BajaNomad

Looking for someone to tow a truck from BA to San Diego

Bajaboy - 4-7-2022 at 07:34 PM

I posted this today at Race-Dezert hoping to find someone with a flat bed trailer looking to make some money and eat some fish tacos. I appreciate your help!

Hi All,

Friends of mine came down to Baja for vacation and ended up having turbo injection problems. After going through 5 or so mechanics in Santa Rosalia, Vizcaino, and Bahia Asuncion, none could fix the problem. We have been looking at options to get the truck back to San Diego and are hoping someone here would like to help (for pay of course).

The truck is an 8-foot extended cab F-250 pickup with a pop-up camper. I estimate truck at 5,800 pounds and caravan at 1,000 pounds. We are flexible on timing. Also, Matt, the owner, is available to come down and travel with the truck.

We do have a local that is willing to tow the truck to TJ but it's not an ideal situation. If you are interested, please let me know.

Zac

mjs - 4-7-2022 at 08:06 PM

Year, gas or diesel, 4x4? Model of camper?

I have a hauler but I'm concerned that the truck and camper may exceed the weight and possibly length. You can usually me if you want. I've got some commitments so there would be a delay.

Bajaboy - 4-7-2022 at 08:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mjs  
Year, gas or diesel, 4x4? Model of camper?

I have a hauler but I'm concerned that the truck and camper may exceed the weight and possibly length. You can usually me if you want. I've got some commitments so there would be a delay.


Time is not a big deal. Truck is a diesel and is 4x4. The link has a picture of the truck.

https://www.race-dezert.com/forum/threads/looking-for-a-tow-...


mtgoat666 - 4-8-2022 at 02:00 AM

Lots of towing companies in TJ-Ensenada area. Many advertise they can tow across border.

mjs - 4-8-2022 at 07:24 AM

I looked up the specs for a 2004 truck (just a wag on my part). Truck weight 6200 lbs. And 172" wheelbase. Hawk Four-wheel camper 1800 lbs wet. Granted these are just estimates. Reason I asked is because my 97 ford pu was close to 7k without a camper.

Anyways it looks like with the camper it is over the weight rating of my trailer. You're probably going to have to find someone with a 10k rated trailer. Maybe a commercial trucker with a flatbed going north could get it to a dealer in Ensenada or Mexicali.

Wish I had a better solution. Best of luck.

boe4fun - 4-8-2022 at 07:47 AM

Hola Zac,
I’ll be back in BA next week, may be able to help, but the owner will have to rent/purchase a tow dolly or a tow bar (and I’ll have to find the specs on my GMC for towing). We’ll talk when I get back. In La Paz til the 14th for our clinic. Paul.

Hook - 4-8-2022 at 08:29 AM

Whether that truck is a 4x4 or only 2wd COULD be important, if someone is considering towing it "four down". I cant really tell from the pic or post.

surfhat - 4-8-2022 at 08:38 AM

A few decades ago when I broke down near GN, I found a local lumber yard supplier whose large flatbed truck had just unloaded and was going back north with an empty truck.

It was an adventure riding for the first time in a big semi truck hauler.

I cannot recall how much it was for a ride back near the border, but it was worth every peso. Loading and unloading was a story of its own.

On a narrow steep mountain pass, we came upon another hauler that both trucks had to literally crawl past each other with inches to spare.

Anyway, check with some local suppliers and see if they have any trucks headed back north, since they are usually empty and could appreciate a little extra dough. Worked for me when I needed it.

David K - 4-8-2022 at 09:09 AM

Matt = elgatoloco?

mtgoat666 - 4-8-2022 at 09:56 AM

Gruas Transformex USA /MEX 6641997113
You best measure length of vehicle and get weight identified before calling for tow - sounds like a long, heavy load. Tower may have to look around for appropriate transport.

BajaNomad - 4-8-2022 at 10:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surfhat  
A few decades ago when I broke down near GN, I found a local lumber yard supplier whose large flatbed truck had just unloaded and was going back north with an empty truck.

It was an adventure riding for the first time in a big semi truck hauler.

I cannot recall how much it was for a ride back near the border, but it was worth every peso. Loading and unloading was a story of its own.

On a narrow steep mountain pass, we came upon another hauler that both trucks had to literally crawl past each other with inches to spare.

Anyway, check with some local suppliers and see if they have any trucks headed back north, since they are usually empty and could appreciate a little extra dough. Worked for me when I needed it.


In transportation circles (at least in the USA), this is called a "backhaul". There are companies that specifically seek only (or mostly) backhaul transport opportunities, as the rates tend to be significantly lower.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhaul_(trucking)

Bajaboy - 4-8-2022 at 01:04 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mjs  
I looked up the specs for a 2004 truck (just a wag on my part). Truck weight 6200 lbs. And 172" wheelbase. Hawk Four-wheel camper 1800 lbs wet. Granted these are just estimates. Reason I asked is because my 97 ford pu was close to 7k without a camper.

Anyways it looks like with the camper it is over the weight rating of my trailer. You're probably going to have to find someone with a 10k rated trailer. Maybe a commercial trucker with a flatbed going north could get it to a dealer in Ensenada or Mexicali.

Wish I had a better solution. Best of luck.


Would it work without the camper? That's definitely an option.

elgatoloco - 4-8-2022 at 02:00 PM

Hey sports fans - been out of my mind and off grid for a bit............

Some more info on rig:

18.5 feet long and 7,100 pounds is what I have come up (kayaks will come off for trip north)

1999 F-250 Super Cab 4x4 8' Bed
5,800 pounds curb weight
https://curbweights.com/ford/f-250/1999/

2001 Four Wheel Pop Up Camper - 1,300 pounds dry
Consulted with 4 Wheel rep about what options we have and was told that rigs weighed less back when we bought ours then they are today

As a side note we had a great time on our trip right up to and even after the breakdown. We started with a great whale experience and ended with the best pizza in Baja at a very exclusive by invitation only joint in BA.

Big thanks to Zac and familia for helping us lick our 'wounds' and for getting us back stateside.

Any ideas or tips are welcome.

Mateo


Bob and Susan - 4-8-2022 at 03:36 PM

matt...you need to take a long look at this...forget your love for this truck

your repair will cost 3k to 8k in the usa
ask around

the truck is worth 3k to 6k

its an OLD truck (23 yrs old)

is it really worth the money to tow it north and repair it

its time to get a new truck for baja
put the camper on the new truck
end the pain

David K - 4-8-2022 at 03:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
matt...you need to take a long look at this...forget your love for this truck

your repair will cost 3k to 8k in the usa
ask around

the truck is worth 3k to 6k

its an OLD truck (23 yrs old)

is it really worth the money to tow it north and repair it

its time to get a new truck for baja
put the camper on the new truck
end the pain



But, that truck is famous! It must be saved... See it in 2001, at Minute 9:43 and on, in the Matomí Movie by El Camote: https://vimeo.com/206406826/a08c7cb808

(if it isn't the same truck, then never mind, LOL)

Maderita - 4-8-2022 at 04:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
matt...you need to take a long look at this...forget your love for this truck

your repair will cost 3k to 8k in the usa
ask around

the truck is worth 3k to 6k

its an OLD truck (23 yrs old)

is it really worth the money to tow it north and repair it

its time to get a new truck for baja
put the camper on the new truck
end the pain


Have you paid attention to the used market for 4x4 trucks with the 7.3 Powerstroke diesel engine? That engine is out of production engine and now highly coveted. Seems to me that that asking prices are $20K. That's for an old truck with a quarter million miles.

His truck probably has another 10 years of life remaining. And a great rig for Baja; no worries about a scratch or dent.
Now, price out a new F250 4x4 diesel Supercab and get back to us. Guessing $60K after taxes and registration.

Bob and Susan - 4-8-2022 at 04:04 PM

it doesnt run

elgatoloco - 4-8-2022 at 04:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
matt...you need to take a long look at this...forget your love for this truck

your repair will cost 3k to 8k in the usa
ask around

the truck is worth 3k to 6k

its an OLD truck (23 yrs old)

is it really worth the money to tow it north and repair it

its time to get a new truck for baja
put the camper on the new truck
end the pain



Bob, there you go being all pragmatic. :biggrin:

What you say has merit, however there is more to consider:

I haven't had a car payment since 2001
Engine only has 380,000 miles on it and when the wife saw me shell out 30K for it I had to promise to get 500,000 miles so there's that
I don't want a new pickup truck
The camper has a resale value above what we actually paid for it in 2001
In a year or so I may very well sell it as a package and buy one of those Sprinter / Transit vans that we saw clogging the beaches of Bahia Concepcion last month
Did I mention that its a company car equipped with a demo unit for a product I sell and was originally purchased as a mobile sales office and still used as such to this day 23 years later? It might be that the corporation will pay for the repair. :saint:

All that being said, you never know.

Bob and Susan - 4-9-2022 at 05:58 AM

you are making this way too complicated...

buy a tow bar (under $200) in the usa
you will need it later when the old truck breaks again

bring another truck down and tow yours back

make sure you have aux lights for the old truck tow

you are only 12 hours away...one weekend and its back home

mtgoat666 - 4-9-2022 at 06:16 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
you are making this way too complicated...

buy a tow bar (under $200) in the usa
you will need it later when the old truck breaks again

bring another truck down and tow yours back

make sure you have aux lights for the old truck tow

you are only 12 hours away...one weekend and its back home


Do not recommend flat towing a big truck with a similar-weight truck. Your braking ability will be scary reduced.

Bob and Susan - 4-9-2022 at 06:18 AM

its an emergency tow...it will work

mtgoat666 - 4-9-2022 at 06:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
its an emergency tow...it will work


What is the emergency?

Towing a 8k lb load with no trailer brakes and no tongue weight. Good flocking luck

Bob and Susan - 4-9-2022 at 09:48 AM

so the moral to this story is dont bring a 1998 truck to pull your 1999 truck home...

bring a better truck

JZ - 4-9-2022 at 12:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  

bring another truck down and tow yours back

Here's how NOT to do it ((Read article). ;)




A. Use a capable diesel truck to pull it. It's not that heavy.
B. Don't try to pull it too fast up a grade
C. Watch your temp gauges.


[Edited on 4-9-2022 by JZ]

JZ - 4-9-2022 at 12:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


Do not recommend flat towing a big truck with a similar-weight truck. Your braking ability will be scary reduced.


He's not suggesting to use one of your EV's. This one is outside of your wheel house.



[Edited on 4-9-2022 by JZ]

surfhat - 4-10-2022 at 11:21 AM

Thanks Doug for the correct term for 'back hauling' that I was able to take advantage of in the way back machine.

There must be others that could use this opportunity when needed.

Riding in a big rig for the first time, was a reward of its own in my life's experiences that always be remembered.

I have rarely towed anything and am more than happy to leave that to other's.

Life is an adventure and we are all along for the ride while it lasts.

Thanks to all here every day.

Bajaboy - 4-12-2022 at 01:56 PM

This post has been helpful and a great reminder of how helpful Nomads can be.:light:

I think we have found an arrangement to get the truck back to Tijuana in a few weeks. All I had to do was look in my back yard:biggrin: Heard a bunch of commotion earlier today behind our place. Turns out is was a truck with a flatbed trailer picking up an old water truck.

JZ - 4-12-2022 at 02:12 PM

Good to hear.