A Lifted Overlanding Prius | Crossing Darién Gap | What's Needed?

[1000arms]

gawd I hate it when people just want to argue with zero input for the OP.... I'm done here.

... I just added to my ignore list a moment ago. ...

Zero input? I actually gave very direct info about people who drove across the Darien Gap. Multiple posts actually. Sorry you missed those.

You made some good points and asked a very relevant question, but apparently @billiebob has added you to his "ignore" list.

Welcome to the club!

 

[1000arms]

Check out "the road chose me" on you tube he did it in a stock 2005 TJ....

Then there is this good read from 60 years ago in a SEEP....

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...

They both went around the Darien Gap though?

@Dan Grec Any comments, thoughts, suggestions, warnings, and/or stories?

 

[Dan Grec]

@Dan Grec Any comments, thoughts, suggestions, warnings, and/or stories?

To be clear, I shipped around the Darien, Jeep in a container from Colon, Panama to Cartegena, Colombia. That's what 99.99999% of people driving the Pan-Am do.

When it comes to crossing the Darien, I met quite a few backpackers that did it.
In terms of taking a vehicle, it's just a debate about how long your vehicle will be floating on some kind of canoe/barge/raft/boat/whatver-you-can-make. The simple fact is your vehicle WILL be floating at some point. If it floats for 100 yards or 30 miles... it will be floating.

So really, you're just going to drive as far south as is physically possible in Panama, then start talking to locals. You'll meet people that know stuff, that can help you buy or rent some kind of raft or boat or something, and someone is going to know where you can take it to so that you can drive off the other side into Colombia.

Can it be done? absolutely without question.
Will it be a massive adventure - yes for sure.

Have fun!

-Dan

 

[rruff]

and enough sun sails if it floated it would be a Pri-acht!

Sounds like your best bet is to make it float then!

 

[mep1811]

I think in a James Bond movie, the water borne vehicle was covered.

 

[MontySquareo]

Well, after 49 States (a picture in front of each Welcome to the State Sign) and a trip to San Felipe, Baja California for Christmas, a drive to Cabo is on the 2023 agenda. The thought of taking a ferry to the main land crosses my mind as the goal now is to drive this Prius some how on all seven continents.
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As my mind starts to think through logistics, I wondered... Could this Prius successfully cross Darién Gap? Some internet reading let me know lots of migrants are passing through, which should make for more areas this little car's tires can stick to and guide us through the Gap. right?

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When I read it took 8 days to cross on Kawasaki KLR motorcycles, it makes me think what should I prepare myself for? Aside from the new AWD system with a rear electric motor more powerful than what's in the Rav4 Prime, the below is my initial upgrades since most vehicles don't float.

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(above: yes that's a 4500lbs winch hidden in the front bumper)

Initial Upgrades Needed:
-Complete Underbody Skid Plates (In my head if I'm sliding down a hillside, I don't want to get caught on anything, or maybe I do)
-Some sort of either once or multiple use quick inflating under car emergency raft system (best thought contact an emergency lift raft company for a custom fit raft using cO2 to quickly fill)
-Enough speed and diversionary tools (explosives? smoke bombs?) to outrun FARC rebels.

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So far that's all I can think of, the Overlanding Prius already has a fridge, air fryer, running hot water and enough sun sails if it floated it would be a Pri-acht!

What would you add to your rig or what should I modify/add to help me be the first Hybrid to cross the Gap?

is there a thread somewhere? i wanta know how you got/built this Prius and maybe the story of what you did traveling the USA.

 

[VinmanP]

That Prius is a thing of beauty. Truly.

 

[gmtech]

any updates?

 

[lost1]

Ed Culberson did it :
Obsessions Die Hard: A Motorcycle Adventure Across the Pan-American Highway's Darién Gap Paperback – March 15, 2021

 

[jkam]

My buddy told me that the Chinese are going to build a road thru the Darien gap.
It will be quite the undertaking, but then you will be able to take your Prius thru without road problems.
Other problems will probably still make it an adventure to do.

 

[craig333]

I think you need to put down the crack pipe. I read the story of Mark Smiths expedition. I'd have made it six, maybe seven days before bailing out.

 

[baachou]

Yeah but something tells me the FARC rebels have to drive their vehicles on some sort of man made road of a sort, right?


will watch later today!


I plan on adding more battery power with additional kWh's.


hmmm... okay synthetic rope and that rear winch idea will be implemented!


:: making me blush : thanks!

Minor comment but I read somewhere that FARC no longer maintained control of the Gap, and a cartel was offering safe passage through the gap for a fee. This route has been utilized by migrants successfully, so apparently the cartel is keeping their word. So apparently crossing via land is a lot more plausible. I don't know whether this applies to specially upfitted expedition vehicles attempting to cross.

 

[alanymarce]

And make sure you are well armed.
That is not the friendliest place to travel these days.

Carrying any kind of firearm is going to get you into far more trouble than being unarmed.

Personally, I am the least worried about the off-road vehicle stuff. I am most worried about the kidnapping and getting shot part. This is currently one of the most dangerous areas on the planet.

As others have said, with enough time and money you could potentially make the crossing in a vehicle. All of those who cross do so on foot (most survive). Metcalf is right, the issue is survival, not offroad vehicle feasibility.

Minor comment but I read somewhere that FARC no longer maintained control of the Gap, and a cartel was offering safe passage through the gap for a fee. This route has been utilized by migrants successfully, so apparently the cartel is keeping their word. So apparently crossing via land is a lot more plausible. I don't know whether this applies to specially upfitted expedition vehicles attempting to cross.

The FARC no longer exists, since 2016. Those who control the gap are criminals.

 

[WOODY2]

Start by ordering a bakers dozen of St. Christopher medals.

 

[Metcalf]

Minor comment but I read somewhere that FARC no longer maintained control of the Gap, and a cartel was offering safe passage through the gap for a fee. This route has been utilized by migrants successfully, so apparently the cartel is keeping their word. So apparently crossing via land is a lot more plausible. I don't know whether this applies to specially upfitted expedition vehicles attempting to cross.

A 'land' crossing is VERY challenging. Most of the people that have crossed, even in vehicles, have extensively used the river system to move up/down to higher ground. The south side of the swamp on the Columbia side has a narrow 1-2 month dry season where 'land' may be available.