Trip thread - SxS Canada to MX

[paradise]

Well, the time is here, we start our ride on Friday this week. Chase trucks are headed up Wednesday and we all fly up Thursday night.

Ride is 2200 miles from the border just North of Bonners Ferry to Algadones. 10 days is the plan, hitting Clark Fork, Pierce, McCall, Mountain Home, Elko, Austin, Tonopah and finally Primm for our overnight stops.

Got most everything loaded up today. We are swinging by our prep shop tomorrow (Conery Motorsports) to borrow some parts after their Baja 400 race. Ryan and his crew have been a huge help getting cars ready and parts prepped.

5 of the 6 cars loaded up. 6th car is getting trailered up separate.

Everyone is pretty jazzed for the trip. Should be pretty epic. Here is a SS of the path, mostly straight, some serious deviations required for all the fires in ID right now but some rain this past week has really stopped the spread

 

[monkeyswrench]

That does indeed look like an epic journey, in anything, let alone a SxS! Post lots of pics when you can, hitting some serious old west areas too. Be safe

Oh, love the trailers too!

 

[paradise]

That does indeed look like an epic journey, in anything, let alone a SxS! Post lots of pics when you can, hitting some serious old west areas too. Be safe

Oh, love the trailers too!

Thanks! Definitely going to try and post up pictures. We’ve tasked one of the passengers with being the photographer

Trying to run a Camera for most of the ride too.

Between the trailers and trucks we are pretty well set up. Spare parts, generators, welders and (hopefully) all the tools we need. haha

 

[fat rat]

Do you have to do a border crossing in MX?

 

[DLC]

That is going to be ONE HELL of a GREAT Time…

@Bpracing1127, @Englewood and DLC

Are Envious !!

 

[paradise]

Do you have to do a border crossing in MX?

We aren’t crossing either border. Especially in Canada that brings a bunch of other variables into play

 

[DLC]

@paradise

You’ve got a good looking set of cars !

 

[Romans9]

Wow.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I'm envious. I've wanted to do this for over 10 years. Can't wait to learn from your adventure.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

We anticipate rain the next few days in North West Montana, so that should help with Fires.

 

[Englewood]

That is going to be ONE HELL of a GREAT Time…

@Bpracing1127, @Englewood and DLC

Are Envious !!

Told you weenies this was possible!

 

[FlyByWire]

That’s a hell of a trip!!

Post when you get right about here….

 

[paradise]

That’s a hell of a trip!!

Post when you get right about here….

View attachment 1429279

I already told the guys to watch out for a tall guy in a CHP car and if we do get stopped to throw out RDP stickers as a distraction

I'm envious. I've wanted to do this for over 10 years. Can't wait to learn from your adventure.

Absolutely. We’ll definitely let everyone know what did/didn’t work

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I assume you are mostly following the BDR routes, I also assume you are skipping the Lolo Trail (Nez Perce) and Magruder Corridor for time reasons?

If anyone goes that way, there is a damn cool bar called "The Jack" out in the woods near Lolo. Good spot for an overnight stay.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nezperceclearwater/recarea/?recid=80138

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_055707.pdf

 

[paradise]

I assume you are mostly following the BDR routes, I also assume you are skipping the Lolo Trail (Nez Perce) and Magruder Corridor for time reasons?

If anyone goes that way, there is a damn cool bar called "The Jack" out in the woods near Lolo. Good spot for an overnight stay.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nezperceclearwater/recarea/?recid=80138

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_055707.pdf

Yes, for ID it’s mostly BDR and yep we are skipping Lolo/Darby for time and asphalt reasons. Magruder corridor was also closed up until yesterday for a fire. We’re having to skip Pine and Burgdorf and instead run farther to the west closer to the highway because of the Nellie and Bulldog fires. Kind of a bummer to miss those areas but it’ll all work out

Edit: ironically though, we are on the named part of the Lolo trail for longer than the regular BDR as it heads south.

 

[Mandelon]

Is this trail SxS only or can jeeps do it?

 

[paradise]

Is this trail SxS only or can jeeps do it?

Most of it Jeeps could do, I'll let you know when we're done

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Is this trail SxS only or can jeeps do it?

I can't speak for the route @paradise is taking but I've done a pile of research and my belief is a Jeep could do it. We've done most of the Nevada BDR route and it is primarily long graded dirt roads. We did Nevada in our stock Colorado.

This place is cool and the town maintains a really nice campground just south.

https://travelnevada.com/saloons/dirty-dicks-belmont-saloon/

Edit: I first got interested in this route many years ago when I read a story in the now defunct National Geographic Traveler magazine about a couple who did it in a Jeep Wrangler. They went North to South.

 

[beerrun]

Are you camping at night or making it to hotels

 

[gqchris]

Wow! So freaking cool. I am more jealous of you being able to take that much time off from day to day life! But what is "life" anyways if you arent living it like this! So freaking awesome.

 

[throttle]

This is gonna be epic! Have a fun safe trip! Look forward to seeing your updates.

 

[renodaytona]

That looks like it will be a great time, looking forward to seeing pics an videos.

 

[rivrrts429]

I’ve been following stories of guys doing this for years and it has my interest in a big way.

My issue is I’d want enough parts with the chase truck that I could damn near build a second car lol

This is going to be an epic adventure for all involved, congrats!

 

[beerrun]

We would love to do a trip like this

 

[paradise]

Are you camping at night or making it to hotels

We'll be making it to hotels each night, hopefully

I can't speak for the route @paradise is taking but I've done a pile of research and my belief is a Jeep could do it. We've done most of the Nevada BDR route and it is primarily long graded dirt roads. We did Nevada in our stock Colorado.

This place is cool and the town maintains a really nice campground just south.

https://travelnevada.com/saloons/dirty-dicks-belmont-saloon/

Edit: I first got interested in this route many years ago when I read a story in the now defunct National Geographic Traveler magazine about a couple who did it in a Jeep Wrangler. They went North to South.

We're going North to South as well. Seemed the most logical for our group and the areas we were most comfortable with.

I’ve been following stories of guys doing this for years and it has my interest in a big way.

My issue is I’d want enough parts with the chase truck that I could damn near build a second car lol

This is going to be an epic adventure for all involved, congrats!

Absolutely. Everyone needed the same cars for the ride to make sense to us. We've got a full set of suspension (A Arms, trailing arms, knuckles, shocks), brakes, clutches, radiator, fuel pumps, sensors (shift sensor, speed sensor), radius rods, toe links, axles, ball joints, etc. There's always more you could bring, but we think we're close, hopefully.

 

[beerrun]

We'll be making it to hotels each night, hopefully

We're going North to South as well. Seemed the most logical for our group and the areas we were most comfortable with.

Absolutely. Everyone needed the same cars for the ride to make sense to us. We've got a full set of suspension (A Arms, trailing arms, knuckles, shocks), brakes, clutches, radiator, fuel pumps, sensors (shift sensor, speed sensor), radius rods, toe links, axles, ball joints, etc. There's always more you could bring, but we think we're close, hopefully.

How do we get on the list for the next trip

 

[paradise]

How do we get on the list for the next trip

We usually just do our small group, but I'll publish the files that we used and people can put on their own group. I know Josh @ GoVenture had expressed some interest in putting something on but it would most likely be a much longer trip.

 

[DLC]

Are you camping at night or making it to hotels

Hotel is easier and less gear to haul! Food to cook ETC

Although some of the hotels we stay at, are not where your wife would stay….
Some old hotels have a ton of charter and ya meet some cool people !

We stayed at a hotel in Quartzite and met one of the guys that lobbied for the AZPT back in 2012 /13. He had some really cool stories

 

[beerrun]

We are doing the AZPT in March

 

[paradise]

Hotel is easier and less gear to haul! Food to cook ETC

Although some of the hotels we stay at, are not where your wife would stay….
Some old hotels have a ton of charter and ya meet some cool people !

We stayed at a hotel in Quartzite and met one of the guys that lobbied for the AZPT back in 2012 /13. He had some really cool stories

100% we have some sketch hotels on this trip

 

[DLC]

FYI -

Doing a trip like this for the 1st time can be challenging - You don’t know - What you don’t know!
And that is the biggest thrill of the trip!

A lot of logistics take place behind the scenes!

2200 miles they could go thru a few tires, belts etc etc.

I had one set of Tensors tires smoked in 1200 miles !

Good thing they appear to all have the same brand of car and tire size meaning your only carrying spare parts for one type of car, wheel lug patterns are all the same - belts, air filters, axles, ball joints & A arms etc are all the same !

I am so EXCITED just to FOLLOW along from my recliner ! This is going to be an EPIC Adventure !


We have talked about doing this Exact trip for a few years !

 

[paradise]

FYI -

Doing a trip like this for the 1st time can be challenging - You don’t know - What you don’t know!
And that is the biggest thrill of the trip!

A lot of logistics take place behind the scenes!

2200 miles they could go thru a few tires, belts etc etc.

I had one set of Tensors tires smoked in 1200 miles !

Good thing they appear to all have the same brand of car and tire size meaning your only carrying spare parts for one type of car, wheel lug patterns are all the same - belts, air filters, axles, ball joints & A arms etc are all the same !

I am so EXCITED just to FOLLOW along from my recliner ! This is going to be an EPIC Adventure !


We have talked about doing this Exact trip for a few years !

Yeah we usually do 2x 500-800 mile trips a year. This one started as an 800 mile and we decided to just extend it a little. As you noted this one definitely has additional logistics outside just the trails.

Just for the basics: 2 oil changes, fresh tires on all cars, 6 mounted spares on the cars, 6 mounted spares on the trailers and 6 unmounted tires in case they are needed. Everyone has Aux tanks to be able to make it 200 miles on a tank, we're fueling off the trailers multiple times in NV and a couple times in ID.

The spreadsheet for all the parts tracking, chase truck routing, drivers notes, hotel reservations, mileages, fuel stops, food notes etc has been a challenge.

I started putting this one together in January.

 

[Bpracing1127]

Told you weenies this was possible!

I knew it was possible it’s the time needed to do this ride

 

[NicPaus]

That's a hell of a ride.

Do you pay someone to drive the chase trucks? Seems like a job in itself.

 

[paradise]

That's a hell of a ride.

Do you pay someone to drive the chase trucks? Seems like a job in itself.

Yeah we’ve got two guys driving and they are being paid. One from my cousin‘s race team and the other is one of their company truck drivers. They’re the MVPs for sure

 

[beerrun]

It would be fun just driving the chase truck

 

[rivrrts429]

Absolutely. Everyone needed the same cars for the ride to make sense to us. We've got a full set of suspension (A Arms, trailing arms, knuckles, shocks), brakes, clutches, radiator, fuel pumps, sensors (shift sensor, speed sensor), radius rods, toe links, axles, ball joints, etc. There's always more you could bring, but we think we're close, hopefully.

Smart to have all similar cars! I’m excited to follow along!

 

[DLC]

That’s literally a seasons worth of driving in 10 days!

I was wondering about oil changes & maintenance along the way ! We were talking about taking a day off about mid way to do maintenance and rest up

Good thing you bought that bad ass trailer ! All those lockable compartments are going to come in handy!

That’s a TON of tires for JIC ! But so much better to have em with ya !

6 cars! That’s a nice easy group to keep together and make great time!

 

[RiverDave]

This is the trip of a life time!

 

[paradise]

That’s literally a seasons worth of driving in 10 days!

I was wondering about oil changes & maintenance along the way ! We were talking about taking a day off about mid way to do maintenance and rest up

Good thing you bought that bad ass trailer ! All those lockable compartments are going to come in handy!

That’s a TON of tires for JIC ! But so much better to have em with ya !

6 cars! That’s a nice easy group to keep together and make great time!

Five tires were takeoffs to prep for this ride, the others are probably all gonna be used as soon as we get back anyways as I’m sure the tires will be ready.

 

[beerrun]

What are the cars you are running

 

[DLC]

I’m sure you’re busy !

Would you post a few pic of the cars when you get a chance?

I’m kinda sold on a 4 seat car due to extra room and storage in the back seat area….
Your cars look bad ass and sleek ! Curious on how they are set up. Does each car have a driver and navigator ?

On some rides I like to drive alone - less gear to haul and no bitching about music ….
LoL

I like the Speed car due to its bed capacity - it has the ability to carry 2 spares and gear in the back seat. But it’s not there yet….
Maybe a few more years!

 

[rivrrts429]

Out of curiosity what are you doing for comms with the chase crew? Utilizing StarLink or Sat phone or…?

 

[paradise]

Out of curiosity what are you doing for comms with the chase crew? Utilizing StarLink or Sat phone or…?

Starlink on chase and one of the cars.

What are the cars you are running

I’m sure you’re busy !

Would you post a few pic of the cars when you get a chance?

I’m kinda sold on a 4 seat car due to extra room and storage in the back seat area….
Your cars look bad ass and sleek ! Curious on how they are set up. Does each car have a driver and navigator ?

On some rides I like to drive alone - less gear to haul and no bitching about music ….
LoL

I like the Speed car due to its bed capacity - it has the ability to carry 2 spares and gear in the back seat. But it’s not there yet….
Maybe a few more years!

We've got two cars with passengers. 5x 2 seat and 1x 4 seat Pro R. All the 2 seat cars were built by Conery. Our cars we did cages (with extra A Pillar), nets, skid plates, rock protection, aux tanks, bed boxes, toe links, ball joints, patrticle separator, seats, belts, roof, SDG worked their magic on the shocks. Here are some pics:

 

[DLC]

Starlink on chase and one of the cars.




We've got two cars with passengers. 5x 2 seat and 1x 4 seat Pro R. All the 2 seat cars were built by Conery. Our cars we did cages (with extra A Pillar), nets, skid plates, rock protection, aux tanks, bed boxes, toe links, ball joints, patrticle separator, seats, belts, roof, SDG worked their magic on the shocks. Here are some pics:

View attachment 1429431 View attachment 1429432 View attachment 1429433 View attachment 1429434 View attachment 1429435 View attachment 1429436 View attachment 1429437

How much fuel do you have w/ extra tank ?

That’s a nice set up!

How is it getting in /out w/ the B pillar all the way to the floor?

 

[paradise]

How much fuel do you have w/ extra tank ?

That’s a nice set up!

How is it getting in /out w/ the B pillar all the way to the floor?

It takes a little more work, but I am 6’7” and it works OK. Well worth it in my opinion for the additional cage support, especially for the guys that do a chopped shorter cage as that really makes the front A pillar laid back.

Almost 25 gallons of fuel.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

The most epic offroad trip I ever did was 10 days in Baja in our Ultra4 cars down the peninsula in Baja to LaPaz. What made it so great was having a chuck wagon that took our bags and checked us into our hotels/rentals all the way down. We stayed on a big ass boat in LaPaz for the Finish. Crawl Magazine did the write up and I ended up with a real nice hardcover book with all the photos from the adventure that has made it easy to revisit. The chase team got a work out, but we swapped co drivers into the chase trucks and that made it good for everyone.

I encourage you have some hardback books made for everyone after this trip. They are supper easy to make and inexpensive. Grab all the photos and put them in a book.

 

[Bpracing1127]

I’ve had this mapped for a few years now. I figured 30 days to get this done. This allows for time at stops to explore and a couple of maintenance and rest days.

Biggest thing too is the personal gear for weather. It’s going to be cold and hot during this trip. Chase drivers are a must

I have a trip mapped out from havasu to Reno but logistics are killing me right now.

@paradise we should link up and share some notes

 

[DLC]

Any up dates?

How many miles did you make today ?

LoL

Hot Dam….. I’m so excited to hear about this trip

 

[paradise]

Any up dates?

How many miles did you make today ?

LoL

Hot Dam….. I’m so excited to hear about this trip

lol, you are excited, what about me

First drive day is Friday. Chase trucks leave in a couple hours to start their trip North.