Pan American Highway Planning

[IoN6]

I wouldnt do any water crossings unless you have a winch. Even with a winch, water crossings solo are sketchy in my opinion unless you are familiar with the crossing. I would add a receiver hitch front and rear, then put a winch on a reciever mount. Keep the winch stored until its needed. Communication and mapping is probably the most important as mentioned. In reach is a great item you already have.

Into the Wild was the first thing to come to mind!

 

[Corbet]

I forgot to comment on the mods, differential breathers always a good idea, no need for a snorkle.

 

[fyffer]

Just a thought, there are small critters that like wiring (filed mice, squirrels) particularly if stationary for a bit. Seen a device in engine bay @Inukshuk as a preventative measure. As it could be a potential, severe headache.

 

[timmbuck2]

@Inukshuk is that an LED type unit? Bill was talking about one of those at the last training I went to.

 

[Lee Tate]

Hey crew, I have exciting news!

My Pan Am plans have been moved up! I'm planning to take my 3rd gen Tacoma up to Alaska for the summer! This will be my first time doing an extended solo truck camping trip. The plan is to leave Denver in mid-may, head over to Chicago for my sisters wedding, and then head north! I'm planning to take a month to get up to Alaska, spend 2 months exploring Alaska and the Yukon, and then another month getting back to the states. (Puts me back in the states early October after a nice 4.5 month test run). I plan to head down to Baja for the Winter. Either in the fall or spring, I'll do a re-evaluation and see if I'm happy with the truck setup before heading down to Central and South America!

This thread is for advice on the truck build, routes, and destinations, networking/connections/people to visit, really anything pertaining to the trip! I will get starlink and work remotely.

My truck is a 2021 Tacoma TRD Off-Road (her name is Brenda).

Here's what I have on the truck so far:
-Bilstein 6112/5160
-Upgraded UCAs but I don't remember the brand
-Softopper
-Datin fab bed rack
-ikamper 3.0
-RCI full skid plates

Coming soon:
-Durobump front and rear bump stops with a U-bolt flip kit (being installed by runnin4tacos this week)
-Deaver stage 3 leaf springs (being installed by runnin4tacos this week)
-RCI rock sliders (I have these, just haven't installed cause it's been too cold and I'm still gimpy from knee surgery)
I'll upload a picture here once I get the sliders on.

I think I would like some kind of partial bed storage system with a slide out for cooking, but I'm not convinced on a full drawer system. I think I would like to be able to convert half the bed into a sleeping platform in case I needed to stealth camp or if the wind is too ferocious. I'm also planning to get a fridge, solar, battery, and roof rack.

I would like to get a roof-mounted water tank for showering, although I've heard they freeze easy. I know a diesel heater should be on the list too, although I'm hoping I won't need it yet.

Would love to hear your input!

Cheers!

ps. I already know a roof top tent is not ideal for long term camping but I'm poor and I would rather just go now than keep pushing it off until I can afford the "perfect" setup.

pps. Please no "Don't travel as a single woman" advice. I'm going

Lee72 here; you are planning to drive my bucket list trip. You may end up with a fellow club- member as a traveling partner. I'm retired. The only benefit of that is I'm flexible with the schedule you mentioned. I won't see you at the Mar 05 meeting due to a prior commitment. I'll follow your progress with the trip only if you are interested in some company. I had planned on a similar trip on my BWM Adventure bike, but my Gen2 Taco is the better choice for me.

 

[Lastresort576]

After watching overland expedition I am concerned about water crossings. Do I need to put on a snorkle and reroute the things that let water get sucked into the differentials?

I would suggest carrying a set of waders with you and walking any questionable depth water crossing. This is much more important I feel than a snorkel. You can use long branches stuck in the dirt, sticking out of the water to point out deep holes or even a shallow line through.

I used to do this water crossing a bunch without issue in a lesser vehicle. Well sometime in my absence someone sunk some telephone poles lengthwise which I got hung up on and sunk the rig. If I had walked it first my rig wouldnt have been down for 4 days, 1k miles from home.

 

[Romer]

This one ended up being hung up on a river that sometimes is dry. This wasn't a direct crossing as the truck forded the river a bit before geting hung up. The truck flooded and the electronics were all shot. It ended up being totaled.

I also know of a 200 series that sucked in water in a water crossing and hydrolocked his engine.

If you are on your own, the wadders are a good idea unless it is obvious.

As stated earlier, Diff breathers are always a great idea. The snorkel is dependednt on how deep the water is. If you get a hung up a bit and suck in water, that would be bad for the engine.

I have had snorkels on my rigs, but that is personal preference and for thee dust on the road as well as the water.

 

[PawprintsAndTacos]

Just a thought, there are small critters that like wiring (filed mice, squirrels) particularly if stationary for a bit. Seen a device in engine bay @Inukshuk as a preventative measure. As it could be a potential, severe headache.

Peppermint oil is also a rodent repellent. They also make spicy wire wraps haha. I learned this after having a squirrel chew up some wiring while leaving my vehicle unattended for a week! VERY annoying!

 

[PawprintsAndTacos]

Lee72 here; you are planning to drive my bucket list trip. You may end up with a fellow club- member as a traveling partner. I'm retired. The only benefit of that is I'm flexible with the schedule you mentioned. I won't see you at the Mar 05 meeting due to a prior commitment. I'll follow your progress with the trip only if you are interested in some company. I had planned on a similar trip on my BWM Adventure bike, but my Gen2 Taco is the better choice for me.

I would love company!

 

[PawprintsAndTacos]

I would suggest carrying a set of waders with you and walking any questionable depth water crossing. This is much more important I feel than a snorkel. You can use long branches stuck in the dirt, sticking out of the water to point out deep holes or even a shallow line through.

I used to do this water crossing a bunch without issue in a lesser vehicle. Well sometime in my absence someone sunk some telephone poles lengthwise which I got hung up on and sunk the rig. If I had walked it first my rig wouldnt have been down for 4 days, 1k miles from home.

Woah!!! That is wild!!! I will definitely do more research on water crossing safety and I'm pretty risk-adverse so if it's sketchy, I'm more likely to turn back.

 

[fyffer]

Peppermint oil is also a rodent repellent. They also make spicy wire wraps haha. I learned this after having a squirrel chew up some wiring while leaving my vehicle unattended for a week! VERY annoying!

Peppermint for storage is a good idea, but on the Trails/Road likely an attractant. Don't know enough about the spicy wire wraps. I do use Ammonia for Bear deterrent and tell myself it works, carry a spray Bottle I use on/in Trash(aroo).

 

[DaveInDenver]

Peppermint for storage is a good idea, but on the Trails/Road likely an attractant. Don't know enough about the spicy wire wraps. I do use Ammonia for Bear deterrent and tell myself it works, carry a spray Bottle I use on/in Trash(aroo).

I think everyone likes the idea of cheap effective options but my understanding is household chemicals can be pretty harmful to bears' sense of smell in large doses. Consider that a bear can smell like 1000 times better than you. And they need their sniffers to find food, each other and threats. So as a repellent on your bag it works since they'll know to steer clear from a mile away but if you actually spray them it could be long term bad for the bear, a slow death sentence.

 

[Corbet]

Personally I'm not too worried about bears. My truck and trailer are parked in bear country and never gain the attention of bears despite being loaded with food. I'm feeling like the black bears in my yard are probably more habituated than the bears I'm bound to find in the backcountry of AK. I could be wrong but thats my theory. Beyond keeping a clean camp I'll only deploy chemical/lead deterrents in self defense. While in Lake Louise it could be a different story much like Yellowstone or other National Parks.

Bridger will be in a ground tent so I've been looking at something like this as they seem to get good reviews. https://crittergittersensor.com/cri...yQCJRw-xAnLE5oJsqz5ou0wzQD6qWatkSktxEEz5OsRlM

 

[DaveInDenver]

We put those blinking LED lights on all four sides of our chicken coop. Still lost a hen, probably to a racoon since all it did was decapitate the poor girl instead of eating it. Also had the dog go nuts from a family of opossums in the back yard another night. So I'm dubious.

 

[Corbet]

We have always had motion lights in the driveway. "Maybe" that contributes to our lack of bears but I doubt it. I know they pass through, they just don't bother the vehicles unless we have one that is completely habituated. Watched one check the doorknob of the garage once. Then make his way to the front porch only to find me and my first Malamute standing there watching him. He didn't care. Raccoons, house cats, deer definitely trigger my motion light far more frequently. This summer might be fun with the new ring camera to see what passes by in the night. My yard is free of attractants other than an expo camper full of dry goods.

 

[fyffer]

I think everyone likes the idea of cheap effective options but my understanding is household chemicals can be pretty harmful to bears' sense of smell in large doses. Consider that a bear can smell like 1000 times better than you. And they need their sniffers to find food, each other and threats. So as a repellent on your bag it works since they'll know to steer clear from a mile away but if you actually spray them it could be long term bad for the bear, a slow death sentence.

Dave. I have a great respect for your comments and knowledge, I believe most do or should . I care more for Wildlife (all) than people honestly.
During Spring- late Fall I have a near daily dose with Black Bears. More of a Nuisance than a threat on my street. Only had a 1 Grizzly encounter on the Kasilof River none on the Kenai fishing for 5 years there. All in all, I’d rather deter them with some Odor than a Gun or Bear spray (same referred affects)) .

Just my and will be my Choice of preference, but you make a good point as usual.