What cruiser to choose?

[xtfritz]

I'm thinking 60 series with H55, 12-HT, and OME.

Sounds like that could be a cheap(er) solution from what I'm seeing. Are the 60 series easily modified as opposed to new vehicles where you rely more on aftermarket thought and manufacturer?

 

[cruiser guy]

Don't be knocking '60's. There's a couple that have been on the road CONTINUOUSLY since '84 in their FJ60!!! Do a search on "weltreise" or "Smid" and it should come up.

 

[xtfritz]

Don't be knocking '60's. There's a couple that have been on the road CONTINUOUSLY since '84 in their FJ60!!! Do a search on "weltreise" or "Smid" and it should come up.

I don't mean to knock on 60's if that was the feeling. I just don't know the first thing about them and it seems that once the 70 series came about, most of the world outside of oz, africa and some parts of south america turned to the 80's which came out only a few years later. I was actually quite impressed by an 88'BJ62 shown on one of the other threads as it looks far more capable than most tube buggies. In venezuela they call the 60 series LC's 'Samurai' and the 70 series 'machitos' (little men, go figure). In terms of sale price, the 60's are running around 35k BsF ~ 15k USD assuming 2k BsF=1 USD (loaded models) and the 70's run anywhere from 45-110k BsF ~ 20-55k USD, according to tucarro.com.ve. To some degree its cheaper to purchase a new 70 series direct from a dealer since the price is closer to 30k USD ~ 60k BsF.

And kudos to Weitreise and his round the world jaunt in a 60!

 

[UK4X4]

I was in living in Maturin from 2001 through 2005, Caracas and Maracibo prior to that and competed in the Funrace comps held all over the country.


Venezuela, there are no diesels.....gas is so cheap

Troopies...used as buses in remote areas, slums of caracas, most are high milage and well used, You might be lucky and find a large landowner selling a decent one but they are few and far between

Upkeep on them is minimal..ie when it falls off,... fix it.

Machos are everywhere almost every rich 20-25 year old has one.....again finding a well looked after one is dificult.

80 series "Autana's" lot's are off roaded, but you can find well maintained ones in caracas, outside of there they'll be high milage.

although they only stopped making them year before last....so there will be low milage ones out there if your pockets are deep enough !!!

when comparing prices remember the black market rate is for cash.....and you have to find a buyer...


The older ones will be suffering from bad upkeep, finding an honest garage
is a major issue.

Macho SWB 70 series or 80 from caracas or Puerto la cruz with low milage, is my recomendation
if buying in Venolandia.

Selling your truck on arrival...can't be done....unless it has zero milage and fully imported as new.

Carnet entry is possible but no selling allowed

venezuelan private import, must have the vehicle min 1 year outside venolandia and can't sell on for two years.

The road south to Manaus can be done in a car...

Then the transamazonas br19 is under major overhaul

If you have question on anything venezuelano just ask

http://www.funrace4x4.com/

 

[xtfritz]

I was going to shoot a line to funrace since those guys know what's happening all over. I think I might have a lead for a diesel troopy but it makes my logistics a little more complicated. I found a belgium company that only exports HZJ78's to certain places and I'm considering an export to Chile. This gives me a few good things, one - a means of dealing with import taxes once and for all and it'll be titled there, so permanent staying post trip is easy. It also means that in order to do our trip, I would need to ship it from Chile to Venezuela and that is not so recommended?

Also, UK4x4, how did you find the machitos handling the deepwater during funrace? Ever a problem with a gas engine going that deep? Beyond scuba mods, what else have those machitos been outfitted with?

Thank you everyone for your info on this.
Cheers

 

[xtfritz]

I was in living in Maturin from 2001 through 2005, Caracas and Maracibo prior to that and competed in the Funrace comps held all over the country.

You weren't in the gas and oil industry are you This is precisely why I'll be in Maturin.

Cheers

 

[UK4X4]

yep oil field...I work for SLB....

Silicone grease, silicone sealant, rubber gloves, aluminum defector panels
you name they have tried it.....

I can put you in touch with both the local fab-shop RTT ARB supplier in Maturin
and our best Funrace friends who lend us their truck when we're in town....

They'll help with getting you into the tourism group.....you learn the ropes do the same courses that the competitors do...but more of a follow my leader.

You'll meet everybody at the camp, try and get a ride along in the extreme group...then enter the Tourism-pro group to start off.

Best thing in venezuela.......if they were in charge of the country it would be first world....

4.5 hrs from you will be this....

and you'll get to this.....

or this if you stay on a the single track road

and this was on the road to both the above...a road block by the locals
due to having no running water for a few day's

and you'l be 10 hrs to the edge of the gran sabana...

Note prices are soaring, shelves are empty in the supermarkets, if you like nice things bring them with you.......shopping.....is extremely limited.

There is no internet shopping

There are security issues...everywhere

Listen to the companies security briefings and believe them, take their recomendations.

Only two bars going to......a few restaurants are OK

But prepare for down grading your quality of life

Take enjoyment out of the simple pleasures of life and experiencing new things.

Piranha fishing .......swimming in tannic acid rivers........having a croc in the
local lake

Visiting the market place...is a visual and nasal experience not to be missed

enjoy..

 

[xtfritz]

yep oil field...I work for SLB....

Silicone grease, silicone sealant, rubber gloves, aluminum defector panels
you name they have tried it.....

I can put you in touch with both the local fab-shop RTT ARB supplier in Maturin
and our best Funrace friends who lend us their truck when we're in town....

Ironic how small the world is. I'm ex-SLB and now going BACK to SLB since I couldn't stand living in Houston any longer w/FMC Technologies. I'm a wireline SFE so yes I understand silicone grease and o-rings Its also from big blue that we lived in Brazil and Colombia and for Peptec in Amreya, Egypt. There are some neat places to visit around Macae, BR with Sana being close by, especially if you have a 4x4. I also look forward to getting back into the southamerican way of life...I think I was born on the wrong continent.

I would definitely like to get in touch with the above dealers since I may just do the mods to my troopy in VE once it gets shipped in. That plan is still up for discussion though.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[efuentes]

How about getting Crew cab Hiluxes, I heard they are plentiful and cheap in southamerica, They might not have the LC glamour, but should work very good.

Saludos

 

[xtfritz]

I've honestly thought about that as well since indeed they are cheap and very plentiful and are easily maintained. In the event that enough money hasn't been saved up for the people going, etc then I think Hiluxes will be our choice vehicle. The also have the incognito way of blending in with most any country in SA since they are so popular or confused with the Nissan or Mitsubishi or Chevy Luv's (seen more in Chile, not sure about VE).

Thanks for the comment

 

[roscoFJ73]

Have you considered a JDM import from Canada. Ive heard the 80 series turbo diesels have dropped in price.
As you are not keeping it in the USA ,the authorities may let you drive it into South America.

 

[xtfritz]

Have you considered a JDM import from Canada. Ive heard the 80 series turbo diesels have dropped in price.
As you are not keeping it in the USA ,the authorities may let you drive it into South America.

What price range? And if its registered in Canada, then it can be taken across the border from what I understand. Though this would tack on a much larger start for our trip...Darian Gap has always fascinated me too!

 

[UK4X4]

macae.....you've been spoilt

Maturin.....sucks bigtime in comparisson

How they are the same 1.4x salary I don't know....one has a beautiful beach....the other has ......nothing

The base in maturin though is not bad, and you'll be probably living next door at the golf club, apartments or house depending on your status......

reasonably safe but people have still been robbed.......

Don't let the kids swim in the lake.....thats where the caimans are

Have you contacted Toyo venezuela for a troopy ?

They won't have it on a swebsite , but they assemble from kits shipped in
so you may be able to special order.

Hilux's and LUV's everywhere......

Gitanos...only good bar in town and reasonably safe
Cheap gas
6 girls to every male....yes this not a rumor.....

The caraceneos call maturin women Cuimas....which is similar to a coral snake...pretty on the outside...but deadly:sombrero:

 

[xtfritz]

macae.....you've been spoilt, Maturin.....sucks bigtime in comparisson

6 girls to every male....yes this not a rumor.....

The caraceneos call maturin women Cuimas....which is similar to a coral snake...pretty on the outside...but deadly:sombrero:

Sounds like my cup of tea Though yes, I was spoiled having Macae as my JFE and FE location. Buzios and Sana definitely take favors in really cool things to do when not on a job. Bogota also was a fantastic place if you could get past the constant bombing and sheparding around by safety personnel. And there it was 2 girls to every guy...

I shall have to watch out for said Cuimas.. :bowdown:

 

[xtfritz]

Have you contacted Toyo venezuela for a troopy ?

They won't have it on a website , but they assemble from kits shipped in
so you may be able to special order.

This would be an interesting option if the exchange rate is official and not blackmarket..that's where I'm trying not to get into a hole by paying 4 times more than the vehicle is worth just because I can't buy 100k BsF for a macho. Though I have thought of going straight to a dealer for the troopy and paying out the 35k USD that one would cost brand new, but its the later import taxes of 26% of sale value that I'd pay for it going into Chile, hence an older model and cheaper value makes sense.

Otherwise perform the import of a diesel HZJ78 to chile, register 'de una' (right away) and ship to VE for the trip. Saves me an engine swap later on and the taxes are taking care of up front.