BajaNomad

tow service

e350diesel - 12-4-2012 at 08:05 PM

Some friends and I are planning a trip to Punta San Carlos in the spring. I have a van that breaks down from time to time and needs to be towed to a dealer or a full service diesel shop to get it running again.

Odds are the van will run fine, but is there a reliable towing service in northern baja? If there is a tow service how would I contact it in the event of a break down since there is no cell service.

I'm interested in information about how to deal with mechanical break downs in Baja.

I enjoy the forum. Thanks!

durrelllrobert - 12-4-2012 at 08:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by e350diesel
Some friends and I are planning a trip to Punta San Carlos in the spring. I have a van that breaks down from time to time and needs to be towed to a dealer or a full service diesel shop to get it running again.

Odds are the van will run fine, but is there a reliable towing service in northern baja? If there is a tow service how would I contact it in the event of a break down since there is no cell service.

I'm interested in information about how to deal with mechanical break downs in Baja.

I enjoy the forum. Thanks!
What do you mean by "since there is no cell service"?

Hmmmmmmmm

bajaguy - 12-4-2012 at 08:19 PM

You might want to leave that van at home. Nothing is for certain here in Baja.

Ateo - 12-4-2012 at 08:22 PM

Tow is possible...but may take a while and cost a lot.

Hook - 12-4-2012 at 08:25 PM

What year is it and what is it doing? The same thing, over and over or a different ailment every time? Be specific. Is this the 7.3L engine?

J.P. - 12-4-2012 at 09:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by e350diesel
Some friends and I are planning a trip to Punta San Carlos in the spring. I have a van that breaks down from time to time and needs to be towed to a dealer or a full service diesel shop to get it running again.

Odds are the van will run fine, but is there a reliable towing service in northern baja? If there is a tow service how would I contact it in the event of a break down since there is no cell service.

I'm interested in information about how to deal with mechanical break downs in Baja.

I enjoy the forum. Thanks!







If I owned a vehicle I was in fear of breaking down I wouldnt drive it to the corner store,let alone to Baja.
Relax Baja has entered the 21st century there's plenty parts and some very good mechanics.

[Edited on 12-5-2012 by J.P.]

DianaT - 12-4-2012 at 09:18 PM

When we were involved in the towing of Diver's truck and trailer we did find out that for towing, even with the bigger companies, there are two prices --- one with a factura that you can use for insurance companies, and another price for no factura.

There are areas where no cell service is available, but there is always someone who will stop and will send a tow truck from the next town.

Desertbull - 12-4-2012 at 09:21 PM

Confirmed their is no cell service all the way out to Punta San Carlos...it's a ways into Solosports Adventure camp and you would have to rely on Kevin or his crew to help you get out. I'd tow strap your van out to the highway and then into El Rosario and wait for a tow from there.

Good idea to get it your van dialed in before you leave...but you just never know!

e350diesel - 12-4-2012 at 11:29 PM

To answer what engine, it's a 2005 ford powerstroke 6.0 diesel. It's died on the road twice for different reasons. I bought it with about 28,000 miles on it and it has 52,000 miles on it now, so it's not a matter of it being a high mileage van.

mojo_norte - 12-5-2012 at 07:53 AM

Definitely carry a suitable tow strap or chain. If you were to break down on 'The Road' between the highway and the point someone coming along from the fish camp might be willing to tow you to the highway or maybe even into El Rosario. Expect to give a monetary donation in return for their trouble.

DaliDali - 12-5-2012 at 09:11 AM

If you can get ahold of them somehow....

The Federal highway police use these guys for their tows.

Salcedo Garage in San Quintin
Tow service 7/24 with flat beds or regular tow rigs and heavy duty rigs.

Carretera Transpenisular Km 198 very close to the Federal highway police office.
Office 616-165-2280
Cell 044-616-163-0088

Take money

weebray - 12-5-2012 at 10:54 AM

We have been personally involved in or witnessed breakdowns requiring a tow several times over the years. In every case there was a kind Mexican citizen to the rescue. The worst one we were involved in (blew up the moto in Santa Rosilia) was quickly resolved by a resourseful hombre with a pick up. He found a tow dolly and towed us to La Paz for a hunnert bucks. The tow company wanted mil $ US +. The Mexicans have experience with this kind of thing. When the motor dies in their SUV they turn it into a trailer/camper.

Hook - 12-5-2012 at 11:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by e350diesel
To answer what engine, it's a 2005 ford powerstroke 6.0 diesel. It's died on the road twice for different reasons. I bought it with about 28,000 miles on it and it has 52,000 miles on it now, so it's not a matter of it being a high mileage van.


OK, that explains it. There are more than a few issues with that engine, as I've heard. But I believe they can be rectified, rather expensively sometimes, but then they are pretty reliable.

I was under the impression that that engine did not have the cam position sensor problem. That wasnt one of your breakdowns, was it?

You should register for a Ford diesel discussion board, tell them what problems you've had, ask what ones are likely, what ones are fixable and then make a decision. Some of the basic parts could be carried with you, though I suspect that working on that engine is probably not fun, given that it's a van.

In short, if you cant feel certain that the vehicle can be relied upon, I would not take it. Who wants to be tow-strapping for any distance at all. You end up ruining your partner's trip, too.

[Edited on 12-5-2012 by Hook]

mojo_norte - 12-5-2012 at 11:46 AM

Ford Powerstroke 6.0 diesel.- The horror the horror.. I'd dump it for 90's E250 with a gas engine and have money left over for new kites (or sails) :yes:

rts551 - 12-5-2012 at 12:09 PM

Diver found a reliable tow truck (grula) in San QUintin. I don't have the number handy. Its the one who took his truck to Tijuana.

monoloco - 12-5-2012 at 01:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mojo_norte
Ford Powerstroke 6.0 diesel.- The horror the horror.. I'd dump it for 90's E250 with a gas engine and have money left over for new kites (or sails) :yes:
They have a lot of problems with injectors and head gaskets. Those motors are not so affectionately referred to as 6 leakers.

e350diesel - 12-5-2012 at 06:13 PM

Thanks all for your input. In answer to Hook, no I have not had the cam sensor issue. At 38,286 miles the van died on South Padre Island, Texas. Towed to dealer, CA Regulator – Fuel Pressure and A Sensor ASY. The dealer said they had found coolant in the wrong part of the engine and suggested an egr cooler replacement, but they were booked and couldn’t do it right away. We were at the end of our trip, took a chance and returned to Utah without an egr cooler failure, but I researched the 6.0 egr cooler and learned they often fail over and over. At 39,472 miles I bought a Bullett Proof EGR Cooler and had it in installed locally and had a new oil cooler installed as well since the engine was already apart. I bought a Scanguage II to monitor among other things the difference between the engine coolant temperature and oil temperature, as well as the function of the EGR valve.

At 51,311 miles the van died in Shiprock, New Mexico. Towed to a dealer, this time the problem was low oil pressure and an oil pressure leak on the high pressure oil pump that required a new updated pump fitting. Apparently this is another common problem with the 6.0.

A ford diesel forum is a good idea. I’ve asked a large diesel shop owner how to make the 6.0 reliable. He says the work on them is nonstop and that most his work is on the 6.0. Ouch! The fellow I spoke with at Bullett Proof Diesel in Arizona did not agree, his view is the 6.0 can be made reliable.

In response to Mojo_Norte, “I'd dump it for 90's E250 with a gas engine.” I’m a kiter and this van is ideal for us except for the engine. It’s a 2005 extended body ford E350 with a professionally installed raised roof and insulated walls, Quigley 4 x 4, double bed, third battery, fantastic fan, etc. Tons of room for gear. I’d hate to let it go, but your suggestion is probably a good one.

To DaliDali and RTS551, thanks for the name of the towing companies. And thanks to everyone else who’s chipped in on my question regarding towing in Baja.

DianaT - 12-5-2012 at 06:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
Diver found a reliable tow truck (grula) in San QUintin. I don't have the number handy. Its the one who took his truck to Tijuana.


He used the one that DaliDali listed. They towed truck with the travel trailer on a large flat-bed. Ferna in TJ arranged for the truck to spend the night in a safe lot in Tijuana and Roberto towed the trailer across the border. The next day another company towed the truck across the border.

Later we heard that Salcedo could have taken it across the border.

Guillermo at Jardins told us Salcedo is expensive and through him we might have gotten it done cheaper --- however, I don't think he realized that the tow job meant going to El Rosario first and then towing the truck AND the travel trailer.

If you break down, you can also hope that TW comes along --- he was also involved in the rescue of Diver. When Diver broke down south of El Rosario, along came TW and he towed Divers big ole diesel truck with not so small travel trailer with his own truck back to El Rosario! And his recent trip report says he is still involved in the volunteer rescue business. :-)

Good luck

[Edited on 12-6-2012 by DianaT]

Bwana_John - 12-5-2012 at 06:34 PM

You are aware that it will cost 3X as much to tow if its a SMB? :(
Quote:

In response to Mojo_Norte, “I'd dump it for 90's E250 with a gas engine.” I’m a kiter and this van is ideal for us except for the engine. It’s a 2005 extended body ford E350 with a professionally installed raised roof and insulated walls, Quigley 4 x 4, double bed, third battery, fantastic fan, etc. Tons of room for gear. I’d hate to let it go, but your suggestion is probably a good one.


Id trade my 03 E-350 7.3L 4x4 campervan for a 03 F-350 7.3L 4x4 with pop-up camper any day!

[Edited on 12-6-2012 by Bwana_John]

mojo_norte - 12-5-2012 at 06:51 PM

Anyway - no worries - have a great time - drive sober and not at night - and don't forget your mountain bikes:yes:

aguachico - 12-5-2012 at 08:44 PM

yo e350;

Good question, too bad I can't answer it. I got 200k on an 2004 6litre. Lotsa Baja driving. Towing my Grady white 22 footer. back and forth.

Too bad you didn't install the bypass, but at least you did something about the known EGR cooler. Have you had the valve changed? The new one has a different spring pressure.

My truck has only died once. Starter motor. The starter motor bolts and casing are not BAJA friendly even though it says OFFROAD on the side. One bolt casing was broken. The other bolt sheared. held on by one bolt.

At 90k she was hard starting in San Quintin. Got her home by not letting her cool off. Turned out to be the FICM. $900.

The Diesel forums are good info.

1. I have always used AMS oil. could be bullsh8t, but I'm not changing it.
2. change all fluids annually. I'm religious about the coolant, oil 15K instead of 25K. Timing belt, fuel filter, air fileter and tranny service. 6litre engine eats the batteries because it's so damn hot.

Suerte.

[Edited on 12-6-2012 by aguachico]

DavidE - 12-6-2012 at 05:03 PM

A tow truck is referred to as a "Grua"

Pronounced "GREW-ah"

Autozone carries a surprisingly large selection of parts for diesel cars and trucks.

towing !! anywhere !!

captkw - 12-6-2012 at 05:20 PM

Hola,tow truck drivers are tow truck drivers and nothing more !! every truck/car owner needs to find out what the manufactuer recommends on towing their car/truck..you can really7 screw up a tranny fast by incorrect towing !!! and yes it happens alot..there is so many systems out now and If you expect the T/T driver to know all trucks and cars with many trans optains,, forget it !!! save yourself some greif and find out about your ride..road tip #1............K&T:cool:

[Edited on 12-7-2012 by captkw]

fishingmako - 12-8-2012 at 01:07 PM

You know I hear this crap about the 6.0, I have a 2004 Diesel 350 never used much other than baja diesel and US both.

I have never ...ever had a problem with this truck to speak of..I always hear these horor stories what crap, if you don't like it sell it and get some other problems with the newer ones and the smog regulations, yes the 7.3 is probably a better engine...but again, I have no complaints.

I bought it new.. put injector cleaner in and your good to go.

rts551 - 12-8-2012 at 02:54 PM

don't ya just love the helpful posts?

woody with a view - 12-8-2012 at 07:00 PM

San Quintin to TJ 446-161-630088
TJ across the border to the US 526-646-840103

never had to use them, they've been in my phone for years. i hope the numbers are still good. knock on wood!

edit: a friend had to ride in his truck with his wife ON THE BACK OF THE TOW TRUCK FLAT BED from El Rosario to the hand off in TJ. seems the first guy showed up with a co-pilot and there was no room in the tow truck for two frazzled gringo's.....:o his stories are hilarious (sort of!) about looking eye to eye at the 18 wheeler drivers going past....:light:

[Edited on 12-9-2012 by woody with a view]

mojo_norte - 12-8-2012 at 07:24 PM

I broke down north bound on the toll road a few miles before the last toll booth - was able coast into an exit with an emergency phone. picked up the phone and there was no answer and I thought the phone was broken.
However 10 minutes later a tow truck shows up and towed us to the end of the toll road - it was a free tow - part of the toll road service I guess. Then the toll office arranged for a tow across the border - 90 bucks to the 1st US exit. This was back in 97. No idea if this is the same case today.

e350diesel - 12-8-2012 at 09:23 PM

Hey Fishingmako,

In response to "You know I hear this crap about the 6.0." I didn't say the 6.0 was crap. Just reported my breakdowns with my 6.0 and what two diesel mechanics told me about the 6.0, one positive one negative.

But if you really think there's no problem with the 6.0 go look at powerstrokehelp.com, this guy makes his living off the shortcomings of the 6.0.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear your 6.0 has treated you right.

And again to everyone else on the forum, thanks so much for your help on my towing questions.

THE 6.0 IS A KNOWN PROBLEM CHILD !!!

captkw - 12-8-2012 at 10:34 PM