We are not campers and certainly not RVrs by any means....but the VW Rialta has our attention for some offbeat Baja travel. Pls keep in mind our idea
of "roughing it" would be nothing less than let's say a La Pinta Hotel. But for a few days at a time we think this might work - buffered by a stay at
the Ritz Carlton. Kidding there, but is this a reliable way to get around Baja, EZ to get repairs when needed, comfortable enough for a couple and
tres perros...oh and el gato, if she MUST come along???bajarich - 8-17-2006 at 08:15 PM
We have a friend who has a Rialta. When he took it to So. Utah, he was always banging it on rough roads. Definitely not for much off Highway 1. I
don't know how they are on washboard.
Speaking of VWs
MrBillM - 8-17-2006 at 08:23 PM
VW has chosen a name for their new SUV: TIGUAN (supposed to be a combination of Tiger and Iguana.
The runnerups were: Nanuk, Namib, Rockton
The newspapers have been lampooning the choice as perhaps the worst car name in recent years.bajabound2005 - 8-17-2006 at 09:20 PM
don't much care about car names, just want to know about experience with the Rialta which is an RV not an SUV...Al G - 8-17-2006 at 09:37 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
don't much care about car names, just want to know about experience with the Rialta which is an RV not an SUV...
VW is a VW Most people spell it JOKE!bajabound2005 - 8-17-2006 at 09:46 PM
Al G --see a lot of VWs in Mexico...are you sure about your opinion? Do you have a personal or close to personal experience with the VW Rialta? My
guess is NOT.jerry - 8-17-2006 at 10:04 PM
perhaps a photo specs yr. model im thinking that a lot will be told by the price there selling for as to the demand thus the usability
the vw van was like the first of all baby campers
the bug was another baja staple
and the buggs of today still owe there haritage to the vw dont be taking opinions as gospel check it out and hell go for it make your own history have
a good onejerry - 8-17-2006 at 10:11 PM
ps you will never see the stary sky from the ritz it just a over priced prison with ppl trying to look in and the people inside not being able to see
out
when your sleeping you wont see the walls and the room
when your dreaming your heart will seek tranquility pure quite and pure light will inspire the dreams of a lifetime simple is safe injoylonglegsinlapaz - 8-17-2006 at 10:14 PM
I'd ask the dealer how they do off road, listen to his spiel, THEN take it
for a test drive....OFF ROAD. Where is it written that you have to stay
on pavement during a test drive?Al G - 8-17-2006 at 10:19 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
Al G --see a lot of VWs in Mexico...are you sure about your opinion? Do you have a personal or close to personal experience with the VW Rialta? My
guess is NOT.
Your guess is wrong!!
VW is a death trap and always will be. It is called I can't Stop.
I have no compression. I was built for the young and dumb.
I would say more, but I will wait to be asked?Bob and Susan - 8-18-2006 at 04:52 AM
picture...not the old vw....bajaguy - 8-18-2006 at 06:55 AM
Speaking of VW's......I have a 1973 Thing (Type 181)...cool summer car still going strong!!!!TMW - 8-18-2006 at 07:10 AM
Any motorhome with low ground clearance and long wheelbase is limited to where off road you go. If it's a graded road OK. But if there are rocks and
short spaced dips, washouts etc. your in trouble. If where you normally go is OK then get it. The problem with any motorhome going off road is all the
shaking and bouncing will take it's toll on the body. They're big and heavy and lot's of things can come loose or break. For places I go I'd prefer a
cabover camper on a PU. Maybe one of those windup types for less weight and height. For now I'll stay with my cot under the stars.jerry - 8-18-2006 at 07:26 AM
is it a frount wheel drive?? if it is dont take in on the sand you will be stuck i think you will be fine on the main roadsbajabound2005 - 8-18-2006 at 07:29 AM
Yeah, we were just discussing yesterday what the we need is AWD mini-RV...Oso - 8-18-2006 at 07:53 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
VW has chosen a name for their new SUV: TIGUAN (supposed to be a combination of Tiger and Iguana.
The runnerups were: Nanuk, Namib, Rockton
The newspapers have been lampooning the choice as perhaps the worst car name in recent years.
Originally posted by TW
Any motorhome with low ground clearance and long wheelbase is limited to where off road you go. If it's a graded road OK. But if there are rocks and
short spaced dips, washouts etc. your in trouble. If where you normally go is OK then get it. The problem with any motorhome going off road is all the
shaking and bouncing will take it's toll on the body. They're big and heavy and lot's of things can come loose or break. For places I go I'd prefer a
cabover camper on a PU. Maybe one of those windup types for less weight and height. For now I'll stay with my cot under the stars.
Yeah, what he said. That thing looks too long and low to accommodate short dips that are common in Baja on roads that are really not that bad.
Plus, VW (as well as all the other German mfgrs.) have been scoring really low in reliability ratings thru Consumer's report for some time. Some of
that engineering must be present in the Riata.
A cabover camper is pretty much out with three dogs.
If the vehicle is just going to be used for the occasional trip, I'd consider getting a used 24 foot-or-less Class C RV. Look at used Lazy Days; they
are nice. Get one on a Ford chassis from the mid 90s; they are selling pretty cheap due to the cost of gasoline. Yeah, they will only get around 7-8
mpg but IF you only use it occasionally, it will justify the difference in price between it and the new rig you are looking at. And it will tow a fair
amount of weight if that's of interest.
I used to have one that I put adjustable air bags on it and was amazed how many places it would go with fully inflated dually wheels in back. I took
it all over Vallecito Wash in Anza Borrego SP in sand that was 6-8 inches deep. If the rig is 24 feet or less, the overhang off the back wheels, short
dips wont be an issue.
On washboard, just air down (bags and tires) and go slow. Flying over washboard in RVs will just destroy them.Martyman - 8-18-2006 at 12:25 PM
That Fleetwood pop-up looks sweet. How Much?comitan - 8-18-2006 at 12:44 PM
I googled it $12,00 2006, $9,000 for a 2005.Al G - 8-18-2006 at 01:04 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by comitan
I googled it $12,00 2006, $9,000 for a 2005.
weet
I agree with Martyman, sweet and may be a good price.
I would think the manufacturer would know people would take them off road so it would be worth checking out.
BTW, sorry about my earlier Rant, but almost died in a VW RV.Oso - 8-18-2006 at 02:42 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
The major understanding for MoCo in the U.S. seems to be Montgomery County, Maryland. I suppose it's different in Mexico.
moco= booger. Ad line- "You can leave it anywhere".
(mocoso= snotnosed kid)
Moco
MrBillM - 8-18-2006 at 02:54 PM
I've owned a few vehicles that would fit that description.AmoPescar - 8-18-2006 at 03:11 PM
Bajabound2005,
Well, if you can afford a stay at the Ritz, you might think about getting something like this....
Right on, but it may not end Bajabound2005 quest for support in his decision. Orval, my crewchief in My NASCAR days, was a VW repair station operator
and it was his belief that VW owners did not understand (or care) why most vehicles went 3-4 time longer without repair. I could tell you the whole
story, but I am not interested in wasting more time on VW'sbajarich - 8-18-2006 at 09:24 PM
We have a 1986 VW Vanagon Camper that we just love. It's been all over Baja and we have seen others all over in Baja. Just air down the tires and
they do ok in sand. Ours is the model without the built in stove and refridgerator so it doesn't have a lot hanging down underneath. Lots of ground
clearance with my BFG All-Terrains and it gets almost 20 mpg. It's a much better vehicle for Baja than the Rialta. The Vanagons are better for
offroad than the later model Eurovans which are better for cruising on the highway. Yea it's not fast, but who's in a hurry when you get to Baja.
As far as safety, there is a video on the web that shows a crash test between a Vanagon and a newer model Volvo. The VW rides right up on the hood of
the Volvo and right into the passenger compartment due the low front end on the Volvo. Vanagons were offered with an all-wheel drive from 1986 to
1991. It has a lower 1st gear. Ours is 2wd which has the advantage of cheaper parts than the Syncro. It still goes a lot of places.
My other Baja vehicle is a Dodge Dakota with a 4-Wheel Camper. It will go even more places, but is a gas hog and not near as nice to camp in as the
VW.Al G - 8-18-2006 at 09:42 PM
I really want to be nice, but I gotta!!!
A VW and a Dodge bajarich - 8-19-2006 at 01:41 PM
The VW's 20 years old and still going strong. It's in beautiful shape and is worth almost as much as we paid for it. I can still work on it myself,
I can sleep comfortably in it, and go almost anywhere. Laugh if you want, but you better not be behind me going up the hills, because I'm not in a
hurry.
The Dakota on the otherhand is not so good. It's more like a Ford or Chevy.sciman - 9-10-2006 at 07:40 PM
I'm sure with Bajarich. We've got a '90 Westfalia, and I don't think I'll ever let it go. It's great for Baja though we're not into driving on sand
and we stay away from sandtraps. We can boondock, but we also like riding in it with the dogs and camping at motels;-)
Bajabound was thinking about Rialta. His post was funny but I couldn't tell what he was looking for. He wanted "offbeat travel", but then defined it
as hotel hopping. So I'm not sure if he'd be hunting for sandtraps and hauling along beaches or what. I've been looking at these things, and have some
thoughts.
The Rialta could be great if he was sticking to roads and rv parks for the most part.. maybe a little boondocking in pretty accessible sites. The
Rialta is very low slung in comparison with class C or even most other B van conversions -- it has problems with topes along the road unless the
driver is pretty careful -- and I'd not take it far from pavement. Other vans on Chrysler or Ford systems have more room down below. (I have no
information about the new generation of minin-RVs on the Mercedes-Sprinter.. These are tall and narrow, diesel, and very good on mileage.
The Rialta is small, but very well designed, and because of the side door and interior design it feels more like a living space than say RoadTrek,
PleasureWay or LeisureTravel vans of the older type. It's no longer being made, so service can be an issue -- check with your local VW dealer. There
are lots of VWs in Mexico, and so it'd make sense that one could get some help, though parts for Rialta-(Winnebago) specific parts and additions are
likely to be impossible to get without having them shipped from the states. Space is going to be an issue. Frankly, I live with two dogs in a van, and
can't imagine having three and a cat along;-) Looking toward a C class van, or the Chinook that was mentioned (There are a number of good used ones on
the market these days.) could make a lot of sense.
THEN take it
for a test drive....OFF ROAD. 
Where is it written that you have to stay
on pavement during a test drive?
