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Author: Subject: Gringos and their big four wheelers
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 07:28 AM


I use to take my 77 Pinto into a lot of places because that's all I had. I think the Mexicans take whatever they have into places for the same reason. It's what they have and they make the best use of it. There are some places where high clearence and 4x4 are necessary if you want to get there in a reasonable time frame. If time was all you had a model T will do.
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Don Alley
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 07:42 AM


I have a 4 wheel drive. And I don't do hardcore offroad driving.

I also don't skid and slip on the boat ramp.:biggrin: And I am from Montana. Think snow.

Lots of big, new 4X4s around here with BCS plates and local drivers. And you can buy a raffle ticket to support the local schools and maybe win a new Hummer.
So it's not just a gringo thing.




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Paula
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 07:48 AM


It's a guy thing.
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Don Alley
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 08:07 AM


:lol::lol::lol::lol:



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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 08:20 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by capn.sharky
Yes, there are places where you need a four wheel drive. But, I seem to notice the Mexicans going to the same places in their trucks without 4 wheel and cars. Ever notice some of those so-called four wheel drive vehicles are driving on roads made by the mexicans in their cars? Remember the old trader trucks that serviced Baja and were not four wheelers. Jeeps are great for going places where no one else has been---but for the most part, you can get there in your family sedan.:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:


Hi cap. sharkey,

It's been my experience down here that most new 4x4's are now owned not by gringos, but by affluent Mexicans, who like them for macho machines they are.. whether or not actual 4WD is needed.

4WD or not? Sure, it's only needed for those really rare ocassions, but you appreciate it when that time comes. I would always rather have it..than want it. Even though I live in Baja and Up North in demanding and rough countrysides, I very seldom have to engage 4WD in Baja or up home, but would not buy a pickup without it.




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David K
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 08:50 AM


It's like insurance... you may hope you never need it... but thank God that you have it.

This is provided you enjoy being out in nature, far from other people where having 4WD makes all the difference in the world for peace of mind and security and privacy.

Ken... nice photos!

[Edited on 3-26-2009 by David K]




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postholedigger
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 01:10 PM


Reminds me of a Bud Light TV Commercial: Real Men of Genius - Enormous SUV Driver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcOCP_5Hr2I
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 03:01 PM


There are dirt roads and there is highway 1 and 5:lol:........I can assure you there was a need for 4/wheels 40 or more years ago on the super highways of today in Baja.

Only fools and Mexicans went with-out,the wrecks at the bottom of canyons on 5 and else where attest to that.

It never ceased to amaze me year and year out watching the the Fernandez clan take a little trip to San Felipe with 3 or 4 turtles and a bunch of kids in the back of their old truck over the trail north and be back the next day,NO PROBLEM.

For some reason that was one of the things I liked most:rolleyes:
Rob
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 03:02 PM


There's two kinds of vehicles that can go anywhere. 4WD drives and Rental cars
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 03:43 PM
Years Ago at the Meling Ranch


When the road to Meling was all dirt through the valley and then, two hours of a backbreaking and bum blistering rough ride with large rocks and deep water creek crossing after the turnoff, we shared our table at breakfast with a young German couple who made the journey from San Diego in a cheap, rented and very beat-up Subaru compact car.

They told us that they were going to drive on to Cabo.




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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 03:59 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sheesh! We used to rent VW Beatles and do everything from dirt roads, to beaches.


Yes, but that was a beetle and that's what they did - the old ones, anyway
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 04:03 PM


The older Subaru,s had a transfer case,low and high range,having owned two up north I can vouch they were very tough long lasting rigs plus 4/wheel dr.

Ask DK about Subaru,s.
Rob
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 04:23 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by baitcast
The older Subaru,s had a transfer case,low and high range,having owned two up north I can vouch they were very tough long lasting rigs plus 4/wheel dr.

Ask DK about Subaru,s.
Rob


Yup... here I am in my 1977.5 Subaru 4WD (in 1979) in Calamajue Canyon, pre-running part of the Baja 1000 (I was driving in a couple weeks)... having driving south from San Felipe and Gonzaga... on the original 4WD trail south of Puertecitos! Oh, and there was no low range in Subarus yet, that came later. I lost my exhaust on the grades below Puertecitos the day before. Ground Clearance is as important as 4WD sometimes!

scan0023.jpg - 48kB




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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 05:25 PM


Even the newer AWD Subarus do great off road. They won't climb rocks all day; but, I've driven up some very steep and rocky rutted roads that I had to get out and scout beforehand without even a wheel slip.

Of course I used to drive my FWD Mitsubishi Mirage all over rutted and muddy logging roads in Oregon for years.. I even had one guy in a 4x4 ask me, "How did you get here?!"

IMO the biggest advantage of a 4x4 is that it will let you get somewhere without going too fast because you are trying to keep your "momentum" going.. Which will let you drive slower and make better driving decisions/take better lines (less likely to damage your vehicle or the road) than a 2WD.

4x4's deffinately have there advantage. Two things make me shake my head about them.

1. A Range Rover, etc with low profile tires.
2. A ranchero driving a 71' 2WD GMC... just driving along places that the owner of that Range Rover would never get even if it had decent tires.
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 05:45 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sheesh! We used to rent VW Beatles and do everything from dirt roads, to beaches.


I got my rental VW stuck in the sand at nine palms.
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 06:01 PM


I've pulled alot of vw bugs outa sand between shipwrecks and 9 palms.
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thumbup.gif posted on 3-25-2009 at 06:02 PM
Baja + 4WD = Peanut Butter & Jelly


Tecate/El Hongo - There's a real special place north of Hwy 2 that everybody loves so much. :bounce:

4WD recommended :light:





:light:




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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 06:29 PM


Hey Hatch,

Those trucks and SUV's you see that are jacked way up in the air are usually pavement pounders. Especially if everything is chrome. Nobody in there right mind is going to go seriously off road with thousands of dollars of chrome to wipe off. Especially salt water. Not to mention the damage rocks, trees, and brush are going to do to the usually custom paint.

There is nothing wrong with a lifted Jeep, Toyota, Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Etc if they are using the lifted vehicle as planned. Every serious off road guy that lifts there vehicles ground clearance usually has an additional thousands of dollars in things you do not see. They usually change the gear ratio, add posi traction, change the trans, and even change the transfer case. Not to meantion the new rims and tires. All to make traveling rough terrain easier for the vehicle and the trail. Most serious off road trails are torn up because people try and travel them without positive front and rear traction.

I agree that 90% of the roads in Baja can be traveled by most intelligent drivers. You can usually make any trail with enough speed and momentum. The resulting damage to the vehicle is another story. It is the lifted off road serious guys that want to tackle the 10% of the tough stuff and get to the destination.

Example is the back side beach at Punta Chivato. It is an isolated beach that not many people have been to. A lifted and customized truck can make it. No 2 wheel drive or stock truck can make it.

Am I going to lift my 4x4 Suburban in Loreto.. NO... Am I going to lift my 4x4 long bed crew cab Ford Diesel.. NO... Both vehicles serve the purpose I need them for. I am going to lift my 69 Toy Cruiser with the 350 Chevy just because of rock clearance on the mountain trails.
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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 06:48 PM


Ken , what a crock!:lol: Lifted trucks have made the pole line road no prob.

Bring that vehicle up here to Oregon and I'll show you where you can get stuck....easy even with big floaties and a hi lift. Ever hear of mud?:lol:

Sorry Cap'n I won't lower it to go to Baja.:lol:

Btw, we have a rediculous amount of nice lifted trucks that are spotless around here:rolleyes:

What a grand waste of equipment, a bunch of wimps.




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[*] posted on 3-25-2009 at 06:52 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by wakemall
Hey Hatch,

Those trucks and SUV's you see that are jacked way up in the air are usually pavement pounders. Especially if everything is chrome. Nobody in there right mind is going to go seriously off road with thousands of dollars of chrome to wipe off. Especially salt water. Not to mention the damage rocks, trees, and brush are going to do to the usually custom paint.







:lol::lol: You don't know me. obviously. What, you can't own a beautiful truck and trash it too? Now that's just plain wrong.:bounce:


If you lift that Toyota take care not to screw up the vehicles c of g. I've seen too many lifted Toys and Jeeps and SUV rollovers.

[Edited on 3-26-2009 by Sharksbaja]

[Edited on 3-26-2009 by Sharksbaja]




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