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Driving to Costa Rica

U

ubercurtisb

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Chandler, AZ
Next summer, I am going to be driving to Costa Rica from Phoenix AZ. My 2001 XJ will have approximately 100K miles on it, with a 3" Old Man Emu lift on 245's.

Driving through Mexico is going to be the biggest part of our trip, and I really don't want to be stranded there. What are the best precautions to take, maintenance and extra parts-wise? What are the usual failures I should be prepared to deal with?
 
extra fuses, relays, basic hand tools that will allow tightening of hose clamps, belt replacement ect. Just go over the jeep good before you go and don't do any 'serious' repairs to it w/o a week or two of shake down before you go. I'd make sure all your hoses are in good shape. feel them ALL over and check for soft spots, abrasion cracking ect. check your belt condition and tention. make sure all fluids are topped up. Bring a tire plug kit and small compressor. You have to check where you are going but make sure that the fuel you will be buying won't have lead in it. If it does you will kill you're o2 sensors and cat off quick.
 
Roof mounted M2 browning or M60. Serious, thats a dangerous drive. I'd probably hire an armed escort service or offer to one of the mexican cartels to transport their drug money south. Then NOBODY would bother you, police included :D :D :D :D
 
Personally, I would leave the 2001 home.

Buy yourself the crappiest looking 84-85, dress it up like a Tijuana Taxi, and head south in full stealth mode.

I kid you not.
 
The police are a little crooked and you have to be cautious of petty theft if you leave your vehicle alone, but other than that, I don't know where everybody gets the whole "bring an arsenal for protection" thing. I've done the drive 3 times before with newer, nicer vehicles and only been out $120 worth of bribe money and 4 packs of cigarettes. All you have to do is not drive at night (not necessarily because of 'banditos', but you just don't want to hit a horse), and respect the locals and act like you're a guest because, well, you are. People who have problems in Mexico are the people who go down there thinking the law doesn't apply anymore. I'll tell you now that Mexicans are welcoming, nice people.

I'm just asking what parts are prone to failure in the XJ so that I can address them if I need to.
 
Should be a fun trip. As rec'd, bring a tire patch kit, compressor, inverter, cps, belt, water(drinking and cooling), oil and filter.
I was gonna drive down there a few years ago, but the tica didn't give me the green light. . .:dunno:
 
Actually, taking a firearm into Mexico without permission is a major bad thing, worse if it is chambered in a "restricted" caliber, i.e., those calibers reserved for military/police use.

As I'm sure you have planned your route already, have you done a search for Jeep dealers along the route? No sense hauling too many parts along that you can probably purchase cheaper along the way.

I would for sure take a CKP and the requisite tools to change it and do other routine tasks.

If you don't know the last time all of the hoses and the serpentine belt were changed, change them now.

Have the cooling system pressure tested, then flushed, and a new rad cap.

Lubricate everything.

Take a camera, and post some pictures when you get there.
 
Take an extra fuel filter. Maybe some alchohol to take water out of the tank.
 
Friends of mine attempted to drive from Texas to Costa Rica last year.
They had a good time until crossing into Nicaragua.
They were so badly harassed by the authorities that they decided to turned
around and came home before they got thrown in jail or worse.
'Yankee go home' type of stuff.
.
 
Yep,
Fliuds, extra gas, hoses, clamps, tools, spare parts, regular off road gear (hi-lift, shovel, axe)

Border crossings = $500 USD
Buying weed = $500 USD
NOT buying weed = $500 USD
Going to Moab instead = priceless:angel:

Guns just attract bigger guns:explosion, I'd go with machetes (and you'd have that axe)

:wantyou:Get a Canadian, Mexican, Nicaragun and Costa Rican flag. :patriot:

...and of course a NAXJA sticker!!!!

Via con Dios, amigo.
 
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