BajaNomad

San Felipe to HWY 1 through Gonzaga Bay for non 4X4

gorgekiter - 11-28-2011 at 02:36 PM

Headed south this winter on a long road trip, wondering about a route a friend told me about. Leaving mid December.

South from San Felipe through El Huerfanito and Gonzaga Bay, then connecting on the road through Coco's corner and onto the main Mex 1.

He told me two years ago they were paving the road south, but there were still some real rough spots. I'll be in a sprinter RV, so clearance isn't extreme, but graded dirt roads are fine (usually!).

Sounds like the road to Gonzaga is fine now from what I've been reading on this great forum, but what about the connector to HWY 1? I've seen posts with people talking about severe mud and using chains... not an option for the sprinter.

Any current information anyone has would be greatly appreciated. It'd be great to take an alternate route south this time.

Thanks

BajaWarrior - 11-28-2011 at 03:05 PM

Drove this route just last week from San Felipe South to Bahia de los Angeles.

27 miles smooth new pavement South of Puertecitos then classic Mexican washboard to Gonzaga then on to Coco's Corner. The road does become rougher with the round rocks exposed from there South. Laguna Chapala area back to washboard road to Highway and road was dry.

The drive was beautiful and worth taking but in any RV you going to have to go slowly or lose your cabinets. Place towels amongst the pots and pans and silverware drawers so you don't go insane.

We drove it in a '93 4Runner with added suspension and a fresh set of BFG KO's and maintained 35 MPH most of the time but that 4Runner will never be the same...:biggrin:

Coco looked great, stop on by for a beer or soda!

Bob and Susan - 11-28-2011 at 03:31 PM

baja warrior

i JUST talked to someone about this today

how long did it take

bufeo - 11-28-2011 at 03:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gorgekiter
Headed south this winter on a long road trip...I'll be in a sprinter RV, so clearance isn't extreme, but graded dirt roads are fine (usually!). ...


You should be fine. There'll be places where you'll have to be careful, but clearance shouldn't be a problem.

Prior to any paving south of Puertecitos we had friends drive to our house at Punta Bufeo in a Toyota Camry; another set in a Dodge Caravan. Both were 2WD.

You might want to consider airing down some just to soften the bumps a bit, especially when you have to deal with corrugated surfaces.

Allen R

David K - 11-28-2011 at 04:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
baja warrior

i JUST talked to someone about this today

how long did it take


I can't find the post, but someone said it was now just 5 hours from San Felipe to Laguna Chapala... and that sounds about right if you are in an SUV or truck, not towing.

gorgekiter - 11-28-2011 at 05:20 PM

Thanks everyone for the info! I'll watch the forecast from hear out. I won't be in a hurry on the way down, so if I see rain I'll just hang out a little longer!

I'll keep watching for any new information.

[Edited on 11-29-2011 by gorgekiter]

bufeo - 11-28-2011 at 08:36 PM

Have a great trip and give us a report when you return.

Allen R

BajaWarrior - 11-29-2011 at 05:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
baja warrior

i JUST talked to someone about this today

how long did it take


I'd say with the obligitory stops of photos and then two beers with Coco 5 hours is about right from San Felipe to Hwy. 1 at Chapala.

Hook - 11-29-2011 at 07:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaWarrior
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
baja warrior

i JUST talked to someone about this today

how long did it take


I'd say with the obligitory stops of photos and then two beers with Coco 5 hours is about right from San Felipe to Hwy. 1 at Chapala.


This is simply mind-boggling for some of us.

I once towed an aluminum boat from Hwy1/Chapala to Gonzaga and it took me FIVE HOURS, not counting a stop at Coco's for a bailing wire "fix" on one of my side bunks. I think I figured I was averaging less than 10 mph the whole way.

David K - 11-29-2011 at 08:08 AM

Times are-a changing Hook!

There are only 50 dirt miles left, and they are graded. 80 miles are paved, albeit the first 50 have a lot of crazy steep vados that keep you driving the speed limit. The next and newest 30 miles are 110 kph quality... amazing to see how they blasted through the grades below Puertecitos.

john68 - 12-24-2011 at 08:00 AM

we are thinking about driving from Mexicali to Chapala next month in our dodge durango 4wd, pulling a light sailboat. We'll be in no hurry. Does this sound reasonable?

thanks to all.

Phil S - 12-24-2011 at 10:00 AM

We made the trip in our Toyoto Sienna without high centering, so you should have no problems in that Durango. BUT NO ONE IS KIDDING about the vado's. I almost got divorced 08 times (I'm a slow learner) Some of them will launch your boat for you if you don't drive AT or under the speed limit. !!!!! Thosew vado's will sneak up on you. You see smooth pavement & suddenly you drop out of sight & are launched all at the same time!!!! Damnedest experience I've had yet on flat LOOKING highways anywhere. David K I think have those identified by mp. correct me if I'm wrong David.

David K - 12-24-2011 at 10:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Phil S
We made the trip in our Toyoto Sienna without high centering, so you should have no problems in that Durango. BUT NO ONE IS KIDDING about the vado's. I almost got divorced 08 times (I'm a slow learner) Some of them will launch your boat for you if you don't drive AT or under the speed limit. !!!!! Thosew vado's will sneak up on you. You see smooth pavement & suddenly you drop out of sight & are launched all at the same time!!!! Damnedest experience I've had yet on flat LOOKING highways anywhere. David K I think have those identified by mp. correct me if I'm wrong David.


Map of vados? Nope, sorry... But they are all in the San Felipe to Puertecitos section of Hwy. 5. Basically a wack job where the contractor simply put a thin layer of asphalt over the graded road and the short, steep vados were not regraded for normal highway speed! The pavement soon broke up (late 1990's) and has since been re-paved. However the bad dips (vados) are still s surprise! A gringo marked two of them, this way.. and that was a big help... the warnings were removed, however...

2009 oh sh dip - xmas 175-r.JPG - 42kB

David K - 12-24-2011 at 10:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by john68
we are thinking about driving from Mexicali to Chapala next month in our dodge durango 4wd, pulling a light sailboat. We'll be in no hurry. Does this sound reasonable?

thanks to all.


ANY trailer will be rattled to death on any washboard road... So, while you will be able to pull it south this way, do check and tighten all nuts and bolts a couple of times in the Okie Landing to Laguna Chapala dirt section!

bufeo - 12-24-2011 at 11:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by john68
we are thinking about driving from Mexicali to Chapala next month in our dodge durango 4wd, pulling a light sailboat. We'll be in no hurry. Does this sound reasonable??

thanks to all.


"Reasonable"?? Yep, but do heed the warnings from DavidK. We've pulled small trailers down that pike and it's rough on them...even with airing-down trailer tires. I towed a small inflatable raft on its trailer once to Punta Bufeo, off-loaded the boat and gave the trailer to landlady's son.

On another trip we were towing our Adventure Trailer off-road unit south and one of the bolts securing the awning to its support broke off. Mind you, this is a trailer BUILT for off-road. This happened on the stretch south of Coco's.

You do mention that you're only "thinking about...pulling a light sailboat". You might want to 'think' about the consequences of subjecting your trailer—and boat, btw—to that treatment.

Allen R

DSCF1700 (Small) (Custom).JPG - 18kB

Vados vs. Topes

bryanmckenzie - 12-29-2011 at 01:22 PM

Not to be confused with "topes." :lol::lol::lol:
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by Phil S
We made the trip in our Toyoto Sienna without high centering, so you should have no problems in that Durango. BUT NO ONE IS KIDDING about the vado's. I almost got divorced 08 times (I'm a slow learner) Some of them will launch your boat for you if you don't drive AT or under the speed limit. !!!!! Thosew vado's will sneak up on you. You see smooth pavement & suddenly you drop out of sight & are launched all at the same time!!!! Damnedest experience I've had yet on flat LOOKING highways anywhere. David K I think have those identified by mp. correct me if I'm wrong David.


Map of vados? Nope, sorry... But they are all in the San Felipe to Puertecitos section of Hwy. 5. Basically a wack job where the contractor simply put a thin layer of asphalt over the graded road and the short, steep vados were not regraded for normal highway speed! The pavement soon broke up (late 1990's) and has since been re-paved. However the bad dips (vados) are still s surprise! A gringo marked two of them, this way.. and that was a big help... the warnings were removed, however...