Missions, mines, beaches, are the few places to visit any
suggestions where to stop first, any secret spots? I like to
stay close to the beach. Ive been to Bahia de los angeles 100xs.
I ll probably end up living there some day.
Probably be leaving mid Feb. So start packing.mcgyver - 2-6-2006 at 06:00 AM
You will find a lot of us in those secret spots ( most it seems in Toyota Tacoma's) You could spend a hundred years between the border and BOLA and
still have places left to see... Stop and say hello.boe4fun - 2-6-2006 at 12:41 PM
I'll be leaving around Feb 17th and head to Guererro Negro to whale watch and look at Indian Cave Paintings, then on to El Arco/San Franciscito and
end up at Doc's Camp Gecko. Plan on staying a total of 12 days, taking my brother for his first trip down. Let me know if you want to caravan:
boe4fun@msn.com. Pura Vida.David K - 2-6-2006 at 02:49 PM
Have fun... wish I could join yah!
This is the great central region of Baja with just SOOOO much to see and do!
As always, if you need a list of places I consider hot spots, let me know.Bruce R Leech - 2-6-2006 at 04:37 PM
there are lots of secret spots but I cant tell you where they are
Look for my new book...The Secret Spots of Baja...
Mexray - 2-6-2006 at 05:01 PM
...as you open the book, the first page will have an out lined map of Baja California. All the populated areas, cities, villages, etc will be
'blacked out', leaving only white blotches remaining - The Secret Spots of Baja!
All the remaining pages will be 'blank', leaving lots of space for the reader to enter details of their own personal 'Secret Spots'...Bob and Susan - 2-6-2006 at 05:35 PM
boe4fun
i'm leaving on the 17th too...
wave if you see my tractor....
[Edited on 2-7-2006 by Bob and Susan]David K - 2-6-2006 at 05:44 PM
Funny Mexray! Will you have a GPS waypoint for each 'secret spot'???
Bob...
Mexray - 2-6-2006 at 05:48 PM
...won't that be a 'long' trip down...that tractor couldn't have a road speed over 15 mph....
[Edited on 2-7-2006 by Mexray]
David...
Mexray - 2-6-2006 at 05:53 PM
...we're going to call them 'SSoB Waypoints'...and use large red 'stars' on the map...each star will cover about 50 square miles so as to really
'pinpoint' that SSoB....BajaDanD - 2-6-2006 at 06:10 PM
We're heading down to San Ignacio to Kuyima's leaving on the 17th early AM from SD And would'nt you know it We're in a Toyota Tacoma 4x4, Red with
pipe rack and a Big dog. maybe we will see you along the way.
DanDmcgyver - 2-6-2006 at 07:47 PM
Here is my rig, the Geo allows me to carry more camp comforts like extra ice and gas and gives me a second chance in case of the ultimate "STUCK"
since we are by our selves most of the time and it can get lonely in some of those secret places!
towed vehicle
BajaDanD - 2-6-2006 at 11:14 PM
I like the idea of pulling a tracktor behind my truck better that way I can just dig out and make a road. bajarich - 2-7-2006 at 11:42 AM
Wow! 8wd! Is that a 4-Wheel Camper? The "ultimate stuck" is when you drive both vehicles into the mud up to the axles. There are also 8 tires to
have flats and twice as many parts to break. All you need is a bigger truck with a good winch and a Pull Pal.Debra - 2-7-2006 at 12:27 PM
I'm already packed, see ya there.....
Green 4Runner, Wa St. plates, Lot's of Baja stickers.bajalou - 2-7-2006 at 12:49 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajarich
Wow! 8wd! Is that a 4-Wheel Camper? The "ultimate stuck" is when you drive both vehicles into the mud up to the axles. There are also 8 tires to
have flats and twice as many parts to break. All you need is a bigger truck with a good winch and a Pull Pal.
There are lots of other back road hazards than just "stuck" that can attack us. Second vehicle sounds good to me.bajarich - 2-7-2006 at 02:54 PM
You can take a friend with a second vehicle. You don't have to tow it. I seems to me thats quite a load for a Tacoma with a 6 cyl. engine,
especially when it gets rough. Do you unhitch, drive 1 through and then the other?mcgyver - 2-7-2006 at 05:44 PM
Well the Tracker thinks its a Tractor so lets not tell it any different! Yes, that is a 4 Wheel Popup that I got from Westy. Yes I have a pull-pal
but my winch is kuput.
Last year at Mallarimo when we had broke everything else , Butch Fletcher rode 128 miles in that tracker being towed behind the Tacoma from EL Queen
to Vizcino to get his Carryall and trailer for the 6 passenger VW that was broke. ( the Tracker had ate its rocker arm screws from overreving down
sand dunes.) He is tougher than me!! just imagine being in a towed Geo 6 foot behind a Taco on a gravel road doing 50-60MPH , No visibility 128
miles!!!
The 6 cylinder engine is great, good mileage, good highway speed. We typically make 2000 miles trips from Puertocitos to Bahia Guadalupe, BOLA, Las
Animas, San Fransquito, EL Arco, Mallarimo via Bahia Tortugas, then back on the Pacific coast goat trails and never had to unhook but 2 or 3 times.
Other than to turn around in canyons etc. Not much of that is paved.
One time I was glad I had it behind me was going down that grade at Buena Vista heading down to Puerto Caterina, the road had some fresh gravel on it
and the Tacoma was slideing down it with all wheels locked, putting the Geo into 4WD Low range and 2nd gear gave me control going down, I measured
parts of it at 24%.
Coming backup with all the approach speed possible in 4WD and down shifting as needed with wide open throttle got me to the top. Neal Johns and David
K sold me on Tacoma's , although Neal can break parts on them that the factory says is impossible. (Tie-Rod/Balljoint Connection).
If it gets bad I take the Geo first!!
We are packing now for the run south, hopefully next week, will probably make it to La paz before turning around, we will look for all you Nomads,
even those who don't have Tacoma's.
PS: I have Michlin LT ATV 265 75 R 16 tires with an agressive tread.David K - 2-7-2006 at 08:08 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajarich
You can take a friend with a second vehicle. You don't have to tow it. I seems to me thats quite a load for a Tacoma with a 6 cyl. engine,
especially when it gets rough. Do you unhitch, drive 1 through and then the other?
The V-6 now is 4000 cc's and over 236 horsepower... state of the art engine technology... Even the previous 3400 cc V-6 had more power than I ever
could use.... put 136,000 miles on it in 5 years... Believe I could easily do twice that with no problems.bajarich - 2-7-2006 at 09:30 PM
I have considered buying a used Tacoma to replace my Dodge Dakota. I also have a 4-Wheel camper. What kind of milage do you really get with the
camper on and a full load for Baja. Do you have a stick or auto trans, and how does the thing handle the weight. I talked to a guy who had a 4-Wheel
camper on an older Tacoma and he told me about his bed making popping sounds like it was oilcanning under the camper. I added Air-Lift bags to my
Dakota, but the supports they gave me bent with the load, so I added an extra leaf to my springs and junked the Air-Lifts. I carry a lot of stuff:,
mountain bikes; 2 sea kayaks, snorkeling gear, extra water and gas, + the weight of the winch, pull pal, & high lift jack. I also haul a 14' boat
& motor & gas & fishing gear. It all adds up to more than I should have on the Dakota. I don't know if a Tacoma could take it all. I
sometimes think I should move up to a 3/4 ton truck, possibly a diesel, although the oil companies seem to have taken the economic advantage out of
the diesels up here in the States.mcgyver - 2-8-2006 at 03:58 AM
Bajarich,
Well mine is a auto w/od & shift lockout and power range, with "Timberlin" overloads and LT 265 75R Michlin tires which is 1 size over stock,
throws speedo off but not much, I run 20 PSI everywhere unless on the freeway stateside loaded down.
My wife has kept detailed log of all our travels since 1983 which includes the Arctic Circle to Cabo, coast to coast in USA, Mainland Mexico crosswise
to over 1000 miles. Records kept include when and where living or camped,all expenses, income, and major events.
16 years of this time were spent living in travel trailers or motor homes full time while we pursued various business and occupations, its fun to set
back and read about .89 cent gas and 7 MPG. big block V8,s.
It is hard to set an exact MPG because my loads vary so much but generally i keep the pop-top on all the time but empty and average 16.9<>
highway at say 70 mph.
When I start south with a full load towing the Geo I have 95 miles of washboard, mountains,blind curves and vados, then 50 miles of pavement to BOLA
then another 28 of washboard gravel to Las Animas turn off and then 10 miles of washes and sand is 208 miles and I have averaged 17.3 over all my
trips.
Load on the Taco is 1500 LBS<> including 2 people.
Load on Geo including 15+gal of water, 10 of gas,extra spare tire,hi-lift & tools,propane, extra 5 day icechest -full etc, etc 550 LBS <>.
I have 1/4 tank or better left at BOLO unless we make the side trip to Bahia Guadalupe or San Borga on the way. I fill up in BOLO and can make it to
Guerrero Negro via San Francicquito & EL Barril with no problem using the extra 10 gallons I carry for side trips in the Geo on an average 10 to
14 days trip.
Fill everything up in GN and return via some Pacific coast goat trails if its not cold and foggy.
I have about what you have except the kayaks and the wife probably adds that many rocks to the Geo, one time coming back from our mine in New Mexico I
weighed the load in the Geo at 980 LBs, all rocks.
You should have got David Ks old Taco, it was just getting broke in good when he traded.
I have the 4 Wheel camper fastened all the way through to the frame in front and chains and turnbuckles under the hitch receiver in back which lead
forward to keep it from working back and forth, it has held on so far including a "TOPE" at 70 mph at Ej. Yucatan up on Mex 8 that busted the front
shocks and sent me in for a realignment.bajarich - 2-8-2006 at 11:22 AM
Thanks, appreciate the input. I weighed my Dakota last year with it empty, and then weighed it again loaded for the trip and it came up to a 1900 lb.
load, not counting the wieght of the winch mount on the front. I also have an auto trans, but I run 31 x 10.50 BFG All-Terrains. I get 12 mpg on the
freeway with the boat on the back, but slightly less in Baja due to the hills and windy roads. The Dakota is a bigger truck with a 5.3 V-8 that is
rated at 230 hp.
My camper is a shell model that I had them put the factory cabinets & seat in. I added a Dometic fridge that I already had and just use the
cabinet space for storage. I use a Coleman stove and cook & wash dishes outside under the 7' x 10' awning. When I got it, they installed the 4
eyebolts so it was pulling the camper in towards the front of the bed. What that did was to bend the front panel on the bed toward the cab. I fixed
the problem by adding a solid piece of steel to the bed that the camper pushes against. I see that they now make the tie downs so the pull against
each other. I also had to repair one of the tiedowns that pulled through the plywood. I added big washers on all of the tiedown to spread out the
force over a larger area. 'Havent had a problem since. I don't mind having my kitchen outside because I usually set on the same beach for a couple
of weeks at a time. When I am traveling I just use my 1-burner backpacking stove.
Unfortunately, I can only watch while you go this year, but next year I'll be back in Baja. We are going to make a resort trip to Mazatlan in March
and that will have to do satisfy me until next January. Have fun!!!mcgyver - 2-8-2006 at 12:11 PM
Bajarich,
There is nothing built that can not be improved on! I have never owned anything that I did not tear apart to see how it worked, that's
how I originally got the Mcgyver handle .
On the back roads of Baja some JB Weld and duct tape can save your life.
See Ya down the road.
[Edited on 2-8-2006 by mcgyver]elgatoloco - 2-8-2006 at 12:37 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by mcgyver
.........a "TOPE" at 70 mph at Ej. Yucatan up on Mex 8 that busted the front shocks and sent me in for a realignment.
Holy guacamole Batman! Pablo - 2-8-2006 at 01:48 PM
Bailing wire comes in mighty handy. I always pack a roll, but usually it can be found along the side of the road.mcgyver - 2-8-2006 at 05:13 PM
Quote:
NO-NO, not guacamole it was my tongue that I ate!
Bajarich says 236 HP in a 6 cly is not enough! David K and I say its between plenty and too much!
I would get better mileage but I cruise at 80-85.
Quote:
Originally posted by elgatoloco
Holy guacamole Batman!
bajarich - 2-8-2006 at 10:18 PM
I didn't know that a Tacoma had 236 hp. Thats more than my V-8 Dakota with less weight. When I bought my Dakota (1998) the Tacoma had much less
& I haven't looked at them since. What year is your Tacoma?David K - 2-9-2006 at 12:52 AM
Here are a couple of the specs from Toyota.com:
4.0-liter DOHC EFI V6 with VVT-i
236 hp @ 5200 rpm
266 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
4WDemand: part-time 4-wheel drive system with
2-speed electronically controlled transfer case (4x4)
Transmission
6-speed manual transmission
or
5-speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive
transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)
I have the 5 speed automatic (and you can manually select to stay in any of the 5 speeds, sort of a non-clutch tranny if you want control on
downgrades).
My Tacoma is a 2005 which is the first year for the new, larger body and bed, composite bed, 110 volt built in inverter, lot's of storage
compartments, full size off road tire for a spare, etc.
Oh, you want to make sure to get the TRD package...
TRD Off-Road Package (OC) -- SR5 Package #2 plus off-road tuned suspension with Bilstein? shocks, 16-in. alloy wheels with P265/70R16 BFGoodrich?
Rugged Trail T/A tires, locking rear differential, engine skidplate and fuel tank protector, front tow hook, 115V/400-watt deck mounted power outlet,
multi-function overhead console with compass and temperature gauge, sport seats with sport fabric and driver's lumbar support and sport fabric, and
TRD Off-Road graphics (V6 models)
Here's the SR5 Package #2 that comes with the TRD Tacoma:
SR5 Package #2 (SL) -- Convenience Package #1 plus chrome grille surround and rear bumper, color-keyed front bumper and color-keyed overfenders
(PreRunner and 4x4 models only), metallic-tone instrument panel trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, variable intermittent windshield
wipers, sun visors with sliding extensions and vanity mirror, SR5 badging, upgraded seat fabric, driver's seat with lumbar support, and fog lamps (V6
models only).
