TC in South America / Design choices

MacHof wrote:
67avion, Jefe,
Unfortunately, I think we're out of time to make the expo - but we are planning on being there next year. I know this is off topic, but what are some other truck camper related gatherings you would recommend?

Pity - it would be great to see you there. We are flying in for this one as a one-off trip (we will probably be doing the Dolomites / Austria next year instead). You only need to book in advance if you want to attend classes. There are tons of presentations, slide shows, films, etc. that are open to everyone.

Here is my thread on the subject:

Truck camper meet at Expo

Steve.

67avion, Jefe,
Unfortunately, I think we're out of time to make the expo - but we are planning on being there next year. I know this is off topic, but what are some other truck camper related gatherings you would recommend?

Yeah, Henrik,
The folks at Expo should have hired you to do a presentation. I'm hoping that the people that do the talks scheduled are as impressive as you are. Besides, we're just signed up for the presentations, basically, as we don't need a class on winching your Land Rover out of the mud.

Henrik, I also hope that you give the Expo another thought. If my rig makes it, I plan to spend most of the time talking to other TC owners. I'd love to learn more about your experiences, though the blog surely gives a lot of info.

Jefe - We did call the folks who are arranging the Overland Expo, but the program was already full. Who knows. perhaps next year.
I fully agree with the "run watcha brung"; the fact is you can do the same trip we did in almost any vehicle. Sure, some are better than others, but no matter how bad the road is in South America, you will always see a Toyota or VW van of some sort, used as a mini-bus (collectivo), that made it down the same road (the passengers may have to get out and push from time to time though). To be noted is that we did not seek out true 4x4, rock-crawling tracks - we have many of those in Colorado - but we would go down most any other road.
And if we give an overland presentation, that will be the gist of it: anyone can do this. At times I think we all get too caught up in, or are too fearful of, the vehicle / equipment side of the equation, and thereby don't get around to actually making the trip.
Below is a pic from the Oberland Hotel in La Paz, Bolivia. The Oberland is a well known place where overland vehicles are welcome, hence the number of vehicles in one place. From left, you have a Swiss MAN based vehicle ($500k+), ours, a Mercedes panel van based camper, and a Toyota HiLux based, rented, truck camper. I'm sure they all worked fine. That said, I still think a truck camper on a 2500/3500 truck, is a great choice for these types of trips. Very capable, rugged, comfortable, and comparatively inexpensive.
Cheers, Henrik

Henrik,
Do put a presentation together. Are you going to be at the Expo in Flag in a couple weeks?
There will be lots of presentations similar (but not as extensive) to your trip during those three days.
The bottom line is "run whatcha brung". I have been a hard-core off-roader and rock crawler since 1965 when I did my first SOA (springs-over-axle) on a 1949 Willys ute wagon. We slept in that wagon for many years as our 'RV'. That was also the first year we toured Baja California when just south of Ensenada the pavement ended; and ended big-time. Man, was it primitive. Pemex had just doubled the price of diesel fuel to $.16 a gallon. Yes, it WAS $.08 a gallon just before we got there.
I would have no fear of running an older diesel/ TC south of the border with a smaller hardside truck camper, because I can work on it and know the yeahs and the nays of older rigs. The 10 foot elevation of the TC is lower than most of the loads on Japanese and German over-the-dirt-road trucks you see prevalent in Mexico and S. A. Same with the width. The trucks are wider than just about anything you could take down there. I only saw one parking arcade on your blog that would stop my rig.
It was interesting to see that you used 4WD so little. I think you were there at a good time of year or waited till the mud dried. I have been in Baja Sur during a Chibasco, and even with 4WD we were sweating it, so to speak, crossing all those rain swollen arroyos.
I'm just so impressed with the way you thought out the trip; nit picked every little detail, and researched all the destinations with as little experience in doing so that you had available. Here is a pic of our 1970 Toyota L.C. FJ55 in 1976 in the doldrums of Baja's Vizciano Desert ( singularly the most remote place I have ever been) where the springs on our jeep trailer let go and we decided to take the axle off and lay the hulk on the Tomba Burro and tongue on the roof driving with the doors open all the way back, 150 miles to Guerro Negro to get it fixed:

regards, as always, jefe

Jefe - Thanks for the kind words, and glad you have enjoyed our blog. Not sure we deserve the "true overlander" label - most anyone can do what we did (and which we will do again). We have actually thought of putting together a presentation along those lines of: "Overlanding, Anyone Can Just Do It" for RV, especially truck camper, gatherings.
Hopefully one of these days we could sit down over a few beers, it would be fun to hear your thoughts re vehicle selection.
Cheers, Henrik

The folks who accompanied Stevein29 to Baja were my brother John and his former wife.

K and H,
What a fine travelog you have done! I have read a lot of Sud Amerika trip reports, but none have the width and breadth of yours. Kudos. Even in retirement, I would find it difficult to slow down and smell the flowers for as long a time as you have. Congratulations!
I especially like the methodical, sweeping way you prepared and executed your excursion into terra ingognita. While I would have made different decisions regarding the truck and camper, based on my own experience and capabilities, I do have respect for your excellent outcome.
You are true overlanders of the first water (crossing).
The rest of us are true poseurs.
regards, as always, jefe

jerry101jlh wrote:
We are planning a south of the border trip in about two years, so to prep for it we are reading everything we run accross on the subject. Find your posts and your blog very informative. Nice to see someone talking the nuts and bolts, not just the scenery and food. Thanks!

How far south are you going? My wife and I went down into Baja with another couple that also owned an Outfitter several years ago. Our trip was no where near as long an adventure as Henrik's though.