Ken Cooke - 8-6-2007 at 05:10 PM
I have hosted several years worth of 4WD events, and the results all seem to be the same. The Toyotas and Jeeps seem to live easiest in the bush
while the lifted Chevys are problematic with their I.F.S. suspensions and weak steering systems when running 35" tires, and you hardly ever see
Nissans or Subarus. The Ford Ranger/Explorer tends to break down regularly, and the Super Dutys tend to always get the job done-effortlessly.
I know any vehicle can drive competently down any stretch of Hwy 1, but I am talking trucks, not cars. Does anyone have a preference? And do you
have any weight behind your preference?
Here are some of the people and places I have seen 4WDs operating while south of the border:
Copper Canyon:
Pole Line Road (Mexicali):
La Presa (Tijuana):
Sierra San Pedro Martir:
Ken Cooke - 8-6-2007 at 05:28 PM
Jamul (pic w/Dodge & Suzuki):
Joshua Tree (pic w/Izuzu & Pinzgauer):
Diver - 8-6-2007 at 05:28 PM
I started with my first Explorer in 1992 after owning a Cherokee for a few years. The Ford was a much better built rig at the time and lasted almost
forever with no problems We now have another Explorer that is also doing fine.
I have a '94 F250 SD and a '04 F350 SD, both diesels, that have made many, many miles in Baja and other fun dirt places like Moab.
My opinion;
The Explorers are great for the wife or the communter who only gets gently off-road on occassion and it's only ok in snow. It is not built for
off-road and needs a lot of modifying to toughen it up. The 4 liter engine is fine as long as you don't wind it in the dirt or try to race up a hill
with a load. They are delicate under stress, and espensive.
The Ford trucks are another story. Neither of my trucks has incurred anything more than ball joint or tie rod repair and only after many hours of
merciless washboard. Only downside is they are rough in washboard and when you get stuck, it takes more to get you out.
So I love my F350 and wouldn't trade it for any other truck.
My wife loves her Explorer and wouldn't even trade it when I offered her a trade to a crew-cab Tacoma !
Go figure.
(My last Jeeps were a '72 CJ and a '47 Willy so I can't compare.)
.
[Edited on 8-7-2007 by Diver]
Ken Cooke - 8-6-2007 at 05:38 PM
The trained eye will notice the broken shock mount on the very first picture. Jay pulled his shock absorber and drove all the way home to San Diego
w/o the shock on his rear drivers-side. He later asked us if it mattered, and we all told him that the shock will limit travel, and keep his coil
spring from popping out, losing a brakeline, etc. So, yes, he later fixed the shock mount and made it home safely...
bonanza bucko - 8-7-2007 at 07:26 AM
We have a house at Alfonisina's at Gonzaga Bay. We normally fly down there but about three times a year we drive in over the "road" from Puertecitos
to Gonzaga Bay.
We have had two 4X4 Ford Explorers and a 2004 Toyota Tundra 4X4 over that road. The Explorers couldn't take it!!! The average repair cost after a
trip on that road was $12 per mile...the road is 50 miles each way and each Explorer made one 100 mile round trip and each Explorer cost $1200 to fix
after each trip. The first one lost all istrumentation...the entire instrument panel quit working. The second Explorer had its air conditioning
wrecked...the gate between the heat the air broke...a $20 part that it took $1200 of labor to get at.
When I bought the Explorers...both Limited models...Ford sent me a "No Boundaries" package touting the "off road" capabilities of the cars. I sent
Ford a message that I have found the "boundary"...it's one foot south of Puertecitos!
The Tundra has been over that road five times. IT HAS NOT EVEN DEVELOPED A SQUEEK!
....nuff said.
Now about tires. The only tires that I know of that will make it over that "road" are BFG TA's because they have a three ply side wall. They are the
only tires I know of that have that. The sharp rocks on the road don't shred them. I have a buddy with a brand new Ford Ranger with "Off Road"
Firestones on it. Three of them were shreded withing 10 miles of Puertecitos.
David K - 8-7-2007 at 09:37 AM
TOYOTA ... oh what a feeling!
BajaGeoff - 8-7-2007 at 10:16 AM
My first car was a 1986 Isuzu Trooper 4X4 that was plagued by problems and ended up dying on me. It was fairly reliable, fun to drive off road, but
when the problems started it was a quick decline to the end. After that I got a 1994 Toyota pickup that I drove forever with no major problems...but
it was not really set up for off road. I now have a 2005 4Runner that has been reliable thus far. I have only taken the 4Runner off road once, and it
did fine. My dad has had two 4Runners in the last eight years that he has put through a lot of wear and tear on and off of the beaten path and he
swears by them. When looking to buy the 4Runner, I used Consumer Reports to check out the various options in the SUV category and Toyota consistently
gets high marks across the board.
Sharksbaja - 8-7-2007 at 10:52 AM
I've had good luck with my etc. Years ago it was the Jeeps and Toyotas dragging anchors.
4baja - 8-8-2007 at 06:32 AM
first baja truck a 68 ford bronco, repaird it after every trip.#2 75 toyota land cruiser broke a pair of engine mounts #3 86 toyota truck, never had a
problem. #4 truck 91 toyota xtra cab never had a problem. #5 2001 toyoya xtra cab, cd player failed due to washboard and dust. allso broke a shift
fork other then that perfect. 2005 tundra perfect.
Halboo - 8-8-2007 at 12:04 PM
I put 200,000 miles on an '86 Toyota 2WD 22R PU; countless Baja trips and one journey to Rio Nexpa and beyond; besides all over the western US.
When it came time to step up to something bigger, there was no other choice.
BTW the '86 is now being loved by the kid up the street.
Oh what a feeling.
Cypress - 8-8-2007 at 01:23 PM
Bumper to bumper vehicles on a back country road?
msteve1014 - 8-8-2007 at 06:24 PM
I had a 1980 toyota that was a great truck, but needed a head and a trans. in the 175,000 that I put on it. The 1989 chevy that replaced it went
167,000 HARD miles, and needed a trans. in that time.It was always loaded down and working hard.I now have a 2001 F350 7.3, loaded even more,and not
working half as hard. 83000 miles and no problems yet.
TMW - 8-8-2007 at 06:25 PM
My 91 chevy 4x4 held up very good and has seen many trails in Baja however there are a couple I wouldn't take in down mainly due to the long wheel
base. 227,000 miles before giving it to my son with a new engine and tranny. My 93 Toyota has been everywhere and I would not hesitate to take it
anywhere. My 04 GMC Z71 has been to many of the same places as my chevy. I do believe that a vehicle will work and last as long as you take care of
it. Some are better than others. I have always been impressed with how Toyota puts a vehicle together. Get under it and look at how the vital parts
are protected and how gas, oil, tranny fluid, A/C and electrical lines are run. A very solid look and feel and I do believe that is why they work so
good. My GMC is put together better than my chevy was. I did a lot of things to my chevy based on my Toyota. My trucks have all been stock with the
exception of an add a leaf to the rear and heavy duty torsion bars for the Toyota.