Preparing for Patagonia
We’re building more than a Jeep—we’re preparing for a long-term Pan-American journey from the United States to Patagonia. This page will document the planning, vehicle preparation, equipment, logistics, and lessons that go into getting ready for life on the road.
Vehicle & Camper Build
We’re preparing our 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and Alu-Cab ModCap for long-distance travel, rough roads, remote camping, and everyday life on the Pan-American route. Every upgrade is being chosen for reliability, comfort, storage, safety, and serviceability.
Route Planning
Our route will take us from the United States through Mexico, Central America, South America, and eventually to Patagonia. We’re researching border crossings, seasonal weather, road conditions, fuel availability, ferries, shipping, and safe places to camp along the way.
Gear & Storage
Living on the road for an extended period means carrying only what we truly need. We’re organizing clothing, recovery gear, cooking equipment, tools, camera gear, food, and daily essentials so everything has a secure and easy-to-reach place.
Power & Water Systems
Our setup includes solar power, lithium batteries, an inverter, refrigeration, lighting, Starlink, and water storage. We’re building these systems with redundancy in mind so we can stay powered, connected, and supplied while traveling through remote areas.
Documents & Border Preparation
International travel requires careful planning. We’re preparing passports, vehicle documents, insurance, permits, vaccination records, pet paperwork, digital backups, and country-specific border requirements before departure.
Health & Medical Planning
Health preparation is one of the most important parts of our journey. Because Toni has Type 1 diabetes, we’re planning carefully for medication storage, medical supplies, emergency care, travel insurance, prescriptions, and reliable access to power while on the road. We’ll also carry a dedicated refrigerator for her insulin and other temperature-sensitive medication, along with backup cooling options and monitoring to help keep everything stored safely throughout the trip.
Budget, Shipping & Logistics
We’re building a realistic travel budget that includes fuel, food, camping, repairs, insurance, border fees, ferries, vehicle shipping, and unexpected expenses. We’re also working with Overland Embassy to help plan the major logistics of the journey, including moving the Jeep around the Darién Gap and navigating international shipping and border requirements.
Departure Countdown
Every repair, upgrade, document, and test trip brings us closer to departure. We’ll use this page to track our progress, share what we learn, and document the final preparations before we begin the long road to Patagonia.