Preparations

This trip will require quite a bit of advance preparation.  This list will be updated as I learn new things and get closer to our departure date.  I have broken some of those down into various categories below including;


Documentation

  • Passports
  • Visas
  • Insurance
  • Registration
  • Drivers License
  • Yellow Fever vaccination


Equipment, photography, navigation, and communications

  • Canon EOS 10D with a 28-135mm lens
  • Canon PowerShot A470 7.1 mega pixels and 3.4x optical zoom
  • GoPro Hero2 HD video camera
  • 2 iPhone 4s’s
  • Garmin etrex Vista HCx
  • Asus tablet – Microsoft Streets and Trips 2013 with GPS and various other software
  • Dell Inspiron N5110
  • 2m radio (TBD)
  • quad band phone for specific country use (TBD)


Health and Safety

  • All recommended vaccinations and medications
  • Group travel with experienced tour company through Central and South America
  • On board in-line water purification system (TBD – probably a Seagull IV by General Ecology)


Extended leave from our home

  • Daughter living at home
  • Nephew living with us
  • Full time adult house sitter (TBD)
  • or, Maintenance contracts (TBD)


Vehicle and Camper upgrades

  • Air intake, performance chip, and larger exhaust to improve mileage with deisel engine ***completed***
  • Removal of rear seat and construction of storage area with locking compartments
  • Resealing exterior of RV
  • Remove old 13500btu AC and install new Coleman PolarCub 9200btu low profile AC
  • Propane transfer hose
  • Ignition kill switch installation (TBD)