BajaNomad

Mex 5 update?

cftlet - 3-25-2019 at 09:24 AM

I was just reading the BPE and someone posted that Mex 5 was rough and they recommended 4 wd. I came down Mex 5 in January and found it a little bumpy but by nomeans would I consider it rough requiring 4 wd. Has anyone driven Mex 5 in the last week or so and could you give me a update? I trust this site more for this type of info. As always thanks in advance.

TMW - 3-25-2019 at 10:17 AM

No need for 4x4. Low clearance could be a problem in some areas but a SUV or truck no problem.

David K - 3-25-2019 at 10:37 AM

Cars, trucks, and motorhomes use Hwy. 5.
Because of the dirt detours and uneven surface in places, larger motorhomes and trailer-towing may be difficult for some. Also, if you just are not comfortable driving slow or using dirt roads, then Baja may not be the best choice... Even Hwy. 1 has miles of dirt detours on occasion. Right now, bad pot holes around Maneadero and a couple of dirt detour miles south of Santo Tomás.

cftlet - 3-25-2019 at 02:22 PM

Hey David K my question has nothing to do with speed. I am concerned about my traveling partners small suv. FYI I prefer driving on dirt at slower pace, that's why I retired here.

David K - 3-25-2019 at 02:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by cftlet  
Hey David K my question has nothing to do with speed. I am concerned about my traveling partners small suv. FYI I prefer driving on dirt at slower pace, that's why I retired here.


My reply was maybe more than you asked, but the first part was not speed related:

"Cars, trucks, and motorhomes use Hwy. 5.
Because of the dirt detours and uneven surface in places, larger motorhomes and trailer-towing may be difficult for some."

I hope that indicated it was not a 4WD trail by any means.

advrider - 3-25-2019 at 03:56 PM

Drove it with a Nissan xterra towing a camp trailer without a problem, also plenty of big rigs driving it.

BajaMama - 3-26-2019 at 06:06 AM

I drove it in October in an older Acura MDX. Definitely passable.

AZ7000 - 3-26-2019 at 04:48 PM

Itasca Navion pulling a 12' enclosed trailer last week. its just slow

basautter - 3-26-2019 at 05:00 PM

I am driving this route in two weeks. Thanks for the info!

David K - 3-26-2019 at 05:04 PM

A Nomad is on Hwy. 5 just north of Gonzaga right now, zipping along... now in the bridge damage zone.

[Edited on 3-27-2019 by David K]

David K - 3-26-2019 at 05:33 PM

OK, as he nears Puertecitos, it took him 50 minutes to drive 50 miles from just south of Gonzaga... which is over the area of damaged bridges. 60 mph average speed including the military checkpoint at Gonzaga. That is super.

bkbend - 3-26-2019 at 06:10 PM

I drove the road in January and again yesterday. No real difference except the reconstruction north of Puertocitos was recently graded and smoother and there wasn't a semi stuck on the washout bypass that crosses under the bridge. If it was ok in January, it's ok now.