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Are you traveling with the whole family? That will certainly fill your truck to capacity with gear!
I did a trip down the whole length of the Pan-American highway from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego about 10 years ago in a pretty stock 88". Regular Rover axles, and I did ineed break one, in Peru. The spares kits that people have described in these replies are all good. I think as long as it's running well enough now, taking extra tune up stuff - points, plugs, cap, rotor, condensor, wires, maybe a coil, should be OK. I ran with jerry cans on my roof, although they weren't full most of the time, only when I knew it was going to be a long haul between stations. I was reluctant to put them on the front bumper or rear door because I worried that a minor fender bender could become a big fireball. They were a bit of a hassle to wrestle up there full. Spillage not a problem.
I carried one spare tire and never had so much as a slow leak in any wheel the whole time- miraculous, considering the Dalton Highway and other roads in central America. Looking back on it, a second spare might have been smart. I used BFG All-Terrain A/Ts which were great tires.
Do you have an overdrive? You will want one for that trip; I had a Fairey, which I drove to death. Now I have a Roverdrive which I like better, and their customer service is good.
As far as breakdowns and repairs go, we had our share of misfortunes but by and large people are willing to help you out, especially in an old truck like that. RN can get parts to you- they shipped things to us in Canada and elsewhere- and you can often find amazing mechanics in out of the way places. A Rover mechanic in Monte Verde, Costa Rica did a homespun repair on the big bolts securing my steering arm to one of my swivel pin housings that is still solidly in place today. So I would say, keep a list of phone numbers to call parts houses, but don't be afraid of taking the plunge.
I would advise caution in Mexico because it's more dangerous there now than it was in the past; steer clear of Mexico City perhaps because they have weird, subtle traffic laws that are ripe for abuse by traffic police.
I'm happy to answer other inquiries if you want to PM me -
tmckeon88@hotmail.com
Good luck!
Tom
I did a trip down the whole length of the Pan-American highway from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego about 10 years ago in a pretty stock 88". Regular Rover axles, and I did ineed break one, in Peru. The spares kits that people have described in these replies are all good. I think as long as it's running well enough now, taking extra tune up stuff - points, plugs, cap, rotor, condensor, wires, maybe a coil, should be OK. I ran with jerry cans on my roof, although they weren't full most of the time, only when I knew it was going to be a long haul between stations. I was reluctant to put them on the front bumper or rear door because I worried that a minor fender bender could become a big fireball. They were a bit of a hassle to wrestle up there full. Spillage not a problem.
I carried one spare tire and never had so much as a slow leak in any wheel the whole time- miraculous, considering the Dalton Highway and other roads in central America. Looking back on it, a second spare might have been smart. I used BFG All-Terrain A/Ts which were great tires.
Do you have an overdrive? You will want one for that trip; I had a Fairey, which I drove to death. Now I have a Roverdrive which I like better, and their customer service is good.
As far as breakdowns and repairs go, we had our share of misfortunes but by and large people are willing to help you out, especially in an old truck like that. RN can get parts to you- they shipped things to us in Canada and elsewhere- and you can often find amazing mechanics in out of the way places. A Rover mechanic in Monte Verde, Costa Rica did a homespun repair on the big bolts securing my steering arm to one of my swivel pin housings that is still solidly in place today. So I would say, keep a list of phone numbers to call parts houses, but don't be afraid of taking the plunge.
I would advise caution in Mexico because it's more dangerous there now than it was in the past; steer clear of Mexico City perhaps because they have weird, subtle traffic laws that are ripe for abuse by traffic police.
I'm happy to answer other inquiries if you want to PM me -
tmckeon88@hotmail.com
Good luck!
Tom
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