Have to make the decision whether or not to take the Gonzaga dirt to Gonzaga or go through Ensenada with my 20 ft travel trailer north bound. I have 4
days to decide.chuckie - 5-3-2014 at 03:13 AM
I have aleady said my piece....Its not that bad a piece of road, BUT I would NOT pull a travel trailer over it....DaGreen - 5-3-2014 at 04:23 AM
no way!! love the road myself, but you would need a new trailer by coco's.Pacifico - 5-3-2014 at 06:34 AM
I've done it twice in the past couple weeks and I'm getting burned out on it. Seems more rocky each time I do it.
I definitely WOULD NOT want to pull a trailer down that road!Cliffy - 5-3-2014 at 07:54 AM
OK sometimes I have to be hit in the head to get my attention I get the idea now. Just really didn't want to go through the corridor again but I
will. NO Gonzaga, crap!
Thanks folks I really appreciate the help.Justbozo - 5-3-2014 at 07:57 AM
A friend just went north last week that way. 1 ton dually Dodge diesel and a 36'? 5th wheel. Does not air down and crawls. He is a regular on this
road.
I asked for a report from him gauging my full size 1/2ton 2wd and 12' cargo trailer with a lite load. I have traveled this route before.
Very doable was his reply. WATCH for washouts on the rocky section along the road edges that will ruin your day, sand roads OK and the construction
road is good.
I will air down some from highway pressure on the truck and 50% on the trailer.
It is all comfort level as in seat of the pants and nerves. If you have little tolerance for risk stay on the paved road. If you want a taste of the
old road go for it.RenoJoe - 5-3-2014 at 08:04 AM
I took the road the end of march this year with my 22' class c towing my samari. I aired down to 25 on the rv and 15 on the samari. Took 4.5 hours. No
problems, no new rattles. Take it easy and good luck.willardguy - 5-3-2014 at 08:23 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cliffy
OK sometimes I have to be hit in the head to get my attention I get the idea now. Just really didn't want to go through the corridor again but I
will. NO Gonzaga, crap!
Thanks folks I really appreciate the help.
lol! and you were sooo close! now you gotta go for it!rts551 - 5-3-2014 at 08:47 AM
Just take it easy and crawl along.
[img][/img]
If this guy can do it, you can
[img][/img]Skipjack Joe - 5-3-2014 at 11:25 AM
Why take the Gonzaga road. At best it will take you 4+ hours to reach the border. The Mexicali crossing is no faster than Tijuana.
Whatever you do don't pass another vehicle on that steep mountain part between Catavina and Cocos. Or if you must make sure you're the one up against
the mountain. This winter I came across a vehicle like yours that had slid down off the side of the road while passing another vehicle. He was waiting
for a tow from Ensenada.Skipjack Joe - 5-3-2014 at 11:28 AM
I just noticed that these 2 vehicles were passing one another on their left, the opposite of what you would expect. That tells me that the guy coming
down knew what he was doing.
[Edited on 5-3-2014 by Skipjack Joe]Cliffy - 5-3-2014 at 04:13 PM
skipjack what do you mean 4 hrs to the border? 4 more hrs to the border?
I'm figuring a 2 day drive through Tecate from the Gonzaga turnoff on Mex 1 as I'm going to Tucson.
It just looked that even with a 5 to 6 hr run on the dirt I'd save at least a day to Tucson if I could use the dirt.rts551 - 5-3-2014 at 04:25 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cliffy
skipjack what do you mean 4 hrs to the border? 4 more hrs to the border?
I'm figuring a 2 day drive through Tecate from the Gonzaga turnoff on Mex 1 as I'm going to Tucson.
It just looked that even with a 5 to 6 hr run on the dirt I'd save at least a day to Tucson if I could use the dirt.
I have A house in Tucson and the Gonzaga RD cuts 200 miles off the tripRenoJoe - 5-3-2014 at 08:51 PM
On my last trip at the end of march my coffee maker didn't even slide off my dinning table. Take your time.windgrrl - 5-3-2014 at 09:07 PM
If you decide to go through Ensenada you'll be fine with with a 20 footer. We drove through several times with a 28 foot RV. Know your route, take
your time, watch for stop signs and a GPS can be your friend if it's your first time through.Skipjack Joe - 5-3-2014 at 11:43 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cliffy
skipjack what do you mean 4 hrs to the border? 4 more hrs to the border?
I'm figuring a 2 day drive through Tecate from the Gonzaga turnoff on Mex 1 as I'm going to Tucson.
It just looked that even with a 5 to 6 hr run on the dirt I'd save at least a day to Tucson if I could use the dirt.
If you intend to cross the border at Tecate and are coming from south of Laguna Chapala you have both fewer miles and less hours by driving up hwy 1
to Ensenada and then to Tecate. That's fewer miles than the other route and it's all paved.
Perhaps rts551 can tell you the route to Tucson that saves 200 miles. I think there is a border crossing east of Mexicali that leads to a faster
crossing with fewer miles to Tucson.
The dirt section is about 50 miles I think, 20 to cocos and another 30 to the paved road. I do about 15mph on this section because I am pulling an
aluminum boat and I don't like to look in the rear view mirror and see it bouncing 3 feet in the air behind me. It's washboard in the good places and
is just badly broken up in the bad areas, rocks exposed and dirt worn away requiring really slow driving. Some haul down that road and get a smoother
ride because they're riding the top of the washboard ridges, but you will be doing 15mph because of the size of your vehicle and the punishment it
takes when driving at higher speeds. Once you get to the paved section you can drive faster than hwy 1 because you're not going through small towns,
each with lights and topes. But the road to Tecate from the Gonzaga road is considerably longer than it is from Ensenada so that adds time.
I really suspect that there are better ways to drive to Tucson than through Tecate.bajabuddha - 5-4-2014 at 12:20 AM
If you even remotely like your trailer, DON'T.
Happy trails.rts551 - 5-4-2014 at 04:36 PM
Igor... the route is through San Felipe to Mexicali or points east. The Mexicali East Crossing is better than Downtown Mexicali but can be a 45
minute wait. Algadonas is a Breeze....Heard reports that San Luis can be an hour now. Used to be as easy as Tecate.
Some of the San Felipe residents can give a better estimate of times at the Mexicali EAST crossing. And yes...No San Quintin or Ensenada to go
through!!!
If you have patience and time...you will not ruin your trailer.ehall - 5-4-2014 at 06:43 PM
I was at Coco's a few weeks ago and there was a bright yellow trailer being stored there while the owner went to get parts. Coco said something in the
slide out broke and it fell out. If you go drive slow.treuboff - 5-4-2014 at 07:30 PM
NAFTA Port Mexicali just after sun up breeze right throughCliffy - 5-5-2014 at 08:58 PM
Unfortunately all plans have changed Caught a hole (unseen by both of us) and bent a trailer axle. Not even going fast! Limping to San Diego to find
new axle. 5 tire changes between Mulege and El Rosario May have 2 more before the border :-) :-)David K - 5-6-2014 at 08:32 AM
Since you said El Rosario, then the Gonzaga Road (Hwy. 5) isn't to blame?rts551 - 5-6-2014 at 09:20 AM
Why didn't you get the axle fixed in Mexico? They have lots of experience with that.chuckie - 5-6-2014 at 09:32 AM
AND! Way less expensiveCliffy - 5-7-2014 at 08:48 PM
[/img]
[/img]