Dianamo
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 12-27-2005
Location: SF Bay Area, CA when not in El Cardonal
Member Is Offline
Mood: ...still in Baja
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Driving a motorhome to Baja Sur
Hola Nomads,
I would appreciate advice on driving a 34' motorhome all the way down to the Los Barriles area. I will be leaving it on my property while I build a
casita.
Where do you recommend staying overnight(s), south of Ensenada? My plan is:
Night 1, to Guerrero Negro.
Night 2, to Loreto, Tripui, or Juncalito (I don't want to stay in Constitucion! If required to stay in Constitucion, where is
recommended?)
Night 3, in LaPaz (to take care of business before heading down to Los Barriles).
Of course, I would appreciate recommendation in case I don't meet my planned agenda.
What to do if one has a flat tire (owner's manual recommends not to attempt to change the tire, have a professional do it)?
What is the least expensive liability insurance carrier for a motorhome (will probably only buy for one week, just enough to get me to my dirt)?
I appreciate any other advice.
Thanks,
DianaMo
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Where you camp will depend on where you are crossing and what time.
Check with Discover, Lewis and Lewis or Bajabound for insurance rates.
In Cuidad, try Manfred's on the north end of town. Full hook-ups, pool, internet and security but not cheap.
Other first night alternatives are;
El Pabellon in San Quinton
Rancho St Inez in Catavinia
Other alternatives;
El Padrito in San Ignacio
Any Conception beach
Aquamarina in La Paz
Rancho Verde just south of La Paz
For tires, look for the green truck or a Lanterra sign.
Chances are some nice local will stop to help but I'd be prepared to change you own in a pinch. Also remember that a very few locals are not so nice.
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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DianaMo,
The cheapest liability policy (50K) from Bajabound would cost $37.19 for 7 days of coverage, although I would suggest a higher limit for an RV since
it is such a large vehicle. Gettting 100K in liability would cost 45.73 for 7 days so it is still really reasonable. Those policies would also include
roadside assistance and legal aid. Send me a u2u if you would like more info!
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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Dianna
Ist night Guerro Negro, just before the flag, restaurant on right eat there and park, Next Juncalito, next my place you know where.
wiley
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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cbuzzetti
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: Atascadero, Ca
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Mood: Lookin for a vacation
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As far as changing the tire goes here is what I have done.
First if you have hydraulic jacks see if you can lift any of your wheels off the ground with them. On my class C motor home I can lift the fronts
only. This makes changing the fronts quite easy.
If no jacks here are the tools I suggest.
10 ton bottle jack. Make sure it will fit under axle when tire is flat (front and rear)
Heavy duty wheel chocks (2 min)
Heavy duty Jack stands (2 min)
110v 1/2" drive impact gun from Harbor Freight Tools ($39-69)
Correct size impact socket for lug nuts
50' heavy duty extension cord for impact gun (don't forget to start generator) ;-)
12" x 12" x 3/4" plywood to place jack on if in soft dirt or sand.
Inexpensive 1/2" drive torque wrench
A couple of extra lug nuts.
Before you get on the road. Remove all lugs nuts to make sure none are stuck. While you have them off apply a small amount of grease to threads.
Re-torque wheels.
This will make changing a tire on the MH alot easier. 10 minutes max for me.
Something else to consider is the weight of the tire/wheel combo. Be sure that you are capable of moving/lifting this. Some of them are very heavy.
And finally a little tip; Do not raise flat tire way off the ground, only get it high enough to remove tire. Same with installing new one, get the
vehicle just high enough that the tire does not have to be lifted to get on lug nuts.
This could save your back some misery.
If you have room bring along an extra tire. MH sizes are hard to find.
Have a great trip.
BajaBuzz
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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When are you going? Time of the year makes a huge difference in how far you can go if you plan on not driving in the dark.
GN too far for a first timer in a 34 footer. SQ and El Rosario too close. I'd shoot for Rancho Santa Ines, assuming you are leaving in the next 3-4
months and you are leaving the border area before 9am. Maybe Santispac the next day (dont they still allow transients?). You could probably make Los
Barilles the next day if you get up early but if not, then Aquamarina in LA PAZ. then, Barilles the next morning.
You better be equipped to change your tires. bring a good bottle jack, some jack stands and some 2x8 bases for them in case you are forced to change
it in soft earth. Practice at home first. Yeah, a gringo, mexican or an Angel will probably help but they may not have the means to do it safely....if
at all.
BTW, moho tires and rims are HEAVY. At the risk of insulting you and the rest of the fairer sex, removing the inside rear tires could be more than you
can handle. Know before you go.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Sinai Hotel and RV in El Rosario first night.
Malarrinno's in GN second night.
Riviera RV in Loreto 3rd night.
Aquamarina in La Paz 4th night.
Go slow, take breaks and take your time.
If you have side mirrors that stick out far, bring in the driver's side mirrow -- or lose it.
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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i dont know your past experence driving baja or driving a 34 ft moterhome i drove a 36 footer down to loreto 2 yrs ago all the advice given here is
very good
i will add take your time, look as far a head as you can if posable pull over or slow way down when meeting big rigs on curves
i have driven big rigs a lot and have no problems with baja roads but they can be very intimadating if not prepared and are white knuckle roads allow
extra time for everything and stop at least 2 hrs before dark might as well injoy the ride
jerry and judi
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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dinahmoe hummm
your trip legs are too long. you need to add a day or 2 believe me if you've never done it, that raod sucks for a Moho.
i hauled a 34' pull behind diesel truck and was whupped after 5 hours driving each day!
i was 3 days just tecate to mulege fercrissakes!!!!!!!!!
your lucky if you only have to drive it one time too.
best advice..............hire a driver and fly down to meet em!!
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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If you end up in Ciudad Constitucion, the best RV park in the area is Palapa 206 which is at Kilometer 206 just south of constitucion. Wonderful
people and a great place to stay.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Situation on Hgwy 1 outside GN
I was headed to GN (NW) recently and about 5 miles outside of town. I saw a ''lead'' pickup coming towards me with lights blinking and flags
waving and I saw further down the road a truck hauling a ''wide'' load. It was far down the road so I didn't see it real clear. The closer it
got to me, the more I realized that it was a wide, wide load. I couldn't believe how wide it was. There was no shoulder to my right so I slowed
down and finally came to a stop. I didn't think it was going to fit passing me. It did pass but only by inches. I couldn't believe it. Had I
been driving my RV, towing my car, I would have been in serious trouble. The asphalt dropped off about 18 inches with a steep incline. Had I
been towing, it would have been him or me (in my RV), but we were not going to pass. I would have had to unhitch my car, and back my RV up. I
really couldn't believe it. I KNOW a semi would not have been able to pass this thing and I didn't know how far down the road he was going. This
stretch of road always has something happening on it.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Drive carefully and take your time. Stay in your lane. Biggest problem for me are the people who drive too fast or use 2/3 of the roads because "it
is too narrow". Watch for "wide loads". You usually have time to move over.
The road can be enjoyable if you are not in too big a hurry.
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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you see a on comming flashing light get the hell out of the way iff its behind you you pull over?? dont you if its emergency vehicals here in the
states you get out of the way dont you?? duhhhhhh
jerry and judi
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jerry
you see a on comming flashing light get the hell out of the way iff its behind you you pull over?? dont you if its emergency vehicals here in the
states you get out of the way dont you?? duhhhhhh |
Right. Get out of the way. And if that's not possible?
In my situation, there was NO PLACE to pull over -- so I came to a complete stop. I know what lead vehicles are, with flags and lights. This
lead vehicle was flying down the road, with alot of distance bewteen it and the wideload. In this situation, in my mid-SUV, I didn't think it was
going to make it pass me. It came within inches of my car. Had I been in my RV, there would have been trouble. I usually tow, so I could not
have backed up. And I could not have gone off the road because there was no shoulder -- it was a drop off that would have rolled my RV and car.
I would have had to stop, unhitch my car, back it up till I could pull off the road, then back my RV until I could do the same.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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Phil S
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 10-28-2003
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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If this is your first trip down in an r.v. I'd suggest when you talk to the insurance agent regarding limits of your policy you ask him, how much more
for $500,000.00 And that part ONLY pays for Bodily Injury caused by whatever YOU should do that causes the accident. Then ask him how much MORE it
would cost to increase the property damage portion of your policy compared to the small amount they 'add into the policy'. That is the portion that
pays for the cost of the brand new Aguila bus with 40 passengers on it that 'might get forced off the road' should something 'happen' to your
motorhome while going around a corner & you drift across & there is that blasted bus full of adults & children!!!!! You'll be surprised
as to how little the increased costs are for the higher limits. Be a responsible driver while in Baja!!!!!!
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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LOL!
I think maybe she is rethinking this whole business after all the reality we have provided. It's all good advice, though.
I had a friend ask me about trailering his 22 foot boat down the peninsula to Loreto. He has never driven it before and he would be going solo with
his son. After my initial talk of what he might encounter, he immediately decided it was not for him.
For the first time driver with a large rig or combo rig, it would be of immense help to travel down with another vehicle driven by someone who has
done it before.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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just my 2 cents about driving big rigs in Baja.
(In my case it is only a 3/4 ton truck with a 10' Lance Camper.)
Let me say first off that I have driven small pickups, cars and SUV's in baja for almost 40 years.
5 years ago we got the Camper Rig. The difference in time spent driving and max miles per day is dramatic. Where you will pass is reduced, the
average MPH is reduced, and the time on the road due to fatique is reduced.
So take the advice of those here that recommend taking it slow. 1st night in GN (San Diego start) is about as far as I want to go. Loreto area for
2nd night, and La Paz or Las Barilles for the 3rd.
The tip of trying to hookup with another vehicle is a good one, and get some walkie talkies. A pair now is less than $50.
Have fun.
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