Travelling from Texas to panama.

I know this is a digression, but new diesels in the US from 2012 or so require ULSD diesel fuel. Using the older stuff like in Mexico will immediately throw a code and force the vehicle into limp-home mode until fixed by a dealer.

RoyB wrote:


I was aware of the bridges across the PANAMA CANAL. It was where one would go after that. The PANAMERICAN ROAD runs out at PINOGANA DISTRICT and that is alot of country side to get across before you pick up the big roads again heading down into SOUTH AMERICA...

I'm sure there are back trails in that region that continue on south but not a place to pull your 30-foot trailer down the road I suspect haha...

Sure would be an excursion to say the least...

Roy Ken

I think he's only going as far as Panama.

I was aware of the bridges across the PANAMA CANAL. It was where one would go after that. The PANAMERICAN ROAD runs out at PINOGANA DISTRICT and that is alot of country side to get across before you pick up the big roads again heading down into SOUTH AMERICA...

I'm sure there are back trails in that region that continue on south but not a place to pull your 30-foot trailer down the road I suspect haha...

Sure would be an excursion to say the least...

Roy Ken

Mexico wouldn't be a problem. Lots of RVers and nice RV parks in Mexico. There are a few in Belize. After that I would suggest truck stops. I have no experience south of Belize and north of Costa Rica. I don't know of any RV parks in Costa Rica but you may be able to get help from an RV rental place like this one.

http://www.rvcostarica.com/

I'd love to make a trip like that someday but we still have so much of Mexico to explore. Belize...meh. Maybe a little of Guatemala.

The only part of this trip that would concern me was the first 100 miles inside Mexico. I would cross early morning and keep driving till late to get well into the country before stopping.

Several people have blogged about doing this trip. The political instability was over decades ago in Central America. My then new vehicles ran just fine on Panamanian gas in the early 90's.

The bridge of the Americas crosses the Canal.

There are tens of thousands of foreigners living in Panama, Mexico, Belize,El Salvador and Costa Rica.

Guatelmala and El Salvador shouldn't be nearly the problems that Honduras and Nicaragua are. Costa Rica should be ok.

I've never been in the area but seems to me I have heard the roads all but end at the Panama Canal anyway. Kinda of hard to continue by road on down to South America beyond that point.

I wouldn't chance it... Look how desperate times are affecting us now. Kids killing folks just for the fun of it - The Natl News reported they just got bored and decided to kill someone... can't imagine how bad it might be there...

Make a dry run around the South BLVD in Montgomery AL after dark between I65 and I85... Really scary now... Almost all of the business places are all now boarded up. We got stopped by the Police one time and was told to go back to East BLVD. Said it would be safer there for us. We was just looking a good place to eat around 10PM. Fun getting old huh... They used to have some very nice hotels along that route days past...

Roy Ken

Thank you all for your input. After doing some research about the hazards and difficulties in other countries; I will have to agree with you all and my wife. The best way to go is to fly.
Thanks!!!!

You will need to do more research on the truck than trailer IMHO.

Having worked in South and Central America things we take for granted up here are often just plain not available down there.

If your truck is a newer one, gas or diesel you may be out of luck. In most cases an EFI engine just won't run on their poor gasoline and if you can find quality diesel you can be sure it's not ULS stuff.

Having made a few moves to different countries, different economies, different cultures, I think for a move like Panama I would think pretty hard about what parts of my lifestyle I would try to take along. I don't think a large RV designed for temperate climates would be high on my list for living in a developing country in tropical wetlands.

If. you want to have your fiver in Panama, the least expensive way to get it there, with the least red tape, would be to put it on a direct shipment by sea, as part of the household goods you bring as an immigrant. Unless you have some idea about going as a tourist and then later trying to change your immigration status.

If you really need to haul the RV all the way to Panama yourself, be prepared for customs bonding in the countries you pass through, both RV and tow vehicle. If not coming back, you may be forfeiting some of those bonds. No direct experience with Central America, but have been other places where the bond for a vehicle has been as high as the original purchase price.