Best Common Carrier for shipping US to Colombia?

I don't know if this has changed but there used to be a statement on the back of the customs form that said bringing in guns or auto parts was prohibited. This was pointed out to me by a customs agent when I tried to bring in a set go gas shocks for a Chevrolet Vitara I had. I suspect it's a law that protects their auto parts industry. I think your best bet is to go over the vehicle with a fine tooth comb replacing anything remotely worn and pack some fuel, oil and air filters in the truck. Unless you're planning some hard core off road bashing there's no reason a vehicle in good condition shouldn't be able to handle ten thousand kilometers or so of travel including dirt roads. Anyway counting on being able to ship parts from the US to smaller pueblos is probably overly optimistic.

Yunbopete -

Good advice –– thanks. I will be carrying extra filters and other parts that are potential show stopper/weak links but it is a game of trying to outwit the gods of fate. The trouble with new vehicles is that there are many integrated control modules (read "computers"). Baling wire and duct tape are not going to make the machine go!

Though aspiring to avoid outright "road bashing" – we're talking about my temporary home after all – if I think I can make it through a tight spot without damage I'll likely go for it. But if there are no hardships or problems to overcome, travel can be somewhat boring and there are no stories to tell, right? Per Charles Kuralt - "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything." No thanks.

I have traveled through dozens of countries, many with similar protectionist policies, and have always made it a point to fax a copy of my temporary vehicle import document to my parts supplier to include with the shipping documents along with statements to the effect that the parts were for the permitted vehicle which would soon be leaving the country. This has always worked (so far!) though it occasionally also required a bit of pleading and/or exorbitant duties. People nearly always want to facilitate but you have to give them a reasonable justification for bending the strictures of their bureaucracy. Their job (aka food for their family) is at stake. DHL has alway served me well in dealing with aduanas so I'll try to get something set up with them else it will be with FedEx.

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