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Anais
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 12-13-2009
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do you bring a trailer when car camping in Baja?
Hi everyone,
Thanks for that awesome thread on the lists of recommendations to bring! I love it. Also thanks for all your responses to my first post (driving from
San Francisco with 14 month old boy). We decided to meet up with Shari and Juan in Bahia Asuncion, and then maybe go to Bahia de los Angeles.
I have two questions: do you trail a trailer when going to Baja? We have a Toyota 4-Runner. I am used to lightweight backpacking and this is only my
second car camping trip so I'm not used to bringing so much stuff! Do most of you bring a trailer? My husband bought a used trailer that's open (no
walls or roof, etc) and found a big huge wooden box that fits inside most of the trailer, which is 6X8 or 8X10 and about 6ft. high. It's kind of
overwhelming to me to have something so big.
In addition to the things on The List my husband wants also to bring mountain bikes and the baby's bike trailer. Plus, an inflatable Zodiac boat with
Honda outboard motor. Plus the dog. What do you think?
Thank you so much!
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woody with a view
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keep in mind that what you bring is what you got! it seems like a lot but think how cool it'll be to bust out the "kitchen sink."
only you can decide what you can't do without...
[Edited on 12-20-2009 by woody in ob]
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mojo_norte
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
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Just make sure the trailer is cut out for Baja roads and has the load capacity to carry the load you are bringing. You don't want to be sitting in the
middle of nowhere with a broken axle and all your stuff stranded. The trailer should have leaf springs. Also, don't forget the spare.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3540
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Yes on the trailer
[img] [/img]
I am massively ADD and here is how I use the list:
1. Make you own master list in a word doc ;about 3 columns like above. (This is only the first page of my 2-page list) and get a bunch of
hi-lighters in different colors.
2. When I start planning a trip, I save a copy of this list and then add/remove items so that this list is specific for my trip, let's call it the
trip list.
3. I make a copy of the trip list and remove everything I already have. Print and you now have a shopping list. Go shopping.
4. When an item is in your possession (see Dick Gregory on the definition of 'possession' to a brother) and ready to be packed, i.e. in your garage,
put a single slash in front of it.
5. When the item is packed in it's container, put another slash, making an "X".
6. Mark the container with a unique color highlight and then highlight the item with the same color. Now you know which box has your item when
you're into your trip 3 or 4 days and clueless where anything is. Clear plastic containers help in this regard.
7. Each time you mark a container put that color on top of your trip list. When you pack that container in your vehicle, put an "X" on this mark.
You now have a trip list that proves to you and your smarty pants significant other that yes, in fact you did buy the KY Jelly and you did pack it and
it's in the purple container so why don't you just STFU and leave me alone!
It also acts as a check list that you can require same significant other sign before leaving your home that in fact, everything required is on board.
I have gone so far as to require said S.O. to sign the trip list before packing/buying to thwart needless questioning. It further quickly stops the
constant questioning "Did you remember to bring the yada, yada, yada?" for the entire 20 hours it takes you to get to your camping spot.
If two seperate households are going on the same trip, no problema - just cut and paste items and make two lists.
I do not know if using the list in this way has helped or hurt my personal relationships; to be honest, it's kinda hard to tell the difference.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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If you don't bring it,you'll wish you did.
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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bkbend
Senior Nomad
Posts: 695
Registered: 11-27-2003
Location: central OR or central baja
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I've done trips with and without a utility trailer, and echo the comment about making sure it will stand up to the trip without falling apart. If you
fill an 8X10X6 box make sure you think about how your going to get to whatever it is you packed on the bottom. It will also slow your driving down
some and will require thinking ahead at times for parking and turning around. It may also attract attention at the border (both directions) and
roadblocks where officials may want to take more than a quick peek. Despite the above, I still do it and it will certainly allow you to bring a few
more creature comforts and toys.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
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Sigh...Franko: I am so easily distracted from the task at hand that I was constantly leaving things at home - even with a list. My wife, who works
as a speech and language specialist, deals with children who have great difficulty staying on task, teaching them techniques/strategies in
organization, study, etc. She went back to basics with this and it works for me. Sometimes I still screw up - on my last trip I kinda shined on the
whole list thing and sure enough, left 2 boxes of wine home. Every evening, about 5:00pm when the bar opened up, I would get the "Well dear, how
'bout a glass of Pinot Grigio?" We are in no way wine snobs, but Padre Kino Blanco that went through 2 summers on the shelf at the yellow market just
doesn't cut it.
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Santiago
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By the way - it should be noted that Mike Humfreville had a lot to do with the organization of the list. If you think of how/when/where he and
MaryAnn made their first trips you can see why.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3540
Registered: 8-27-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bkbend
I've done trips with and without a utility trailer, and echo the comment about making sure it will stand up to the trip without falling apart. If you
fill an 8X10X6 box make sure you think about how your going to get to whatever it is you packed on the bottom. It will also slow your driving down
some and will require thinking ahead at times for parking and turning around. It may also attract attention at the border (both directions) and
roadblocks where officials may want to take more than a quick peek. Despite the above, I still do it and it will certainly allow you to bring a few
more creature comforts and toys. |
Very good points, here. How you pack the box can have much to do with the enjoyment of your trip. I once had a flat and sadly realized that all the
tools were at the very bottom - everything that was carefully packed a dozen times to get it all to fit had to come out on the side of I-5 and then
back in. Now I make sure things that we might need on the road can be easily got to. If you are over-nighting on the way road, then make sure your
toothbrush etc is on top by the door, that sort of stuff.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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For a 14 month old, forget the bike trailer for Baja, the roads/trails are too rough.
We used a bike seat carrier at that age and went slowly around obstacles.
You MUST have a good kid backpack such as a ToughTraveler.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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or a leash!
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Curt63
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Consider a large roof rack. Trailers can be a pain. It also depends on how many long dirt roads you plan to to drive. Many dirt roads are 4 or 40 mph.
The roof rack lets you blast 40. Be very careful of the potholes from Vizcaino to BA.
You will love it!
No worries
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wessongroup
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Wow.. some good stuff.. thanks, been a while 
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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we don't car camp
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mojo_norte
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Curt63
Consider a large roof rack. Trailers can be a pain. It also depends on how many long dirt roads you plan to to drive. Many dirt roads are 4 or 40 mph.
The roof rack lets you blast 40. Be very careful of the potholes from Vizcaino to BA.
You will love it! |
You could get a Yakima Rocket Box or Thule equivalent. They come in lots of sizes. They clamp right on your factory roof rack. You can lock them
which is nice. For the bikes you could get a bike rack that fits in your rear receiver hitch. Another option would be 2 bike tray mounts on your roof
rack maybe a smaller Rocket box and and a basket carrier that fits in your receiver hitch for the Zodiac/ Motor.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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we "car"avan tho!
my buddy (and his squeeze) doing the heavy lifting....
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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I have destroyed a utility trailer----litterally destroyed-------- on the Baja dirt roads--------most were simply not built to take the
punishment-------springs crystalize, frames break-----metal can only take so much pounding. This goes for most boat trailers, also.
For the last 20 years or so, if I can't fit stuff inside, or on top of, my vehicle it does not go.
I cannot tell you how many trips have been partially ruined because somebody with us destroyed their utility trailer, or wood-frame camper. They
both are a real pain.
Having said that, there ARE trailers that are built for this kind of abuse, but they ain't cheap. (think full multi-leaf springs with shock
absorbers------no "slipper springs")
We have had excellent luck with professionally converted truck-bed trailers with the original rear axles on them----full shocks and tough leaf
springs, with more-than-adaquate beefed-up toungs (sp?) done by a professional welder. My son uses one of these from an old Nissan pickup, and it has
lasted for dozens of trips over the road to Gonzaga.
Be prepared!!!
Barry
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Anais
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 12-13-2009
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Wow, thanks everyone!
I have to say, my husband packs more like Soulpatch, and I pack more like Santiago -- hmm, maybe this explains why hardly ever go on vacation together
... !! Last time we hiked up Mt. Shasta I packed so I'd only carry 40 lbs up the mountain, while he just threw everything into his pack and carried
100 lbs plus his snowboard! Now we have a trailer ... watch out!
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BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
Posts: 745
Registered: 8-30-2003
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trailer
We drove this car to Cabo and back and all over the east cape. Now we drive a Toyota Tacoma. We also rent rooms and such, but we are prepared to camp
anywhere and often do. You dont need a trailer, a roof rack would be good to have though. The Kayaks did $500 in damage to my roof. Mostly from the
dirt roads around the East Cape. If you brought everything that was on that list you would need 2 trailes to haul it. I believe in being prepaired but
JEEEEEZZZ.
[Edited on 12-21-2009 by BajaDanD]
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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hey Dan
you guys look so much better in the Taco!
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