BajaNomad - question for the ground pounders

question for the ground pounders

capt. mike - 8-10-2005 at 06:26 AM

and off roadies out there:

when you go to alfi's the back way thru cocos and take the majority of the ride down mex 1, how is the graded road generally for a 4X2 SUV and towing a very light boat, say 1000 lbs boat/motor and on a Pac boats brand galv trailer, 14' class? i am not a wash board receptive kind of guy. Frankly, the short road from 1 to chivato is more pain in the butt than i ever want to do after having done it twice! And that's only about 18 miles of "jarr"

thinking about hauling a boat down (finally getting one, a starter edition) and easy way is via ferry out of Guaymas for us, but for some extra adventure maybe hitting Gonzaga, BOLA etc might be in order although involves having to go to tecate 1st, a lot of extra driving from AZ.
I'm ruling out san felipe to gonzaga based on me being a wussss!!!!
Well, at least i admit it!

on second thought maybe i can get a baja friend to drive it down for us........any takers there know how to get ahold of me. you could use it as you go.

4baja - 8-10-2005 at 06:43 AM

take tecate to ensenada and down mike, that road is a pain in the ass toweing a boat and the trailer that comes with that boat has very small tires(unless its the baja model)wich could hamper the trip. get your boat down there in one piece and take the pavement. :coolup:

bajaloco - 8-10-2005 at 07:42 AM

Just remember that roads which seem bad in a truck with suspension, is really tough on anything you tow without shocks.

The washboard from Hwy.1 to Gonzaga is much worse than out to Chivato.

I installed back-up nuts or lock nuts on everything possible on my trailers, tie everything down you want to keep, and don't forget the spare tire or two.

Seems like a hassle to some people, but it's kinda like insurance...you hate to buy it , but boy when you need it...... :yes:

Pescador - 8-10-2005 at 08:11 AM

Mike, the fastest way to ruin a small aluminum boat, is to put it on one of those roads. I have seen the transom completely crack as the motor pounds away on it even with a transom saver attached with spring loading. Unless you want to take the time to really set up a baja backroad trailer, the pavement is bad enough. After years of doing this, I finally decided to leave my new boat at Santa Rosalia, and picked up a second boat for short trips to the local lakes in Colorado.
I pulled a boat on that route through Puertocitos one time and after emptying the boat completely and taking the motor off, we were still stopping and tightening things every 6 hours. Only took us 2 1/2 days from Puertocitos to the highway.
Take the boat to Mulege and then bring it up to San Lucas Cove, down to Conception, maybe even to Loreto, and have a ball but keep it one piece.

Capt. Mike

Skeet/Loreto - 8-10-2005 at 09:04 AM

I , Skeet/Loreto do hereby affirm and Agree to transport your Vehicle and Boat to Baja sur for $1,000 Cash and Expenses.
Signed
Skeet/Loreto

bbbait - 8-10-2005 at 10:31 AM

We pull our boats back and forth to Bahia Christina (5 miles blw Puertecitos) all the time. Been doing it for 30 years. Have had our share of problems over the years but just gear up for it and take it easy. I can get it down there for you if you want me to.. N/C... wayno

hows the fishing out of Christina??

eetdrt88 - 8-10-2005 at 01:32 PM

i've camped there a few times on the way down to Gonzaga and always wondered...

Wash board and boats----------

Barry A. - 8-10-2005 at 01:48 PM

I carry my 14' Gregor on top of my 42" Callen Camper, and have made the trip to Gonzaga from San Felipe maybe 35 times-----never had a problem. I have a manual crank (Eide) boat loader so am able to load and unload the boat by myself. I carry the outboard on its side in a thickly padded container under the boat (hoisting it up to the roof with a 1/2 inch nylon line) , and have an 18 gal. gas tank on the roof to carry the extra fuel. 2-6 gal boat tanks on top too which I lower to the ground with the nylon line. I repeat, I have never had a problem with this rig, and I go to the most remote places with it. If the beach is too sandy to safely drive down to the water, I use my winch to haul the boat up to the truck.

All my experiences using even a beefed-up boat trailer have been bad on the dirt roads of Baja. I have completely given up on trailers. 2 completely disintegrated---both from crystalized springs----and I was NOT driving too fast either time.

Diver - 8-10-2005 at 02:28 PM

Mike,

I don't know what you are driving but...

I have taken the trailer for my 14' Lund apart into four pieces (tongue, frame and wheels) and put them on my truck racks. I then put the boat on top, upside down. Motor and wheels go inside with 12 bolts and a socket set. This allows me a lot more freedom on 4wd roads and washboards. Takes about 20 minutes to assemble/dissassemble and almost eliminates the wear and tear factor.

Most of the time we take our 10 foot Zodiak and outboard to Baja. These fit into one suitcase for the boat and one for the floor board inserts totalling under 90 lbs. With the Merc 9.9 it will fly.
A 12' Zodiak is a bit heavier but will go anywhere fast with a 25hp outboard.

capt. mike - 8-10-2005 at 03:11 PM

nuff said...all pavement for me and no side trips......just head to mulege on HW 1.

thx for the offer Skeet but that's out of my league. I have other offers that will amount to gas expended and some airplane time.
and, i may still do it myself but from Sonora with some play time in Guaymas/San Carlos.

side note - anyone know about enclosed boat/RV storage in the Rancho Palos Verdes areas or there abouts??

I towed a 19 foot aluminum boat

Hook - 8-10-2005 at 03:13 PM

probably weighed about 1200 lbs including the trailer. Took it to Alfonsinas.

I'll never do it again. I believe it took about 5 hours, not including stops to bailing wire the side bunks, fenders, etc. into place after losing bolt after bolt.

The only way I'd do it is if I had a place out there and was leaving it.

Steve in Oro Valley - 8-10-2005 at 07:22 PM

Mike:

The incredible punishment that suspensions undergo on that road (San Felipe to Gonzaga) make you realize that modern technology has not progressed much when it comes to driving washboard roads.

The boat on top of a Callen Camper makes some sense. You still have to take it very slowly. The beating that the suspension endures can be very fierce... and transfer to other parts of the vehicle...

exhaust headers, hydraulic lines, nuts and bolts everywhere!!!

Steve in Oro Valley

[Edited on 8-11-2005 by Steve in Oro Valley]

Steve in Oro Vallery------additional info-----

Barry A. - 8-11-2005 at 09:53 AM

When you let the air down to about 15 lbs. on the 285 tires (reads pretty big tires--on 8" wide rims) you can move on down the Puertecitos to Gonzaga road at a pretty good clip (35 mph?) even with the alum. boat on top, and not have any problems. The low pressure in the tires soak up most of the washboard. I also have gas shocks (Bilstein front, and KYG back), and add-a-leafs in the springs fore and aft. (1994 Ford F-250 ext. cab 4x4) The truck rides like a dream, even on the washboard. It pays to slide underneath the truck and check all the nuts and bolts after each trip----and some are always loose. This goes for the screws in the Callen Camper, also. I have put loc-tite on all the panel screws inside the camper and that seems to work. The vibration is the worse enemy of all nuts and bolts, as you have said. I also have replaced many regular nuts (that I can get to) with self-locking nuts---that also helps. It still pays to check after each trip.

I have a "Quick-Air" compressor to blow the tires up when I get back to the pavement. I love that compressor.

I went thru several sets of "helper springs" (bolt on under the spring-pack) until I finally wised up and put in "add-a-leafs" in each spring pack and have had no further problems. The "helper springs" just crystalize and fall off. The add-a-leafs become an intregal part of the spring pack.

All this info even tho Capt. Mike has backed out of his proposed trip. Those "fly boys" sure like their comfort. He is going to miss a wonderful part of Baja-----the challenge of keeping his vehicle together in one piece :lol:

capt. mike - 8-11-2005 at 05:50 PM

ha! hell, Barry - its all i can do to keep my "bird" in one piece!!

man, i am a sucker for toys but have to hold the line someplace!

next time you or anyone else is headed to gonzaga after sept ends....let me know and i'll buzz over for the weekend and split some boat gas with ya.

Capt. Mike-----

Barry A. - 8-11-2005 at 09:58 PM

I will sure keep that in mind----that would be fun. Nothing in my plans for now, but when they take shape I will remember your idea and let you know. I used to be a commercial pilot out of Jim's Air in San Diego, and also for the National Park Service at Cape Hatteras Natl. Seashore, but I have not flown for years. We could probably keep a campfire going for several nights of "all-nighters" on the beach at Gonzaga. :yes:

Al G - 8-11-2005 at 10:13 PM

Barry A.
"I have a "Quick-Air" compressor to blow the tires up when I get back to the pavement. I love that compressor."

Can you tell me more about this compressor? 12v? 120 ac? Can it handle Large tires( 17"- 20")?
Thanks
Al

capt. mike - 8-12-2005 at 03:08 AM

in 1990 or so we chartered a C 402 from Jim's Air to take 5 of us to a project presentation up at LA area, i recall we went to burbank. pilot was about mid to late 50s, longish grey hair and short beard. I was just finishing my instrument and he let me fly right seat, it was morning IFR both ends.....pure fun! did you know him?

Al G and Capt. Mike-----

Barry A. - 8-12-2005 at 01:48 PM

Al G------the Quick-Air compressor is 12V, and can easily pump up big tires in just a few min. each-----vastly better than all the el cheapo air compressors that we usually see. This one is not cheap, ($200 to $300) but it is worth every penny. You can take a look at one at any of the larger "Off road" shops around San Diego or LA----they are pretty compact----the one I have is all self-contained in a small metal box.

Mike-----I was flying for Jim's Air, (and also working there on the flight line) in the mid-60's when it was on the other side of Lindberg Field. I was taught to fly there by "Dutch" Schultz, a retired airline pilot that worked as a part-time instructor, and long haul pilot for Jim. Dutch flew many a "wrecked" airplane out of Baja up to Jim's to be rebuilt and added to the fleet of aircraft the Jim owned. By the way, I believe that Jim of Jim's Air is the one that built the "Villi Vitta" motel at BOLA, and was a very good friend of the Diaz's there at BOLA. That all happened after I was long gone from Jim's Air. I lost contact with the gang there at Jim's Air and do not know any of their personel except Jim's sons who I guess run the place now. Jim was a great guy to work for, and he did a lot of favors for me back then. He was from Peru and a very hard working guy, and got me started in flying. I got my private, commercial, instrument and multi-engine license with Jim's Air. Later I got my amphibian (commercial land and sea) license, and flew a Lake Buccaneer for the National Park Service-----that was a real "kick". I loved that airplane----it is a "rock". (pull the throttle and it drops like one, too) :lol:

great stuff Barry

capt. mike - 8-12-2005 at 02:31 PM

thx for posting. bet you have some stories......hope to hear some or heck, write up here.

synch - 8-13-2005 at 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaloco
Just remember that roads which seem bad in a truck with suspension, is really tough on anything you tow without shocks.

The washboard from Hwy.1 to Gonzaga is much worse than out to Chivato.

I installed back-up nuts or lock nuts on everything possible on my trailers, tie everything down you want to keep, and don't forget the spare tire or two.

Seems like a hassle to some people, but it's kinda like insurance...you hate to buy it , but boy when you need it...... :yes:

Spare tire AND SPARE WHEEL BEARINGS for the trailer.

Perhaps not trailer'ing and just renting one when you get there looks a bit better now?