GoannaTracks 2013/14: South America
- Thread starter UK4X4
- Start date
GoannaTracks 2013: South America
In July, Kym and Lyn Bolton flew from Australia to Panama, and shipped their EarthCruiser to Colombia. They are traveling with fellow Australians John and Elizabeth ? They will spend the next few months traveling around Colombia, across Venezuela to Brazil, then west through the Amazonian rainforest, and finally south to the Pantanal wetlands, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Follow their South American travels here
http://goannatracks.com/Home/2013_South_America/2013_South_America.html
The group's initial experiences in Colombia have been very positive.
In July, Kym and Lyn Bolton flew from Australia to Panama, and shipped their EarthCruiser to Colombia. They are traveling with fellow Australians John and Elizabeth ? They will spend the next few months traveling around Colombia, across Venezuela to Brazil, then west through the Amazonian rainforest, and finally south to the Pantanal wetlands, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Follow their South American travels here
http://goannatracks.com/Home/2013_South_America/2013_South_America.html
The group's initial experiences in Colombia have been very positive.
The Boltons have passed through Venezuela and entered northern Brasil. They drove to Manaus, crossed the Amazon River, and tackled the infamous BR 319. Traveling at the end of the dry season, the Boltons didn't even need to use 4WD to traverse the BR-319.
http://www.goannatracks.com/Home/Wh...uth_on_the_BR319_-_a_1000km_Jungle_Track.html
The Boltons have now arrived at Iguasu Falls. They will leave the vehicles here, and fly home to Australia for several months. Their journey begins anew in February 2014.
http://www.goannatracks.com/Home/Wh...uth_on_the_BR319_-_a_1000km_Jungle_Track.html
The Boltons have now arrived at Iguasu Falls. They will leave the vehicles here, and fly home to Australia for several months. Their journey begins anew in February 2014.
lostworldexpedition
Explorer
They didn't need 4wd BECAUSE they drove it during the dry season... During dry season it is just a very rutty washboardy road, with many scary bridges 
Kym and Lyn Bolton have returned to South America. They brought their EarthCruiser camper out of storage in Uruguay in early July. Poor quality diesel fuel sitting in the fuel system for 8 months created a problem that required replacing the injectors and flushing all the bad fuel out. Running smoothly, the Boltons drove to the northwest corner of Argentina, at the base of the Andes. After sorting several vehicle mechanical issues, they traveled north along the fabled National Route 40 (RN40), a gravel road that passes through a region of stunningly beautiful geology and 4000 meter passes. July is winter in Argentina, so the temps at night often drop below freezing.
The Boltons passed into Bolivia at the border town of La Quiaca. In the Bolivian high Andes, it was cold enough at night to cause ice crystals to form in the diesel fuel. Directing the exhaust from the Webasto cabin heater onto the main fuel tank, the ice melted in about an hour. The Boltons meet former traveling companions in Uyuni, jumping off point for the vast salt desert.
Be sure to visit the web site. Lots of great photos and details not included above.
http://goannatracks.com/Home/Where_are_we_now_South_America/Where_are_we_now_South_America.html
The Boltons passed into Bolivia at the border town of La Quiaca. In the Bolivian high Andes, it was cold enough at night to cause ice crystals to form in the diesel fuel. Directing the exhaust from the Webasto cabin heater onto the main fuel tank, the ice melted in about an hour. The Boltons meet former traveling companions in Uyuni, jumping off point for the vast salt desert.
Be sure to visit the web site. Lots of great photos and details not included above.
http://goannatracks.com/Home/Where_are_we_now_South_America/Where_are_we_now_South_America.html
Thanks to Diplostrat for pointing out that the Boltons' South America trip is ending early due to mechanical problems. Current issues include poor engine performance at altitude (probably the result of a botched repair of fuel injectors earlier in Uruguay), broken shock, failed water pump, auxiliary fuel tank leak, and broken fuel tank support bracket. Kym was able to perform bush repairs on all of the issues, but confidence in the vehicle has sunk. As Kym puts it,
"It has been a hard decision, however in light of the vehicle's unreliability we cannot continue into isolated places that we enjoy."
The EarthCruiser vehicle has traveled close to 120,000 km (75,000 miles) on rough unpaved roads and two wheel tracks on 5 continents.
The Boltons will continue to explore Chile and Peru for the next couple of weeks. The EarthCruiser will be shipped back to Australia in mid September. I'm guessing, but I expect they will return with a Scrubmaster, the Iveco 4x4 camper built by Kym's new company, Travel Trucks.
http://www.traveltrucks.com.au/expedition-camper
"It has been a hard decision, however in light of the vehicle's unreliability we cannot continue into isolated places that we enjoy."
The EarthCruiser vehicle has traveled close to 120,000 km (75,000 miles) on rough unpaved roads and two wheel tracks on 5 continents.
The Boltons will continue to explore Chile and Peru for the next couple of weeks. The EarthCruiser will be shipped back to Australia in mid September. I'm guessing, but I expect they will return with a Scrubmaster, the Iveco 4x4 camper built by Kym's new company, Travel Trucks.
http://www.traveltrucks.com.au/expedition-camper
I am not sure whether they will bring the Iveco to South America. According to the traveltruck website the Iveco has advanced emission control systems (diesel particulate filter) requiring sulphur free diesel which is not really available in most of South America. These systems would have to be removed and deleted which is not easy.
Regards Stefan
Regards Stefan
Similar threads
