Americas 2011 expedition - Need help/advice/opinion

[Vizoo]

:sombrero: Well, you don't have the mudflaps attached to the vehicle You lay them in front of the wheels

That is the first thought that occours to me, but aren't they too short?

In Switzerland we use rubber floor mats to get us un-stuck in snow.

In Brazil we use old carpet (for mud not snow), some of us have even glued or stiched more then one over the other, and always tied to a rope I did some paragliding flying in Switzerland thi year, in Almenalps.

nothing screams "expo" more than some sand tracks attached to your vehicle. :elkgrin:

Yes, yes, yes, unbeatable!!!

 

[Vizoo]

To all my friends in here!

I am very sad, frustrated, pissed off, angry and a couple more of adjectives that I rather not use in here...

Then guys from my Jeep dealer have ordered the WRONG JEEP!!!!

I got a plane yesterday night from Rio de Janeiro (door to door is about 15 hours trip) just to get the JK and start looking for the all the stuff, made a list of all the 4x4 stores around here to visit.

Arrived in my house in Miami at 5:30 AM, at 11:00 I was at the dealer and there there was a beautiful red Rubicon waiting for me, 2 DOORS!

$2k spent for nothing on air tickets... And there is no more red 4 dr 2010 Rubis (nor Saharas) Now I have to decide: stick with red and buy a 2011 or give up my favorite color and get a 2010?
I hated the steering wheel of 2011, full of buttons and electronics, and the dashboard? Who was the IMBECIL that put some many silver and mirror inserts in a Jeep?? I just imagine someone driving roofless on the trail with the sun behind and all those shining reflections in his eyes... Damn I'm mad!!
There is also an issue on the brasilian border. Getting there in 2011 with a 2010 model shouldn't be any problem, but a 2011 the guys at customs may considered it "brand new" and made me pay the import taxes, +/- 130% of the amount on the invoice.

Color, year, color, year, color, year... I won't sleep tonight.

 

[Dools]

Unless you have a unlimited wallet, year. Why pay so much in taxes for the color that you want. Also, I would really argue for the dealer to pay for the plane tickets for screwing up your Jeep.

I see you are from Brasil. I am currently in Salvador enjoying surfing and culture.

Best of luck with gettng what you want!

 

[The Swiss]

I am very sad, frustrated, pissed off, angry and a couple more of adjectives that I rather not use in here...

Then guys from my Jeep dealer have ordered the WRONG JEEP!!!!

I got a plane yesterday night from Rio de Janeiro (door to door is about 15 hours trip) just to get the JK and start looking for the all the stuff, made a list of all the 4x4 stores around here to visit.

Arrived in my house in Miami at 5:30 AM, at 11:00 I was at the dealer and there there was a beautiful red Rubicon waiting for me, 2 DOORS!

$2k spent for nothing on air tickets... And there is no more red 4 dr 2010 Rubis (nor Saharas) Now I have to decide: stick with red and buy a 2011 or give up my favorite color and get a 2010?
I hated the steering wheel of 2011, full of buttons and electronics, and the dashboard? Who was the IMBECIL that put some many silver and mirror inserts in a Jeep?? I just imagine someone driving roofless on the trail with the sun behind and all those shining reflections in his eyes... Damn I'm mad!!
There is also an issue on the brasilian border. Getting there in 2011 with a 2010 model shouldn't be any problem, but a 2011 the guys at customs may considered it "brand new" and made me pay the import taxes, +/- 130% of the amount on the invoice.

Color, year, color, year, color, year... I won't sleep tonight.

Sorry to hear about the screw-up of that dealership.

First I'd go to a different dealership - and let your dealership know that you do so, let's see if they can't get more creative - and see if they can't find over their network exactly what you want. If not, and if you like the "older" interior, I personally would go with the 2010 Rubi in your color, and work out a nice discount with the dealer, especially as you don't plan on re-selling the vehicle as a 2010 vs 2011 can make a difference in re-sale value. Other than the interior, not much has changed.

From experience of some of my friends, do not settle for a Sahara; I know 3 Jeepers who settled for a Sahara because a Rubi was not readily available and all 3 of them regret it.

 

[Vizoo]

Unless you have a unlimited wallet, year. Why pay so much in taxes for the color that you want.

You got it wrong, I meant what COULD happen at border, if I get there and customs officer decide to tax my JK I will make a 180 and leave the car parked in Uruguai until 2012, or may try the other border in Paraguai.

Also, I would really argue for the dealer to pay for the plane tickets for screwing up your Jeep.

Its complicated, but to make it very short: I ordered a 4 door Sahara, changed to a 4 door Rubicon, they found one in Texas and before they get my check to hold the JK it was sold. After a few days they sent me an invoice of another one they found, also in Texas, since on the email was writen "found you another one with the same specs" I said to them to bring it in. On the invoice it was not writen 2 DOORS anywhere. They tried to "explain" that it was also not writen UNLIMITED. Well, I went there this morning and bought a 2011, RED

I think I could have make them pay the ticket, thats exactly what my lawyer said during dinner but I am not an "I sue you guy". I believe it was an honest mistake, they did not try to push me the 2 door AND they even borrowed me one JK Unlimited to take home tonight and do all the measurements that I need to do the furniture.

I see you are from Brasil. I am currently in Salvador enjoying surfing and culture.

Been there last year, over 7k miles trip to the northeast. Are you going down to Rio?

 

[Vizoo]

Sorry to hear about the screw-up of that dealership. First I'd go to a different dealership

That so much crossed my mind... But I'm glad the rage was gone this morning and I went there with a clear mind to see every alternative and decide. Almost everybody there was already knowing about the expedition and wanting to ask for details, maybe it was because of the screw-up, maybe not, but I was so well treated that I kept the business with them. I use to say that I'm a kind of guy that gives away a bull not to get into a fight... and herd not to get out of it. So I rather make friends over a mistake then enemies AND spent time and money on court.

and see if they can't find over their network exactly what you want.

There is not, on any dealer in the US...

Other than the interior, not much has changed.

Indeed. But that steering wheel... Today while driveing from the dealer to my place, about 5 miles, I changed the radio station THREE times while doing turns!!! I want to hang the designer who did it by the balls!

 

[The Swiss]

Good it's working out for you

 

[Aids10]

Dam Stealerships; good thing you did not bust out the Capoeira :littlefriend:

I'd have the sales manager compensate me with extras (good luck getting any money off), e.g. wiring for tow hitch, tinting, mopar parts... they should do that as it can be done in house; and they can store it there for free until you return.

Glad you got it sorted! :safari-rig:

 

[Vizoo]

Americas 2011 - Product review - Part 1

So, those who doesn't follows me closer. The dealer ordered the wrong car and the right one will only arrive by the end of December, I will only get it after Jan 10th. But some stuff I have already ordered and as they arrive, I will post them here. And here are the first two:

1- Battery fan and night light. $ 20 S&H included @EBay from 5stardeal.com

I did not have 2D cells so a C with some coins did the trick.

It comes with a hanger to the roof of the tent and also the LED ring can be the base for the fan or vice versa.

The LEDs are bright enough to see the surroundings well but can be a strain to eyes if you plan on reading. Overall quality is OK, but I would not recommend leaving that plastic material in sunlight, it is certainly second or third time recycled and may not withstand the UV.


2- Inflatable chair - $ 45 (discount for two @ smartbargains on EBay)

It looked cool, decided to give it a try...

PVC is thick and well bonded; the included pump has 3 adapters and operates with 8!! C batteries, luckly it also comes with the car lighter cord.

Overall volume is about the same of those K Mart $15 foldable chairs but I think this bulk form factor is better.

Although the instructions says it takes 90 seconds to inflate I did it twice in exactly 50 seconds, deflation takes about the same time and it is not difficult to fold it again to fit in its bag.
It is much relaxing then the folding one.

I also got a $20 Master Flow Cyclone Air Compressor model MF-1040.
It have a 1/3 hp motor and comes with 16ft plastic coil hose and 10ft cord. It states on the box 1250 cubic inches per minute
A friend who received it as a gift from a friend gave it to me because he said he would never trust a compressor with that price tag... Well, I will be glad to test until it burns and see what we come up with.

 

[Vizoo]

Dam Stealerships; good thing you did not bust out the Capoeira :littlefriend:

No, no... I'm a shooter not a fighter... ROFSheriffHL:

I'd have the sales manager compensate me with extras

They said they will, its wait and see.

 

[Aids10]

That inflatable chair's certainly a luxury, as is that cover model

If you hit the beach it can serve as your floating chair!

I recently got a Portable Campfire for the RV which might interest ya-
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Camco-58031-Olympian-Propane-Camp/dp/B000O51VJ0"]Amazon.com: Camco 58031 RV Olympian Propane Camp Fire: Automotive[/ame]


Also got an ARB Premium Recovery Kit-
http://www.trdparts4u.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=-8467

You might also consider-
http://www.scangauge.com/
http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_MC W050

What about a few days MRE's just in case?- :chef:
http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_920

 

[Vizoo]

That inflatable chair's certainly a luxury, as is that cover model

If you hit the beach it can serve as your floating chair!

I recently got a Portable Campfire for the RV which might interest ya-
Amazon.com: Camco 58031 RV Olympian Propane Camp Fire: Automotive


Also got an ARB Premium Recovery Kit-
http://www.trdparts4u.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=-8467

You might also consider-
http://www.scangauge.com/
http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_MC W050

What about a few days MRE's just in case?- :chef:
http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_920

Thanks!! All noted. Sorry for the delay, I was so angry and borred about the mistake they made with my JK that got a plane and went to Colombia for a few days... Visited some nice places in the mountains around Bogota.

The chairs will only go if I have some spare space, they are not priority, but much better then always seat on the floor, epsecially looking at the sunset at gran canyon with a glass of scotch at hand..

 

[Aids10]

Hope everything is coming along as planned! Acquired all of your kit yet?

I was looking to order some nato spec jerry cans (hard to find)-
http://www.deutscheoptik.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1718

Couple of hitch accessories- :coffeedrink:

 

[1leglance]

I just found this thread as I am very sorry to hear about your troubles getting the Jeep you want. But that gives me a chance to offer advice based on what I have owned in the past and the kind of trip you are doing.

Some things to note about my advice, it is based on a few foundations:
1) Buy the best quality you can the first time, if you plan to keep it then it will last longer, if you plan to sell it then it will be worth more
2) Buy want you need vs what you want
3) Look at what others have learned from previous trips

So lets get started:

1- Tent: Rooftop for sure. Minumim width of 71". Brand are CarTopCamper (130lb $1680), MyWaySerengeti (?lb $2180), AutoHomeOverland (125lb $2600) and EeziAwn 2200T (242lb $2935)
The EeziAwn is the best quality listed and will last for years and years. It will serve you in cold or heat, in rain or sun. Sure it is heavier but that is due to the quality materials.


2- Suspension: Do I need reinforced springs? The JK will be very close to its maximum load. I will change the shock absorbers to a Rancho 9000.
The AEV stuff is great, keep the overall height lower of all the options but go for quality as you want this to last forever

5- Sand Tracks: A must have! Besides the old style aluminum, there is also plastic and fiberglass to choose from. ARB even has a folding model made of heavy duty rubber.
The Maxtrax are killer good, they are not heavy and function.

6- Snatch Block: Large variety of makers and huge differences in prices. Does it worth to pay for the brand name?
I have abused the ARB and it works great every time.

7- Air Jack: The concept is great and as far I could find, there are only this two options. The flat hose on the X-Jack appears to take less space when packed. Which one is better?
The Titan failed on me when it was needed, but the ARB has worked perfectly even lifting my 11,000lb van. And I only use the air compressor not the tailpipe.

9- Some extra horse power?: I had considered a turbo but I don't want to mess with the warranty on a brand new car. So a performance chip may be a good option to gain some HP and increase mileage. Many makers/models, I am trying to find reviews to chose the best one.
I would stay away from any kind of chip or power upgrade, keep things stock so they work. A snorkel maybe since you will be keeping the jeep and crossing river, plus the cooler cleaner air when in dust.

10- These are cool !!: Information is never too much. The option here is pay a lot for an awesome display or pay the right amount for the data only...
Scangauge all the way. Great info but more important is the ability to clean codes and keep going or figure out what is wrong in remote areas.

11- Cooler or Fridge: I must say this one has been taking my sleep... Coolers are way cheaper and a lot lighter then fridges, a good quality one is also quieter and consume less battery. The bad part is they don't freeze and they depend too much on the exterior temperature, leave it on inside the car under the sun and it won't cool at all. As for the fridges, centrifugal or reciprocating compressor? Waeco uses the first, Engel the second and it comes with a heavy price tag, it has an advantage on start current draw. I tried to find witch one is quieter but could not find reliable data. It will run on an auxiliary battery during the day. Noise, weight, consumption, best interior size, form factor...
I have owned an Engel that worked great and currently have a National Luna that is amazing. The battery level display and the ability to set alarms and shut off levels are killer. I would go with a real fridge no matter what.


13- Electricity: There are many options in this topic too. My idea is to run it at night to recharge AA and D batteries, run the laptop the fridge and recharge the auxiliary battery too. So I wanted the quieter possible, to my surprise Kipor have the lower Db but after reading the users reviews I understood why people pay almost the double for a Honda or Yamaha.
No generator no way. Too much extra weight and space. And you don't really need it if you are driving every couple of days. You can charge all your batteries while driving and a good dual battery kit like the National Luna and a quality AGM battery like the Sears Platium and you are set. Or keep it simple and go with the National Luna Power Pack.


16- Spare tire: I really don't want to get caught in the middle of Central America or the Atacama desert in the need of second spare tire/wheel. Besides of maybe not having the space for it on the roof rack (because of the tent), I would like to avoid having the extra weight that high, increasing the center of gravity. I've seen these on Land Rovers but did not find any for the JK so I started to develop my own, with extras!.
Now I just need to find someone to make it.
AEV makes a great rear bumper for the Jeep that has water storage in it. And you only use the Jeep door handle to open it. It doesn't sound like a big deal to have another latch on the swingout but it make a difference when you are traveling and opening the back many times a day.

I would also get the Extreme Outback Tire Repair kit, it is the best I have seen and used.
The SPOT is amazing and worth every penny, cheap really at $3 a week when you think about it.
Get a Acer Netbook for $300, a Globalsat GPS USB puck for $40, a Jeniko mount for $60, load Delorme Topo North America for $100,Oziexplorer for $100 and fill it with all the free maps you can find...lots of threads here.
The laptop will also let you backup pics, have music, a pdf service manual, wifi and more.

So, this is it. I will apreciate any input that helps me get the best stuff to my trip.


Renato Costanzo
americas2011@yahoo.com
Expedition Main Page

 

[Vizoo]

Hope everything is coming along as planned! Acquired all of your kit yet?

Couple of hitch accessories- :coffeedrink:

I'll take one of this!! send me the link and the part number!!! :victory:

The right car has arrived, I'm still doing the shopping but at least have already decided what brands/models I will have.

I will go to Miami late January and be back to Rio in late March, hope to have the JK ready by then and only return to miami in June to begin the trip.

As for the Jerry cans, I've decided to go with the RotopaX and maybe add an extra tank under the car.