Pan American Highway Tundra thread

I am starting this thread to both document, and ask questions, for my Tundra build.

I bought my 2016 Limited about a year ago. It has roughly 30K, and I am slowly building it to take my wife and I to Ushuaia. Shooting for 2023 or 2024. It will be a slow build, but that will give us plenty of time to save and get the truck like we need.

Here are the plans

OVRLND Camper (July-ish 2021)
Heater
Pressurized water system
Solar with battery system
Inverter
Lift with additional payload capacity (thinking Ironman)
Tires (thinking 285/75r18 cooper ST Maxx)

 

Question for you guys, anyone ever tapped into the fuel line/tank for a gasoline heater?

 

Wow! Had to google Ushuaia - that is one hell of a road trip. You should start a build page and then a travel page once you hit the road.

 

I haven't but I would think gasoline would be an inefficient use of fuel for heating - gas vs liquid fuel. Is refilling propane tanks south of the border an issue? Can use propane for heating (Heater Buddy), cooking, and lighting as well.

 

Ha, yes, I have been planning this trip for quite some time. I have bene through a lot of vehicles to get to the one I actually plan to build as well (2016 Taco DCSB, 2017 4runner TRDOR, 2017, Taco DCLB, now the Tundra). I am very please with the Tundra, so am moving forward on the full build.

Your right, I should do a separate build page and trip report. One problem is that we plan to take 6+ months for the trip, and I do not plan on updating a trip report frequently during that time.

 

Yes, it seems that every country has their own standard for propane fittings and filling. Very common here and in MX, but gets much more challenging one you get into Central and South America. To reduce stops and hassle, I think it is best to go with a gasoline stove and heater. I obviously cannot go anywhere without gasoline, so stopping to fuel up is not an options, and it is WAY more energy dense that propane.

 

I'd add a compressor to your list so that you can carry a full size, deflated, spare underneath. I think that 33.5" or 34" is the max that will fit and the 285/75-18 is almost 35" in diameter.

 

So, I'm trying to see if a 275/75 R18 Duratrac spare will fit underneath, without actually buying and mounting a spare or removing one of my wheels (I'm lazy...) and was measuring the tires this weekend and they are only 33.5". They'd probably come up to 34" without weight on them. I was always told they were 35". Maybe the 9" wheel makes a difference? Maybe I'll be less lazy next weekend. I DO know there is some cutting and bending of brackets to be done.

 

Good to know. From reading some of the other threads I figured I would have to cut and bend a bit. It also seems that the leaf spring shackles can be an issue, but if you remove the guide brackets you can push the tire forward as you are raising it. I'll be curious to see if you successfully get it positioned up there.

 

Gasoline makes sense from a logistical standpoint but taping into a modern gas tank with that's sealed for emissions compliance may be more trouble than it's worth. Are you opposed to just carrying a siphon and refilling the heater as needed?

 

Yeah... Me too! I was really quite surprised how much smaller than 35" these tire actually measured out at...

 

It does seem like it could complicate a system that you really don’t want to mess with. After doing more research I am leaning towards a diesel heater with a small self contained tank. Adds a bit of a hassle when trying to fuel up with two different fuels, but should not be hard to find. Plus it presents much less of a safety hazard then gasoline if there is a leak or spill.

 

Cant wait to see the OVRLND camper on a Tundra, what options are you going to go with?

 

Keep everything bulletproof Toyota. I call it stock +. I love my Dobinsons suspension.

 

Think I am doing the barn doors, window on one side. Couple addition inches of height for extra bedding as well. I am going to do a full buildout with heat, pressurized water, electrical etc. but that will take me some time to figure out exactly how I want to set it up for the trip.

 

That’s the idea. Minor upgrades to suspension, and a bit of minor electrical, but I will try to keep it as stock as possible. Toyota engineers are way smarter than me.

 

My x2 power battery is a nice luxury too.

 

Heads up. Hopefully you didn't get it from Batteries Plus. We have at least two premature X2 fails reported here and B Plus wouldn't honor the warranty.

 

Yup... hopefully it’s a good one. So far it’ll run my fridge and camper “forever” they’re only sold at batteries plus as far as I know a rebranded northstar.

 

The stock battery in my truck is starting to die now. Good to have a recommendation for a quality replacement.

 

Northstars are going to be my next choice

 

Once my OEM battery kicks the bucket I will be going with Northstars as well, I hear nothing but great things about them

 

when I was backpacking in some remote countries a long time ago (lol), I had a fuel stove because you couldn't find propane tanks in those countries.
It was smelling gas each time I would primer/fire the cooking stove and cook my breakfast...lol...but it did work.

 

Had my battery tested over the weekend and it failed, so went ahead and pulled the trigger on this same X2. From what I could find, it seems they are just Northstar's that are rebranded by Batteries plus. 60 month warranty is hard to argue with.

Strange thing, after I connected the new battery, the truck started great, then immediately shut off after about two seconds. Started it again, and it was fine. I decided to disconnect the terminals and clean them. Once I did that, I started it again, 2 seconds, shutdown. Second time, it started and ran just fine. It has not happened again since then, but I thought that was strange.

 

That is strange. I’m no expert there for sure but sounds weird.
I noticed that it turned over slightly differently when I first got it. Don’t notice anything anymore. Probably used to it?

 

I've got a 35x12.5x20 , under my bed , about 1/2 inch on each side of leaf and shackle. No problem.

 

My truck does that every time I disconnect the battery. Dies immediately on the first start.

 

If you're going to Ushuaia pack a fly rod. The sea run brown trout it tierra del fuego are legendary. It's a fly fishing bucket list trip for me. Good luck with the build and keep us updated it sounds awesome.

 

Same

 

Slowly starting to come together. Next major upgrade was an OVRLND camper. Went down to Flagstaff last week to pick it up, then spent three nights camping in the area.