Congo Expo Trip Thread...

[bartonmd]

You guys seen this?
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/s ... hp?t=50799

Huge, giant balls, and a woman that's 1-in-a-few-million, but man...



SPOILER BELOW!!








They did their whole trip with open diffs?? They left knowing they had open diffs, for a jungle nation that's known for being wet, and not having any "real" roads?! Had he had lockers front and rear, he wouldn't have over-used (by spinning one tire) and killed the spider gears (front and rear) that ultimately stranded them, and when he broke the axle flange bolts, he would have had 3-wheel drive, instead of 1 wheel drive... Oh, and he wouldn't have gotten stuck NEARLY as much, in the first place (which caused him to use the hell out of the spider gears)!

Also, no winch? No winch kit for the hi-lift? Not even a come-along??

Really?

BTW, on a trip like that, I'd be carrying a spare alternator...

Mike

[Blackout]

I'd also be carrying an assault rifle

[bartonmd]

I'd also be carrying an assault rifle

A little sticky when crossing borders, and with corrupt police officers...

He did cover that, though... He said a gun wouldn't be much help, unless you had enough ammo to take out a whole village, because your speedy escape is at walking speed, and less than that if you get stuck...

Mike

[Trail X]

I think they both have got some balls. Not enough time to read the whole story sadly.

[janesy86]

I would have turned around from the start... Can't stand corrupt Police, never mind all the locals asking for $$ for made-up tolls or for just being white.

So far I've read thru a few pages, but a good read so far. But i can't believe he didn't have a lockers or a winch.

[Blackout]

I'd also be carrying an assault rifle

A little sticky when crossing borders, and with corrupt police officers...

He did cover that, though... He said a gun wouldn't be much help, unless you had enough ammo to take out a whole village, because your speedy escape is at walking speed, and less than that if you get stuck...

Mike

That's why drum magazines and load bearing vests were invented

[lil_freak_66]

I'd also be carrying an assault rifle

glad(yet suprised,idk why) that i wasnt the first to think that.

Africa is one place that i wouldnt go unarmed,which without large sums of money and permits(which it seems only military and LEO gets,time to join blackwater or another PMC?)is pretty hard to do.

[bdp1978]

I've been hooked on that thread, it's like crack.

Pretty amazing adventure, it's sad that the palms have to be greased everywhere they travel. I remember reading the other story of the guy who traveled from Wyoming to South America. On that trip alone I think his "Bribe" costs were over $2 grand by the time he got done paying off police and customs officials. He even had to pay a bribe for his dog.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I am readin through it as well. I cant believe they didnt have an extra compressor or a bit more side armor. The skinny tires seem to leave them stuck alot as well.

[Trail X]

I don't think it's the width of tires... but the depth of the ruts. Granted, looking at some of those pics... I think the TB could get through... those open diffs are killing them.

He did have an interesting point about not wanting a winch... he said a winch will only get you stuck harder. Some truth... but if you combine winching with some passive recovery methods, it could prove to be a good solution.

[HARDTRAILZ]

On their website it does state they should have gone with different rims to set the truck wider to avoid the tipping over multiple times. Also states they wanted a winch, but just couldn't afford it. They chose an extra month on the road versus the safety and security of a winch. Seems like a stupid decision for the type of area they were in. An extra month on the road or dead from being stuck with no winch and open diffs...Cool story so far, but not the smartest at preparing.

[HighSierraTB]

I've been trying to keep up with the posts. Very exciting and well written. Cliff hangers everyday. It took me several days to get caught up to where the story is now. Its a good read if you have the time.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Definitely a good read. Interesting and good story telling. I am hoping to catch up soon.

[Trail X]

I've been trying to keep up with the posts. Very exciting and well written. Cliff hangers everyday. It took me several days to get caught up to where the story is now. Its a good read if you have the time.

Hmm, I'm halfway through the pages now, I was thinking it was just about wrapping up. Sounds like I need to get reading faster.

It seems a trip with no trouble or incidents is a good trip... a trip with many troubles and incidents is an epic trip.

[Saxis]

Just got done reading the whole thing. Good timing, as it seems they just posted the last of the trip (through Congo at least). Very amazing story indeed.

[HARDTRAILZ]

The kids and people mobbing the truck would set me off. I would have ran over at least a couple by now.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Wow. I am really disliking this guy. Great story and story-telling but the bitching and whining about paying for incredibly hard labor and an tow in the middle of nowhere. What he got would have cost far more here in the usa than it did in Africa and he still whines.

Not to ruin it for anyone, but what he was quoted for the tow was a little high, but in a country without options he ripped off the driver. A tow across town costs more than what he paid and there are 100's of tow companies here.

$50 for a rear end getting fixed, that is less than what it would cost here by far. Roadie knows from experience how much it costs to have a rear-end fail far from home. This guy is truly lucky he didnt just get stabbed and left to die while they took his truck for the money he should have paid for work or towing.

[bartonmd]

It comes down to how much the money is worth, though...

The $50 he paid them, would be like paying somebody $20,000 here...

Plus, if word gets out that you pay 10-20x the average yearly income for helping you get un-stuck, you end up with guys hacking each other up with machettes to help you... and maybe guys hacking you up to get all the rest of your money, being that you are rich...

He is doing, with his money anyway, what is common, and needs to be done over there...

Mike

[HARDTRAILZ]

But he chose to go there. I dont care what the exchange rate is to there. $50 dollars is $50 and I can barely change my fluid for that, much less get work done. He can't bitch about it. He should consider himself lucky they didnt just take everything.

The people know that the $50 or $20 may be the only money they get for years as it is the only work available. They deserve that money. If you could only get one job for $20,000 every couple years, would you work for less? They worked extremely cheap for him and he really did not appreciate it.

[bdp1978]

But he chose to go there. I dont care what the exchange rate is to there. $50 dollars is $50 and I can barely change my fluid for that, much less get work done. He can't bitch about it. He should consider himself lucky they didnt just take everything.

The people know that the $50 or $20 may be the only money they get for years as it is the only work available. They deserve that money. If you could only get one job for $20,000 every couple years, would you work for less? They worked extremely cheap for him and he really did not appreciate it.

I couldnt disagree with you more. $50 dollars IS NOT $50 dollars no matter where you are. For that argument you're basically saying you think that 3 days of digging is worth $20 grand? Sign me up! Or that a 10 mile tow is worth 3.5 times more than the average annual income. Which would make a 10 mile tow here cost about $140,000 dollars.


Money is relative to your location and you use it accordingly. Also, he makes numerous comments regarding how amazed he is by there work and how it wouldnt have been possible without their help.