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garryv84
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2010
Posts: 276
Location: Los Angeles
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 Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:31 pm Post subject: Driving a Vanagon on the Panamerican Highway |
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| Thinking of doing this later in life. The bucket list. Has anyone done this? I have started researching. Would leave from Los Angeles to the tip of South America and ship back. Looking for tricks and tips that I can't find anywhere else. Please share, thanks! |
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Rhinoculips
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2005
Posts: 918
Location: Keystone, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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Haven't done it in a vanagon, but I did do it on a motorcycle. It was an amazing trip! A plan has been hatched to do it again, but in my Westy instead. You may check out www.horizonsunlimited.com. It's more aimed towards the adventure motorcyclist, but does have a 4 wheel vehicle section. Has a lot of tips on shipping around the Darien Gap, places to go, road conditions, places to stay, etc.
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“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” - Edward Abbey
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Thor-bob 
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2011
Posts: 36
Location: The OC
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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Is that front tire on backward?
Seems to channel water to the center of the tread........
Meh.
Thor |
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svenakela
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2006
Posts: 776
Location: Ekerö
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| Thor-bob wrote: |
Is that front tire on backward?
Seems to channel water to the center of the tread........
Meh.
Thor |
Nope, it's correct. Very common pattern for MC's, front tire looks to be mounted backwards. The backwards pattern causes less rubber wear and believe or not - better water evacuation.
That looks like an awesome trip (to et back to topic). Just do it!!! |
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stclair411
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2009
Posts: 222
Location: working on it
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5276
Location: denver
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:13 am Post subject: |
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There was a Vanagon caravan to Tierra del Fuego several years back. The dispatches on vanagon.com are a good read:
http://www.vanagon.com/journeys/caravana/index.htm
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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CalgaryMcLean
Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2007
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:27 am Post subject: |
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Our family completed this a couple years ago. Me, my wife, 11-year old daugher, 9-year old son, and 1-year old hound dog all together in our Westy for one year: http://mungoeatsla.ca/2009/06/01/
No special suggestions: just go for it, be flexible and enjoy it! |
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carterzest
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3840
Location: Star, ID
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Farf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2009
Posts: 463
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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Finished our trip to Tierra del Fuego and back this past June. Check out these sites:
http://expeditionportal.com/
http://bodeswell.com/
http://www.drivetheamericas.com/
http://sintopes.blogspot.com/
Bodeswell and Sin Topes are in transit as I type. Brian and Sheena have posted on the Samba: www.http://drivenachodrive and will begin their trip in a couple of weeks. Check out their westy, the modifications are impressive! Drive the Americas and Expedition Portal have great forums for you to browse and contact people with your questions. Allow at least 1.5 years to complete this trip.
I would reconsider your plan to ship your van back from Tierra del Fuego, it will be really expensive. The quotes I got to ship from Buenas Aires (much further north) were about $4500.00 not including airfare to Miami. We decided to drive back to Columbia and ship from Cartagena to Miami, it was $1800.00 total including airfare and allowed us to spend more time traveling. Don't wait too long to begin your trip!!
Mike |
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Racerrojo
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2006
Posts: 827
Location: ALBUQUERQUE 87120
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| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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You have got to check this guys travels at www.vwviaje.com
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Tight is tight... too tight is expensive!!!!
Too many vans and mostly all projects  |
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ranchero
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2006
Posts: 360
Location: Salida, CO
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:12 am Post subject: |
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Good blog of some friends in a Westy to South America..... http://southwestytravels.blogspot.com/
_________________
'90 Westy Syncro EJ25 (money pit #1)
'96 FZJ80 (cheap by comparison^^)
'13 Golf R. Daily driver. |
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joseph928
Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2011
Posts: 2114
Location: flagstaff az.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:57 pm Post subject: trip to SA |
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 Ha you guys, there is a trip leaving today from Flagstaff AZ. It's on samba keep track of it. Going all the way to the tip of SA then off to Europe the rest of the world, 3 years baby! Keep track of them go nacho go.  and best of all it's is in a westy!
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1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug. |
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svenakela
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2006
Posts: 776
Location: Ekerö
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: trip to SA |
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| joseph928 wrote: |
| Ha you guys, there is a trip leaving today from Flagstaff AZ. It's on samba keep track of it. Going all the way to the tip of SA then off to Europe the rest of the world, 3 years baby! Keep track of them go nacho go. and best of all it's is in a westy! |
http://www.drivenachodrive.com/
Most people doesn't have the ability though. LA to south Chile is a bloody long trip anyway... |
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spitsnrovers
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2005
Posts: 946
Location: Calgary, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Don't have a lot to offer except the following:
There is a VW club here in Costa Rica. Seem like quite an active group. I've been in email contact, but not met in person.
http://camperscombisccr.blogspot.com/
As well, I live in San Ramón, Costa Rica half of the year but have never thought of driving my own Westfalia down here - for several reason.
But, if any of you want to get in contact with me, need a place to park (my yard), come help pick my coffee (Nov-Feb), and help drink my beer (nice and cold), or swim in our pool and sleep in a real bed  you are welcome. We have a 4 guest B&B for family and friends - and that includes Sambanistas.
Just contact me via the samba.
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500 |
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dangerbus
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2010
Posts: 239
Location: portland, OR/vancouver, BC
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