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willyAirstream
Super Nomad
Posts: 1786
Registered: 1-1-2010
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First time trip questions.
I'm crossing at Tecate tomorrow , Sat, Sept 11th and have a few newbie questions. I'm driving a custom '63 Willys ( new HD suspension, fresh 360
engine, new 3 core radiator etc) pulling a heavy 24' Airstream. I'm travelling alone, not counting my 2 dogs. I overheated on rt 94 coming from the
east into Campo, near Tecate. There were several vehicles overheated and radiator water every 1/4 mile. Now I'm nervous. If you know the road (94) is
this typical conditions on Mex 1? Alot of Steep climbs?
2nd question - Are there RV Parks near the highway in the major cites? Will I have trouble finding a one?
3rd question - A request actually. If someone has some extra room and is going to La Paz or LB, flag me down  I need to loose some weight! Weight being a pop up canopy, a small A/C, and some hand tools. I know it is a long shot,
but if someone could do that it would be terrific as I hate to give those things up and afraid of overheating again.
Thanks
rig looks like
this
http://360panoramas.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DSCN5345....
blog - http://360panoramas.com
[Edited on 9-11-2010 by willyAirstream]
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DENNIS
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There are some steep hills on the Tecate Road down to Ensenada not to mention twenty miles of BS road work. I would go over to San Ysidro.
You won't miss hills, that's for sure. They're everywhere.......and you should bring plenty of water.
Are you sure you're ready for this trip....middle of summer and all?
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gnukid
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A key to reducing overheating is to use a coolant reservoir to reduce the chance of any air bubbles, a coolant reservoir can be purchased at any auto
parts store and installed on site if you don't have one yet.
There are two major hills one in TJ which you'll pass early and the other after El Rosario I think which is more critical, you should definitely watch
your fluid levels prior and keep high rpm to increase fan and water flow.
As far as weight you might just leave those extra items behind for someone else later on, you do not need ac after the next few weeks until next year
and you can make a canopy or pick one up later.
[Edited on 9-11-2010 by gnukid]
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
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Mood: Want to fish!!!
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There are a couple serious uphills Willy, but I may be more concerned about the downhills! Have you done a power disc upgrade? Do you have good
trailer brakes? Take the uphills in what ever gear works, and really controls your speed on the downside. Those old Willys/ Jeeps were not known for
real strong brakes. They did not need them, they were slow. Great looking rig! Be safe and enjoy!
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willyAirstream
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Well, I'm convinced, I'll get a storage unit! I'll slim down to just the esentials. Disc brakes in front, drums in rear. willys powertrain is from a
wagoneer, willy frame, but almost everything else is wagoneer or new. I installed a 1 1/2 gallon reservoir, before I left. Tomorrow i will add another
or a larger one. Running 70% antifreeze, so not boiling over, just redlining the temp guage! I will change to a heavier oil also. I have an auxillary
elec fan too, it was on when overheating occured. Carrying plenty of water ( 7 gallons enough?)
Yeah, wish it wasn't middle of the hot season, but...
I hope to avoid the construction ( I must avoid it by taking Blvd 2000, the
unmarked one. mex 2 to mex 1.
One more newbie question - is there an auto parts store and storage units near Tecate?
Thanks for the quick replys! You've put me somewhat at ease.
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BajaDanD
Senior Nomad
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Cut over to SD get a storage unit there. Cross at San Yesidro and take coast route to avoid road work. Take it slow whenever you can.
Good Luck
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Ix-nay, Ix-nay.....
Otay crossing. 2 storage unit businesses near crossing, then take Blvd 2000 to free road/toll road south
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
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I don't think another reservoir will change much except perhaps add risk of trouble, I thought the goal of a reservoir was to reduce any air gaps
within the system.
There is nothing wrong with stopping during high temps-say 12pm to 5pm and just continue with progress when you can. You have the rest of your life.
[Edited on 9-11-2010 by gnukid]
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gnukid
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wileyairstream
I wish we were driving together...
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willyAirstream
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gnukid - you would out shine me! My paint job is a 10! ( looks ok from 10 ft away )I hope to get a paint job while in LB area.
Is that a yellowstone trailer? Very cool set up! We Should be caravanning I
renovated a Yellowstone once, client spent $28,000 on it.
Reading up on "overheating", loose some weight, add water wetter, decrease antifreeze %, and don't drive when it extemely hot
You're right, I don't need to hurry.
bajaguy - is Otay crossing difficult with a trailer? someone somewhere said it was.
bajadan - city traffic and an 8' wide trailer - ties my stomach in knots
Thanks again!
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gnukid
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The cost of storage unit is high, up to $100 month or more, just bring the items along and gift them if it's too much weight, then get new/used when
you can. Storage units are very ineffecient use of your resources.
Your temp problem could be a radiator cap issue. Try a different cap with greater pressure lbs rating-experiment.
I don't see why you need 7 gallons of water when you will be passing water stores every 50 miles. They'll have cold water.
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Maderita
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I respectfully disagree with a lot of the advice given.
Carry the 7 gallons of water. You are so ridiculously heavy that a few pounds means little. You will need that water to get going again should you
boil over.
A larger overflow tank is not going to make it run cooler. Heavier oil will also create more drag in the engines' rotating assembly, robbing some
efficiency. A higher pressure radiator cap will not make it run cooler, it just raises the temperature at which boil-over occurs.
The #1 problem is:
"Running 70% antifreeze..."
Etyhlene glycol type antifreeze does not dissipate the heat well when in concentrations that high! *** Reduce your mixture to 50% ***
(WillyAirstream had that right).
Plan to drive desert sections in the cool part of the day.
Turn on the heater for the long upgrades if it is already running hot. The heater core is like an additional little radiator under the dash. Turn
off air conditioning if you have it. Not pleasant, but I've resorted to that trick, which made the crucial difference.
If overheating on a long grade, you could pull over at a turnout. Leave the engine running and spray some water through the grill at the front of
the radiator.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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No problems with Blvd 2000. Some slight grades when approaching Hwy 1, but you should be able to make it without any problems
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Bajatripper
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| Quote: | If someone has some extra room and is going to La Paz or LB, flag me down I
need to loose some weight! Weight being a pop up canopy, a small A/C, and some hand tools. I know it is a long shot, but if someone could do that it
would be terrific as I hate to give those things up and afraid of overheating again.
Thanks
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I don't have any extra room, but I'll follow close behind, for when you need to unload some of that excess weight
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BajaDanD
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What city traffic are you talking about. You dont need to go all the way into SD there are storage places right off the freeway. Otay mesa crossing
there are storage places. Ive never crossed into Mex from there only out. so dont know about pulling a trailer in there.
How much weight can you drop? sounds like it wont matter much.
Still think you should take the Scenic route/toll road from TJ to avoid road construction and the steep single lane road out of Tecate. The toll road
is 2 lane each direction with no steep grades up or down. Either way you still have to drive through Ensenada and then you have to drive Mex 1
You think pulling that trailer through the city turns your stomach in knots. Man are you in for a thrill ride.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Why did he wait to the last minute to ask these questions?
There is construction south of Ensenada and south of El Rosario... so that is unavoidable using Hwy. 1.
Oh, and NEVER blend more than 50% anti freeze with water... never!
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cabo3100
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 8-29-2010
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OH Crap TOPE!!!!!!~
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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looks like you already got some good advice. you made it from colo to tecate and only overheated in campo, so assuming nothing broke in campo, sounds
like you will do ok -- just change that radiator fluid, and carry extra water.
yes, there are a number of long grades on mexico hwy 1 (someone mistakenly told you just 2 long grades). some long and steep, some are long and
gentle.
that is a heavy load, and maybe old radiator. have you considered putting in larger/more efficient radiator? is your water pump pumping quickly
enough? if you got slow water pump or undersize radiator, you will have problem on hot days.
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
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I'd double check to make sure there is no air in the system. You've probably already done it, but run the engine with the cap off and get rid of the
air.
Also I'd probably just remove the thermostat until I figured out what to do. But, dont take my advice since I am not a mechanic. 
Nice truck though!
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Skipjack Joe
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Goat is right - there are a lot more than 2 upgrades in your journey. Google map the highway below El Roasrio and it will become evident. It's up and
down for a 100 miles all the way past Catavina. Then there's the Santa Rosalia grade coming back. And another doosey between Pt Escondido and
Constitucion.
And yes, there will be plenty of RV parks available for you. Rancho St Ynez at Catavina has a huge open space for you to park in peaceful
surroundings.
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