south as possible before nightfall. Mexico isn't as bad as the media sensationalizes. As long as you keep a low profile and use common sense it's just as safe as the US. All of the gang & cartel violence happens in Northern Mexico and the bordertowns. There's been isolated incidents in & around Mexico City, but I've no desire to go there anyways. DO NOT bring a gun into Mexico. If you get caught with one, that's a sure way to end up in jail. Leave your right to bear arms at the border. Bear Mace though, we were already planning on bringing some. I'd avoid the taser too. If you're caught with any weapon, even if it's for self defense is going to require a good explanation to the authorities...at least Bear Mace has it's "innocent" uses, especially when you're loaded with other camping gear. No worries about drugs, we don't mess with the stuff. But FYI: there's drug sniffing dogs and military checkpoints all over Mexico. El presidente has been cracking down hard on cartel operations over the past few years. In January we backpacked thru the Yucatan and the buses we took from town to town were stopped several times. Military came onboard and would ask a few questions, maybe even search a bag here or there...but they hardly paid any attention to us gringos.

Once I fab up a rear multicarrier, I'll be able to keep a spare on the bumper plus the spare underneath in the stock location. I'm bringin a 1/2" air impact wrench too, it should work fine on my air tank. We'll see tomorrow. I was going to try and find a deal on Ready Welder or Premier Power Welder, but I've decided not to. Since I'll have dual batts (maybe even a 3rd Aux batt) I carry 2 extra sets of jumper cables, some welding rods, gloves, clamps, and eye protection for emergency welding. That should save me some weight, space, tons of money and I'll still be ready for the worst case scenario...

As far as GPS goes, we are taking a laptop loaded up with maps. Check out Smellybiker's Wanderlust. It's dang near impossible to find GPS for the countries South of Mexico, but Smellybiker's is a network of travelers who have traveled the routes and update the maps frequently. I believe it's 50 bucks and you get to download as many maps as you'd like. I've got an old Garmin that I'm going to load up with Mexico maps too.

FYI: "20 gal of Gasolina"...don't try to cross the US/Mexico border with jerry cans full of fuel. Several people have been turned around for this, or had to empty all their fuel...meanwhile others have had no problems with full cans. Better off saving your money, just in case, and fill up your fuel cans at your first stop South of the border. I haven't heard of anyone having issues with empty cans.

 

Hi there,

A rear spool locks the two rear wheels together permanently. This is great for driving over huge rocks, but bad for roads and making turns. A spooled rear is dangerous in the snow because if your back tires start to slip, they can both break loose and slide. At the very minimum you smash your truck into something because when the tires break loose in the snow, you lose all control. You can't steer, stop, accelerate or do anything. You just have to hope that you don't die. With an open differential or limited slip or even a locker (bordering on dangerous) the rear tires rotate independently. So when one spins in the snow, the other one holds the truck straight.

I didn't know about not bringing any weapons into mexico. How would the border control ever know if you had one or not? If I make a list of every item in the car (and conveniently forget to mention the firearm) what prompts them to look for it?

As of now, I am planning to leave next year.

 

Thanks for bringing me up to speed. Yep, spool is definitely out of the question then. It sounds like limited slip may be an option. I'm not concerned about "rock crawling" mostly traction during the rainy season and snow.

As far as the guns go, from what I've always been told it's very difficult even for citizens of mexico to own guns LEGALLY. In a sense, they have strict gun control unless you work for the government or illegally aquire it like the cartels do. Yeah, all the bank guards carry uzis, AKs and assault shotguns but I've never ever seen a gun shop in Mexico. Ask anyone who's spent time down there and I'm willing to bet money that they haven't either.

As far as forgetting to mention you have a gun as you across the border...yes, there's the chance that you'd make it without a hitch. But the chances that you'd make it thru the entire trip without having your vehicle searched is a huge gamble. Don't forget that the US/Mexico border is packed with dogs that aren't only trained to detect drugs, but also explosives and weapons. A huge front in the drug war is the illegal gun smuggling that is supplied from the US. They smuggle drugs North, while gun runners smuggle guns South. Since the Mexican gov't is trying very hard to stop all of the drugs and weapon smuggling, there are so many military checkpoints that you'd have to make it thru. Not to mention the countless police who will be looking for an excuse to collect a bribe...they really don't need a good reason to pull you over and start poking around. Your vehicle is bound to get a thorough inspection at some point. The most important question is, how would you plan on getting back into the US with your gun? We all know how homeland security is nowadays. Even as a US citizen crossing the border...how would you explain transporting a firearm into the country? From what I understand, even US troops coming home from overseas have a hard time bringing home firearms.

After 5 minutes on google I found this "Mexican law provides penalties of at least five to as many as 30 years in prison for tourists who attempt to bring a firearm, or even a single round of ammunition, into Mexico without prior permission. In the past, the law was enforced stringently, even in cases where the violation was accidental. In December 1998, however, the Mexican Congress enacted legislation relaxing the law for first-time, unintentional violations involving only a single gun. Now, first-timers will be fined $1,000, but not imprisoned."
http://www.davekopel.com/Espanol/Mexican-Gun-Laws.htm

I recommend thoroughly researching the legality of packing heat outside of the US before you take that risk. I suppose you could always ask the Mexican gov't for permission to do so, it couldn't hurt...if they agreed I'd make sure and carry plenty of documentation signed by high ranking official to prove it. If you decide you'd rather take a chance and "conveniently forget to mention the firearm" just remember that pleading innocence by ignorance doesn't hold up in court. (I'm not saying your ignorant at all, just saying that if you were caught that would likely be your only defense but I'm no lawyer). I'd hate to see somebody get locked up over a misunderstanding.
Okay, I'll get off my soap box.