A trip to Argentina

juanb · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:49 am Post subject: A trip to Argentina

I love my Westy so much that I want to be inside it all the time Smile

So today I talked with my manager at The Best Job in the World about taking a one year leave of absence. Come mid June or so (once we pack our apartment, sell the car and scooter, etc) we are leaving on a road trip. My girlfriend, I, and a canine crew member who will be adopted/rescued soon.

We will first head to Chicago from San Francisco, to go to my girlfriend's home town and participate in some family events. Then we'll slowly come back to California, to be here in August or so, for a conference in LA and some more family events on this side of the country.

After that, in early September, we head south. With no particular itinerary or time constraint, we will hopefully make it to Argentina some time in 2013.

The van is my 1989 Westy, an automatic with ~152K on the body and transmission and ~20K on a GoWesty 2.2. I've been to Baja twice in it and it did great. I've spent the last couple of years replacing things here and there: new wheels and tires, new exhaust system, new radiator, a transmission cooler to replace the stock one, fuel lines of course, etc etc. It's now at the shop getting new shocks and springs. As soon as it comes back I'm installing a Yandina, aux battery and some hardware to keep laptop, phones and cameras charged (going all 12V for efficiency.) The Dometic works but its days might be counted, as I don't mind buying ice and have plans for that storage space. Oh, and I need to install that nice Les Ateliers PK tent I bought last year...

We'll use the trip to the midwest and back as a test for the trip down the Americas. Feels easier that way, to put in a few thousand miles on the road in the good ol' US of A, AAA card in hand and Vanagon Rescue Squad list in the glove compartment. Giving a chance for things to break now before we go into the scary Spanish speaking world down there Smile

This thread will serve as a way to update the forum on our trip. So far I've met some awesome people through The Samba, it would be great to meet some more of you along the way!

Advice on places to visit / offers to park in your backyard / bets on how much longer that transmission will last are all welcome!

This is us during Burning Van 2011. The Westy is the white one behind us. He now has headlights from an 85 and GoWesty bumpers though.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Edit to add the address of the blog:

http://www.jbuhler.com/trip
_________________
1989 Westy AT, 2.2 GoWesty.
We drove it to Argentina: http://www.vanenvan.com

stclair411 · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:54 am Post subject:

Nice! we might cross paths.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westy "June"

Racerrojo · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:58 am Post subject:

check this site
www.vwviaje.com
Jeremy could be helpful
happy trails
_________________
Tight is tight... too tight is expensive!!!!

Too many vans and mostly all projects Smile

Syncronicity · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:53 am Post subject:

Awesome. Looking forward to updates.
_________________
Tom, Juanita, Iggy & Abbey the Dirty Desert Dogs
2.1 L 87 Syncro
KD0ALU
________oo_oo
/ /__/___[_____\
I I======[]IIIII[]
()_)------()_)----)_)

Escorial Syncro · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:04 am Post subject:

Sounds like a great adventure.

I noticed you mentioned a possible dog passenger. Were you thinking the Dog would come south of the border with you? I haven't researched it, but it seems like taking pets across borders would be at least a hassle and likely impossible in some instances.

I would love to take my dog if I ever went, so let us know if you have info on the issue. Thanks!
_________________
Joel Lane
1985 Vanagon converted to syncro, ALH TDI w/GTB2056 turbo, Reimo clone top with Westy interior
2002 Toyota Tundra 4x4

dubbified · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:22 am Post subject:

Way to go!

We just gave our 60 day notice and intend to embark in the last week of May for a cross country trip in the van, full time living.. Same thing, No condo, no strings back at home (Seattle).. Who knows we may transplant somewhere...

Is that 152 on the original auto?

We knew we were taking ours on a long trip and proactively rebuilt drivetrain and primary systems at 128K..

I'm curious to see more about your livability items as you will be spending alot of time in it. Like water, food, dishes, how you're using storage, etc.

The van seems to be a great platform. Seems like you've done a ton of work so far.

Sounds like a great time to be had for sure!

Watching this thread!

juanb · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:54 am Post subject:

stclair411 - PM sent

Racerrojo - Awesome, thanks! I've been following/reading blogs of people who have done or are doing similar trips. The bodeswell guys are an inspiration, as are many others. Can't wait to join that club Smile

Escorial Syncro: I'm very conscious about what it takes to have a dog. I know of at least one couple who travelled to South America in a Westy with a dog, without a lot of extra hassle at the borders. Still, the TBD doggie would be a full member of the crew, certainly with a voice and even with a vote in our decisions Smile

By this I mean that I'm not the kind of guy who would get rid of a dog in order to cross a border. This would be my third dog BTW.

dubbified: Nice, good for you! You should get a thread going for your trip. Yes, the original auto transmission has 152K. I have gotten the transmission serviced, with gaskets changed and such, and was told that the fluid came out really clean and that everything looks great. So, fingers crossed.

As for mods and livability items, there are some but not many. Once I have the trip blog up and running there will be documentation there. I still have some time, it even looks like I'll spend a few weeks working in Vancouver as a last stint for this year with my company.
_________________
1989 Westy AT, 2.2 GoWesty.
We drove it to Argentina: http://www.vanenvan.com

j_dirge · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:58 am Post subject:

I think we may have to have a little send off for you Juan.

Maybe another GTG.

Stoked that the Best-Job-in-the-World is working with you to make this trip happen.
We'll be in touch to resolve some of your van stuff before departure.

Cheers and Congratulations!
<dripping with envy>
jim
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

MarkWard · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:01 am Post subject:

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought that it was not possible to drive all the way to the bottom of South America from the US. That at some point, you would need to ship the van south after the Panama Canal. Details please. Sounds like an awsome trip.

Gauche1968 · Samba Member Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1554

juanb · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:34 am Post subject:

rsxsr, Gauche1968 - you are correct. The Darrien Gap, south of Panama City is not passable by land. People usually ship their vehicles to Colombia or Ecuador. The best is to join efforts with someone else, since a standard container fits two vehicles.

As I usually say--we'll burn that bridge when we get there Very Happy

Jim - that would be just awesome! I'm off to Vancouver for work in a few weeks, for five weeks or so. But after that, it will all be Westy prep, 24/7 until we leave. So maybe we should meet, say in Ocean Beach some time in June!
_________________
1989 Westy AT, 2.2 GoWesty.
We drove it to Argentina: http://www.vanenvan.com

MarkWard · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:52 am Post subject:

Thanks for the clarification. Still sounds like an awsome trip.

Farf · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject:

It is definitely a trip worth doing. The sense of freedom is incredible. Having done this "same" trip to South America with wife, dog and Syncro I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about van/dog logistics and borders.

PM me if you have questions.

Mike

juanb · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:51 pm Post subject:

Mike - Thanks! I followed your South Westy Travels blog as it was happening. It was one of my inspirations, and I was just rereading some posts this morning!

I'll PM you if I have specific questions. I'm happy to see you still have that Syncro!
_________________
1989 Westy AT, 2.2 GoWesty.
We drove it to Argentina: http://www.vanenvan.com

mfriquel · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:01 pm Post subject:

Let me know when you come through Lima , I am in Peru and we have a westfalia & bus club down here , so we can have a beer or a few...

http://westfaliasykombisperu.com/

shadetreetim · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:11 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a fun plan. Will be watching as well.
_________________
Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!

'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

chimivee · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:32 pm Post subject:

Awesome. I follow several overland travelers on their blogs and I'm envious of them all. I just gotta figure out how to lose my job so I can do the same Smile

. BTW, we're a couple minutes off the 5 fwy in Orange County if you need a pit stop on your way south.
_________________
-James
86 Syncro Westy, etc

garypeebles

My wife and I did the trip 2009-2011, then kept our van down there and returned in 2011 for an additional 4 months. We met all kind of great people, had a wonderful time. Met some great mechanics along the way. Go to our travel log on www.mytripjournal.com. Then click onto find in the upper right corner; our Names; Peebles. You will then be taken to our site. photos, etc. and a map of where we went.
We live in Seal beach and would be happy to meet with you for any discussion about anything you might have on your mind. We will be in town the later part of August.
We put over 40,000 miles on the 88 westy, Paco. Paco now has 225,000 miles on it. I put a new engine, tranny, springs, before we left. We lost 6 cv boots, went through 6 tires, 4 new cv joints, and blew the A/T in chile. All mechanical events lead us to great times. What an adventure.
You may have fun with your dog at each boarder. Our friends went with us and drove a Mercedes suv, they brought both a dog and a cat. Mostly they just spent extra time at the boarders getting various permissions.
Have fun and DOOOO IT!!
Gary Peebles

garryv84 · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 3:28 pm Post subject:

I am planning to travel the Panamerican Highway too. From tip to tip. How did you go through 6 cv boots, 6 tires, 4 new cv joints, and A/T in chile? It's only 40,000 miles of travel. Is climbing 10-15,000 feet peeks too much for a vanagon?

madspaniard · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 3:51 pm Post subject:


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A trip to Argentina
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