Monthly Archives: May 2022

travel

Shipping vehicles from Houston to Buenas Aires, July 2022

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These are the two trucks we plan to take to South America to do our overlanding travels from Argentina back home to Montana, USA. First, the trucks make the ocean trip from Houston to Argentina. Mike has been emailing with Javier at Horizon Auto Shipping Inc. This shipper has been very responsive. We prefer to ship in a 40 foot container rather than do a roll on/roll off (RORO).

Because our vehicles are measuring right up against the 38.50 foot limit, we took the large straight-edge out and measured the trucks very carefully this morning without the license plate brackets (this is about all we can take off, taking bumpers off doesn’t get us anywhere). I am getting 20.89’ for the Dodge Ram and 17.56’ for the Chevy Colorado, which gets me to 38.45’ (!!!). We checked the math three times, I think we are very close.

Javier’s response: “Both vehicles come to 38.45’. I am confident it will fit in a container. It will be a tight fit but workable. I checked the schedule and don’t see vessel sailings in July, might be too soon”.

So, now we wait to book a vessel that declares its schedule in July from Houston to Buenas Aires. These details have been a long time coming and a lot of noodling. Each of Javier’s emails is postscripted: Please note sailing dates and transit time might be affected due to continuing shortage of equipment, vessel space and schedule changes.

More to come….

travel

Get your Inter-American Driver’s License at AAA

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  • Bring your valid driver’s license
  • Bring 2 passport photos or get them taken at AAA: $9 if AAA member.
  • Specify the countries you plan to drive in as there is the International Driver’s license and there is the Inter-American Driver’s license. You want the right one.
  • Fill out the form
  • Pay $20/license
  • Very complete summary: https://blog.autoslash.com/is-an-international-driving-permit-idp-necessary/amp/
overland, travel

Bat awning install on AT Overland camper

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We picked up the Bat model awning for our AT camper. Ralston at @openskyoverland in Bozeman, MT arranged purchase and installation. We have named our Chevy Colorado Piji (bat) affectionately because of this bat awning set up.

Ralston installed the awning to the brackets within 15 minutes and demonstrated how he likes to set it up in non-wind and light wind situations. He did remove a bolt on the passenger side of the camper to mount a climbing bolt which is used to apply tension to the awning.

The Bat awning is mounted to brackets designed to twist free rather than damage the camper if sudden wind.

The awning swings open to cover the passenger side camper window and back of the camper in shade. The driver side of the camper does not have a window. The heater is mounted on that side as well.

Here is a demo video showing Raltson's set up of the Bat awning.
Ralston demonstrating bat awning

@Openskyoverland has treated us right from start to finish which included locating a new to us AT unit, installation, heater installation, advice about solar hook up. We were very grateful to find Ralston because the camper market is tight and prices are rising (2022). We feel we got a very fair deal and we’re treated like family.