New Jeep. New Adventure. Africa
The Road Chose Me Volume 2 OUT NOW!!
The Road Chose Me Volume 2: Three years and 54,000 miles around Africa
Six years ago when I set out on my Pan-American Expedition I had never heard of Overlanding. I had no idea hundreds, maybe even thousands of people are driving and riding around the world right now, living their dreams.
Spending time with seasoned Overlanders Vince and Maryline in Panama and Ecuador changed my life.
I wanted to be like them. I wanted it bad.
In 2011 I sold my beloved Jeep Wrangler, flew to North America and signed up for a desk job.
Within months my trip felt like a dream. I had to look at my own pictures and read my own blog to convince myself it was real.
Often I wake in my apartment disoriented and mumbling Spanish, trying to remember where I’d setup my tent for the night.
To this day I’m not 100% sure I actually drove to Argentina.
I mean, that’s crazy!
While I struggled to re-assimilate, Vince and Maryline concluded their round-the-world journey, shipping to Africa and driving North on the West Coast.
Vince wrote in French, so I was following along using Google Translate. The poorly translated sentences added to the impact they had on me.
I will never forget one update from Vince, one that I’ve been thinking and dreaming about ever since.
There is something about the earth here.
I can feel it in my bones…….this is where I come from.
…Africa is where I come from.
Two years on the road from Alaska to Argentina taught me more than I ever could have imagined. It taught me a lot about exploring and living out of a vehicle, what I’d want in a future rig, and where I want to explore next. It taught me the exhilaration of exploration in a foreign country, learning a new language and meeting all kinds of different people.
More than anything else, my adventure taught me I want to keep exploring new countries and continents, and I want to do it with my own vehicle.
After years of planning and dreaming, the time has come for me to set out on my next Overland adventure:
Two years circumnavigating the African continent.
Proposed Africa Route. TBD the best way back to Europe from NE Africa
I’m bursting with excitement to announce I’ve partnered with with JPFreek Adventure Magazine as the exclusive media outlet for the details of my 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK build and preparation, then as the home of the Jeep-related videos, photos and stories from my travels. As I write about my days in Africa here on The Road Chose Me, I will work with JPFreek to show more details about how the Jeep really is another member of the team along with any interesting stories, issues and fixes.
See the trip announcement in the latest issue of JPFreek Adventure Magazine.
My new ride – of course it’s a Jeep!
I’m more passionate than ever before about helping other people get on the road to live their dreams, so I’ll be documenting all the details and logistics information needed to trace my steps on WikiOverland, the Encyclopedia of Overland Travel
Designing the Jeep, and the route around Africa
I hope you’ll join me for the ride 
-Dan
STOKED for you buddy! That is an ambitious plan, but you’re a badass and have given yourself plenty of time. Excited to see how it all comes along and how the Jeep turns out. Keep me in the loop if you need a partner in crime for a leg or two of the trip
Thanks Bryon, I’m stoked beyond belief!
-Dan
This is awesome news, I can’t wait to follow along! Have fun!
Hey Brian,
I was hoping this post would attract your attention and you’d be in for the ride again. I hope you’re doing well
-Dan
Fantastic plan. Will enjoy following vicariously from Mildura.
Can’t see on the map though how close you are to Tripoli. An ex Mildura friend has been working in Libya and would suggest you get very accurate advice before entering if you want to keep the jeep. Just needed to pass that on.
Have an eventful trip!
Great to hear from you Judi. Thanks for the well wishes
Fantastic! Looking forward reading about your adventures in Africa!
Congrats on starting out on a new adventure! I’m not much of a car geek, but I must say the new build looks exciting. I’m guessing your going to be getting the J30 pop top? It looks pretty slick!
Whats the plan for internet access around Africa?
I’m more into the maratime kind of adventure myself, so forgive me if this question sounds stupid for overlanding – will you be bringing an EPIRB or PLB? They are so cheap these days…
Hey Luke,
I’m super excited!
Thanks man
Yep, I’m getting the J30, and I’m working with the manufacturer (Ursa Minor) on a few modifications which I think will be sweet.
I’m told I’ll find great internet access in the big cities – and unfortunately I will have to go to most of the big cities to go to consulates to get visas for upcoming countries. So in those cities I’ll spend a day uploading photos and videos.
When I’m out in the sticks, I have no idea what I’ll encounter. I think it will be spotty and slow, so uploading stuff will not be possible.
I looked into portable satellite options, though the costs are insanely prohibitive.
A buddy of mine is a maritime guy, he’s looking at buying a ~30 foot yacht and sailing the North West Passage, or across the Atlantic. I know zero about sailing
I’m taking the “land” equivalent of a PLB, a SPOT locator beacon. Basically you can send messages to friends, and it has a “help” button to call the cavalry. It’s cheap peace of mind.
All the best Luke!
-Dan
Why did you choose the Ursa Minor top over the Habitat? I have a friend trying to choose and since we are on the East coast, he can not see either but still we discuss which is better…. Just curious and good luck on your trip!
Hi Jay,
Great question, and something I’ve though a lot of time thinking about.
In the end, as I’m only one person I don’t need the extra space provided by the habitat.
If I were 2+ people, the habitat would be my pick for sure.
You friend should try and go to Overland Expo East , there is sure to be a habitat and a J30 there this year. I got to see both at Overland Expo West last year, it was nice to crawl all over them with a tape measure and really understand them.
-Dan
Hi Dan,
I very much enjoyed reading your trip through the Americas! I am excited to see that you will be starting another adventure!
Would you mind discussing why you are going with such a heavily modified jeep this time around? I myself have run into trouble sourcing pieces for aftermarket parts on my jeep in some of my travels around the US, I ended up making a temporary bushing out of tubing and duct tape to get by until I could meet the shipped parts.
With a more stock vehicle, it would be more likely you could get parts from one of the dealerships in Africa, with aftermarkets, you’re limited to shipping from wherever they are based, or fabbing on site.
Definitely not trying to be critical, just a thought that came to my mind when I was reading the JPfreek article you linked to.
Happy travels!
-James S
Hey James,
I’m happy to hear you’re on board for the next one!
Spending two years living in my last Jeep taught me a lot about what I do and don’t want. You’d be amazed how often your mind wanders to thinking of vehicle improvements.
I’ve known for a very long time I wanted to improve a few major things – sleeping, cooking and food storage and mileage to name a few.
While I am making lots of modifications, I’m trying as hard as I can to keep things simple and sturdy without adding extra weight. I’ve been thinking about these modifications for years, and I hope they’ll combine to make the Jeep more reliable and robust, not less.
The vast majority of modifications won’t have ‘parts’ so to speak like the bumpers, snorkel, etc.
The diesel engine is the big contradiction to all of that – though I think it will work out because the engine is entirely mechanical with no computer control at all, and the diesel should get much better mileage, meaning I will have more range (and spend less money) without having to carry extra heavy gas.
I can’t wait to see how it all comes together – lots and lots of work in the next couple of months
-Dan
Dan, your trip,sounds rad, and strangely familiar. My wife and I are also converting out 2007 JeepWrangler Unlimited to diesel (Cummins 4BT) and shipping it to Africa in November! We are shipping to South Africa, and heading, in a round about fashion, to Morocco. Follow along on our website.
Hey Jared,
That’s crazy! I’ll absolutely follow along! We will absolutely cross paths somewhere near-ish the equator and we will absolutely have to camp together and share a few stories
-Dan
Re: “It taught me a lot about exploring and living out of a vehicle, what I’d want in a future rig”
I’d love to hear what changes you’d make to improve living/sleeping/eating/mileage when living out of a Jeep. I’ve just decided to make the trip from Alaska to Argentina as my next big trip, probably starting in about 18 months. My last big trip was around much of the US in an RV, but this time I’m thinking I may do the trip in my own Jeep (a Liberty) rather than monkeying around with trying to buy another RV.
Hey there,
Absolutely I will be writing a lot more about the modifications I’ve chosen to make to improve living/sleeping/eating/mileage. Stay tuned for the next edition of JPFreek Adventure Magazine!
-Dan
Why would you do a diesel conversion? That introduces possible engine gremlins for your trip. Why not just go with a Euro-spec factory diesel Wrangler?
I’m going for the conversion for quite a few reasons. Range, Mileage and reliability. The engine I’ve chosen is all mechanical, so it’s extremely simple and durable. You’re right there is a risk of introducing gremlins by messing with the factory drive train, hopefully that doesn’t happen.
As for buying a Wrangler in another country – it’s much harder to buy and register a car in a country you don’t live in than you might guess. I also need to get a Carnet for this one (sort of like a passport) and that’s also very hard to do in a country you don’t live in.
I certainly thought long and hard about it. I also don’t want Right Hand Drive.
Also, I want to do a lot of work to the Jeep before I set out, and North America has the best 4×4 aftermarket by a very wide margin.
-Dan
Dan, can´t wait to see how the trip unfolds. You will be traveling through some spectacular places. If you ever need a hand in South Africa I´ll see what I could do to help. Give me a shout. I live an hour south of Durban. Later…..
Hey Tom,
Thanks very much, if nothing else, we should catch up for a cold beer – I’d love to hear about any local spots you know of
All the best,
-Dan
Cool. Don´t know what filter system your diesel is using but make sure you bring a few spare. The diesel through Africa is a shocker and the last thing you need here is injector issues. Guys often fit an extra inline filter after the oem one just incase. Just to give you an indication, I have to change my work van filter every 10000km here in SA, so it´ll be worse up north.
Hi Tom,
Absolutely I’ve heard that advice many times, so I trust you. We’re fitting the finest filter/water separator we can buy, along with the OEM filter.
I think I can get 1 micron which should be plenty.
Also my diesel is not CRD and isn’t computer controlled – it will literally burn kerosine, so hopefully it will be OK with the odd batch of not-perfect diesel – it’s one of the main reasons I picked the engine I did.
If you’re around SA in a year or so it would be wicked to meet up and I’ll buy you a beer
Thanks Tom,
-Dan
Hey Dan,
Just stumbled upon this blog through HN, so you might have already written about this, but why go with a Jeep? The few times I’ve been driving around Africa I’ve always seen people using Toyotas (mostly the Hilux). It’s a big clunky car especially if you’re driving on your own, but I imagine you can always get some help if you need some…
Hi Javier,
I grew up in Australia, so Hiluxes, Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are a dime a dozen. I don’t find them particularly interesting, and it’s difficult to buy and register a vehicle in a country you don’t live in, especially when I need to get a Carnet for it, which is a bit like a passport for a vehicle.
Also, my last Jeep went 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina without a single mechanical issue, so I’m kind of partial to Jeeps
-Dan
I would highly suggest an alternative design for your roll bar modification. That rear tube needs to be notched properly and be welded between the side supports to safely deflect any load from any direction. I would also suggest a diagonal support bar in the sides and across the top. That design is likely actually weaker than the factory “roll” bar.
Hi Rich, thanks for the input.
There will virtually never be anyone sitting in the back (no back seat), so I really only care about the safety for the two front seats, and I didn’t modify anything there so I think I’m OK.
-Dan
When will you start? I can’t find that info here, but maybe I’m missing something?
I’ve already started! I’m in the middle of an 8,000 mile road trip across North America, building the Jeep and preparing everything I need.
The currently plan is to ship the Jeep to Europe in early November, and drive down into Morocco for December 1st.
-Dan
Hay Dan just wondering how your progress is going
2011 Jeep? What happened to the 07 with Diesel conversion? Is the Diesel still a future project to complete or have you given up on the idea? Sorry if you answered this in your blogs already but I went looking and I could not find it.
Hi Bnicho,
The whole story is explained in the latest issue of JPFreek Adventure Magazine here: http://currentissue.jpfreek.com/publication/?i=293340&p=38
Now I can move forward!
-Dan
Dan I hear you will be hunting with a home made slingshot from Idaho. Can you keep us posted on how your progress is doing.
Hey Wes,
Great to hear from you! I need to get in some practice before I break any windows
Absolutely, lots of updates incoming, check here and I’m posting to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too.
-Dan
Hello Dan,
Good luck for u
I am so jealous that its inspiring! I follow you on intagram (@blaize360) and love seeing your travels. I would love to meet you some day, so if you are ever in the PNW again I would love to buy you a beer and be ever grateful to hear your stories and learn hoe to set up my jeep for traveling some of the same roads you have explored! Hope you have an amazing time in Africa! (if you can get this message) if not welcome back!
P.S. is TOTO on your playlist? ha ha
Hi Blaize,
Thanks for the kind words!
I am certain I will get back to the PNW one day. Not soon, but one day!
Yes, Toto is on the only CD I have in the Jeep, I blast it at least once a week.
All the best,
-Dan
hi DAN on thing i do not understand first it saed you travel around africa distance 80000 miles and then you sead 56000miles ? please get your story strait. i travel southafrica to europa and not the strayt line 40000 KM 1year 10 months… have you dan the APRE TU TENNERE in the desert dat is the most respected track in the sahara. but if you ever do dont take a new JEEP an old one will last not a new one. i cosst in a 1987 toyota landcruiser diesel/turpo no problem exept punchers. with a new one i would not go out of town (electronic SHIT ) nobody can repaired not even me. if you can you will not get spares. regards adolf MAYBY one day we meet some way on a haul. CIOA