Gaaah! Sorry we could not meet, Nate. My piece of crap phone and the fact that this is a "passing through" trip does not help the situation. Great conversation on the phone, though!

Rich, I am coming for you now!

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

I'm sorry we all missed seeing you again , have a nice safe trip and remember to post us of your adventures....

I drove the Pan American Highway in Guatemala to El Salvador on my 1937 Harley Davidson EL (61") KnuckleHead in 1976 , that was a fun adventure to be sure as they were rebuilding it (the Highway) at the time .

Thanx for calling me yesterday , sorry the timing didn't work out .

__________________
-Nate
1981 240D creampuff 333,000 miles (SWMBO's)
1978 300CD back from the dead SOLD
1980 300CD 90K Miles ICE COLD AC ~ SOLD
1984 300CD KEEPER ! 381,000 miles
1974 350SLC 4 speed stickshift SOLD & missed
Krazy Kommie Ural Motos (3)
Old BMW Motos /5's
Old Air Cooled VW's FOR SALE
Junk
Rust
Arthritis
Crushed Spine
Memories
Peace Of Mind

No problem Nate! Always a pleasure!
Thanks again to Rollguy for this quick meetup!

Back in Kansas now. Got 20MPG on the LandCruiser ONCE, back-wing, down-hill, with no cargo and no rear seats. 65mph. Will write soon.

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

In this episode of This European Life, I say goodbye to my peeps in California, become a trucker for a few days and sleep with a statue! Lots of peoples, landscapes and curiosities in this lengthy post across five states!

THIS EUROPEAN LIFE
Drive-Bye: Western Edition

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

Donald's Serva-teria, huh? So, how was it? Were is it?

__________________
" The market, like the Lord, helps those who help themselves. But, unlike the Lord, the market does not forgive those who know not what they do."- Warren Buffett

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 25,000 miles

I did not eat there, just took the picture. I would have if I had woken up to several hours of driving! The diner is in Pratt, KS, right on Route 54.

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

There are lots of interesting dining establishment scattered along the roadsides of America.

__________________
" The market, like the Lord, helps those who help themselves. But, unlike the Lord, the market does not forgive those who know not what they do."- Warren Buffett

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 25,000 miles

I always feel awkward about asking for money from others, but this is the time to do it: I have officially started fundraising through the Indigogo platform. Take a look at the many perks that I will be awarding!

THIS EUROPEAN LIFE
PanAm Prep: Fundraising

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

No expedition is ready without some serious thinking on what to do and what no to do on the perfect vehicle.

THIS EUROPEAN LIFE
PanAm Preparation: Vehicle Planning

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

Miguel, everything looks great on the inside (especially the footwell water tank!), but I will offer my opinion on the rooftop tank. I think it would be a bad idea for carrying Diesel (or any other liquid for that matter). Without some sort of baffle of sort, the liquid would really slosh around, causing handling/braking problems. It would also be fairly expensive, and have a possibility of leaking because of the right angle corners (need to be round to be strong). I would suggest some sort of swing-away type Jerry can holder. I would get the blue or green cans (normally meant for water). You could easily carry 4 cans (swing-away carrier has two cans on each half, with outboard hinges, and latch/lock in the middle. I am sure there is someone that could fabricate something like that for you near Witchita. I would be happy to do it, but I am several hundred miles away!....Rich

__________________

All Diesel Fleet
Bio-Fuel Benzs:
1984 300SD
1982 240D 4 spd
1982 300TD
1980 240 D (Turbo 4 speed project car)
1985 300D 4X4 project car (617, AX15, Dana 300, Dana 44's, 33's, tube frame)
Others:
1985 Mitsubishi 2.3 TD Pick-up,
Former: (SOLD)
1998 E300
1995 E300
1982 300CD - red
1982 300CD - white
1983 300D
1980 300SD
1985 190D
1985 Euro 280E
Gen. II-616/ 617 Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit For Sale + Install Inst.

I definitely agree with you. That, and the fact that I can carry jerrycans around in places like Bolivia, where automobiles with foreign plates cannot refuel –unless you show up and, in courteous Spanish, ask them to fill your jerrycan. Thanks for the advice!

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!

It also might be easy (and cheap) to find already made polyethylene water tanks (10-15 gallons each) that will fit in both footwells, and not have to have something custom made. The space in between could be used for storage as well.

__________________

All Diesel Fleet
Bio-Fuel Benzs:
1984 300SD
1982 240D 4 spd
1982 300TD
1980 240 D (Turbo 4 speed project car)
1985 300D 4X4 project car (617, AX15, Dana 300, Dana 44's, 33's, tube frame)
Others:
1985 Mitsubishi 2.3 TD Pick-up,
Former: (SOLD)
1998 E300
1995 E300
1982 300CD - red
1982 300CD - white
1983 300D
1980 300SD
1985 190D
1985 Euro 280E
Gen. II-616/ 617 Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit For Sale + Install Inst.

Yes, and keep in mind that by having heavier items such as liquids placed lower to the ground, your center of gravity will be lower, which will give you better stability, too.

__________________
" The market, like the Lord, helps those who help themselves. But, unlike the Lord, the market does not forgive those who know not what they do."- Warren Buffett

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 25,000 miles

I have read all of this thread and your blog and even though i am a newbie let me just say, your story is very inspiring and with a drive like yous *pun intended*, i'm sure that your TV show will get off the ground. Any updates on the big Argentina trip? and how are the modifications to the TD coming along (pics) how's the TV/internet show? how's life going for you now?

I wish you the best of luck with your travels and life and I will be a regular watcher of your show

__________________
"Old things are better than new things because old things have a story to tell"

Give the new kid a break...



1978 w123 300D astral silver "Benzie"
1980 w123 300CD orient red "Benzie 2"
1994 w124 E500 "Big Black"
1998 w163 ML320 "Ole' Faithfull"
1969 Datsun 2000 roadster

Thank you! I am currently swamped in the editing process; one of our filmmakers did not organize the files too well and that has made the process quite difficult. The wagon is my daily driver and drives flawless; I will be doing some fabrication and suspension work very shortly, with plenty of pictures documenting the process.

__________________
"LIVINGSTONE" - 1981 300TD Expedition Wagon - Acquired with 143,375 miles. Current mileage: 152,473.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Currently driving the PanAmerican route in a W123, click here to see my progress. Ready and willing to meet any Mercedes fans anywhere!