BajaNomad - San Felipe road to mid peninsula

San Felipe road to mid peninsula

Jack Swords - 2-8-2014 at 11:54 AM

Having returned from La Paz via San Felipe in the past, what are the current conditions? Last time was about 10 years ago. We are planning on heading back to US in a couple of weeks. Thanks

[Edited on 8-2-2014 by Jack Swords]

basautter - 2-8-2014 at 01:15 PM

Highway 5 is paved from San Felipe to about Gonzaga Bay. The new pavement is very good. There are big dips between San Felipe and Puertecitos, so be careful. As a couple of months ago, it was graded dirt from Gonzaga Bay (El Grande Market) to the intersection with highway 1 at Chapala. Average speed was ~20 mph with tires aired down to 20 PSI. I would recommend this route if it saves time. Good luck!

Mula - 2-8-2014 at 02:07 PM

We just came down from Mexicali last week.

The road is paved all the way to the Papa Hernandez turnoff.

Then Road Construction to just past the Rancho Grande Market.

Then gravel with sand side roads to Coco's Corner and then really bad from there to the highway - Mex 1.

But I will go that way again in a minute just to avoid all the traffic from San Quintin to TJ.

[Edited on 2-8-2014 by Mula]

Cliffy - 2-8-2014 at 03:26 PM

Do I want to drag my 20 ft travel trailer that way to Baja 1 and then south?

woody with a view - 2-8-2014 at 03:32 PM

just go SLOW.

Mula - 2-8-2014 at 04:03 PM

My husband says - I don't think so. If you have lots of time and go really slow - like 4 hours for 60 KM. It's doable. Have a couple of spares.

I probably would - but I have nothing but time. And don't mind crawling along.

MMc - 2-8-2014 at 04:56 PM

Cliffy, How much of a adventure do you want? How's your Spanish?
What kind of shape is your trailer? How important is getting to where you want to go?
The worse it gets the better the story :?:

At the end of the day you'll get back home.
It is a very popular way to go and lots of people do it with trailers going slow. I prefer the Pacific side. Most of my strikes are for 2 to 4 days, purpose driven.

David K - 2-8-2014 at 05:53 PM

Jack, you have 35 miles of graded dirt road... deflate the tires to soften the ride and cruise it, or go real slow. Stop at Coco's.

bajaguy - 2-8-2014 at 08:24 PM

Bring a couple of paper or cloth shopping bags to put what is left of your travel trailer in

mcfez - 2-8-2014 at 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Bring a couple of paper or cloth shopping bags to put what is left of your travel trailer in

basautter - 2-9-2014 at 05:39 AM

Drop tire air pressure to 20 PSI while on the gravel. It helps a lot.

MMc - 2-9-2014 at 09:20 AM

It's interesting, this question has been up for less then 48 hours and been It's has 292 views, Maybe we should pay attention that more read this then post. I am sure that Jack can drive his trailer through that section. I hope that others will make sure their trailers are in great shape and they are ready to spend time driving it with a trailers or low clearance autos. Many of us forget that there are many more lurkers then posters, Some lurkers make decisions because we make it seam so easy.

mulegemichael - 2-9-2014 at 09:36 AM

we drove it last month in our toyota 4runner...aired down to 20 and probably averaged 8 mph for the first 30 miles...fun but not fast. i would not recommend taking a trailer on that stretch if you still want a trailer.

Ateo - 2-9-2014 at 10:07 AM

I drove the above stretch in January. Some parts are nice but some are beat up. I was actually a little surprised at how crappy some sections were. Not sand and washes or anything but just chewed up tire popping areas. If I was towing a trailer I'd make sure it had good tires.

David K - 2-9-2014 at 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ateo
I drove the above stretch in January. Some parts are nice but some are beat up. I was actually a little surprised at how crappy some sections were. Not sand and washes or anything but just chewed up tire popping areas. If I was towing a trailer I'd make sure it had good tires.

I got my only flat tire of a 3,000 mile trip, on that road in 2012... Between Chapala and Coco's. I didn't deflate! Tire patched at Rancho Grande, San Luis Gonzaga.

J.P. - 2-9-2014 at 10:15 AM

I have observed some huge loads of eqipment on very low clearence trailers headed toward that stretch of road if they can make it it cant be all that bad. :?:

[Edited on 2-9-2014 by J.P.]

David K - 2-9-2014 at 10:30 AM

Oh, it is no problem for 2WD vehicles... it is just a rocky roadbed, so fully inflated tires and poorly made trailers don't have a chance! :light:

Barry A. - 2-9-2014 at 10:33 AM

VERY few "travel trailers" are designed to withstand THAT kind of punishment at any speed-------they simply will never be the same if you haul one over that road, regardless of how careful you are------there WILL be damage, but you may not see it on casual inspection.

That's my take, anyway, after many years of experience.

Barry

Cliffy - 2-9-2014 at 01:37 PM

Well OK. I'm not a novice when it comes to gravel roads and my equipment is in top shape and I'm not in a hurry BUT I don't want to destroy it either. I would love to get to B of C that way as I haven't been to Gonzaga for 30 years but it will have to wait for another trip by the way it sounds.

Gonzaga Bay

bajaguy - 2-9-2014 at 01:45 PM

If you are only going to Gonzaga, it's less that 4 miles to the turnoff by the PEMEX from where the new pavement ends. If you drive slow, you should not have any problems.