Thanks for the post Rob. I'm at work so I have to keep this short. I agree that the cost of doing it the way you describe is about the same as a service. lat year the cheapest I found was about $1400US, which of course is higher now due to fuel prices.
My vehicle is an Isuzu Vehicross, which most are not familar wth. its basically a shortened trooper frame and 3.2L gas (trooper,Rodeo, etc).
www.vehicross.info if anyone is curious.
I could have moved it at the begining of the year, but took my first major vacation in five years and went to Corrigedor and Borcay (shoe string budget of course). Three years ago I was jobless, pennyless, and almost homeless. My situation has definately improved, but cash has been an issue. Still is. But I enjoyed the trip.
Jonathan Lewis