BajaNomad

Camping recommendations

dtbushpilot - 2-26-2009 at 12:11 PM

Well, we're getting closer every day and I can't wait to get on the road. We will be leaving on the 6th of March, crossing at Mexicali and camping our way down to the East Cape.

I've driven the gulf route a couple of times but never with the camper. We plan to camp in the Alfonsinas area, BOLA, and San Francisquito. I have camped at the other areas that we will be going so I only need advise on the Northern locations.

We have a truck camper that is self contained. Hookups would be nice but not necessary. On or very near the water is a must.

Any recommendations?....dt

[Edited on 2-26-2009 by dtbushpilot]

Barry A. - 2-26-2009 at 12:27 PM

Not enough info--------------if you are 4x4 with fat tires, the sites for camping between San Felipe and San Francisquito are almost unlimited-------litterally dozens and dozens of beaches where you can camp right beside the SOC. But NO hookups or many established formal campsites, which you say you don't need anyway. If you are alone, I would not actually drive down below the "sand berm", near, but above the waterline---------sand can be treacherous on all those beaches!! a winch and a "pull-pal" comes in very handy.

It is all fun.

Barry

Paulina - 2-26-2009 at 12:38 PM

For info on Bahia I would suggest you check out Mia's website as well as her message board.

Here's the link to the beach camping page:

http://www.bahiadelosangeles.info/beach-camping.htm

You'll find other helpful info. on the town if you cruise her website and click on the link to the message board.

Have fun,
P<*)))>{

tripledigitken - 2-26-2009 at 12:45 PM

dtbush,

When we camped at Gonzaga (3 years ago) I didn't notice any campgrounds with water or 110v. Several campgrounds south of Alphonsina's on the beach with Palapa's and "honey buckets".

There won't be hookup's at San Fransisquito, all dry camp.

I can tell you that the graded road from south of San Felipe to Gonzaga is very rough. I have a 3/4 ton 4 by 4 with a 10' Lance and wouldn't even consider taking it over that road. But would go north from Lake Chapala through Coco's to Gonzaga.

Have only camped with our camper at Daggets in BOLA and again I don't think they have hookups. Others here should be able to verify that.

We will be on the road in our camper heading to Mulege for a week from the 14th of March, post a picture of your rig and we will look out for you.

Have fun.
Daggets at Bahia de los Angeles

fernando - 2-26-2009 at 07:49 PM

make sure you buy enough beer for when you are in san francisquito

dtbushpilot - 2-27-2009 at 05:21 PM

Thanks for the info Ken, where is Daggets? Have you ever been to Papa's North of Alphonsina's? I've been to San Fransisquito many times, mostly flying in, really sad how it has deteriorated.

I know the road South of Puertocitos is bad but we aren't in a hurry. I hate to abuse my camper any more than necessary but it seems as though every trip we take in Baja includes large helpings of "camper abuse". We have taken it in to Malarimo Beach, Punta Conception and many other places not suited for a big camper. I thought I would beat this camper into submission then get a nice Lance like yours when I'm able to appreciate it more. Nice rig, by the way.

Here is a link to our Mallarimo trip with a picture of our rig. Keep an eye out for us and I'll buy you a beer.....or maybe you could pull me out of a ditch.....dt

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=32808#pid3392...

tripledigitken - 2-27-2009 at 05:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Thanks for the info Ken, where is Daggets? Have you ever been to Papa's North of Alphonsina's? I've been to San Fransisquito many times, mostly flying in, really sad how it has deteriorated.

I know the road South of Puertocitos is bad but we aren't in a hurry. I hate to abuse my camper any more than necessary but it seems as though every trip we take in Baja includes large helpings of "camper abuse". We have taken it in to Malarimo Beach, Punta Conception and many other places not suited for a big camper. I thought I would beat this camper into submission then get a nice Lance like yours when I'm able to appreciate it more. Nice rig, by the way.

Here is a link to our Mallarimo trip with a picture of our rig. Keep an eye out for us and I'll buy you a beer.....or maybe you could pull me out of a ditch.....dt

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=32808#pid3392...


DT,

Have not stayed at Papa's always on the beach at Rancho Grande (south of Alfonsina's). The campground just south of RG is Beluga and is said to be nicer than RG.

Daggets is on the road to Punta Gringa, which is the paved road north along the Bay about 3 miles from town.

Here is a site which is invaluable re BOLA and it mentions a few sites with hookups that I didn't know about. Let me know how you do. I will look for your rig. We are now leaving a week earlier (7th of March). So may only see you in passing when we head north around the 13th of March.

Thanks for the compliment on the Lance. We have really enjoyed it for just over 10 years now.

http://www.bahiadelosangeles.info/rv-trailer-parks.htm

Ken

[Edited on 2-28-2009 by tripledigitken]

David K - 2-27-2009 at 05:45 PM

Just a friendly Baja spell check, guys:rolleyes:

DAGGETT'S

MALARRIMO

CONCEPCION

ALFONSINA'S

PUERTECITOS

But you do get a big 'atta boy' for spelling San Francisquito correctly!!!

[Edited on 2-28-2009 by David K]

Russ - 2-27-2009 at 05:46 PM

There is always Punta Chivato. I think the beach camping is free now. No water or toilets. If you don't like the camp beach You could drive down my driveway and park on the slab infront of my boat house. Hell, I sold my boat, you could park in the boathouse. Free water and shower to Nomads. And maybe we can load up in my Ranger and take a tour of the beaches here.

Casita from beach.jpg - 45kB

dtbushpilot - 2-27-2009 at 06:11 PM

DK, u no I dont give a s#@t about my spellin... but dont give up, you may refoarm me yet......but dont hold your breth......kuz I dont spel veree gud.

Russ, thanks for the offer, we'd like to stop by for a visit if you will be around. We should be in your neighborhood around the 18th, could be 2 or 3 days either way. I've been to Punta Chivato in the plane but not driving, we'd like to check it out. Can I bring anything down for you?...dt

Paulina - 2-27-2009 at 09:23 PM

Nice house Russ!

Russ - 2-27-2009 at 10:07 PM

Thanks Paulina. But it really looks bigger than it is. It's little more than a studio apt. Perfect for me. But I have a lot of garage space now that I'm selling off my toys. Anyone interested in a '96 F 250 Powerstroke with a Bigfoot camper?:?:

Pescador - 2-27-2009 at 10:10 PM

I have a Dodge diesel with a Lance Camper and I would not drive the Puertocitos road to Chapala. We did it several times with our old Alaska camper and 3/4 ton Dodge but we drove mostly in 2nd gear and really slow. It took us almost three days to do the trip and while we marvelled at the scenery, it was a really rough trip. I measured one of the washboard bumps from crown to the trough and it was 18 inches. We did see an old Lance come across the road but all four mounting screw eyes had pulled loose and they had a strap over the whole camper holding it down.

Barry A. - 2-27-2009 at 10:53 PM

I agree with Pescador-----------even my Callen all-steel frame camper has permanent skin cracks from that road, and the bed-box started to collaspe from the camper weight, requiring me to have to remove camper, the bed box, and have more steel put in and welded up------------that road is a bugger!

Barry

desertcpl - 2-28-2009 at 08:46 AM

I have good freinds that live in pt final,, they call that road "THE ROAD FROM HELL" we was on it last year,, they was right ,, I would not advise you to take your camper,, come in from hwy 1, thru coco's corner then on in to gonzaga bay

[Edited on 2-28-2009 by desertcpl]

fishingmako - 3-3-2009 at 04:30 PM

Russ, I don't need the truck but might be interested in the bigfoot. If for some reason you might want to split them up? I have a crew cab with a short bed, I don't know if that would work.

David K - 3-3-2009 at 05:20 PM

dt, please remember our warnings about the road between Puertecitos and Gonzaga... plan on taking all day to go 50 miles with a big camper.

Coming up to Gonzaga from Hwy. 1 is a good road, and will not make you all worn out after driving it.

Now, I love bad roads... but I am in a lightly loaded mid size truck with air springs added and it is a Toyota, so parts won't fall off and break on that road.

I hope you have a great trip and look forward to your report... no matter which road you use to Gonzaga Bay!:light:;)

Hook - 3-3-2009 at 05:27 PM

You WILL damage your camper. You cant go slow enough to prevent it.

dtbushpilot - 3-3-2009 at 07:18 PM

Ok, I surrender!! I appreciate the warnings. I've driven the road a couple of times but it has been a while and the last time it was in a Ford Expedition.....what a piece of crap! It was my beautiful wife's first trip to Baja. She had wanted to take a trip to Baja for many years but never could find someone with enough of an adventurous spirit until she met me. Perfect example of watching what you wish for.

The Ford was practically new with maybe 20,000 miles on the clock. I wanted her to have "the real deal" so we crossed at Mexicali, stopped at Alphonsinas for lunch and made it to BOLA that evening. I didn't worry much about the abuse to the vehicle but probably should have.

We stayed in BOLA for 2 nights, went on a boat ride with a couple of German folks and one of the Smith boys to an island to do some exploring. The trip merits it's own trip report, maybe later.

Headed out after noon for San Francisquito and stayed 1 night there. Pretty dissapointing as I had been there many times "back in the day" when it was nice.

We went lots of other out of the way places, spent the night in San Isidro and took the dirt road over the mountain to Loreto. I took her to as many out of the way places as I could in 2 weeks. We ate lots of questionable food, stayed in the most rustic accomodations that Jill could imagine and drank more than a few adult beverages.....she was hooked, she has been a Baja nut ever since....and I'm a lucky guy.

As for the Ford, It was a rattling, bouncing, swaying piece of junk by the time I got back to New Mexico. I got rid of it the next week and got a Dodge Pick Up.....problem solved.

As for this trip, I've decided not to take the dreaded road South from Puertocitos, I'm going to cross at Tecate and drive down Hy1 with my tail between my legs. I'm sure I will punish the camper plenty enough on all the other bad roads that we will see on our trip.

I bought 10ply Toyo's and Rancho 9000"s. Today I installed a sway bar that Mateo sent me. Tomorrow I'm going to put the camper on and load it up. Can't wait.

Some of you may recall a thread that I posted a while back about traveling with cats. We made the trip to Buena Vista with them and I still owe you all a trip report....maybe later. The point is that we will be taking them with us on the camping trip.....this has adventure written all over it. I'll take lots of pictures and try to post a timely report.

Thanks again for all the advise, see you on the road.......dt

shari - 3-3-2009 at 07:23 PM

russ's tours come highly recommended by Juan & I...we had a fantastic day with him and well worth the stop...an enchanting host....great bacon....could you please pick up the turtle skull for our collection?

EnseNADAslim - 3-4-2009 at 09:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
As for the Ford, It was a rattling, bouncing, swaying piece of junk by the time I got back to New Mexico. I got rid of it the next week and got a Dodge Pick Up.....problem solved.

Thanks again for all the advise, see you on the road.......dt

Bummer to hear of the Ford, but wow, new Baja Truck, how exciting. I've had good luck with our Explorer and we live here full-time and we drive on bad dirt roads ALL the time. I'm now installing my own control arms on the front end, as this is a almost regular thing.
Good Pick on the Shocks! Those RS9000's are nice and I have a set of those on my 93 F-250's front end, and Bilstiens's in the rear. I just wish I could have afforded them on the explorer.

Happy Travels to you on all your Baja Adventures!!
Seņor Slim:cool:

David K - 3-4-2009 at 09:23 AM

Have fun dt!!!