ExploringNH said:
A lifted truck with a rack and lights on the roof and a ton of accessories must surely stand out in places in Mexico and Central America where you least want to draw attention to yourself.
Has this been a problem for anyone traveling in places like this?
I am planning a trip to Brazil from the USA and one thing that worries me is that my truck looks a bit "bling". Its a 2002 4Runner with a few mods, and more will be done to it by the time of the trip.
Pics of truck in sig.
Let's try to formulate an educated answer without any prejudice.
There are more and more nice shinny trucks in Central America and South America. Some locals (and foreigners) have been doing very well in the last 10 years and everyone wants a nice SUV. Have any of you been to Panama city lately? It starting to ressemble Miami.
It's much more a question of attitude, interaction and drawing attention. I have travelled a lot and I have yet to see a bunch of "bandidos" by the side of the road just waiting to steal a nice 2002 4Runner.
Your truck is much more likely to dissappear if you stay somewhere for a while, start acting innappropriatly and get too much bad attention - just like here in the U.S. Things rarely happen just randomly. Furthermore, it's usually quite easy to spot the bad guys - just stay away.
You could also put it that way - would you rather have a good reliable truck that will get you to your destination, or break down along the way in the middle of nowhere? Which situation is more likely to put you in a bad position?
Of course if your goal is to go down to South America, don't put too much extra stuff on the truck - they are much more likely to dissappear in the container while it gets shipped than anywhere else.
Just don't look like you are an easy target - act like you know where you are going and what you are here for.
Just to put a perspective, Scott is going over there with a $120K truck.
Also, as I said several time before, speaking at least some Spanish is probably the best asset you can possess on such a journey - no matter what you are driving.
I hope you go.