What cruiser to choose?

[UK4X4]

All items sold in Venezuela have to be priced in Bolivars......how you get them
is up to you.

Black market varies as its based on the CANTV share price...as it can be purchased both in NY and venezuela...in venezuela you pay bolivars and sell in the US for dollars...

Its the sort of legal way to trade currency

 

[xtfritz]

Directed to anyone who's purchased overseas, which would be prefered, a brand new FZJ78 with zero kilometers and zero overland equipment and possibly most of my budget consumed on the vehicle or getting for roughly the same cost, an FJ60 series, probably outfitted to some degree with lights, winch, etc for overland travel for possibly the same price or less than the 78?

Obviously the second option entails a used vehicle , and its been stated the miscare that could have occured.

 

[AndrewP]

I've never travelled in SA, but I've been driving and working on Cruisers a long time. It will be hard to beat a 60 series. It's big, simple to work on, old enough to not attract attention, and tough as nails. Spare parts will be in every junk yard in SA. They are so cheap right now in the US, that the extra fuel costs for petrol would likely be less than the difference in price on the vehicle. Interestingly, we saw lots of these in Africa, even though that's more typically Rover country. A diesel would be bonus, but given the huge costs of a trip like this, the fuel cost difference won't make or break the trip.

If you hook up with the guys in Venezuela, they could probably find you a nice one and avoid all that import and shipping hassle that will be a huge PIA. Or, buy one in the US for cheap and ship. I think I'd buy there. If you have more cash, then a fairly new 80 series in VZ would be a great expedition vehicle, but being newer might attract more unwanted attention. A 60 is more under the radar.

I'm going to generalize a bit here, but buying in SA will be a bit risky from the standpoint that maintenance is usually not at US standards. Anything you buy will have been used hard and only maintained at the bare minimum to keep it on the road. Getting mechanical work done to it will be significantly cheaper than in the USA, though.

One other thing to consider is that Panama got the nice diesel 60 and 70 series trucks, and there are several guys on ih8mud from Panama who could help you look for an appropriate truck. If your heart is set on a diesel, that would be a good place to look.

Sounds like quite a trip.

 

[UK4X4]

If you can afford the new one locally...buy it........maintenance issues are real

Real example.....You take truck in for noisy exhaust, they fix noisy exhaust, you spend the first wo weeks worrying about the fix.....listening, looking hearing every squeak and chuff.

A month later you realise you have not seen your ABS light for a while, so you pop your head under the hood and take a look.....only to find your ABS unit is missing and the wires are tucked behind the loom with a paper clip short wrapped in tape.

Last time you looked it was there.....when you complain they say did you check the vehicle when you picked it up...look here's your signature......yep you checked the exhaust and underneath thoroughly.....but never thought to check the ABS well ...how can prove we did it.....

Bienveniedo a Venezuela:ar15:

I have a good mechanic recomendation but I'm not sure he's still in town...he was into strip racing and trustworthy, he even let me use his place to work on my truck when he had no time.......

Afredo Holland- Holland Racing and his brother

All the extra kit can be bought locally or custom made. RTTs made locally, ARB dealers in most towns
and for your bumper / slider / tyre carriers etc just use the local fab guy.

In Maturin Henry at extreme can get you anything you need, inc fridges, basicly anything ARB, OME local build and he does custom work.

There's another company in town too, which I get details for if you want

The bumper for this Explorer was custom built for less than $ 200 inc paint and fitting.....

 

[lostworldexpedition]

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

Caraqueños (and most Venezuelans) call any manipulative, dangerous, cunning, vindictive, woman a Cuaima. For some reason women from Maturin have a particularly cuaima rep... A cuaima is actually a snake from the Crotalus family, very agile and extremely poisonous black on the top side and whitish on the belly...

UK4X4: sometimes you sound like a Venezuelan... how long where you down there for?

Chris you should contact Fernando from Campinglab (PM him in ExPo). Fernando can be an invaluable help in VZLA. He is extremely helpful and friendly. In Venezuela there are a couple of expedition equipment suppliers that might be worth chatting with (other than the Funrace guys) the guys from Global Expedition Outfitters, and the guys from Cruiserheads Store.

 

[xtfritz]

Thanks to both UK4x4 and Lostworld. Really excellent advice all around, greatly appreciated.

UK4x4, how did your explorer hold up in the sabanas? I saw your pics from another post and it looked like a great adventure.

Due to the pictures I've seen I've been inspired to pick up The Lost World and near makes me cry thinking of what a grand adventure this will be.

Cheers

 

[xtfritz]

Lostworld, you state that your 2009 trip from NA to SA to be west coast to east coast tripping, are you going through the Darien or taking a boat around that bit?

 

[UK4X4]

UK4X4: sometimes you sound like a Venezuelan... how long where you down there for?


7 years...........Stationed in Las Morochas Ciudad Ojeda, Caracas and Maturin

I spent most of my time with the locals rather than doing the expat thing with the other managers form the company.

The work was all over the country, so I used to always take the long route back......via wherever looked interesting on the map.

I married a Venezuelan, my household language is spanish...my dog is bilingual.

Life in venezuela is one big adventure, you never quite know what will happen next.....take nothing for granted....

Hostage taking/ robberies hold ups, being arrested, strikes, blocked roads, traffic jams, no speed limit,police stops, army stops, invented regulations, corrupt Police.....

Beautiful country, beach's mountains, swamps, jungles, rivers, indiginous indians..Polar beer, only drink when real cold. santeria, freedom.

Bridges sitting in the rivers for 7 years never fixed, highways started by the last dictator never finished, poverty, unemployment, unions, lack of foods,
20 % have 80 % of the money....

Basicly a pretty interesting place..........I loved and hated it..

I met some some very wonderfull people, I visited some wonderfull places.

A traffic jam in venolandia becomes a party with music and beer everywhere,
La gaita at christmas, Tamboree at night in the fishing villages played on buckets..

I could waffle on for ages......yep a long time.

 

[4Rescue]

Directed to anyone who's purchased overseas, which would be prefered, a brand new FZJ78 with zero kilometers and zero overland equipment and possibly most of my budget consumed on the vehicle or getting for roughly the same cost, an FJ60 series, probably outfitted to some degree with lights, winch, etc for overland travel for possibly the same price or less than the 78?

Obviously the second option entails a used vehicle , and its been stated the miscare that could have occured.

I'd probably prefer the 60 with the added goodies, but honestly, the 78 with 0K on it is the better choice. Add to that the fact that the 78 has the super amazing TD V-8 and is available with Lockers from the factory and it's pretty much good to go. The 70 Series is, to me, the absolute BEST LC ever made from an overland standpoint. Adda rack and some good tires (they'll fit 31-33's with little to NO lift) and you're golden (maybe just add a hand winch for protection). Plus, with 0K and mostly factory everything you're looking at a truck that with regular service (and very little at that) will easily go 300K even if abused in S.America and Africa.

So... Go get that 78 and TAKE SOME PICS!!!!! I'm jealous of you for even being able to think ofbuying one.

Cheers

Dave

 

[xtfritz]

The 70 Series is, to me, the absolute BEST LC ever made from an overland standpoint. Adda rack and some good tires (they'll fit 31-33's with little to NO lift) and you're golden (maybe just add a hand winch for protection). Plus, with 0K and mostly factory everything you're looking at a truck that with regular service (and very little at that) will easily go 300K even if abused in S.America and Africa.

I agree and this is why I'd love the 78 over anything else out there.

So... Go get that 78 and TAKE SOME PICS!!!!! I'm jealous of you for even being able to think ofbuying one.

I've been thinking of a 78 ever since I bought my FJC and what began my love affair (don't tell the missus) with the 70 series after I rode in a 76 in Ghana from a small mining town called Tarkwa to the capital Accra. I had ridden as a passenger in a Ford Aerostar minivan that was beat to smithereens and honestly it was the most unpleasant 9 hrs of my life bouncing across the potholes and dodging traffic. When we did the same trip in reverse (back to Accra), the 76 was brand new, maybe a few km's on it and it was the dreamiest experience I've ever had, aside from pure functionality in all directions from inside. That to me is what drives my opinions on LC's in general with the exception of the 120/200's et al, because I feel they went Lexas when an LC should have a rubberized interior and snorkel attached.

I will post pics and what not, once this trip gets to the materialization stage. Honestly this trip idea is the only thing that keeps me coming into the office everyday......with the exception of getting to drive my FJC :bike_rider:

 

[xtfritz]

This would be my goal for a 78. This is one of the neatest trucks I've seen in a long while, not sure who's it is though.

http://www.cruiserheads.com/site/galeria/lcdelmes/2007/septiembre/septiembre2007.htm

 

[4Rescue]

This would be my goal for a 78. This is one of the neatest trucks I've seen in a long while, not sure who's it is though.

http://www.cruiserheads.com/site/galeria/lcdelmes/2007/septiembre/septiembre2007.htm

That's AWSOME. Our Troopy's weren't that decked out, but I've driven the exact same truck (except diesel) for MANY MANY Miles and they are outstanding rigs.

Cheers

Dave

 

[xtfritz]

That's AWSOME. Our Troopy's weren't that decked out, but I've driven the exact same truck (except diesel) for MANY MANY Miles and they are outstanding rigs.

Where did you drive yours? Oz?

 

[4Rescue]

Where did you drive yours? Oz?

I lived on Lochenbar Station and the Kroombit tops National Park/Jungle in S.Central QLD Australia for 8 months. I was one of their 4x4 tour guides as well as a stock hand so I had 2 Troupy's, a 105, a 70 Series Ute, an FJ$% FLatbed ute, and a YZ250 at my disposal. My general day started out wheeling out and around the 10000 acrte property (or ripping the bike) to check the fences and waters every day as well as get fire wood. I truly had the experience of a lifetime and I want to go back and live that way for the rest of my life I think.

SOme teaser pics:

I miss Australia so much...

Cheers

Dave

 

[xtfritz]

Wow :clapsmile :clapsmile :clapsmile

Why indeed would you ever come back to the US... if you got to do THAT

Cheers,
Chris