3 Years In My Tesla Model X, 14 Countries, 2 Continents
Posted by everydaysandro@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 112 comments
Hi hi! I am Sandro and I have been living on the open road for 3 years now, covering 2 continents, 14 countries, and the odemeter just surpassed 153,000km (94,000 miles).
Currently driving the full length of the Americas!
I build my Model X into the ultimate overlanding rig with 300 watts of custom solar on the hood, full kitchen, running water, fridge, starlink, just no bathroom.
If you know the show top gear, you might recognize this famous bridge in Colombia - Trampoline de la Muerte!
Half my frunk is filled with charging equipment- 15 different adapters to be exact. When traveling cross-continent, charging is a puzzle whenever I arrive into a new country. It takes me about a week to figure out my new charging routine before I feel truly confident I can roam anywhere.
I run 255/55/R19 Falken Wildpeaks A/T on the Model X and don’t carry a spare. I do have stock air suspension that can lift the car about 5 inches higher from the lowest setting. I collect nails and screws from the street as Goodluck and help out whenever I can with flat tires in the mountains, having all the proper gear.
I plan on hitting the end of the road in the dead of winter in July here in Argentina! Should be fun.
Question, comments, concerns, I will be here!
Belugita & Sandro
04LX470_viking@reddit
Petrol is awesome. No adapters. No bs. Just fill and go.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Have been you been to Bolivia?
Infamous_Charge2666@reddit
Do tell please…why do you specifically mention Bolivia
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Try getting Diesel there! Especially as a foreigner. Most of my friends that have visited have had issues there, no diesel, wont sell to foreigner, bad quality…causing engine problems
basi52@reddit
Is the first picture the same bridge from the grand tour special? That’s sick if it is
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
YUP
dafee2222@reddit
Wow this is unbelievable!
I need to charge MY every 300km even in city and it's a pain for long trip esp. to the woods. How can you survive in South America and the remote areas!? How do you plan the charge?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Where are you based out of? It’s a bit of a puzzle sometimes as very few people have taken their EVs across continents. I have 15 adapters and with 530Km range I can go remote places, hang a few days, and come back
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
Would love to hear more about what adapters you use. We are building out our rig to do a very similar route soon, but will be pulling a solar trailer as a chick wagon for cooking. I hope to have enough solar to not need adapters, but better to have and not need.
in_theory@reddit
Pulling a trailer absolutely destroys your range though. I'm taking going from 300+ miles per charge to 100-150 max power charge. Rent a uhaul for a week and put some miles on it. It's going to make your trip 10x harder.
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
We are about 30,000 miles in to towing full time with it. ~25k with a 5x8 test trailer to make sure it could do it. The numbers you mentioned are true for highway speeds. But the range won't change where the next charger is. They are spaced out around every 100 miles in the US and Canada. Which works out perfectly with a small battery that can hold a 240kW charge rate for ~10 minutes. Takes us about 20 minutes to 90% and if we want to cook while we charge we might let it go to 100 and give us around 45 minutes total.
in_theory@reddit
That sounds like a tough plan for a road trip but it sounds like it works for you.
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
Not sure how it's "tough". We stop to pee about every 2-3 hours and that's when we charge up for 20 minutes. Sometimes we make food for 30-45 minutes while charging. It is what we already have to do, just while charging. We also do not take interstates or highways so the range is much higher.
in_theory@reddit
Yeah, not taking interstates makes travel much slower. If that's your speed, great! It wouldn't work for me.
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
I mean, it's overlanding not road tripping. If you want to actually get to experience areas, the highways are not doing it.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
For sure that exciting. I think opting for a smaller rig is the best thing to do. I have an extensive list of adapter on my website and check out EVSE adapter for everything you need!
https://everydaysandro.com/index.php/charging-equipment/
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
I wish we could go smaller, but for two people and hopefully a pet soon, we needed the space. Started with just the car, bike rack and roof box...we just added the trailer about 6 months ago and are still working it into our setup.
Had to get more room for food storage and a good platform to build out our solar array. Eventually looking to add \~6kW of solar via a 48v system. Currently able to go fully off grid for about a week regardless of the weather but are tied to \~100km range of a plug.
Thanks for the info on the adapters. Can't wait to catch up on your library of YouTube videos tonight.
FirmListen3295@reddit
Is your rooftop box on backwards? Maybe it’s just me.
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
Yes, the hinges crapped out on one side and I still have my starlink dish mount on the passenger side of the roof rails. Looking to ditch the roofbox asap, but finding it harder than expected to fit all out gear in the new trailer.
throwaway72592309@reddit
Do you get tired of people telling you the roof box is on backwards 😂
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
I usually make up some bs about how it's actually wing shaped to give me lift and extra range... usually the same people who immediately run up and say "but but but how far can you go with it?!"
FirmListen3295@reddit
How do you like Starlink? Thinking of using that on my 4Runner.
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
Amazing. Seriously been debating to just ditch our cellular provider all together with our mobile setup. Now that they have the mini, it is so much easier to setup. We have the HP flat mount cause it was the only in motion option 3 years ago. But we use it for work and gaming no problem.
FirmListen3295@reddit
Perfect. Thanks.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
That’s sick though, first overlanding vehicle of this type!
dafee2222@reddit
I am in Canada and my MY only gives around 350km on a 80% full charge. After a night in camping mode, that leaves me around 200km range of driving. And some charging stations only offer 6-32A which make the trip not so enjoyable.
I really want to go further with my MY but charging makes me hesitate...
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I don’t use camp mode that much actually, just let the car power itself off at night and crack the window
ryencool@reddit
I'd say kost ame4icans would need it in the low 70s ;)
EfficientBell5035@reddit
The guy using camp mode is Canadian.
in_theory@reddit
Not the ones who actually get out into the wild and camp. If you want everything at 70 degrees and sunny, stay at home or get a hotel room lol.
Zylpas@reddit
Heh, really interesting to see such unique car choices.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Thanks! Definitely very comfortable to live out of!
CRAZYSNAKE17@reddit
I think I saw a YouTube video of someone covering their Tesla in solar panels to charge the car. Was that you?
Schnitzhole@reddit
The rate of energy gain is almost negligible. I think i recall best case is like 1-3 miles of range a day. Not worth it for the added weight.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I disagree with you here. I use it for overlanding and it has gotten me out of pinches
Schnitzhole@reddit
What charging rates did you get?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
With the Solar, 2kW at 12amps - 10 kilometers of range on a super sunny day
Schnitzhole@reddit
So that’s about double what I heard, 6miles. Better, and I sounds nice in pinch but i still bet if you didn’t have the panels the weight alone would have lost you more range on a full charge than that.
Maybe distances are very different there but 6 miles in the US wouldn’t hardly get you anywhere. You’d spend weeks charging to reach the nearest town.
Are they permanently roof fixed too? As that tends to eat up a huge amount of range.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
The panels are glued on the top of the hood, and no additional panels on Belugita, just the 300 watts! https://youtu.be/ssbnI35QLRA?si=K0kYP9BWX8eKYWlk
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
That’s us!
napalmthechild@reddit
How do you get through the Darian gap? Any run ins with cartel/police where you had to pay a "fine"? When's the movie coming available on youtube?
in_theory@reddit
There are no roads through the Darien yet so everyone still has to ship their cars, electric or not.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
A few stories I haven’t talked publicly about yet but soon will! Through the Darien I shipped from Colon Panama to Cartagena Colombia
omar4nsari@reddit
Been following you for a while! Last I saw you were in Colombia. Did you make it to Argentina now?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I am currently in Chile, heading south!
Ok_Translator_3109@reddit
My biggest concern would be cartel encounters in South America. Did you ever have to go face to face with them when driving certain areas?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Yup
DJPortapotty@reddit
Got the opportunity to meet and almost work with Sandro, he’s an absolute legend! Keep it up brother
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Thanks man! Where did we meet?
LordSariel@reddit
Wait are you the same guy who drove up to Prudhoe bay and had a flat tire in the pass on the Dalton?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Never had a flat yet, and that was a different guy. I drove to Tuktoyaktuk in the NWT of Canada
nabzim@reddit
That bridge in the first pic is pretty awesome. Also, how many times did you get stuck and need to be recovered along the way? (throughout the whole journey, not the bridge lol)
MrNotOfImportance@reddit
I recognize that bridge, it was on The Grand Tour's Colombia special.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I have been towed out with friends twice! Lots of mud!
nabzim@reddit
very nice
north0@reddit
Really cool. How useful is the solar panel setup? It would take months to charge a battery, I'm assuming it's like a last ditch, "charge for a couple days and then get me a couple miles out of a jam" type use case?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
It does a bit of both, and definitely changed the way I overland! It allows me to stay put for longer without using the HV and I have charged the car about 10km in a day
YawningFish@reddit
You went through deadhorse, ak? How did it handle on that stretch between Fairbanks and Prudhoe? I am planning a trip that is includes a AWD car specifically because of that terrain.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I drove part of the Dalton Highway BUT drove all the way to the Arctic Ocean on the Dempster Highway, Tuktoyaktuk, the other road that crosses the Arctic Circle
AnemoneOfMyEnemy@reddit
Considering that this is far outside the intended use-case of the Model X, I’m curious what your experience with reliability has been.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Most reliable machine I have owned, even surprises me! Belugita and I push hard!
iin10ded@reddit
belugita lol. love it.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Si!
robin_420-@reddit
Super cool! What are you going to do once you reached the end of your trip? Drive back or sell the car and fly home?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Not sure quite yet! TBD
Voodoo_Masta@reddit
Wow, I did not realize this was even possible. I’m literally about to buy a Prado in Paraguay to make a similar journey, now you’ve got me reconsidering. Which were the most difficult parts of the journey with respect to charging? Were the mountainous parts of Sourthern Chile inaccessible because of a lack of charging? Or did you not have time for that little stretch? That region is probably the one I’m most looking forward to.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I pretty much roamed all over Chile all the way down to Puerto Montt. It’s doable for sure!
Gainzzzxz@reddit
Absolutely fookin amazing!!!
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Thanks! It’s been the best decision I have ever made
Gullible_Shart@reddit
What a blast! You just did something that nobody has probably ever done (especially Tesla). Wow I’m jealous bro! Thanks for sharing this awesome story and some pics! Good luck with the rest of your journey!
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Thank youu! There have been a few EV world wide expeditions but we will be the first person in history to solo drive the full length of the Americas
Tranceported@reddit
That’s insane. You should make a visual documentary.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
It’s all on YouTube, most of the journey
CalifOregonia@reddit
This is pretty cool! What has the charging situation been like from Mexico onwards? Does fast charging infrastructure exists? Or are you having to do a lot of trickle charging?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Thank you! From Mexico onward it was quite easy till I got to Colombia. Distances are super tiny in Central America, even some truly remote places. In South America, the chargers due exist (Peru was the hardest by far) but all have their own protocols hindering easy charging. Apps that hard to navigate, creating accounts as a foreigner is impossible, so often I had to find local people and borrow their information. They are trying super hard to Electrify, but instead of trying from ground zero, they should try to figure out what Tesla has mastered over the 20 years
Schnitzhole@reddit
Did you ever just wind up having to plug into someone’s home and slow charge (with permission)? I feel like that might be my goto as i checkout whatever town im in
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I did but it was mostly farmlands in the middle of nowhere once I found camp.
skumancer@reddit
3rd photo looks like Panama.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Really good eye!
skumancer@reddit
Thanks, I know my country pretty well haha!
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I used to live there too when I was younger so coming back was surreal
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Wow, super cool. Thanks for sharing!
TurbulentRole3292@reddit
Wow...rich kids!
overlanding-ModTeam@reddit
Be Kind, Be Respectful
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
That what I might seem, but no. I build this business YT myself, invest any revenue I make into making the best videos possible, and the risk is all on me!
TurbulentRole3292@reddit
Oh I see a yt....
panopticon31@reddit
This is absolutely wild.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Not AI!
panopticon31@reddit
Oh I didn't think it was.
Still absolutely wild that someone would do this in a Tesla. You have big stones for sure.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
A curiosity to explore the world!
BackCountryAus@reddit
I don’t like Teslas at all, but I can get around this, nice work mate!
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
For crossing the Americas, it’s a bit tricky with an EV as I am outside the supercharger network. It does show how well Tesla has done it worldwide in the markets that they are present in
Familiar-Ad-4700@reddit
Heck yeah! We are 3 years in with our Hyundai ioniq 5! I have some catching up to do on your YouTube channel.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Awesome, great car!
IanGGillespie@reddit
Are you a native Spanish speaker?
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Nope, I did live in Panama when I was younger but learned it on the road as well as each country has their own words and phrases
corbin59@reddit
Love it…. Though I’ll say your route choices through North America are a bit of a strange choice! You skipped the entire west coast and drove through the boring middle!!!
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I bounced around a lot, and that picture is just an overview. I did most of the PNW!
AncientSnow4137@reddit
You forgot and 2 sig heils from the founder into this adventure...
overlanding-ModTeam@reddit
No politics or political content
tennezzee88@reddit
lmao trust fund baby
overlanding-ModTeam@reddit
Be Kind, Be Respectful
proteinn@reddit
So cool. I hope solar charging becomes more readily accessible in the future.
joshuaherman@reddit
What do you feel was the hardest part during your travels? It could be a personal issue, trying to navigate a tricky situation, etc.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
A few things, police can sometimes be a bit tricky, but if they want to play games, so can I having all the time in the world. Nothing that I can manage has come up yet, and I take it day by day
funk-of-ages@reddit
I love that slide-out kitchen. Is that DIY?
RoughRoading@reddit
Now this is real overlanding!
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
Thank you, the best places are the ones that aren’t easy to get to. There are plenty of tracks I still want to discover
toxic0n@reddit
My wife and I have been subscribers since you left the Arctic. We enjoy your content. Keep it up Sandro!
We have always wondered if you had considered bringing a small gas generator with you so you can get a quick charge in an emergency situation, but I guess that would against the spirit of your entire adventure.
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
That’s cool! Yes yes, it would take up valuable space. My backups are just regular outlets at campgrounds that have carried us far on this trip
everydaysandro@reddit (OP)
I do have a YT channel and will answer all questions here!
https://youtu.be/9zpQ0ORl2d8?si=4-0diujGz2rqKA0b
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