expedition build up q's

[sdtaco]

Hey all,

Just want to thank all of you for the responses to my 4 hire taco post, super cool. As mentioned in a previous post I'm moving down to central mexico and will be driving my rig, so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what to prep my rig with. So far I've got a very basic idea and here's what I'm thinking. If any of you have any suggestions as to what else I can do/bring I would be grateful. I have a 2006 DC LB Sport 4x4.

-Tires/suspension in progress (icon all around/bfg all terrains, unless you have any other suggestions??)
-Gas cans (2)
-Water jugs
-Air compressor (with 2.5 gallon tank)
-Hi-lift jack and shovel
-Recovery straps
-some decent recovery points/new bumpers
-Good alarm ; )
-Possible locker in the rear to replace LSD
-Possible winch
-Will eventually get a camper shell

While I've lived abroad for extended amounts of time, this will be the first time bringing my rig down and want to be set up to leave from Mex to drive down to south america, as my g-friend is from Venezuela.

[cape taco12]

I dont know if u watched the news latly but, i would recomend a mini-gun and body armour. What kind of tools do you have to go on board?

[flyingwil]

Hey all,

Just want to thank all of you for the responses to my 4 hire taco post, super cool. As mentioned in a previous post I'm moving down to central mexico and will be driving my rig, so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what to prep my rig with. So far I've got a very basic idea and here's what I'm thinking. If any of you have any suggestions as to what else I can do/bring I would be grateful. I have a 2006 DC LB Sport 4x4.

-Tires/suspension in progress (icon all around/bfg all terrains, unless you have any other suggestions??)
-Gas cans (2)
-Water jugs
-Air compressor (with 2.5 gallon tank)
-Hi-lift jack and shovel
-Recovery straps
-some decent recovery points/new bumpers
-Good alarm ; )
-Possible locker in the rear to replace LSD
-Possible winch
-Will eventually get a camper shell

While I've lived abroad for extended amounts of time, this will be the first time bringing my rig down and want to be set up to leave from Mex to drive down to south america, as my g-friend is from Venezuela.

Tires and Suspension - make sure you can get replacement parts in Mexico.. OME, and BFG come to mind. You're going to have an issue with the tires, being a 16" wheel, so just make sure it is name brand so they can order you a matching size and tread. (Of course bring a full size spare).

Locks, Locks, Locks. We used to sell. Overland Hardware Security Hasps (http://www.overlandhardware.com/protect.html), but due to lack of sales, discontinued carrying them. They are great products and can offer additional security where needed. Be sure to lock all your belongings to the vehicle (hi-lift, spare, etc...)

I'd skip the alarm... Honestly when was the last time you heard a car alarm going off and looked to see what was going on? I know I don't even look. Use the alarm money for something else.

Regarding the gas in Mexico, we all know its not the same quality as here in the US... I'd bring an extra fuel filter with you, or research now to see if the Taco share the same part number as the HiLux, Prado, or similar fuel filters.

[TEJASYOTA]

Mexican car insurance or plan to bring plenty of USD$$$$$...in case of a crash.

[sdtaco]

good advice, thanks flyingwil!

[Crazy Geologist]

I would move the camper shell higher on your list. It should come right after the gas/water/tools. The storage security and sleeping capacity (if you aren't too tall), make it well worth the money in your situation. IMO, you are likely to get much more "value" out of a camper shell than swapping an LSD for a locker or trail armor. Not that those items are not desirable, but I suggest reordering your priorities.

A camper shell also allows fitment of a safari rack or RTT. Safari racks make carrying a second full size spare easy. Do you have 17" rims as in your sig? If so, then I will suggest bringing a second spare.

get a "lift mate" or similar device for your Hi lift. They are small and just allow you more options in a recovery. And a good hand op cable puller will get you out of a lot of tough spots, at a fraction of the cost and weight of a proper winch. I would suggest taking one even if you get a winch.

Axe/good bow saw, and line/chain for clearing downed trees.

2x Wil on the locks and alarm. Locks will slow the petty thieves, but your choice of parking spot will is more important than an alarm.

Maybe consider a CB radio?

How are your map skills?
maybe a GPS is worth the $. The top end small hand helds can be loaded with maps on micro SD and are only a couple hundred dollars..-the GPS units designed for mounting to the dash are more expensive (screen size) dumbed down, with less battery life and are far more likely to encourage a break in.

Make a secret compartment in the truck. Somewhere clever.

Good luck.

[Crazy Geologist]

And since you ask what to do...
I will suggest when camping, be quiet about it. If no one sees you leave the highway, if no one sees your truck or fire, if no one hears your loud music, then you are far less likely to run into trouble with bad people, beggars, land owners, and authorities.
Stealthy is swifter and safer.

[Stealth 4x4]

Looks like you are getting the gear thing figured out. Gotta agree on the being stealthy in Mex. thing. But you also don't want to go too far into the mtns in the wrong areas. Research where you're going first. My wife and I have traveled and camped extensively throughout Mexico and it has been our experience that there are some places where more remote does not equal safer. Border towns of course, go through those as fast as you can with as few stops as possible (30 miles for the border seems to be the magic distance before people get back to normal). X2 on locking everything up well, including a locking gas cap, spare tire, etc.

You can usually find a local that will be happy to let you park your rig beside or behind their shack and then you can hang out with them and practice your Spanish, share some food with them, take them for a ride into town on your way out if they need it (We even brought along a few new (deflated) soccer balls from WalMart and pulled out the compressor and filled up a ball and gave it to their son a few times as a gesture of goodwill - this is always a big hit, because in some small villages the kids kick around balled up cardboard boxes to play with). Plus you get to soak up some local color when you drive through areas with a lot of narco safety issues. We saw a lot of corruption and watched the coke dealers fill up 50-gallon drums with gas (they use it to process their product) at a number stations where we stopped, but never had any trouble with them. Keeping a low profile is good, but when you get into drug country, hanging with a poor local is usually a good bet.

Oh, and don't travel at night. If its close to getting dark, get off the road. Darkness seems to be an invitation for the seedy underbelly of the country to come out and wreak whatever havoc they can. I know, its goofy. But its true. Traveling at night is inviting trouble.

Also, if you get into a tight spot with a corrupt official, getting high and mighty and standing firm for your rights is not always the best plan. Negotiate with them, and in the end, if you must, buy your freedom for a couple of 20 dollar bills. Even a hundred bucks is cheap for what it gets you down there. Bring along extra bribe money. And don't call it a bribe. Call it a tip "propina" and they won't feel like you are trying to buy them off in a bad way. I know how this soudns, and it is not my first action I try. But if it gets sketchy, apologizing and offering to pay the fine will usually work. Twice I have had to ask if there is any way I can pay a fine and be on my way. This works, as frustrating as it is. It sucks, but biting back your pride and coughing up a few bucks really can buy you your freedom pretty cheaply if it comes to that. Don't get all "you're part of the problem" on me guys. I bought my freedom before, and would do it again if I had to.

The criminal element is there, so be aware that there are opportunists everywhere down there, and keep limiting their opportunities to burn you. The thing is, the small villages are great, and the people are genuine and fair by and large. Just know where to be careful, come prepared, and don't do anything stupid and you should be fine.

Oh yeah, have shovel, axe, saw, winch and spare parts. In the mtns, watch for road washouts (they often mark a washed out road with a small stack of rocks, or a rock painted white) I'd suggest 2 fullsize spares if you can fit them. Even though you can find llanterias (tire shops) in a lot of small towns, they will not have the right tire for your rig. They can patch a tire for you (you should be able to do that for yourself anyway) but finding a replacement for a totally ripped out sidewall is next to impossible.

Bring lots of nonperishable food, and water. And if feeding your rig low octane watered down gas bothers you, bring along a few cans of seafoam, octane booster, or whatever and pour a little into the tank when you fill up for piece of mind.

Be safe, have fun, and report back when you get to civilization. We have found that even some of the small towns now are getting a computer or two that you can get online to touch base from. Shoot your loved ones an e-mail every week or two. We did that, and they all really appreciated hearing that we were ok. Also it is good to catch some internet world news in case any uprisings are going on in an area you plan to visit. Or in our case, in case a hurricane is coming through.

Don't carry drugs or guns into the country. Thats all they are looking for at the checkpoints, and if you don't have either, you'll be fine. At one checkpoint they pulled us aside and went through our entire rig, right down to digging through Mel's underwear in her duffel bag (which embarassed the young guy and we all had a good laugh at). The thing about the checkpoints.. don't get scared by the automatic weapons. They are mostly young guys who are impressed with themselves and if you are cool with them and respect their authority, they treat you well in return - or at least don't hassle you. We gave away a lot of granola bars and sodas as a gesture of goodwill down there, and when you offer a guy standing around with a gun in the heat and humidity a cold soda, they warm up to you quickly. Treat them with the same respect you would an armed 50-year old state trooper in the States, even though they might have pimple faces. Not fear, but respect. Don't bbe nervous. Just smile and be nice. It goes a long way down there, just like it does anywhere else.

[Crazy Geologist]

^^^Agreed 100%^^^

[littlegreenrunner]

Wow thanks for that Mexico write up, that will be helpfully to anyone thinking on going down there

[hansman]

Wow..with all the great wheelin and scenery,I`m still not convinced its worth the risk ????
Now if I could bring the Glock and the ar ...maybe ...Hmmm
les

[Bloo]

... and a reinforced rifle company.

[gr8wrk]

It may be a bit late to chime in here, but I spent two months in Mexico this Spring in the Central Mtns. and along the coast below Puerto Escondido. I agree with all the above advice. Small towns and villages are usually a great experience. Can't tell you how any times the locals helped me out; directions to places not on the map, places to camp, where to eat at some local village and where NOT to go. Really wonderful people. Stay out of big cities, especially anything that is a tourist destination. Deep into bad idea.
Learn to speak even a little Spanish. Mexicans are very aware of our bumper stickers that say, "Welcome to America, now learn to speak English or go home". It's a two way street.
Military road stops are now quite common. As said above, they look only for drugs and weapons. Don't have either. Sometimes they'll just kind of sniff around and send you on your way, other times they'll take you apart on a real professional basis. And they will steal shit out of your truck if they can. While one is in your camper shell searching, another will come up behind you and try to engage you in conversation, forcing you to turn around. Don't do it. Keep your eyes on the guy in your truck. You'll never guess how I know this.
As stated above, don't be alarmed by automatic weapons. If you were ever in the service you know that the most important thing to a fighting unit is it's weapons. These young Marines had such poorly maintained weapons I doubt they'd ever been fired more than once or twice. Really shabby, older weapons. And not locked and loaded. Not the case with the Federales though.
Never travel at night, never. The most dangerous thing on the road will not be bad guys but livestock. Burros, horses, bulls; all the things ARB bumpers are made for will jump out of the dark at you. Sometimes it's sketchy in the daylight! If you smack somebody's burro in the dark you will find out how expensive burros can be.
Be careful when you cross the border with your vehicle. Get Mexican auto insurance. Get personal property insurance if you can. Get all the import papers for your truck. Get a six month visa AND get a declaration of all your personal stuff; laptops, cameras, kayaks, whatever. The only time I got hassled by the cops was 'cus I didn't get the latter after going through the vehicle and visa stuff. And go as early as possible in the morning, get it done, and then drive hell bent for leather for as long as you can handle it. Nowhere in Mexico is it safe near the border. Or on this side of the border for that matter.
I'm in the process of building an '09 Taco for the next trip (I'll post the build when it's further along). This time we'll be going into Guatemala as well. We will establish a bank account in Mexico to make it easier and cheaper to get at our cash. We'll probably get a Telcel AirCard (tarjeta de banda ancha) to make internet access easier in some locations. Will repot back from the road. Anybody want to go South for three or four months?
Hope there's been something helpful in this.

[Stealth 4x4]

Melanie and I are taking her brother and his GF down to the Yucatan for a 3 week backpacking/sightseeing trip - flying in and leaving the truck at home for this one. If you're planning to be down on the peninsula in January, and would like to hang with some english-speakers for a meal, some snorkeling, birdwatching, take in some ruins, margaritas on the beach, etc, let me know.

We love that Puerto Escondido area. Would love to get back down to Oaxaca on this trip, but it is not going to happen this time around, since we only have 3 weeks to play. Laguna Manailtepec has some great wildlife/birdwatching. And there's a nice B&B type place down there - I think it was called Rancho Cerro Largo. That surfer beach in Puerto Escondido is a really nice spot. We stayed in those open-air cabanas right on the beach for $18/night back in '05. Good food along the strip, and we met some really interesting people from all over the world. Got to practice our Spanish and our French. One of our favorite places in all of Mex. You chose a nice place to spend a few months. :D

[gr8wrk]

Thanks for the offer Stealth 4x4 but we are trying to avoid places like Puerto, etc. If it's got more than 500 people we ain't goin' there. Trying to explore difficult to reach coastal regions just above and just below border with Guatemala.

[7 venado]

Well,next year there is a big chance to make an expedition type trip to Guatemala. The plan is to drive from Fort Worth Tx to Brownsville and cross into Mexico, we will drive along the Gulf Coast to the Tuxtlas, spend a few days and continue to Chiapas,spend a few days there and then all the way to Guatemala. Interested? let me know so we can plan.
It will be in June and July.
EHCATL (7venado)