Our Jeep Gladiator Is Heading to Africa. Ask Me Anything.

[caryt]

If I had a Million and 20 years of travel life left I couldn't see everything the US and Canada has to offer so I just don't get going some third world country. I wish you safe travels.

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[Mr Miami]

If I had a Million and 20 years of travel life left I couldn't see everything the US and Canada has to offer so I just don't get going some third world country. I wish you safe travels.

Not to be argumentative, but that's analogous to thinking that since a person likes BBQ, he travels all over the country finding the best places and then thinks he has experienced the finest culinary dishes in the world.

I understand your feelings about traveling (or not traveling) and perhaps you have had a bad experience overseas or in another country. I understand. But I find it a bit odd that you feel there is so much more to see here (North America) than other places. Personally, I have been to 49 of the 50 States and 9 of the 13 provinces/territories in Canada. I do want to see Hawaii since it is somewhat "different" from other States and Alberta, Saskatchewan, NW Territories and Nunavut (I'm not sure why) up in Canada. Honestly, yes, there are differences, but there is also so much that is the same.

Yes, people regionally speak differently. I still can't understand half of what people say in parts of Mississippi, Alabama or Louisiana. And when north of the border in Canada, I have learned to end my sentences with "Ya know?" I feel like a local!

But a trip on a different continent in a Jeep, across countries and cultures that you have never seen is fascinating to many people. There won't be a McDonalds every 10 miles along the road. No 24 hour gas or food at every exit of a highway, if there even is a highway. The people will be different, typically speaking different languages. But you get along, you make it, you make friends, and have memories that cannot be taken away from you. A person learns that we are living in a small sliver of the world around us, and there is so much more to see.

Sorry to ramble but I totally understand where the guy is coming from, wanting to explore and widen his perspective of the world. Personally, I have been to over 50 countries and always planning to see more. When we see a really good deal on airfare (or use frequent flyer points) to travel somewhere we haven't been, we are gone. Rent a 4x4 and we end up in places we may not have even knew existed a month or so previously.

We travel and spend out money how we choose. Some like to stay close to home and around things they know. But just realize others have a much wider perspective and view of the world.

 

[caryt]

I never said that... "there is so much more to see here (North America) than other places". I said " If I had a Million and 20 years of travel life left I couldn't see everything the US and Canada has to offer so I just don't get going some third world country" And comparing traveling to eating food ...really. I would love to see Europe and a few other countries but have no desire to go to a third world country.

 

[HourlessLife]

I will check out Charline's channel. So, why ship the Gladiator to Belgium rather than taking the Ferry to Spain?

Great question! Because we are going to be doing a 1 year loop around the Southern part of the continent and back to Cape Town. Our Carnet De Passage will be good for one year, and we travel very slowly. So we don't want to feel rushed, and we want to avoid some of the more concerning areas of the continent. So once we're done with our loop we'll stick the Jeep back in a box and ship it north. We will likely come back into northern Africa from Europe at some point to escape the Schengen Visa requirements of Europe but that remains to be seen.

 

[HourlessLife]

Not to be argumentative, but that's analogous to thinking that since a person likes BBQ, he travels all over the country finding the best places and then thinks he has experienced the finest culinary dishes in the world.

I understand your feelings about traveling (or not traveling) and perhaps you have had a bad experience overseas or in another country. I understand. But I find it a bit odd that you feel there is so much more to see here (North America) than other places. Personally, I have been to 49 of the 50 States and 9 of the 13 provinces/territories in Canada. I do want to see Hawaii since it is somewhat "different" from other States and Alberta, Saskatchewan, NW Territories and Nunavut (I'm not sure why) up in Canada. Honestly, yes, there are differences, but there is also so much that is the same.

Yes, people regionally speak differently. I still can't understand half of what people say in parts of Mississippi, Alabama or Louisiana. And when north of the border in Canada, I have learned to end my sentences with "Ya know?" I feel like a local!

But a trip on a different continent in a Jeep, across countries and cultures that you have never seen is fascinating to many people. There won't be a McDonalds every 10 miles along the road. No 24 hour gas or food at every exit of a highway, if there even is a highway. The people will be different, typically speaking different languages. But you get along, you make it, you make friends, and have memories that cannot be taken away from you. A person learns that we are living in a small sliver of the world around us, and there is so much more to see.

Sorry to ramble but I totally understand where the guy is coming from, wanting to explore and widen his perspective of the world. Personally, I have been to over 50 countries and always planning to see more. When we see a really good deal on airfare (or use frequent flyer points) to travel somewhere we haven't been, we are gone. Rent a 4x4 and we end up in places we may not have even knew existed a month or so previously.

We travel and spend out money how we choose. Some like to stay close to home and around things they know. But just realize others have a much wider perspective and view of the world.

I didn't see the original comment or I would have responded much in the same manner. There is much to see no matter where in the world you are. For us we had already spent 7 years traveling full-time in North America before we took off on our global journey. The USA, Canada, and Mexico are amazing places to visit. (Technically Central America is part of NA) with that said, there is much more of the world to see and we want to see it! So we did all of Latin America that we're going to do for now, and we're off on the next adventure!

 

[Lost1wing]

My coworker was in captivity twice that I know of. Once in Russia, for missing a train stop. And another time in the middle east.
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/at...tained-by-taliban/FRBPIAEGBJBENJNWZIJ6FP6QOE/

He doesn't live in fear, even after being held prisoner. Having a wife and child along for the ride, I would stick to tourist and populated areas.

Wish you the best of luck!

 

[smlobx]

Ok, so I'm asking because I have no idea about traveling the world.

Is there a shipping point from Morocco into Spain? (Almost like a big Ferry where you can drive onto the ship and sail across the Straights of Gibraltar)

OR is there a shipping point from Tunis, Tunisia to Sicilia, Italy? (same premise)

OR, drive to Egypt and then ship to Greece?

I would say why not drive through Egypt into the Middle East, but I can't see a safe route into Europe.

Thank you for doing this, answering our questions, for those of us who will never get to, or have the courage to do this.

Not speaking for Eric but we’ve taken ferries from Marsaille France to Algiers and from Tunis, Tunisia to Genoa Italy.

 

[Mr Miami]

I didn't see the original comment or I would have responded much in the same manner. There is much to see no matter where in the world you are. For us we had already spent 7 years traveling full-time in North America before we took off on our global journey. The USA, Canada, and Mexico are amazing places to visit. (Technically Central America is part of NA) with that said, there is much more of the world to see and we want to see it! So we did all of Latin America that we're going to do for now, and we're off on the next adventure!

Wow, I can only dream of doing what you have done. Question, in traveling outside the US in Latin America, were parts ever an issue. I mentioned on another thread about a recent trip last month to the Outback in Australia and the lack of Jeep dealers throughout the country, even in the large cities (Sydney, Melbourne, etc.). Toyota Hi-Lux pickups were virtually everywhere once you were out of the cities. From what I was told by people there and an OP here who lives in there said that the Toyota parts network is the best. So what about Jeeps in your travels?

 

[HourlessLife]

Wow, I can only dream of doing what you have done. Question, in traveling outside the US in Latin America, were parts ever an issue. I mentioned on another thread about a recent trip last month to the Outback in Australia and the lack of Jeep dealers throughout the country, even in the large cities (Sydney, Melbourne, etc.). Toyota Hi-Lux pickups were virtually everywhere once you were out of the cities. From what I was told by people there and an OP here who lives in there said that the Toyota parts network is the best. So what about Jeeps in your travels?

Great question and thanks for the encouragement!

By far Toyota parts and mechanics are FAR more available! With that said, DHL is your friend. DHL is used all over the world. Personally I am just more comfortable in the Jeep platform. We've not had any issues getting parts. Just takes a lot of patience and talking to the right people. The biggest piece of advice for any parts you might need internationally is do not order them yourself. Go to any mechanic who is working on imported vehicles, and order it through them. They are used to dealing with imports and customs. It saves a lot of headache and streamlines the process!

 

[Mr Miami]

Great question and thanks for the encouragement!

By far Toyota parts and mechanics are FAR more available! With that said, DHL is your friend. DHL is used all over the world. Personally I am just more comfortable in the Jeep platform. We've not had any issues getting parts. Just takes a lot of patience and talking to the right people. The biggest piece of advice for any parts you might need internationally is do not order them yourself. Go to any mechanic who is working on imported vehicles, and order it through them. They are used to dealing with imports and customs. It saves a lot of headache and streamlines the process!

Great point for anyone traveling! Importing and customs can be bear and the red tape can result in much lost time. My wife (originally a US Customs Broker) can tell stories about delays in parts that can take days or even weeks; and most of what she was involved in was just between the US and other advanced countries in Europe and Asia. Under the present monarchy, it has only gotten worse, much worse.

Anyway, best of luck and I'm sure some here who travel off the beaten path will take your advise on international shipping companies.

 

[ALT2870]

Rear lockers. Our JT is the Sport S with the Max Tow package. We chose this platform because it has the highest payload capacity you can get in a JT. But it doesn't come standard with lockers. I'd thought about it when we were building DAUNTLESS but figured we'd be fine without them so I didn't pull the trigger. In hindsight I wish I'd had them once in Nicaragua, once in Costa Rica, and once in Colombia. So three times is enough to make me reconsider my life choices. I might add rear lockers in Cape Town before we start our trek.

If you have the max tow package then you have a rear LSD which is typically more useful then a locker. I'd recommend adding a locker to the front if anything, that's what I'm doing this Spring.

 

[Blade1668]

I appreciate the well-wishes.

In all fairness to your comment about safety, there are a lot of places in the United States that I would not recommend anyone go let alone with a spouse and a kid. lol.

Obviously I keep my eyes on as much as I can my friend. I do my due diligence and make the best decisions that I can for my family. With that said, we are only planning to do a massive loop around the southern part of the continent in fairly well traveled and touristed areas.

But beyond that, there is something fundamental here that I'd like to address. We can't live in fear and do what we do. If we did, we'd never go anywhere.

If you had any idea of the amount of messages, emails, phone calls, smoke signals, and the number of times I was contacted or even blasted for taking my wife and son to Latin America, you'd be in shock.

But we ignored the fearmongers (not saying you are one, please don't misread this) and we made the journey of a lifetime. And it was amazing.

Ultimately there are those who will do these types of journeys and those who won't. There are people all over the world overlanding. We're in touch with many of them. I think most folks who express concern or even blast me for it don't really understand how or what we do. I'm not intentionally driving into war torn or high risk areas. Risky areas? Yes. But high risk areas not typically.

I mean I did drive through Chicago once... that was pretty sketch.

But seriously, appreciate the well-wishes and the concern. I'm sure it comes from a good place!

Chicago and Detroit I'm more concerned about than Baghdad Iraq. I'd drive around most of the middle east with less concern.
Safe travels.

 

[Gvsukids]

If you have the max tow package then you have a rear LSD which is typically more useful then a locker. I'd recommend adding a locker to the front if anything, that's what I'm doing this Spring.

Max Tow didn't always come with the rear LSD. It was an option early on if the parts were available.

 

[guntrust]

There re a lot of guys that have navigated Overlanding in Africa (including me). As with any place in the world there are places to go and places to avoid. The key is doing your homework and from their past travels it certainly seems that they know how to do that. There is also another guy that occasionally posts here, Dan Grec, who has driven his jeep around Africa on a 999 day adventure.

The one thing that you definitely DO NOT WANT TO DO is carry any weapons with you. In many parts of the world guns are not allowed to be owned by civilians (although some do illegally) but considering that you already stand out the last thing you want to do is to take any unnecessary risks.

As an example, on our last trip to Africa where we traversed the Sahara desert in Algeria and Tunisia we spent 8 hours going through customs in Algiers . That was no joke and we encountered a total of 6 checkpoints leaving the Capitol. It got better as we moved into the more remote areas but we would have never gotten there if we had any weapons..

You are the weapon. Your pistol is just a tool.

 

[Mr Miami]

You are the weapon. Your pistol is just a tool.

That what I tell my wife when she gives me that look !!!!

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