BajaNomad - most important in a Baja vehicle

most important in a Baja vehicle

vandenberg - 3-13-2006 at 03:07 PM

A heavy duty pick up automatically supplies load capacity, plus they're all comfy. Comfortable got the highest rating. Strange, what do people want to drive here ?. A cadillac ???

Packoderm - 3-13-2006 at 03:13 PM

1st most important thing: It get's you there.
2nd most important thing: It get's you back.

Bob and Susan - 3-13-2006 at 03:45 PM

When you spend 16 hrs a trip traveling to and from...

comfort counts...

...and a GOOD book on tape :lol:

Sharksbaja - 3-13-2006 at 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
When you spend 16 hrs a trip traveling to and from...

comfort counts...

...and a GOOD book on tape :lol:

Tape? Did you say tape? :lol:

Tape?

eetdrt88 - 3-13-2006 at 04:38 PM

a music playing device used in the last millenium.......these ancient relics may still be found at antique stores and flea markets around the world :lol:

Bob and Susan - 3-13-2006 at 04:47 PM

HEY!!!

Susan had the CD player removed and a tape player installed...

The dealer was REALLY nice too...they didn't charge us anything!!!

Now I know why :lol:

Maintenance

DanO - 3-13-2006 at 05:02 PM

The most important thing in the vehicle is how well it's taken care of. Fluid and tire pressure maintenance, checking belts, bushings and u-joints, replacing worn shocks and brakes, all help to prevent breakdowns and delays.

The second most important thing: Satellite radio. I'm wondering how I ever lived without it.

Ken Cooke - 3-13-2006 at 05:41 PM

How my vehicle handles the backcountry in Baja has always been a priority with me...

[Edited on 3-17-2006 by Ken Cooke]

comitan - 3-13-2006 at 05:53 PM

For me it has to be dependability.

David K - 3-13-2006 at 06:45 PM

Why Toyota Tacoma is the best Baja vehicle for me:

1) Will go anywhere I have taken it.

2) Will not breakdown, the most dependable vehicles I have ever owned! On #2 now... #1 had 136,000+ trouble free miles at the end of the 5 year lease.

3) Comforatable? I'll say, it sure doesn't feel like a pickup truck! Drives 90 MPH (passing long lines of trucks and RVs)as nice as 60, handles great.

4) More power than I'll ever need: 236 HP from a V-6 (regular fuel).

5) Even though this is a four door and the bed is about a foot shorter than my last Tacoma (an extra cab), the newer, larger 2005 Tacoma has a deeper, wider bed and I can fit the same amount of cargo in it as I could my 2001 truck.

6) Fuel milages have ranged from 16 to 20 MPG with 18 being the most common figure for my daily driving. This is the SAME good milage as my smaller '01 Tacoma got.

Oh, what a feeling!!!

Here's a couple of my '01 at Mision Santa Maria, since Ken posted his Wrangler Rubicon photos in there...

[Edited on 3-14-2006 by David K]

bancoduo - 3-13-2006 at 07:27 PM

How about common sense? :bounce:

bancoduo - 3-13-2006 at 07:33 PM

DAVID K

Is this a Toyota Carlsbad free commercial. RUBICONS rule. :biggrin:

tim40 - 3-13-2006 at 08:41 PM

My plane Jane Jeep Unlimited gets me every place I want to be.....ohh, and back..

Bruce R Leech - 3-13-2006 at 08:41 PM

my answer is none of the above.

to me Reliability is most important fallowed by repairability. old Ford pickups are a good choice.

Capt. George - 3-13-2006 at 08:53 PM

Whistler,

you know me, cleanliness is next to godliness..

I'd have to go with a washed and waxed vehicle..also custom mirrors!

when you back??? el Vikingo

Dang

Sharksbaja - 3-13-2006 at 09:07 PM

Whistler that is a rough one. Since I have graduated to a new truck finally I can say in retrospect that all those choices are very much appreciated by me . So far with this truck I only really need some more aftermarket goodies.There are choices for so many aftermarket parts.. There is just so many cool upgrades and stuff for trucks now it's a piece of pie to put one together for many. Engines and powrtrain upgrades another story but for the most do-it-yerself off-road isn't that big a deal anymore. Heck, you can lease em new and beat em up in another country and no one could care less. Just don't alter them. :lol:

Bruce , you are right about that. I can't imagine losing ignition or injection because of a sensor or computer code indicating a failed component, Yikes! Will I ever sleep comfortably off-road again?? We'll go see! :lol:

[Edited on 3-14-2006 by Sharksbaja]

Frank - 3-13-2006 at 10:16 PM

I said off road handling. If it handles offroad well, it will be really good on Mex1. This is what i'm driving.

BAJACAT - 3-13-2006 at 11:02 PM

For me is passing power don't want to be in the back of the line trailing a big semai. so thats why I tell you guys grave Baja by the horns and drive a DODGE (Hemi is not a option is a must>>

Dodge rammmmmmmmmmm

BAJACAT - 3-13-2006 at 11:07 PM

Toyos

Sharksbaja - 3-14-2006 at 12:34 AM

Whistler... still love em. Just tried em out(unintentionally) on frozen roads a couples days back. I swear they have better hard-surface gription than those Open Country A/Ts. The noise is minimal still. No wearpatterns showing yet either 15k +. Get em, you'll like em.

before:

[Edited on 3-14-2006 by Sharksbaja]

Toyo upgrade

Sharksbaja - 3-14-2006 at 12:38 AM

and after:

Capt. George - 3-14-2006 at 07:00 AM

Glenn

be in florida by then. The real question is "how long will I last in the states?"

La Beliza property sold..still await Keys sale..Some pretty good corvina/croaker fishing from the beach...will try (agian) Estero Coyote manana...hope it's better then it has been!

later amigo George

Joaquin Suave - 3-14-2006 at 09:20 AM

I say simple, no frills, frosty beverage holders, and an inner-cooled turbo-diesel.

Frank - 3-14-2006 at 12:48 PM

Toyo MT's ...Im riding on the same tires. REALLY quiet even for a MT. One ofthe few E rated tires in a 18" rim.

Pablo - 3-14-2006 at 02:39 PM

I purchased my Toyota 4wd standard cab pickup new in 1993. The only option, I opted for was AC.
I installed Bilstein shock. shortly after purchase. Has 200k+ miles, many over the back roads of Baja, and Arizona. Knock on wood, it hasn't left me setting on the side of the road, and other than having to replace the front wheel berings several times, (manual hubs), and standard maintence, brakes etc., No major problems. By far the best vehicle I have ever owned, except for perhaps my 1957 Ferguson F-40, tractor, it is truly amazing, and easy to work on.
The options are nice, but its one more thing to go wrong.

Bob and Susan - 3-14-2006 at 05:52 PM

Pomp
We're pretty happy with General Ameritrac LT 235-80R17

Price for six was ~$1400 for six tires.

Smooth riding

80 pounds in the rear and 70 in the front

Diver - 3-14-2006 at 06:19 PM

If you like highway tread....very quiet !
I had great luck with Michelin LX 10 ply for almost 60,000 miles on my last F250.

bancoduo - 3-14-2006 at 07:55 PM

bancoduo - 3-14-2006 at 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KAT54
Bancoduo at least DK has been to the baja.
You have never crossed the border.

CAT54

You are a little man. :no:

BOLABOUND - 3-14-2006 at 08:05 PM

You need the handling on the dirt, mud, and water and the rest comes with good handling.

Fatboy - 3-14-2006 at 09:50 PM

Quote:

Toyo upgrade

Sharksbaja,
Is that your HiLift I see peeking out from under there?

capt. mike - 3-15-2006 at 06:18 AM

i voted for comfort.......the best feature in a vehicle for baja is WINGS!!!! :lol:

if you really want to get around............get off the ground!!

bancoduo - 3-15-2006 at 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KAT54
I like my Hummer.
Much nicer than the military unit.
Toughness.
Bancodu-Meet me at La Fonda Ensenada Sat 5:00PM I'll buy you a beer.
My friends are letting me use their house near there.
Look for my Hummer outside.
I'm the big guy with the white hair near bar.
I'll explane what KAT54 really means.

Do you mean La Fonda in La mision. I don't know where La Fonda Ensenada is. :?:

Sharksbaja - 3-15-2006 at 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fatboy

Quote:

Toyo upgrade

Sharksbaja,
Is that your HiLift I see peeking out from under there?

Yep. good eye Fatboy! Keep the sand pad elsewhere.

KurtG - 3-15-2006 at 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
i voted for comfort.......the best feature in a vehicle for baja is WINGS!!!! :lol:

if you really want to get around............get off the ground!!

Sorry Mike, nothing matches a good motorcycle with knobby tires. I even get it airborn from time to time!

Sharksbaja - 3-15-2006 at 03:48 PM

"I even get it airborn from time to time!"

Who doesn't!!

Bob and Susan - 3-15-2006 at 04:17 PM

..yea..speedbumps...where do they come from...

Bruce R Leech - 3-15-2006 at 07:18 PM

I gotta go with capt. mike on this one . the plane has it hands down :bounce:

I would have to go along with the plane as thee best Baja vehicle...

Pompano - 3-15-2006 at 07:48 PM

What 4X4 can jump THIS far above my roof!

Bruce R Leech - 3-15-2006 at 07:58 PM

I think you Win Mike

my baja vehicle

eetdrt88 - 3-16-2006 at 11:13 PM

who needs a plane when you have one of these :lol:

Bob and Susan - 3-17-2006 at 06:04 AM

Mexray has one :lol:

Capt. George - 3-17-2006 at 07:04 AM

How about a poll:

most important in a Baja "significant other"?

anyone up for that??

capt g

"Most Important " .... INSURANCE

Pompano - 3-17-2006 at 08:54 PM

How many wrecks like this have we all seen?...WAY too many.

[Edited on 3-19-2006 by Pompano]

rob - 3-20-2006 at 10:47 AM

I was interested in David K's 130,000 miles on a 5 year lease . . .

I remember leasing a couple of vehicles in my shady past where you were allowed no more than 15,000 miles per year and had to drive on shag carpet no thinner than 1.5 inches, submitting all receipts for maintenance weekly.

I would REALLY like to know the lessor who let David loose in Baja for 130,000 miles 5 years ago - is he still in business??

Best wishes

ROb

David K - 3-20-2006 at 06:00 PM

Hi Rob,

Next time I am driving south of Punta Conejo, I'll stop by and show you the contract! :yes:

Seriously, there is no legal limit to the miles, just depreciation for the high milage... I have a truck to drive, not sit in the garage, afterall! I find it hard to believe anyone would get a $30,000+ rig that drives this nice and not drive it! The lease is through Toyota Financial and all my servicing is done at Toyota so on record... The recommended oil change is every 5,000 miles... I do it every 3,000. Major servicing (more than oil changing) is every 15,000 miles.

My Toyota is my only vehicle and my irrigation business has me driving up to 100 miles a day driving to customer's homes... then there are my trips to Baja for fun...

When I first leased, 5 1/2 years ago the milage question was the first one I had... My Toyota dealer said there is no milage penalty (ie. over the 12,000 mi./ year lease) if I traded in for another Toyota at the end of the lease. Good thing I liked the truck so much that I wanted another!

What does hurt is the lower value from the high milage when you convert one lease to another... But, it wasn't anything I couldn't handle... Just $1,000 down and a payment of a just hundred dollars a month higher than my '01 Tacoma for the bigger 4 door '05.

Why lease at all? Well, it is a business vehicle and without having a large down payment for affordable payments, it was my only option for getting a new truck.

What's in it for Toyota? Well, they sell a new vehicle every 5 years even though the vehicle is built so well it will last many years more... I am sure they are making good money, which is fine by me because I am a very satisfied customer. I want them to profit to keep up the product research and development!

[Edited on 3-21-2006 by David K]

Bob and Susan - 3-21-2006 at 04:38 AM

Davis David David.....

No penalty for high miles???? no way

The dealer bought the car from the lessor at current value with those hi miles and...

you are paying the differance in your payment each month on your new lease....

It works for a couple of times but eventually it catches up to you.

most important in a Baja vehicle

Pompano - 3-21-2006 at 06:26 AM

Off-road versatility and self-sustaining abilities. And a bookrack of good campfire recipes.

Frank - 3-21-2006 at 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
Davis David David.....

No penalty for high miles???? no way

The dealer bought the car from the lessor at current value with those hi miles and...

you are paying the differance in your payment each month on your new lease....

It works for a couple of times but eventually it catches up to you.

Do you mean there is no free lunch? :lol:

Bob and Susan - 3-21-2006 at 07:57 AM

i almost wrote that :lol:

David K - 3-21-2006 at 06:38 PM

Quote:

The point is it worked fine for me... Who cares what the dealer did. I got a brand new four door 4WD Baja truck for $1,000 and just a hundred a month more than I was paying for a smaller, 5 year old truck with 136,000 miles on it.

In 5 years I may just be in a position to purchase a truck... I wasn't last August to have payments low enough for my budget, so the lease was the only way to go. I am happy, so what's the problem, eh?

Bob and Susan - 3-21-2006 at 06:56 PM

I am completely in favor of leasing....don't get me wrong

Who cares who holds the title...

but....

You bought the truck by how much the payment was
and not the final price.

Most people are talked into purchasing their new vehciles this way...
They rolled you into a negative balance and later...you will PAY!!!

But...it's just money and you have control of that nice machine....
at least for 5 years....enjoy it.

David K - 3-22-2006 at 06:38 PM

I suppose... whatever... I just needed to get out of the 5 year lease that was a month or so from ending on my '01 and I wanted to get a bigger (4 door) as my kids aren't small anymore.

I unloaded my '01 and stepped into my bigger '05 without any hassles or sweat, and for the little money I had available to me at the time.

Oh, a month later they called me back to make a small change that lowered my monthly payments!

Yes, I really liked everything about getting a new Tacoma at Toyota Carlsbad... BOTH TIMES