I need a little (???) help/advice. I am planning a trip with my son from Miami to Anchorage and then south all the way to Santiago, Chile and from there to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It will last about 4 to 5 months and around 20 to 25 thousand miles.

The car:
My intention is to get a 2008/2009 F-250/350 and a pop up camper that goes "inside" the bed, like this one [northstarcampers.com/TS1000-01.asp]. It wheights about 2,000 pounds. Is the double rear wheels a must or SRW will do fine? I need to considerer that the truck will go through dirt roads and most probably some muddy ones on the way. I think DRW may will improve breaking distance and better distribute the weight and thus diminishing my chances to get stucked on mud, am I correct?
The bad point on DRW that I'm considering is that the truck will be a lot wider, not a big issue in most of the US but may be on narrow dirt roads in Central and South America, not to mention a pain to find parking spots.

The motor:
I believed I would be much better serve with a diesel engine as it used to be simplier and more reliable then gasoline. But now with all technology, electronics, sensors, limiters, catalyst etc. That is so much more to brake that I wonder is diesel nowadays are really that much realiable, opinions?

The fuel:
Also diesel engines used to digest "bad" fuel better then gasoline but now we have ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) and there is even a warning to use only this kind in the F-350. Well, ULSD have from 50 to 15 ppm of sulfur while Brazil's diesel has 2,000 ppm in rural areas and 500 ppm in metropolitan areas. I'm affraid that some sensor may even shut down the motor by detecting this "bad" fuel.
And what about the diesel-exhaust fluid (DEF)? Will the car stop if the resevoir finish? Will it work without it or some sensor will also block the emgine?

The transmission:
I would go for manual transmission, also think is more reliable, cheaper (and easier) to repair and find parts on the move. But damn it is hard to find a 08/09 low mileage diesel 4x4 crew cab manual!!! Would anyone here risk a trip like this on an automatic transmission?

Any other issues I should consider?

If anyone cares to see, here are the routes of some of the trips I made: Car trips

Thank you all

 

Welcome to FTE Acromerreca, this sounds like quite a trip.
For good advice post in the General Diesel Discussion forum: General Diesel Discussion - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
Also check in the International Region chapter to see if anyone has done a similar journey: International Region - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
Good luck, have a safe and a happy trip!

 

Thank you, I tough this would be the right place to post, apparently I did not search enough :-)
Will copy to the thread you seggested an hope for a few replys.
rgds,

Renato