BajaNomad

San Jose Comondu Road

motoged - 1-18-2011 at 12:20 PM

Some recent pics from a ride report:

"The road from San Javier (just west of Loreto) to San Jose de Comodu is pretty washed out and although doable on a big bike, it's really rough right now." :

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=650975









David K - 1-18-2011 at 12:24 PM

Looks great for a Tacoma!

shari - 1-18-2011 at 12:28 PM

we stopped at lots of ranched to ask about road conditions and now I see why they told us that road was only really advised for a dirt bike or burro.
Ged...u2u me your phone #.

TMW - 1-18-2011 at 12:51 PM

DK I'll let you know if a Tacoma can do it. I'll be down in April and plan to try that road in my new 2004 Tacoma.

Paula - 1-18-2011 at 08:37 PM

Thanks for the link, Ged. Don't think we'll be driving it for a while:biggrin:
As I understand, that is the route they will pave to connect Loreto to San Juanico. They are working from both ends. It is such beautiful clean desert up there, it's kind of a shame.

woody with a view - 1-18-2011 at 08:51 PM

that road is SOOOO doable in 4x4. looks like mulege to purisima to SJ. same tough roads. 3 years ago there was multiple sections like the one with the bike dumped that were all exposed rock. the hurricanes washed away all of the dirt. they need to fix it. SJ is so hard to get to, that after all of the dusty hours on the trail, EVERYONE (from so cal.) is there to greet you. it really is a shame.....

but hey, bad roads=good people. good roads=more $...... who am i to argue with progress?:light:

[Edited on 1-19-2011 by woody with a view]

David K - 1-18-2011 at 11:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
DK I'll let you know if a Tacoma can do it. I'll be down in April and plan to try that road in my new 2004 Tacoma.


Is it a TRD (rear locker)?

TMW - 1-19-2011 at 09:47 AM

I had a locker put in a couple of weeks ago. Will install lift (leveling kit) probably next week. Am finishing up the front bumper guards and lights now.Will keep the same tires (31inch) until they wear out then go for 32 inch with 33 inch for a future date. Trying to figure out how to do a front hitch for my portable winch.

TMW - 1-19-2011 at 09:54 AM

My 93 Toyota had the 3 liter engine with automatic tranny and while it was great in Baja it was a dog on the CA freeways especially up hill. This 04 truck has the 3.4 liter engine and the difference compared to the 93 is night and day. Coming back from Ventura when I bought it and a trip to San Diego it never came out of overdrive thru the mountains. Of course it was not loaded with gear, but my 93 would always down shift sometimes to 2nd. Not as spunky as the 07 Tacoma at work with the 4 liter, but I'm impressed with it.

David K - 1-19-2011 at 10:25 AM

What kind of locker did you install? Just on the back or both differentials?

Yes, the 3.4 was a spunky motor... I had it in the '01 Taco. It isn't just the 400 more ccs that boost the power over the older 3.0, they did other mods to increase HP... EFI, etc.

The 3.4 has a timing belt, so do replace it (and the water pump while it is exposed) at 90,000 miles.

TMW - 1-19-2011 at 10:57 AM

I had a positraction put in the rear, same as my 93. I had the timing belt, hoses, other belts and water pump replaced when they did the locker.

David K - 1-19-2011 at 11:04 AM

You might find TacomaWorld.com forums interesting... Just like Nomad, with many sub forums... and 10 times the posts as here... Most from the U.S. and Canada, but some Tacoma (or Hilux) owners in South America and Australia post.

David K - 1-19-2011 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by motoged
Some recent pics from a ride report:

"The road from San Javier (just west of Loreto) to San Jose de Comodu is pretty washed out and although doable on a big bike, it's really rough right now." :

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=650975










====================================================

Ged, on one of your rides if you are going by it, would you check out the first site of the Comondu mission if you take the old main road north from San Jose Comondu? Take some photos of the ruins and overall area? It is called Comondu Viejo since the mission was moved in 1736 after being there for 28 years...




Photo taken by Jack Swords at ruins of the original location, now called Comondu Viejo. The mission was moved in 1736 to the visita of 'San Ignacio', 22 miles south. The mission name was not changed with the move. GPS: 26°16'27.4" 111°43'08.5"




Comondu Viejo in 1956 photo by Howard Gulick.





SAN JOSE DE COMONDU (1st site, 'Comondu Viejo') 26°16'27.40" 111°43'08.50" On the old
transpeninsular road between ranchos of San Juan and La Presa. 11 miles west of
hwy. 1 on the La Purisima road (south of Bahia Concepcion), turn south for 9 miles.
22 miles north of town of Comondu.

ON MAPS:

1962:



The distance between both Comondu mission sites (highlighted):



Zoom in on 2003 Almanac (between San Juan and La Presa):

Sweetwater - 3-8-2011 at 08:43 PM

Did that road five days ago on an XR650R with luggage. It was a lot of fun. Reminded me of the dark side of the moon.

David K - 3-8-2011 at 09:42 PM

Photos please!

Sweetwater - 3-8-2011 at 09:57 PM

Ride report in a week. iPod Touch on the road will not upload from my camera.

TMW - 3-9-2011 at 09:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sweetwater
Did that road five days ago on an XR650R with luggage. It was a lot of fun. Reminded me of the dark side of the moon.


Would you say it's doable in a Tacoma 4x4? or motorcycle only?

Sweetwater - 3-15-2011 at 04:32 PM



Hope this doesn't stretch your screen......you can do it easier on four wheels than two IMHO. Gear down, slow down and crawl over the really rocky stuff.

We would be able to pass you on the easier sections........but there weren't any.......:cool:

motoged - 3-15-2011 at 05:05 PM

Nomads,
DT Bushpilot and I rode from Comondu north to San Isidro several weeks ago...doable by 4x4...

Only a few challenging spots...enough to have me walk my bike under power for a 80' section...DT managed it better:yes:

Locals in a jeep just a few miles north of Comondu:



Toughest spot half-way...





TMW - 3-15-2011 at 05:13 PM

Thank you so much. I plan to go thru there in early May when I'm down for the NORRA 1000. Not sure if I'll do it going down or coming back. I'll be in my 2004 Tacoma 4x4. At least that's he plan for now.

motoged - 3-15-2011 at 07:03 PM

TW,
Friends on the same trip rode from Comondu to Loreto and said that was a more difficult ride than the San Isidro to Commondu run.

The south half of the San Isidro to Comondu road is the most difficult part....

Comondu deserves a few hours of your time to just wander around and enjoy the twin pueblos....THE last of the old Baja....I want to go back for several days as I was only there for about an hour this time.

David K - 3-15-2011 at 09:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Thank you so much. I plan to go thru there in early May when I'm down for the NORRA 1000. Not sure if I'll do it going down or coming back. I'll be in my 2004 Tacoma 4x4. At least that's he plan for now.


Tom... if you post some details on this May NORRA event in the Off Road forum... great??!! Thanks!

David K - 3-15-2011 at 09:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by motoged
TW,
Friends on the same trip rode from Comondu to Loreto and said that was a more difficult ride than the San Isidro to Commondu run.

The south half of the San Isidro to Comondu road is the most difficult part....

Comondu deserves a few hours of your time to just wander around and enjoy the twin pueblos....THE last of the old Baja....I want to go back for several days as I was only there for about an hour this time.


Good Idea!

willyAirstream - 3-15-2011 at 11:03 PM

Ged you did a super job on your trip report
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=666961

Sweetwater - looking forward to your pics too.

onward

msteve1014 - 3-16-2011 at 05:52 PM

we drove that road in a f-350, crew cab, long bed, with a camper on the back, a boat on top of the camper, and a honda 90 on the front bumper a few years ago. you need to go slow, real slow, and hope that no boulders are in the center of the trail.