Taking a SMB on a round the world trip - is it a good idea?

[BajaSportsmobile]

Originally Posted by 4MacFam

How safe do you feel in a "tricked out" van in Mexico? I ask this because my wife keeps talking about driving into South America and I'd like to also, but...I keep thinking that some drug lord type is gonna say "I want that" and then take it. Our vans bring a lot of attention and I'm thinking that some of it could be bad for us.

On the other hand, attention is good - everybody sees you and knows where you have been; and will know where the van went, if you are not in it. As a percentage, there are more good and honest people than bad, in Mexico than any major city here.

[Ocsmb]

Originally Posted by 4MacFam

How safe do you feel in a "tricked out" van in Mexico? I ask this because my wife keeps talking about driving into South America and I'd like to also, but...I keep thinking that some drug lord type is gonna say "I want that" and then take it. Our vans bring a lot of attention and I'm thinking that some of it could be bad for us.

I thought the same but then that worry subsided quickly when I realized no part of my van has gold plating.

[buckkiller]

Originally Posted by 4MacFam

How safe do you feel in a "tricked out" van in Mexico? I ask this because my wife keeps talking about driving into South America and I'd like to also, but...I keep thinking that some drug lord type is gonna say "I want that" and then take it. Our vans bring a lot of attention and I'm thinking that some of it could be bad for us.

I'll put it this way....I'm Hispanic and have family who own ranches down south "NONE OF US WILL GO DOWN SOUTH PERIOD". Why put your families life at risk? Cause what they would do to your wives or daughters....
So if we wouldn't go down south why would you?
Buck

[schluchtenflitzer]

Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile

On the other hand, attention is good - everybody sees you and knows where you have been; and will know where the van went, if you are not in it. As a percentage, there are more good and honest people than bad, in Mexico than any major city here.

I completely agree. I was in Mexico with my motobike and sleept most of the time in a small tent. All people i meet where very friendly and helpful. Sometimes they also where afraid when i told them where i want to go but i never had a feeling of fear at this trip. Of course sometimes if you feel/think/know you are in a areas seems to be criminal activities you should not to be nosey and not stay to long.
I loved the trip and would do it again and again

[buckkiller]

Don't know where you have been...I was in Mcallen TX and all the gun shots and explosions across the border made me feel like I had been dropped back into the sand box!! I have family who had vehicles taken from them by gun point!! What's to stop them from taking your 100k SMB, not the corrupted federales, they are committing acts (that could be viewed as genocide) over there what you read about or see on TV is only a fraction of what's really going on. Go ahead keep going I wish you the best of luck.

"This Redneck Mexican is staying here!!"

Buck

[stanw909]

My Mexican born wife wont have anything to do with RVing in Mex. Her family owns property there in central Mex but worry about kidnapping. I have heard os 45,000 deaths due to drug violence but often overlooked is anothere 35,000 who just vanished. Probably less apt to happen to gringos though. Take a tour package and go see the pyramids. They are amazing. Going alone. I don 't know. Mexico is a dangerous place for now. Hope it changes soon.

[BajaSportsmobile]

Mainland Mexico and Baja are completely different situations.

[stanw909]

Baja is safer. My wifes family place is near Ciudad Hidalgo in Michoacan. There mayor was kidnapped and murder by a local cartel. They grow pot up there in the mountains. This are is where the Monarch butterflies winter in pine forests. Once you get away from the border areas of Baja you 're safe but the interior is different.

[LenS]

This book is a very good read on a world tripping van requirements - you must order from UK:
http://www.travelvans.co.uk/index.htm

Trips people are on:
http://www.xor.org.uk/campervan/index.html

http://www.vwvagabonds.com/index.html

http://www.expeditionoverland.com/index.htm

http://www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/index.html
http://www.xor.org.uk/unimog/mymog.htm (see index at bottom of page)
A quote from sikroute:
"However for more more realistic overland journeys the manufacturer I would recommend is Mercedes-Benz. This is not only my personal prejudice. During the last five years I have completed four significant overland journeys, three of them travelling with other overlanders. On China 2002 three of the five vehicles were based on a Mercedes-Benz. chassis. On Siberia and Mongolia 2004 the figure was four out of six, on Central and South America 2006 the figure was five out of five. About 50% of the overland vehicles we met at Ushuaia (where many overlanders meet up at Christmas) were based on a Mercedes-Benz. chassis."

Personally I will NOT travel to Mexico. Our son-in-laws family is from there and he has many relatives that still live there. It is not a happy country at the present. I would not go there on business let alone take my wife and children there.

Plan well and have happy travels.