BajaNomad - Temporary Room or Tent Space wanted in Chatsworth area

Temporary Room or Tent Space wanted in Chatsworth area

earthsurfer - 2-20-2012 at 09:14 AM

Hello Fellow Nomads,

My girlfriend and I have been trying to go on a Baja adventure for months now, but our 1984 Land Cruiser keeps needing repairs. After many rip offs from self proclaimed Land Cruiser experts we finally found a guy in Chatsworth that is the real deal and doesn't charge the usual $85-105 per hour.

We just sold the ARB Fridge on this site ( thanks Karl!!) to pay for the repairs and we are selling many extra items out of a storage unit in Chatsworth and trying to get it down to one backpack each and one 24 gallon Action Packer of gear.

The problem for us is that even with Priceline's name your own price motel rooms and Carl's Jr 2 for $2 breakfast biscuits we are still spending $80 a day for room and board that we don't really like. This is pretty far from our dream of sleeping under the stars on a remote beach somewhere in Baja.

We may end up having to sell the Land Cruiser after pouring almost a year's time and our entire savings into it, but we really want to go on at least one Baja adventure in it before we have to sell.

We are down to under $1000 between us and most of that will go to this final phase of Land Cruiser repairs. That's why we are selling every item we have that is not an essential for day to day life.

Is there anyone on this site that is in the Chatsworth area that can rent us a room for $10 a day or let us pitch our 2 man tent in the backyard for $5? Let us use the kitchen to cook real food? Use the bathroom? Use a printer to print shipping labels for the items we're selling on eBay? We're in our 40s, we're very clean, we don't smoke, use drugs or have pets.

We're not looking for a handout and we're by no means freeloaders- we can help out with chores, clean up the garage, mow the lawn, cook you a meal from the pages of Bon Appetit, give you an acoustic guitar living room concert, help you stage a garage sale, sell stuff for you on eBay, and pay some $$$ to help with utilities. We figure 2 weeks or less and we will be ready to roll.

Let me know if this sound like something you want to do...

Cheers
Matt & Renee
:saint:

[Edited on 2-20-2012 by earthsurfer]

[Edited on 2-20-2012 by earthsurfer]

wow

captkw - 2-20-2012 at 09:48 AM

get a toy truck,older datsun, or a brick (volvo) and forget the land crusher...I had 3 in costa rico and was not happy,,just saying !!K&T :cool:

DENNIS - 2-20-2012 at 10:37 AM

I really feel bad for your situation and I hope it works itself out.
That said....I also hope you don't make the decision to come south on short funds. It's no place to be without adequate fun tickets in your pocket.
Also.....it would be best to sell your vehicle up there, should you decide to do that. Finding someone to buy it for even a fraction of what it's worth here will be a problem. The authorities don't want you doing that anyway.
Good luck. Hope to see you down here in the near future.

DENNIS

captkw - 2-20-2012 at 10:39 AM

HOLA< I LIKE THAT= fun ticket's...LOL K&T :cool:

earthsurfer - 2-21-2012 at 10:09 AM

Here are some of the items we're selling - more to be added today:

https://picasaweb.google.com/114056000222984105655/Stuff4sal...

Ken Cooke - 2-21-2012 at 01:25 PM

What is wrong with your Land Cruiser? What repairs are you doing to it?

earthsurfer - 2-21-2012 at 04:21 PM

I will find out for sure this evening-lots of exhuast leaks from the manifold and header pipe area ... power steering just got partially fixed, the high pressure line was hemorrhaging fluid... the manifold had to come off, the guy that rebuilt it sealed it with silicone and that didn't last... also I don't think he resurfaced it so it will probably need to be resurfaced. And... the power steering pump may be toast - even though it was replaced 17k miles ago...

Other than that I think I've replaced or rebuilt just about every part on the darn thing

Looks like you have a sweet rig

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
What is wrong with your Land Cruiser? What repairs are you doing to it?

Bajahowodd - 2-21-2012 at 05:25 PM

About 1/2 hour from Chatsworth and $35 per night.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=614

BajaBlanca - 2-21-2012 at 07:30 PM

put up more items for sale ....

:yes:

Ken Cooke - 2-21-2012 at 09:25 PM

If I can be of any help, let me know. I live in Riverside and will be home all week.

Islandbuilder - 2-22-2012 at 02:47 AM

I suggest you do a compression check to see if you have any burned valves after having a chronic exhaust manifold leak. If you're down on compression, your problems are just beginning.

earthsurfer - 2-22-2012 at 08:53 AM

Thank You!

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
If I can be of any help, let me know. I live in Riverside and will be home all week.

earthsurfer - 2-22-2012 at 08:57 AM

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm sure that Kurt will check that - he's been working on the 2F engine since 1979.
Cheers

Quote:

Originally posted by Islandbuilder
I suggest you do a compression check to see if you have any burned valves after having a chronic exhaust manifold leak. If you're down on compression, your problems are just beginning. [/quote

wessongroup - 2-22-2012 at 09:46 AM

Ken = Good man ...

vacaenbaja - 2-22-2012 at 05:13 PM

My friend a Toyota mecahnic and Toyota fanatic had a rig
like yours.... after much work on the original engine he replaced the toyo guts
with a Chevy 350. End of problem.

desertcpl - 2-22-2012 at 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vacaenbaja
My friend a Toyota mecahnic and Toyota fanatic had a rig
like yours.... after much work on the original engine he replaced the toyo guts
with a Chevy 350. End of problem.

OH really ,, I am sure this suggestion will work for them,

maybe they could buy a Hummer also,, give me a break

Islandbuilder - 2-22-2012 at 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertcpl

Quote:

OH really ,, I am sure this suggestion will work for them,

maybe they could buy a Hummer also,, give me a break

I guess it depends on the condition of the existing Toyo engine. If it needs a crank up rebuild (hoping it doesn't, no reason to assume it does) it will be cheaper to swap it out for some Detroit iron, using readily available adaptor plates and mount kits. Off the top of my head (where I used to keep my hair), a couple of grand?

I know that is probably as unattainable as a Hummer, just sayin.

Another thought: I know you guys have a vision that includes exploring Baja in your classic Cruiser, but, 90% of Baja is accessable with a Ford Escort. And, it gets better mileage!

I'm just saying that you need to guard against setting goals or having expectations that will keep you from pursuing your dream of exploring, and perhaps living, in Baja.

I know too many hopefull ocean cruisers who never leave port because they are slaves to an overly long "must have" gear list.

The rule is: Go cheap, go simple, GO NOW! (but make sure to have a pocket full of cash, Dennis knows what he's talking about!!)

wessongroup - 2-22-2012 at 09:30 PM

Ditto's...

earthsurfer - 2-22-2012 at 11:03 PM

It looks like we may get the Cruiser roadworthy for $500. I'll know tomorrow if the manifold is within tolerance. If not then it'll be another $120 for the resurfacing.
I think we can pull this off. Can't wait to check out of the Extended Stay hotel.

Thanks to all for the comments and suggestions. It helps me to see my situation and goals from different viewpoints. If the Cruiser ends up keeping us from our adventures it will have to go too.
It would be nice to get one good adventure out of Beastie before we have to sell.

I would like to learn to fish when I come down to Baja. And I'd like to get good at campfire cooking. Last time I tried I burned the crap out of the foil wrapped potatoes.

Looking forward to meeting some of you folks. Hope you like acoustic guitar music.
Cheers

generubin - 2-23-2012 at 09:15 AM

Spending money on a Landcruiser with the 2F engine is a rich man's hobby, a poor man's money pit. I know, I had one. Even if you get it all running well, the 12 miles per gallon on today's fuel prices will outstrip any subtle advantages of a Landcruiser.

Most of Baja, especially for a newbie, is accessible by 2wd, high clearance. I would suggest earthsufer will be much better served to swap that LC for any decent Toyota, Nissan, Ranger 2wd pickup with a shell. There are a lot of miles to be driven in Baja. 12 mpg, to me is an albatross around my neck, 22 mpg is liberation.

toy money crusher

captkw - 2-23-2012 at 09:58 AM

get rid of it,,they suck !! get a toy truck with the 4 cly.....you be a happy,richer dude..and you do not need a 4=4 down here ever,,unless you do something stupid !!! K&T :cool:

Bajamatic - 2-23-2012 at 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by generubin
Spending money on a Landcruiser with the 2F engine is a rich man's hobby, a poor man's money pit. I know, I had one. Even if you get it all running well, the 12 miles per gallon on today's fuel prices will outstrip any subtle advantages of a Landcruiser.

Most of Baja, especially for a newbie, is accessible by 2wd, high clearance. I would suggest earthsufer will be much better served to swap that LC for any decent Toyota, Nissan, Ranger 2wd pickup with a shell. There are a lot of miles to be driven in Baja. 12 mpg, to me is an albatross around my neck, 22 mpg is liberation.

That is good advice.

You don't need "a beastie" to get where you want to go. You need something reliable and easy to fix. At the end of the gnarliest road you'll inevitably pass a local in a 2 door sedan.

earthsurfer - 2-23-2012 at 10:25 PM

In all of my 42 years on this planet, I've never heeded anyone's advice. That attitude has gotten me into many a jam- but on the other hand all my best adventures and experiences have come from saying " f--k it, I'm gonna do it my way."

Let me know if anyone actually wants to offer the help I've asked for ...

earthsurfer - 2-23-2012 at 10:28 PM

And by the way ...I've spent $40k on LandCruisers in the past year ...I think I'll get an adventure or two out of this one before I sell...If I ever do
Cheers

Islandbuilder - 2-23-2012 at 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by earthsurfer
In all of my 42 years on this planet, I've never heeded anyone's advice. That attitude has gotten me into many a jam- but on the other hand all my best adventures and experiences have come from saying " f--k it, I'm gonna do it my way."

Let me know if anyone actually wants to offer the help I've asked for ...

I appreciate your response to all of our "advice", but a wise man needs to balance when to follow, and when he needs to break a new trail.

If I was anywhere near where you need to be, you would have a room and a place to clean up. Sorry. I hope someone closer to you will make a similar offer.

I have an old Series Land Rover that I had thought to restore and take for a Baja victory lap, but I just returned from putting a 5000 mile Baja run on my 97 Ford P/U. Better to go in a boring rig than not to go at all.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your adventure.

Ken Cooke - 2-23-2012 at 11:35 PM

When purchasing my Handicam, I was told *NOT* to buy an HD unit. I took the advice! :fire:

Listen to your gut, and you will know when to throw in the towel.

PLEASE DO NOT BUY A FORD RANGER!
My broken-down 8 yr old Ford Ranger in the Sierra San Pedro Martir Park

My 8 yr old Jeep Rubicon exploring Baja
En route to Cañon del Diablo

earthsurfer - 2-24-2012 at 01:11 AM

Just for the record- I've enjoyed ALL the posts.

Thank you!

Since we're on the topic of Ford Rangers, someone gave me one a few years back- it was a '93 2WD with 45k miles on it. I loved it; it had a camper shell and a slide bed. I put 4.5" of memory foam on the slide bed. My girlfriend and I spent many nights with the slide bed pulled out, enjoying the view of the stars. We lived out of that truck for almost the entire year in 2010. It was a great year.

One night in January 2011, I went on a midnight run to get my girlfriend some Ben n Jerrys. On the way to Albertsons, a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit the passenger side of the Ranger. The Ranger was totaled; I was banged up a bit. The drunk driver didn't get a ticket or sobriety test. I was really glad that I insisted that Renee stay home and let me make the ice cream run. She would've been hurt badly.

I took the insurance money and bought my childhood dream ride. A year has passed and I've sacrificed a lot. I ended up parting out the first Cruiser I bought. I've made dozens of other mistakes along the way, but I have learned a great deal.

The adventure continues.

[Edited on 2-24-2012 by earthsurfer]

Islandbuilder - 2-24-2012 at 10:18 AM

The old Land Cruisers are all over Costa Rica, most of them are diesels. I know there would be problems in getting parts, or a car, from there, but it's interesting to look at what's available on the CR Craigs List.

I bought, parted out and sold several old Land Rovers while gathering parts to restore my keeper.

However I look at my lengthy Bucket List, and then the mirror, and realize that it''s time to start scratching stuff off the list!

Therefore, it's drive what works NOW to Baja, and fiddle with the Landy latter! (assuming there's some "later" left!)

In a 2WD, travel in pairs and stay safe!

Ken Cooke - 2-24-2012 at 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by captkw
..and you do not need a 4=4 down here ever,,unless you do something stupid !!! K&T :cool:

Stay away from Cohabuzo Junction if you are driving only in 2WD. I have read recently about a couple whose 2WD pickup was stuck in the Laguna Salada, and the man who walked out died of sun exposure. :!:

Rubicons in Cohabuzo Junction

Rubicon running through Laguna Salada

Even Rubicons get stuck - Cañon El Mano

on't follow these 4WD pickups with a 2WD :!:

An unfortunate off highway travelers vehicle :!:

TW enjoying the 4WD trail with his Wife

Anybody see the film, "Dust To Glory"???

Although, the Laguna Salada is near Mex5, it can still be a deadly walk to the highway in the heat of the summer. :!:

The Rubicon Owners of CA with BajaNomad.com in the Laguna Salada

desertcpl - 2-24-2012 at 06:48 PM

Quote:

WOW,, sounds like some one is sleepy and getting an attitude,,,

so your broke down and selling every thing and wanting to mooch for a place to stay,, but you will not take any ones advise

good luck and happy camping

generubin - 2-24-2012 at 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertcpl

Quote:

X 2

Ateo - 2-24-2012 at 08:01 PM

earthsurfer:

Great screen name.

That's all I wanted to add to this conversation. =)

[Edited on 2-26-2012 by ateo]

ElCap - 2-24-2012 at 09:13 PM

I usually stay away from threads when they go negative, but I have an 87 FJ60 Landcruiser that has mucho miles in Baja - yeah I've poured alot of Pemex in her, but that is one solid and reliable Baja rig. They don't build 'em that tough anymore. Give Earthsurfer a break already! Hope you have a great trip Earthsurfer, and I hope we cross paths.

[Edited on 2-25-2012 by ElCap]

earthsurfer - 2-25-2012 at 10:12 AM

Aww come on now... I didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers. The tough thing about online forums is that you can't see the grin on my face or the spark in my eyes.

I'll overlook the barbs because I don't really know ya...

Yesterday Renee took the train up to SF bay area and is gonna work for a friend's farm for awhile.

The Cruiser should be rolling today...If not, the mechanic has a non-op RV in his back yard that I can sleep in until my rig is fixed. After that I'll have my rig to sleep in. I'm pretty good at doing that undetected in urban areas. I'm still selling stuff...

Got a live/work offer in Baja... Hell yeah!

That's what I love about the day by day lifestyle...one minute everything looks like the end and the next minute the sun is shining :biggrin:

Love your white 60 ElCap! See you on the trail...

Live/Work in Baja

bajaguy - 2-25-2012 at 03:51 PM

Hope you do both legally...........

Ken Cooke - 2-26-2012 at 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by earthsurfer

Got a live/work offer in Baja... Hell yeah!

That's what I love about the day by day lifestyle...one minute everything looks like the end and the next minute the sun is shining :biggrin:

Congratulations, EarthSurfer!!

Have a great trip to Baja and I'm glad to hear you will have a chance to learn to fish in one of the best fishing regions in N. America!

Ateo - 2-26-2012 at 10:39 AM

Keep us posted on where you end up!

coconaco - 2-26-2012 at 10:51 AM

Are you going to be the next managers at El Cardonal?

suerte

earthsurfer - 3-1-2012 at 04:06 PM

selling stuff is going pretty well...cruiser is running AMAZING

just a matter of time....

kiss my a** all you naysayers :tumble:

desertcpl - 3-1-2012 at 06:29 PM

here is what this peace of ,, just sent me

call me a mooch to my face... on u2u

:lol:

generubin - 3-1-2012 at 06:40 PM

And to me, on u2u, Earthsurfer states:

"call me a mooch to my face... i dare ya".

All I did was offer excellent advice as to a more appropriate vehicle for Baja considering his financial situation. I never mentioned anything about being a mooch. I don't think anyone did.

[Edited on 3-2-2012 by generubin]

Ken Cooke - 3-1-2012 at 06:47 PM

I invited Earthsurfer to my house for this weekends INTERNATIONAL FOOD SAMPLING PARTY! Here are pics from last years... :bounce:

Beer Balance Contest!
Peru vs...

Mexico vs...

Colombia!

I broke out the accordion last year. Let's see if I play some VALLENTO again this year...

[Edited on 3-2-2012 by Ken Cooke]

desertcpl - 3-1-2012 at 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by generubin
And to me, on u2u, Earthsurfer states:

"call me a mooch to my face... i dare ya".

All I did was offer excellent advice as to a more appropriate vehicle for Baja considering his financial situation. I never mentioned anything about being a mooch. I don't think anyone did.

[Edited on 3-2-2012 by generubin]

I called him a mooch, and you agreed to it

and Ken,, i know you are a nice guy, but why would you invite someone like this to your home with out having some fell for what he is,
I could tell right out of the gate he was bad news

generubin - 3-1-2012 at 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertcpl

Quote:

I called him a mooch, and you agreed to it

Oh, I guess I forgot. Here in Tucson we've been sweeping and arresting tweekers the last two weeks, kept me too busy to think.

desertcpl - 3-1-2012 at 07:02 PM

I could tell, you got it right, tweeker for sure they all behave the same

coconaco - 3-1-2012 at 07:23 PM

give our regards to fast eddie

Islandbuilder - 3-1-2012 at 09:01 PM

Way to go Ken, how very brave of you to invite someone to share a meal at your home without them first passing a background check. ;-)

I can understand why some folks are offended by someone asking for help, or saying that he wouldn't take anyones counsel but his own (isn't that sort of self-reliance kind of, I don't know, American?) but the only ugly talk directed at anyone here was aimed at earthsurfer.

Mom told me to shut up if I couldn't say anything nice about someone else. Mom was right.

desertcpl - 3-2-2012 at 07:20 AM

:?:

earthsurfer - 3-2-2012 at 09:39 AM

My Land Cruiser is running great!!! Tonight I get to learn how to retorque the manifold and do some other maintenance. A rare opportunity to learn from the Yoda of the FJ60.

One of my favorite sayings: " failure cannot cope with persistence"

Nice to meet the cool people on this site. Really nice.

And to the other guy: spellcheck and a dictionary...maybe use both.
However, I'm impressed that you can spell "tweeker"

earthsurfer - 3-2-2012 at 09:51 AM

This just occurred to me as being really funny:

I've been upgraded from mooch to tweeker.
Hahahahahaha. And I did it in under a month. Top that other nomad newbies.

Thanks desertcpl!

At first, I was a little mad at you and your buddy generubin but now I'm just laughing.

joerover - 3-2-2012 at 02:56 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PECpA9a_2zQ

No background checks needed...

Ken Cooke - 3-4-2012 at 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Way to go Ken, how very brave of you to invite someone to share a meal at your home without them first passing a background check. ;-)

Sorted characters from Sonora, Sinaloa, Michoacan, Lima (Peru), Barranquilla (Colombia), & Medillin (Colombia).

[Edited on 3-4-2012 by Ken Cooke]

Islandbuilder - 3-4-2012 at 05:39 PM

Ken...........

You are indeed a blessed man. whew! :tumble:

I don't always trust the people who walk through my doorway...But,

Ken Cooke - 3-4-2012 at 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Ken...........

You are indeed a blessed man. whew! :tumble:

...have you ever tried a Brazilian Caipirinha?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caipirinha

Bug - 3-5-2012 at 08:42 AM

Do you have a pop up caming tent.. Looking for one of those. So I can just throw it up in seconds and put in away in a few seconds. I would be using this for one of my backpack trips.