GonzoTheGreat Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 I'm taking a little time off to travel, and the opportunity arose to visit Costa Rica. I know flying is the intelligent man's method for this kind of travel, but since the silver '89 was almost ship shape, I decided to make this much more epic and just drive there. I'm native to MA so from Boston to Guanacaste, with some stops in between, we're looking at approximately 6000mi. I'm not big on social media, or even picture taking, for that matter, but I thought it might be fun to post a few updates on here along the way. Here's a map that very loosely tracks the route. For those that do not know, I've been rebuilding the silver '89 since last October. The build thread is linked in my sig (and needs an update), but some highlights are, a new-to-me 2.5 engine, new floors, new suspension all around. I also added a bunch of options that it did not come with, ie power steering, courtesy lights, cruise control. As well as a few mods like bluetooth stereo, bigger alternator, REM clock, and a bedcap with standalone house battery, roof fan, and lighting. We've made it to Fayetteville, NC, and only had a couple hiccups. I had to install a power steering cooler while here, because the ebay header pipe was cooking the PS pump and it would whine really loud when it got hot. I had to swap the pulley on the alternator because the existing one came loose and chewed itself up a bit. I also got a windshield chip from a rock that kicked up outside of Trenton, but i got that filled in Virginia Beach. Otherwise, no major issues! Today we start heading west, and we'll spend most of the week in TN. If anyone has suggestions on things we should see along the route, or knows of any good (cheap) campgrounds, or even just wants to grab a beer and talk Comanches, shoot me a message! As far as getting my truck back to MA, that's a discussion for next fall/winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvthnks Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Pretty epic undertaking and sounds like the makings of an adventure. Nothing to add, but good luck and I hope to see updates when you have time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Gonna be rad!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 This is fantastic! Drive safe and I wish you luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 That’s quite a trip, I’m envious. Looking forward to updates and stay safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHMJXJ Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Well, okay! You have our attention (and huge cajones). I'll echo Fiat ... be safe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 3 hours ago, GonzoTheGreat said: I had to install a power steering cooler while here, Wait? You did this on a 2.5L? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Htchevyii Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Good luck and have fun! Our longest trip to date is just under 3000 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coheed Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Long road trips are my favorite form of vacation and travel. My longest in the Comanche was right at 3200 miles. I'm hoping to take it up the Alcan highway into Alaska one day. Central and South America would be an awesome trip as well. Good luck on your travels and most importantly have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizzaman09 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 This will be excellent. I drove 3500 miles from Los Angeles to Erie, PA in my first Comanche. Had purchased it with minimal known history other than it had been off the road for two years in CA due to emissions. Made it all the way with one small problem in Kansas with a bad PCB pumping the intake with oil. Good luck, long trips in Comanches are fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 bring spare parts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drahcir495 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 I am sooo looking forward to this journey. I would love to do something like this, but life would not let me get away. I will live vicariously through you! Safe travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I too will live vicariously through your trip, not because of life getting in the way, I just don’t have the cojones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvagedcircuit Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 You are the right kind of crazy. Hats off to you I can't wait to see whatever you post. Best of luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfg67 Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 Where in MA? I'm from Walpole. We should take the Jeeps out cruising some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The86manche Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 16 hours ago, robfg67 said: Where in MA? I'm from Walpole. We should take the Jeeps out cruising some time. I'm from lowell myself, once mine is done I'd love to join too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfg67 Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 Sounds good. Have fun & be safe out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonzoTheGreat Posted March 26 Author Share Posted March 26 Thanks All! It's been a great trip so far, visiting friends and family, and doing touristy stuff. I haven't always had service or laptop access while camping and vagabonding, but I've got a chance for an update now, so here goes. I was due for an oil change when I got to my buddy's place in Charlotte. So that worked out great. Once I got into warm weather, my coolant temp was climbing a little in traffic. I hadn't tested the electric fan set up in hot weather yet, but I had brought a couple spare sensors at different temps, just in case. I had a 200F sensor in the lower radiator hose, which I changed out for a 190F sensor in Louisiana, and that's working much better. The temp gauge sits at 210 all day now. We're currently as far as San Antonio, so I think that's roughly halfway. I got the final piece of paperwork today for driving across the border, so if I actually have my ducks in a row, we'll be in Mexico this week. Plans include: mountains, oceans, and jungles. Hoping to spend about 10-14 days there before reaching Guatemala. Some pics, because I know that's really what everyone wants: On 3/22/2024 at 8:16 AM, Pete M said: bring spare parts! Absolutely! I've got a whole pile of new, and "good used" stuff, and most of the hand tools that I own in the toolbox part of the shell. There's a noticeable lean to the driver's side but I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. On 3/15/2024 at 12:08 PM, eaglescout526 said: Wait? You did this on a 2.5L? Yeah, that might be why it doesn't work. But I started the install the day I left and, and finished it en route, so I haven't really had time to diagnose. On 3/24/2024 at 7:03 PM, robfg67 said: Where in MA? I'm from Walpole. We should take the Jeeps out cruising some time. 8 hours ago, The86manche said: I'm from lowell myself, once mine is done I'd love to join too I'm from Oxford, just south of Worcester. I won't be home for a bit, but I'm totally down to say hi when I am. Also, @The86manche I just helped my buddy bring home that blue '89 from your pal in Sterling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 what's the insurance like in those countries? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonzoTheGreat Posted March 26 Author Share Posted March 26 30 minutes ago, Pete M said: what's the insurance like in those countries? Mexico doesn’t recognize any other country’s, so I had to get a one-month policy just for them. I’m still figuring out the rest Also, here’s some pics of the more touristy side of the trip. Primarily the food-tourism the last pic is fried gator on a stick. I had to try it I couldn’t believe it actually DID taste like chicken! I know some of this is no big deal for some of you, but as a traveling mass-hole I get a kick of this stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 the whole point of traveling is experiencing new things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizzaman09 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 I always take pictures of the food when I travel new places. I appreciate your food tourism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonzoTheGreat Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 Ok, I've been super busy, but I'm past due for an update, so here goes: We crossed into Mexico at Laredo. It was super confusing where to go for immigration. I think that's how it always is there, but it was compounded by construction at the immigration office. All of our paperwork was in order though, so once we figured out where to clear in, there were no issues for us or the truck. I didn't want to hang around the border zone too much, so we headed straight for the mountains. The scenery has been pretty epic. We spent a couple days outside of Monterrey, and then I found this little Pueblo called "Real De Catorce." There was a pic of a Willy's Wagon on there on google, which may or may not have influenced my decision to visit As it turns out, in addition to being like, the peyote capital of Mexico (I did not inhale), this town is FULL of Willy's Wagon-like "Jeeps" (and one SJ and one CJ-5). And although only one local tried to buy my Comanche on the spot, I think the truck got a lot of local respect. I kid you not, there are more than 20 of these things there as part of a tour agency. I'm not sure what they actually are though. It looks like a modified full-sized Ford chassis, but I really don't know enough about Fords or Willy's Wagons to know exactly what I was looking at. My Spanish is absolutely pitiful, and the lady friend speaks fluent Spain-Spanish, but is illiterate when it comes to automotive, so communication with the locals was a challenge. If anyone else wants to visit and find out more, it's pretty easy to get to. Only several hours from any major airport, then a 15 mile drive on cobblestone, followed by a 1.5 mile single lane train tunnel-turned-roadway, which dumps you into a densely packed pedestrian shopping zone, which you are expected to drive though to find parking on the other side. Needless to say, there were not a lot of gringos in this town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonzoTheGreat Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 10/10 I would go back to Real De Catorce. It was a cool town. We also coincidently arrived on good friday, and since latin america goes all out for "Semana Santa," we got to see some religious ceremonies. From there, we kept going through the mountains. we drove through "Tequila" Mexico. We finally arrived on the west coast a couple days ago. It's nice to see the ocean again. Not nice to find a flat tire yesterday morning, but I was prepared for the occasion. Shoutout to Safety Seal by the way. I will never use one of those autoparts store plug kits again. I'm always afraid the plastic handle is going to shatter and impale my palm. The safety seal kit has solid metal t-handles, replaceable insertion forks, and plugs that don't slice in two when you insert them. I'm also really glad I bought that stanley jumper/compressor. It's nice not even having to dismount the wheel to get me back on the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Beautiful pics! Thanks for posting them, looks like you’re having a kick-@$$ time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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