pugwash Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Having read the articles on the Darien gap crossing a number of times i have a few questions: Opinions are sought on the following: 1. Would anybody else like to do it as a trip of a lifetime? 2. How much backup would be realistically needed? is it achievable (without seriusly risking life) without manufacturer/corporate support? 3. Would a challenge truck be significantly more effective than the range rover that last did it? 4. How long would it realistically take to prepare and achieve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WALFY Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Having read the articles on the Darien gap crossing a number of times i have a few questions:Opinions are sought on the following: 1. Would anybody else like to do it as a trip of a lifetime? YES 2. How much backup would be realistically needed? is it achievable (without seriusly risking life) without manufacturer/corporate support? LOTS 3. Would a challenge truck be significantly more effective than the range rover that last did it? I expect so 4. How long would it realistically take to prepare and achieve? 12 MTHS MIN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shackleton Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I'd be well into it but how much money would one need??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeSheds Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 How much wold it cost? LOADS! I hope you do it - I did a couple of trips when I was younger and they were a fantastic experience, I would love to re-live the preparation and the event through your posts... You ARE going to post lost about it aren't you? TwoSheds (p.s. each of my trips - excluding vehicle - cost approximately a year's salary for a six month trip. Edited: per person..., first trip was 4 in a Land Rover and second was two on a bike) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 I didn't say i was going to do it, well not yet anyway i've had the itch for a while to do something significant that takes a bit of planning and hard work and the crossing of the Darien gap is something i've always wanted to achieve. I've had the usual Overland thing for a while (but that is only challenging from a time point of view). the long way round is faintly interesting but not amazingly "challenging" in a truck i wouldn't have thought. I'd love to do the Dakar rally but that will have to wait until I have some experience of speed events and when i have earnt some serious money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeSheds Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 One that always interested me was "the longest shortest journey in the world". i.e. travel from A to B by the shortest route, but choose A and B so that you maximise the distance. I reckon that would be Capetown to Punta Arenas, crossing the Bering strait. Unfortunately somebody did it a few years ago. I always fancied it in an open top car too just to make it interesting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 1. Would anybody else like to do it as a trip of a lifetime? Yes, I had been pondering along similar lines in fact for a future (distant future) expedition such as the Hannibal Trail which I think made up one of the Camel events. 2. How much backup would be realistically needed? is it achievable (without seriusly risking life) without manufacturer/corporate support? That very much depends on lots of things. 3. Would a challenge truck be significantly more effective than the range rover that last did it? More capable yes but I wouldn't fancy a UK challenge truck as an expedition vehicle. 4. How long would it realistically take to prepare and achieve? Start planning now, I'll time you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Due to Banditos and the possibility of stumbling upon the drug smuggling route, a small expedition without armed security would probably disappear without trace. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reads90 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 3. Would a challenge truck be significantly more effective than the range rover that last did it? apart form the fact that a Seris 2 lead most of the way and did most of the scouting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 apart form the fact that a Seris 2 lead most of the way and did most of the scouting I was going to say I thought they had a Series (or maybe a couple) carrying spares and things. I think they also cut the arches out to fit big tyres on the RR's and then put replacement arches on near the end for PR. Seem to recall someone (probably partnumbers) pointed out in some of the photos they have big tyres and cut arches, yet the RR parked in the museum has normal arches and tyres. Once again Series shows the way then B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest diesel_jim Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Lots of interesting stuff on google some links to 4x4 reading related to the Darien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8CAMEL Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 we have had vapour builds now we need vapour trips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reads90 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I was going to say I thought they had a Series (or maybe a couple) carrying spares and things. I think they also cut the arches out to fit big tyres on the RR's and then put replacement arches on near the end for PR. Seem to recall someone (probably partnumbers) pointed out in some of the photos they have big tyres and cut arches, yet the RR parked in the museum has normal arches and tyres.Once again Series shows the way then B) I think your right Jon Part numbers used to say that. But the funny bit was the seris was totally standard and was bought out there second hand and not taken with them , was bought as they need a scout car smaller as the rr could not get though Although a couple of seris 2 did do the trip in 1960 well beofre the rr was even thought of 1960 Darien Gap trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddballrovers Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Hi Folks Lovely idea, personally I cant go, but will like to support in anyway possible, what about if someone dug out the film that was made off the first go I would love to see it, it might also get some one cranked up for it. What about doing it in the year when the RRC is 40 years just an idea, might then be possible to get some more media coverage. The time schedule would be oki I think Regards Ole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Baldwin Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 American Jeep legend Mark A Smith lead a party of Jeep CJ's through in the seventies. There's a good account in his book 'Driven by a Dream. They did it in 33 days. Took 2-yrs of planning. "Is it achievable (without seriously risking life)" We're talking Colombia. Kidnap capital of the world. NO! Get used to jungle food because chances are, once you're in, you aint never coming out for some time. Story of one adventurer here. He was lucky, one french woman has just been released after 6 yrs as a hostage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Having read the articles on the Darien gap crossing a number of times i have a few questions:Opinions are sought on the following: 1. Would anybody else like to do it as a trip of a lifetime? 2. How much backup would be realistically needed? is it achievable (without seriusly risking life) without manufacturer/corporate support? 3. Would a challenge truck be significantly more effective than the range rover that last did it? 4. How long would it realistically take to prepare and achieve? Puggers, The Darien Gap straddles Panama and Colombia, travel advice here and here from the foreign office suggests that Colombia may not be the safest place to plan a trip to. I don't want to pee in your cornflakes just offering another facet for you to consider. HTH Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WALFY Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Mo Not offering to go as recce group ahead of Puggers then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 we have had vapour builds now we need vapour trips Hehe vapour travels........now thats going to be a crowded ship...... ...Its not just the politics, theres also 200km+ where you need amphibious qualities too....from memory even the RRC's that needed many axles also spent some considerable time on 2 large Avons, and I'm not talking about tyres .....anyway the Darien gap is incomplete without the rest of the Trans- American Highway Anyone know how the guys with the tracked/wheeled/amphibious 110 are doing on just such a trip? aaaaaaahhhhhh vapour travels.....I'm home at last cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 i would like to make this clear that this whole thread concerns a VAPOUR TRIP that is only a dream in my fragile little mind at the moment. one day it might (but probably won't) turn into something more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 The Darien Gap straddles Panama and Colombia, travel advice here and here Thanks Mo, I was about to ask where and what a Darrien Gap is. Sounds painful. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 i would like to make this clear that this whole thread concerns a VAPOUR TRIP that is only a dream in my fragile little mind at the moment. Lets see how you get on with a Europe trip first eh? After the first one you might consider refineing your camping kit... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Baldwin Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Anyone know how the guys with the tracked/wheeled/amphibious 110 are doing on just such a trip Steveb For news of Cape to Cape expedition click here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ101 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 After the first one you might consider refineing your camping kit...Chris Chris,, stop it sides are hurting !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8CAMEL Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 so what didnt puggers take to europe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 so what didnt puggers take to europe? Nothing. That was the point really. His tent (for one) weighed about 80kg, would have been more at home at a Buckingham Palace garden party and took three to errect/collapse. He also had so much stuff in his bag that he had to entirely empty it and stack it's contents around his tent each night in order to find anything. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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