BajaNomad - Is Chapala passable hwy 5 to hwy 1

Is Chapala passable hwy 5 to hwy 1

tecatero - 12-6-2019 at 09:05 AM

Headed to Cabo on Monday: can we go calexico or stuck using TJ?

Bob and Susan - 12-6-2019 at 09:18 AM

don't listen to people here how GREAT it is

if you have a light car or trailer DONT use this route

truck or SUV you can make it
it does cut time off the trip

the road is still very rough

4x4abc - 12-6-2019 at 09:24 AM

don't listen to people here how BAD it is

if you have a light car or trailer you are FINE using this route

truck or SUV always a plus in Baja
it does cut time off the trip

the road is in very decent shape

[Edited on 12-6-2019 by 4x4abc]

Don Pisto - 12-6-2019 at 09:50 AM

Harold is correct! this is my last day here in Cabo, be prepared for some perfect weather! :coolup:

4x4abc - 12-6-2019 at 12:25 PM

I understand it is all relative

I drove that road 30+ years ago for the first time
bumpy and slow - but not bad
some of the pre 1986 stretches were indeed bad

would love to read some feedback by Gulick & Co
they drove primitive cars by today's standard and I don't remember them complaining - ever

if you don't like that road - take another one
if you think, you can manage - don't drive too fast
if you love it - visit me for a beer

JZ - 12-6-2019 at 01:04 PM

Just drove it on Saturday. Very good drive. MUCH better than going through TJ.

[Edited on 12-6-2019 by JZ]

baja Steve - 12-6-2019 at 01:31 PM

I drove it a couple of weeks ago. A fried crossed at tecate the same time we crossed at the east mexicali crossing. It took them 2 1/2 hours longer to get to lake Chapala then our trip on 5.

StuckSucks - 12-6-2019 at 03:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by baja Steve

I drove it a couple of weeks ago. A fried crossed at tecate the same time we crossed at the east mexicali crossing. It took them 2 1/2 hours longer to get to lake Chapala then our trip on 5.

Your friend drove down highway 1?

Take 5!

John M - 12-6-2019 at 03:57 PM

The few sections of dirt are driven daily by automobiles. Truck, SUV or similar is not necessary. Simply go slower if you are towing - the total dirt road miles lessens weekly.

John M

RocketJSquirrel - 12-6-2019 at 05:48 PM

I drove a VW Jetta from 1 through 5 up to San Felipe and over to Ensenada with no problems. There was a lot of construction and things may have changed, but it was not difficult to go from 1 to 5 up to SF. My guess is that if there has been any change it is probably BETTER than a few weeks ago.

[Edited on 12-7-2019 by RocketJSquirrel]

David K - 12-6-2019 at 06:13 PM

So, completion of the 5 will be in 2020? Finally, hell freezes over!
This highway work began in 2007 at Puertecitos. Many delays for funding, archeological recovery, and slow work maybe due to difficult terrain. The poorly engineered 9 bridges that washed out on Oct. 1, 2018 will be an additional delay, too. 13 years to pave about 77 miles is something, but that helped preserve that part of Baja a bit longer.

RocketJSquirrel - 12-6-2019 at 07:20 PM

I drove the road in the first week of November, 2019. Not sure what you mean by, "Why do people insist on giving recommendations when they have not driven the road in a long time if at all?"?

I guess four weeks might be a "long time" but is probably fairly accurate.

[Edited on 12-7-2019 by RocketJSquirrel]

Norte - you really don't know

John M - 12-6-2019 at 09:29 PM

Norte, why would you assume folks that provide advice are not
familiar with the road? We also drove it in mid-November, twice.

Don't arbitrarily shoot the messenger.

John M

bajatrailrider - 12-6-2019 at 10:58 PM

Haha baja blow hards at there best. Have you driven the road norte :bounce:

Salsa - 12-7-2019 at 04:40 PM

Norte

Is there a reason you avoided the question.

I did not answer because I have not driven it since the late 1980's.

I did a lot of times before that.

Don

JZ - 12-7-2019 at 05:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by norte

Why do people insist on giving recommendations when they have not driven the road in a long time if at all? As fast as things change they are bound to give poor information....Leave it to people who really know and don't post just to hear yourself talk. Make everything on this site suspect (don't know what to believe).

Are you purposely trying to make yourself look like an @ss clown?

[Edited on 12-8-2019 by JZ]

Ron in BC - 12-7-2019 at 05:02 PM

I appreciate the updates and will be using 5 in early Feb.

Past recent reports sound good but as the saying goes, "seeing is believing".

I'd like to see a photo of this area, past where you turn off for Coco's and are staring to head downhill to join the old route. Can't be any worse than earlier this year.

Ron

Ron in BC - 12-7-2019 at 05:04 PM

This area.

JZ - 12-7-2019 at 05:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ron in BC

I appreciate the updates and will be using 5 in early Feb.

Past recent reports sound good but as the saying goes, "seeing is believing".

I'd like to see a photo of this area, past where you turn off for Coco's and are staring to head downhill to join the old route. Can't be any worse than earlier this year.

Ron

The section from Gonzaga to Hwy1 is only a couple miles of dirt. It's in really good condition. Coming North, there is a painting on the rocks showing a turn off to Coco's.

bkbend - 12-8-2019 at 10:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Ron in BC

I don't have a photo but the area you show was much better late October than it was last April. It's a fairly smooth track of typical large gravel. Parts of it are narrow and I had to climb a cutback once to let a travel trailer get by and three of us waited in a wide spot for about five minutes for a semi we could see off in the distance. Everyone's perspective is still subjective so what you see may not be what you read. Enjoy the journey.