BajaNomad

Anza Borrego Mud Caves etc on going trips

Frank - 1-22-2013 at 10:42 PM

Well I drank the Toyota Kool Aide and it was good. Picked up a 2004 4runner v8 4wd. Our family is really loving this thing. Thanks DK for the advice. Udo, you too. Im going to upgrade the suspension as soon as I recover from putting a new 125 gallon fuel tank in the boat...:O

So our first trip was to the Anza Borrego Mud Caves. Easy trip in a 4runner in total stock form if you dont miss the turn. We end up in the Carrizo marsh and turned around at the Carrizo impact area. The sand was deep, silty, and overgrown but even with stock tires and street air pressure the 4runner went right through.

A few Borrego pinstripes to break her in.


Here is the right hand turn off of S2



As your driving up the wash, watch for the Canyon Sin Nombre sign on the left, and the Arroyo Tapiado sign will be just behind you on the right.

Lots of slot canyons to hike up








and of course the caves



This is one of the skylights in a cave that was 1000 feet long and very dark.




On the way home I decided to see how close we could get to a Wind Turbine. I would say we got pretty close. The sound the blades made was incredible.



I cant wait to explore Baja in the 4runner. The F350 Crew Cab will stay home this year, we will be traveling lighter.

[Edited on 3-31-2013 by Frank]

[Edited on 3-31-2013 by Frank]

[Edited on 3-31-2013 by Frank]

Curt63 - 1-22-2013 at 10:46 PM

Great post. Great pics T4R's ROCK!

That pinstriping may rub out if you want.

Frank - 1-22-2013 at 10:52 PM

The wife had a great time, and said isnt that what we bought it for, to explore? its going to get scratched up. I told her, "Im glad we are on the same page :lol:

Bajaboy - 1-23-2013 at 07:29 AM

So many things to explore out that way. Thanks for sharing.

David K - 1-23-2013 at 08:58 AM

Good buy and great attitude from the mrs.!

Mud caves and Arroyo Tapiado is a fun drive... take it to the top and go to the Diablo Drop Off, through Broken Shaft Gulch and out Split Mountain.

Our last time through was going the opposite direction, with a group of SoCal Tacoma owners... a few were 2WD, and only one needed me to pull him up the drop off.

Does your 4Runner have A-TRAC? If so, press it next time you go into Low Range... turns the Toyota into a tank and lets you climb up or through anything! Like having automatic locking differentials on the front and back.

Broken shaft gulch and Raptors

Frank - 3-30-2013 at 10:28 PM

Instead of starting another thread I'll just put all of my Anza trips to this post.

We had a free Saturday so we headed out to test out the new suspension.

Saw this sad site just past Alpine on I-8. A Juvi Mountain Lion..



The turn



First ledge



This is the second ledge of the Diablo "drop off". None of it was difficult, it looked a lot worse then it was from the top.



Narrow, but passable



Now if you keep going, you get to drive through Broken Shaft Gulch. That was a little more of a challenge, but still do able.



Last part..













The new suspension works great, the faster the better when you have to out run a T-Rex or 2.





Dont worry Nate made it, just barely...



Park Ranger said I was driving too fast. I somehow got off with a warning :lol:



We were a little distracted, but did manage to capture a few blooms
Cholla




Barrel Cactus





I got my limit of Turkeys in one shot!



Carmelitas for lunch then home through Montezuma Valley rd.

Yes, David K, A-TRAC, DAC, VSC and CDL. Im really loving this thing.

tripledigitken - 3-31-2013 at 08:07 AM

Frank,

Will you talk a little about your suspension upgrades. Nice set of photos.

Ken

Frank - 3-31-2013 at 10:51 AM

Hi Ken,

After much research, I felt I needed more suspension travel and more ground clearance. So I chose Icon extended coilovers and Total Chaos upper control arms {UCA}.

When you crank up the coilovers to get more clearance, you loose caster when you try to align the front end. The new UCA allows you to get everything back to factory specs, among other check marks in the Pro vs Con column.

If you dont get the caster right, you have bad tire wear and the truck will "wander" down the road. I didnt want that driving down Mex1. The Icon Coilovers are valved for my 4runner as is the spring rate in the rear.

We were really happy flying over the woops, it seemed the faster we went the smoother it was {to a certain extent}. I know its nowhere near a true offroad high speed desert machine. Im not much of a rock crawler type, but its good to have in my bag of tricks.

The cost installed was just under the price of a new Canon 5D Mark III. That was a tough decision to make....

David K - 3-31-2013 at 11:14 AM

Wonderful report Frank. Going up the Diablo Dropoff is even more fun.
. specially if you are pulling another truck up it! LOL Toyotas are amazing, right?

Frank - 3-31-2013 at 12:20 PM

Yes David, Im totally sold. :lol:

David K - 3-31-2013 at 04:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Frank
Yes David, Im totally sold. :lol:




That is me pulling a 2WD Tacoma out of a sand stuck, then up the Diablo Dropoff (after he made the lower dropoff up, then got stuck backing up to make a run at the upper dropoff. A Jeep club had passed us while I was hooking him up with my tow strap, ans shook their heads that I could use my stock truck to pull up the white 2WD one. They watched as I showed them what a 4WD Off Road Toyota Tacoma can do, rear locker and A-TRAC ON! :yes: