I need some recommendations for vehicles on a RTW trip.

fuzzybabybunny

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I desperately want to travel from California all the way to the tip of South America, go to Antarctica, then drive back up north.

The number one issue right now is choice of vehicle.

I've thought about going on a motorcycle. Then going in a truck. But none of the options I like.

Consider that this could possibly be a once in a lifetime trip. As such, I want to be able to experience as much as I can on the journey. But, my funds are low. I won't be able to afford a Landcruiser, for example, and I need to keep all costs of the trip low.

Ways to lower costs:

- cook my own food
- sleep in vehicle
- sleep in tent
- drive a gas efficient vehicle
- drive a cheap vehicle (cheaper to insure and cheaper for paying Carnet, temporary vehicle import fees, like a passport for your vehicle(s) )

Ways to experience the journey completely:

- be out in the environment, like on a motorcycle
- bring gear along to experience the local environment - mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit for diving, skis, camera gear
- be able to drive anywhere, regardless of terrain, and experience the places less traveled

But here's the kink - I have to manage my own business on the road since it is my main source of funding, and that means I need a stable place to sit down and manage work when it arises, which can be at any time.

Thought about a truck or AWD Subaru:
+ can sleep inside
+ can drive anywhere
+ can take a lot of stuff
+ can be used as office
+ can cook meals
+ can have passengers
- expensive to buy
- expensive to import
- low gas mileage
- expensive to ship
- you're in a cage!

Thought about a motorcycle:
+ you get the full experience
+ gas is practically free
+ cheap to buy
+ cheap to import
+ cheap to ship
+ can ride anywhere
- no place to sleep - have to tent or pay extra each night for lodging
- can't have passengers
- NO office whatsoever - if I have work, I need to find a place, stat
- full exposure to elements - I've been living in the bitter cold of the Sierras and I wouldn't want to do it on a motorcycle
- can't take a lot of stuff, so no diving or skiing
- can't cook real meals

So now I'm thinking about a combination of the two...

1. Drive my Honda Fit and find some kind of lightweight gas-powered bicycle as a runabout in terrain and try to install it on a hitch mount? Any recommendations?

2. Get a fuel efficient car (recommendations?) and that'll allow me to sleep inside (maybe), store things, and still have that lightweight gasoline bike?

Input?
 
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olds

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Mar 3, 2000
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Any idea what the roads are like?
Need ground clearance?

You need to move this to the garage too.
 

fuzzybabybunny

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Any idea what the roads are like?
Need ground clearance?

You need to move this to the garage too.

Doh. I can't do it. Mod in Digicams only.

I don't know what the roads are like, but I DO know that I don't want to just be limited to paved roads. There is simply way too many cool things to see out in places where I fear my Honda Fit would get stuck. And since I'll be by myself, getting stuck could be a life threatening problem.

That's why I want both. Maybe the Fit or a 30mpg+ AWD car that I can sleep in and it can handle terrain, and a super light motorcycle that I can put on a hitch mount (NOT a trailer).
 

fuzzybabybunny

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OK, I'm really interested in the Subaru XV Crosstrek.

If it has enough room to sleep in the back, I'm sold. Selling the Fit and getting this one. 25/33 with the CVT, so I guess I'll be abandoning stick shift :(

Cargo space is about 52 CuFt versus the Fit's 57 CuFt. 8.7" ground clearance. SO much more capable. Possibly a 4mpg dent in gas mileage (32 mpg for the Fit, 28 mpg for the XV?)

This is the kind of off-roading that I would like to be capable of doing, and this is the stuff that I would never attempt on a Fit, because I know exactly what will happen (I've tried):

Rocks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ZkZU85sE0

Sand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SdpNfdYFyY

Vs. Land Rover Defender in a course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NPq4kv9k7E

I'm getting giddy just thinking about it actually.

EDIT: The Subaru Forester, the larger, roomier, just as off-road-worthy brother of the XV, gets 24mpg real world average and 68 CuFt storage.
 
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corkyg

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There is still no drivable road across the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. Better research how that can be done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darién_Gap

"Consequently there is no road connection through the Darién Gap connecting North/Central America with South America and it is the missing link of the Pan-American Highway.?

Agree, this should be moved to "Garage."
 
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DaWhim

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Feb 3, 2003
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what's your time frame? 1 year?

I would say get a motorcycle for this. car is too much hassle to deal with.

lodging is cheap in south america.

I have met people in south america doing that. they drive like 200-300km a day then stay in a place for 1-2 nights depends how they like it.
 

DaWhim

Lifer
Feb 3, 2003
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There is still no drivable road across the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. Better research how that can be done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darién_Gap

"Consequently there is no road connection through the Darién Gap connecting North/Central America with South America and it is the missing link of the Pan-American Highway.?

Agree, this should be moved to "Garage."

either fly from panama to colombia or take a boat.
 

notposting

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Jul 22, 2005
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FBB, your signature reflects how I see this going.
Olds, your signature made me turn the laptop upside down at first.

Good luck fuzzy
 

EagleKeeper

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And what roads to you think you are going to find below Chile/Argentina?

To get to Antartica; you need to either be working there (fly in on a C130) or go on some special tour.

Most tours are by ship with day excursions to the land/ice pack itself.

Quick Google shows you spending $5000-$15000+ for one of those tours alone and you will need proper clothing that you can not easily get around the equator.

Which means you must plan your travel dates around theirs and book in advance.

You would be better off flying down for the Antarctica and picking up a vehicle to drive back with. To try and make that drive down with even a week arrival window wold cut it close unless the cruise line is willing to allow for alternate departures for you (unlikely)

Also realize that the seasons are flipped - you do not want to be coming up through Chile in June :p

Your 4 month visit through China will be a cakewalk compared to this adventure both in terms of time and expense.
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
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Toyota Hilux. The rugged, economic and reliable choice of guerrillas, terrorists, and warlords everywhere.

Seriously though I'd pick motorcycle. Not sure about how to carry gear though. Whatever vehicle you get, it must be easy to make on site repairs.
 
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Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
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Toyota Hilux. The rugged, economic and reliable choice of guerrillas, terrorists, and warlords everywhere.

That's sold as the Tacoma in the U.S., correct?

Top Gear made me want that pick-up... if I were looking to buy a truck, I'd definitely go for the Hilux. I'm sold on Toyota's general reliability even without that specific model.

EDIT: Looked it up, guess they aren't the same vehicle, though closely related
 
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fuzzybabybunny

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There is still no drivable road across the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. Better research how that can be done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darién_Gap

"Consequently there is no road connection through the Darién Gap connecting North/Central America with South America and it is the missing link of the Pan-American Highway.?

Agree, this should be moved to "Garage."

Lots of people cross the Darien Gap. Many people ship their cars and bikes over.

what's your time frame? 1 year?

I would say get a motorcycle for this. car is too much hassle to deal with.

lodging is cheap in south america.

I have met people in south america doing that. they drive like 200-300km a day then stay in a place for 1-2 nights depends how they like it.

The thing with a motorcycle is that it must be fair weather and there's always the lack of an office issue. I know lodging is cheap, but if I can save the money, I'd like to. There have been many times just driving through the states where I get a client call or request an I'm able to pull off the side of the road and get things handled from right inside my car, rain or shine. Can't do that on a bike. I would have to start frantically searching for a place, in a foreign country no less, to handle it.

And what roads to you think you are going to find below Chile/Argentina?

To get to Antartica; you need to either be working there (fly in on a C130) or go on some special tour.

Most tours are by ship with day excursions to the land/ice pack itself.

Quick Google shows you spending $5000-$15000+ for one of those tours alone and you will need proper clothing that you can not easily get around the equator.

Which means you must plan your travel dates around theirs and book in advance.

You would be better off flying down for the Antarctica and picking up a vehicle to drive back with. To try and make that drive down with even a week arrival window wold cut it close unless the cruise line is willing to allow for alternate departures for you (unlikely)

Also realize that the seasons are flipped - you do not want to be coming up through Chile in June :p

Your 4 month visit through China will be a cakewalk compared to this adventure both in terms of time and expense.

Yeah, I know. I'll join the tour and plan ahead.
 

fuzzybabybunny

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Toyota Hilux. The rugged, economic and reliable choice of guerrillas, terrorists, and warlords everywhere.

Seriously though I'd pick motorcycle. Not sure about how to carry gear though. Whatever vehicle you get, it must be easy to make on site repairs.

Exactly. Not having the gear to do the things that I want is a major bummer. If I come upon a spot of pristine ocean I'm going to want to go diving in it. If I'm in the Andes I'm going to want to go skiing, and due to my shitty-ass super wide feet, I can't really rent :( Plus I can bring a cooler for storing food. A better stove for making proper meals, etc.

That's sold as the Tacoma in the U.S., correct?

Top Gear made me want that pick-up... if I were looking to buy a truck, I'd definitely go for the Hilux. I'm sold on Toyota's general reliability even without that specific model.

EDIT: Looked it up, guess they aren't the same vehicle, though closely related

Everyone recommends the Hilux. But the gas mileage is too poor. We don't get the Hilux in the States. And yes, I believe it's the Tacoma, and the MPG is all of ~20 mpg combined...

The Subaru VX gets much better mileage and is very off road capable.


Things have changed since I last posted that.
 

fuzzybabybunny

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You need to find out, you may need the ground clearance that a truck provides.

EDIT:
http://www.drivetheamericas.com/

Knowing what kinds of roads I'll want to go on between here and the tip of South America is impossible.

It's possible to drive from the US to the tip in a lowered Honda Fit. That's not a problem. The problem is having a car that's capable of going where I'll WANT to go ie. where I choose to go.

The Subaru VX with 9 inches of clearance does snow just fine as well as mud and beach sand. Basically, I'll be able to see a lot more places with the VX than with a Fit, and the gas mileage isn't too far off, while the mileage of a truck is abysmal. Besides, when I get back from the trip the Subie will also be my daily driver as well.

I've always wanted a Honda Fit, but a more capable one. One that actually has AWD and can do some off roading, and has the space and gas mileage of the Fit. The VX is the closest, honestly.
 

fuzzybabybunny

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Oh yeah, and the VX can tow (1500 lb) so I'm hoping I'll be able to throw one of these things on a hitch rack on the back for when I want to experience the motorcycle:

http://www.fxbikes.com/

They are not being sold, but if I offer my feedback, photography, and videography services during my Overland trip I may be able to pick up a test unit. And of course I'll be blogging about it the whole time, especially on ADVRider.

They're based in California, so it's easy to pick one up.
 

_Rick_

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Apr 20, 2012
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Just don't go offroading by yourself.
When you get stuck on the roads, that's one thing.
Well, in Mexico it's another, already.
But getting stuck even 2 miles off the road, you can be stuck for a long time.

So, don't mistake AWD for being truly able to go where ever you want. It's probably going to be alright on most roads, even in mild weather, but outside of that, there's few guarantees. Even in a truck trial proven 6x6 I wouldn't want to go off road on my own. So easy to break something, or get stuck. The XV is a road car - so stick to roads, unless in a convoy.

You might even want to consider installing a radio in your vehicle of choice, sometimes there's a relay in range, when a cell tower isn't.