Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
Thanks Scott.
I'll be in Arizona for a few days around the first or second week of October, it would be awesome to catch up if you're around.
-Dan
Two year circumnaviagtion of Africa in my 2007 JKUR - The Road Chose Me
- Thread starter Dan Grec
- Start date
Thanks Scott.
I'll be in Arizona for a few days around the first or second week of October, it would be awesome to catch up if you're around.
-Dan
iRagedoYou
Member
Good luck! Can't wait to follow your trip on here.
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UK4X4
Expedition Leader
Getting there should be relatively easy with RORO ships from Florida-east coast to the UK cross the channel and simply drive down across France and Spain, get the ferry across to marroco.
Need to remember Europe is relatively small, France you can do in 1 day, unless you stop for the odd glass of wife and the odd castle....Caracassone is worth driving by, just take the B roads they are fast enough for the average 4x4 and you'll get to stop at bread shops, cheese andMc Donalds that serve beer !
Keep alert on east coast issues Sudan,Egyp, Libya etc.....certainly would'nt attemp Libya today for example
Need to remember Europe is relatively small, France you can do in 1 day, unless you stop for the odd glass of wife and the odd castle....Caracassone is worth driving by, just take the B roads they are fast enough for the average 4x4 and you'll get to stop at bread shops, cheese andMc Donalds that serve beer !
Keep alert on east coast issues Sudan,Egyp, Libya etc.....certainly would'nt attemp Libya today for example
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Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
A couple of years ago at Overland Expo I had a really great chat to Dave H from AEV about the electronics in the Jeeps failing.
As he said, when was the last time yours failed? When was the last time you heard of one failing?
The electronics are actually extremely reliable, and something he was sure you don't need to worry about any more than you worry about dropping a valve in the engine (you don't worry).
Also, it's worth keeping in mind that on an Overland trip, it's all about the journey and not the timeline.
If my hypothetical SKIM did fail and I was stuck somewhere, I would do the research I had to, figure it out, get someone in North America to order me a new one and ship it to me.
Then I'd kick back on the beach or jungle or mountains or wherever I was and soak in the local culture and scenery. It will get fixed when it gets fixed.
I learned this lesson after running out of gas in Argentina - so many people had hyped it up as "the ultimate failure" for an overlander, and so many people carry multiple jerry cans in fear of it. The reality? It took me a few hours and I met some really interesting local people. Story is here http://theroadchoseme.com/miscellaneous-misadventures
So my advice is don't worry about it.
-Dan
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
That's the basic plan, though I prefer to put the Jeep in a container so the things inside of it actually stay there, as apposed to RORO.
I can't lock the back separately like a camper so pretty much everything would be fair game on RORO.
As much as I'd love to see Europe (I've never been), I think I'll try to move through it relatively quickly. One because it's expensive and I don't want to spend all my money, and two because I need to get moving down into Africa so I miss the rainy reason at the Equator.
I will likely spend a week or two in/around London - my sister lives there and I have not met her fiance yet!
Absolutely. From my understand it's completely impossible to enter Sudan and Libya right now - they are not issuing visas under any circumstances.
Also it's going to be a full two years before I'm over Egypt way, so I'll re-evaluate the situation then.
Thanks!,
-Dan
expedition4x4
Explorer
110k miles on my 2012 jku and no electronics trouble at all
Comanche Scott
Expedition Leader
Don't worry, be happy!
Comanche Scott
Expedition Leader
But we'd probably be a lot more willing to share our vehicles with the in-laws...
SSF556
SE Expedition Society
I like everyone else wants Dan's trip to be a success....reality of a modern vehicle is that some modules require a scan tool to get them activated. As Dan mentioned he is aware of that and fixing parts that fail is part of the overall adventure.
:iagree:
Scott Brady
Founder
Thanks Scott.
I'll be in Arizona for a few days around the first or second week of October, it would be awesome to catch up if you're around.
-Dan
Second week should work. I am back from the Vermont Overland Rally on the 11th'ish
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Reports of Disaster ...
are often exaggerated. Some friends of mine have taken a US vehicle to over 55 countries:http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/index.html
Yes, you are going to have to have a way to get the odd part by DHL, but some other friends of mine dropped a Unimog axle in Iran, and no one is likely to tell you not to use a Unimog for this sort of trip.
The fact remains that major failures, engine, transmission, etc., are rare. Much more common is consumption of brakes, belts, tires, hoses, shocks, etc. I ran a Chevrolet Blazer in Africa and South America for decades. You do need to have any of the really exotic tools (e.g. Dana 44 axle socket) and a good manual. Similarly, you have to carry consumables (filters, etc.) and have them stashed for replenishment. (And I would carry a tube for your tubeless tires.)
If people can drive Cadillac Escalades in Bangui, and they did, you can usually find a way to fix anything.
I am far more worried about the decision to swap engines (although I understand it) and the politics of various countries, than I am about the vehicle.
N.B. The horror stories of campers being trashed on RoRo seem to be exaggerated and the possibly greater ease of booking RoRo space with the specialist companies, like Sea Bridge (https://www.sea-bridge.de/html/verschiffung.php?language=english) who routinely ship to Africa, might make it worth another look.
are often exaggerated. Some friends of mine have taken a US vehicle to over 55 countries:http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/index.html
Yes, you are going to have to have a way to get the odd part by DHL, but some other friends of mine dropped a Unimog axle in Iran, and no one is likely to tell you not to use a Unimog for this sort of trip.
The fact remains that major failures, engine, transmission, etc., are rare. Much more common is consumption of brakes, belts, tires, hoses, shocks, etc. I ran a Chevrolet Blazer in Africa and South America for decades. You do need to have any of the really exotic tools (e.g. Dana 44 axle socket) and a good manual. Similarly, you have to carry consumables (filters, etc.) and have them stashed for replenishment. (And I would carry a tube for your tubeless tires.)
If people can drive Cadillac Escalades in Bangui, and they did, you can usually find a way to fix anything.
I am far more worried about the decision to swap engines (although I understand it) and the politics of various countries, than I am about the vehicle.
N.B. The horror stories of campers being trashed on RoRo seem to be exaggerated and the possibly greater ease of booking RoRo space with the specialist companies, like Sea Bridge (https://www.sea-bridge.de/html/verschiffung.php?language=english) who routinely ship to Africa, might make it worth another look.