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Bajayan
Junior Nomad
Posts: 28
Registered: 5-13-2011
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Rent 4x4 or buy in Cali or Baja??
Hi, we're planning a trip down in June and want to use a 4x4 so we can see a lot more than the good roads allow... but we don't have one.
Any ideas? We we want to go down with for a month or a month and a half. Is there a good place we can rent a 4x4 from near the border that's
reasonable? Is a cheap older one from the 90s bought here and taken down better?
Any other ideas, thoughts or advice? (options, alternatives, insurance, coming and going, safety, anything else?)
Thanks!
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20372
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajayan
Hi, we're planning a trip down in June and want to use a 4x4 so we can see a lot more than the good roads allow... but we don't have one.
Any ideas? We we want to go down with for a month or a month and a half. Is there a good place we can rent a 4x4 from near the border that's
reasonable? Is a cheap older one from the 90s bought here and taken down better?
Any other ideas, thoughts or advice? (options, alternatives, insurance, coming and going, safety, anything else?)
Thanks! |
rental 4x4s are expensive.
you can go most anywhere with a 2wd vehicle if moderate clearance and good tires
[Edited on 5-14-2011 by mtgoat666]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Not cheap, but you can rent a 4WD Jeep, Toyota 4Runner or other vehicle for all of Baja, in the San Diego area: http://www.bajacar.com/
Do you have some ideas of places you want to visit where you think you will need 4WD? Often, deep sand is the barrier and by deflating the tires you
can pass... just have a pump to re-inflate them!
[Edited on 5-14-2011 by David K]
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Bajayan
Junior Nomad
Posts: 28
Registered: 5-13-2011
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Well I'd love to go up and down the two coasts as much as possible, and the highway doesn't really cooperate most of the way. So the stretches of
coast south of El Rosaria, north and south of Bahia de los Angeles, Bahia Tortugas and south past laguna San Ignacio, and visits to spots like Bahia
Agua Verde are the types of travel I have in mind. If most of this is possible without 4x4 that would certainly make this much easier... what do you
think??
I'll check out bajacar right now, thanks!
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Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
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Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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I would suggest a Toyota 4Runner 4x4 from the 90's. Get one with good offroad tires and have a mechanic check it out. You will probably want AC. Roof
racks are handy.
Craigslist is a great source. Don't buy a salvage title vehicle.
Dont go too cheap. $4000 will buy a decent one(early 90's). If you're going to keep it, I would recommend '96 and newer (larger engine and no head
gasket issues)
These vehicles are everywhere in Baja so there will be parts around (new and junk) and mechanics know them very well.
Caveat Emptor!
No worries
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Curt63
I would suggest a Toyota 4Runner 4x4 from the 90's. Get one with good offroad tires and have a mechanic check it out. You will probably want AC. Roof
racks are handy.
Craigslist is a great source. Don't buy a salvage title vehicle.
Dont go too cheap. $4000 will buy a decent one(early 90's). If you're going to keep it, I would recommend '96 and newer (larger engine and no head
gasket issues)
These vehicles are everywhere in Baja so there will be parts around (new and junk) and mechanics know them very well.
Caveat Emptor! |
AGREE!
While 4WD is great insurance, most places you will be able to get to if you have GOOD tires, ground clearance, and an air pump that clips onto the
battery directly (they are much faster)... because lowering the air pressure to 10-15 psi will get you through most anything, including deep beach or
arroyo sand.
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Bajayan
Junior Nomad
Posts: 28
Registered: 5-13-2011
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Thanks a lot for the tips - we've done some Craigslist hunting, but may have to raise our budget a bit.
I was on a 2 week road trip up and down baja sur 4 years ago, and remember a few spots where the bouldery/rocky road made 4x4 seem indispensable. Two
spots on the La Paz-Evaristo-Hwy 1 road, and the road down to Bahia Agua Verde. If these types of things could be negotiated with lowered tires and
good clearance, that could make life much easier.
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TMW
Select Nomad
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Everywhere you mentioned is OK for 2 wheel drive, just watch the sand. Never stop in sand unless going down hill.
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
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Having gotten use to having 4WD and then losing it when I inadvertantly disconnected a tiny hose under the fuse box while changing plug wires, I can
attest to how easy it is to get careless without 4WD. I got mildly stuck a couple of times on a trip up to see the whales recently before I figured
out why I didn't have it.
While you can get to most places in Baja without 4WD (provided you pay attention, air down, carry a pump, etc.), having it available in a pinch is a
real nice option. I wouldn't skimp on it if I could help it. I've been up that San Evaristo road several times and I know it can be traveled without
4WD, ranchers do it every day. But 4WD low is nice to have going up the long grade up into the sierra, it allows one to crawl over a couple of patches
of nasty rocks instead of gunning the engine and bouncing over them.
I'd go with buying a used one in good shape. Don't know how much a month's worth of rental for a new one would be, but it can't be a whole lot cheaper
than a decent 1990s 4WD, and at the end of your trip, you'll have it to recoup some of your expenses--or you can hold on to it for those future Baja
trips.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 695
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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I'm going to play "devil's advocate" about the 2 wheel drive advice given above.
2WD "might" get you through some short sandy sections, such as, crossing an arroyo. It will not get you far on a long beach or driving along an
unpacked sandy arroyo, unless equipped with oversize tires, limited slip or locking differential, all tires aired down to 10psi, and with superior
offroad driving skills/judgment.
Lacking those things, what it will get you is - stuck. Unless you have an accompanying 4x4 to pull you out, you are asking for a miserable problem.
You didn't mention a group, so I presiume this is a solo trip. There is no good time to get stuck in remote areas, but June/July could have fatal
consequences in the heat.
4WD is good insurance, as DK mentioned. On the other hand, having 4WD adds "courage" to take more difficult and remote routes. Then when you get the
4WD stuck, then you are "really stuck", like twice as bad, and further from help. Having 4WD is only "good insurance" on a solo trip when the driver
uses conservative judgment in knowing when to retreat.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Maderita is right and practice makes perfect...
I was lucky to have grown up in the front seat of a Jeep driving all over Baja in the 1960's, and having a dune buggy at 15 and my own Jeep at 17...
and other 4WDs since...
Lowering air pressure (a lot) will do amazing things, even for a 2WD vehicle in sand. Just have a gauge and a pump, so you know what the pressure is
and can refill when out of sand.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Even in 2WD, a vehicle just feet from the pavement can stuck in soft sand. It's best to exercise good judgement, especially when traveling alone.
Here is what happened in San Felipe recently...
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Bajayan
Junior Nomad
Posts: 28
Registered: 5-13-2011
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It sounds like I'll be making every effort to take a 4x4. I have some experience, but sand is something I've never dealt with in a 2wd, so better not
to learn on a trip like this without others around to advise/tow! It also looks like we just have to find something to buy, since the quote for a
rental was over $3,000 for a month... unless a great deal on a rental turns up.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it's helping a lot. We're happy to hear anything else you think may be helpful.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajayan
It sounds like I'll be making every effort to take a 4x4. I have some experience, but sand is something I've never dealt with in a 2wd, so better not
to learn on a trip like this without others around to advise/tow! It also looks like we just have to find something to buy, since the quote for a
rental was over $3,000 for a month... unless a great deal on a rental turns up.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it's helping a lot. We're happy to hear anything else you think may be helpful. |
Why don't you just arrive in Tijuana and go shop around for a vehicle? Call ahead to some mechanicos to see if they know of any good offers? A good,
reliable 4WD club is the Zopilotos. THey are on Facebook. Here's the addy: http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_108655042519128
[Edited on 5-15-2011 by BajaNomad]
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20372
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajayan
It sounds like I'll be making every effort to take a 4x4. I have some experience, but sand is something I've never dealt with in a 2wd, so better not
to learn on a trip like this without others around to advise/tow! It also looks like we just have to find something to buy, since the quote for a
rental was over $3,000 for a month... unless a great deal on a rental turns up.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it's helping a lot. We're happy to hear anything else you think may be helpful. |
you really don't need 4wd.
you can reach all the sites you'll want to see in the car you currently own.
the locals almost all use 2wd, there are traveled roads to everything you will visit.
save your money for beer and food, and take the 2wd you already own.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
you really don't need 4wd.
you can reach all the sites you'll want to see in the car you currently own.
the locals almost all use 2wd, there are traveled roads to everything you will visit.
save your money for beer and food, and take the 2wd you already own. |
I believe that 4WD will help you travel to places that are more remote w/o fear of getting stuck. It's just a better idea to travel w/a friend who
also has 4WD in case a situation arises.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20372
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
you really don't need 4wd.
you can reach all the sites you'll want to see in the car you currently own.
the locals almost all use 2wd, there are traveled roads to everything you will visit.
save your money for beer and food, and take the 2wd you already own. |
I believe that 4WD will help you travel to places that are more remote w/o fear of getting stuck. It's just a better idea to travel w/a friend who
also has 4WD in case a situation arises. |
bs.
most beaches worth visiting have a passable road suitable for 2wd.
if you are not obese you can park at end of drivable road and walk.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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I'm talkin' about 4WD country!
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
you really don't need 4wd.
you can reach all the sites you'll want to see in the car you currently own.
the locals almost all use 2wd, there are traveled roads to everything you will visit.
save your money for beer and food, and take the 2wd you already own. |
I believe that 4WD will help you travel to places that are more remote w/o fear of getting stuck. It's just a better idea to travel w/a friend who
also has 4WD in case a situation arises. |
bs.
most beaches worth visiting have a passable road suitable for 2wd.
if you are not obese you can park at end of drivable road and walk. |
On my last trip across Baja, I wasn't just at the beach.
David K's Shell Island
La Turquesa Mine (near Gonzaga Bay)
Gonzaga Bay (from the Mission Santa Maria de los Angeles 4WD Road)
To see these Blue Fan Palms of Baja, you had better have 4WD! 
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Can you tell the difference?
2WD Beach
4WD Beach
2WD Road (stuck)
4WD Road (stuck stuck, almost)
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20372
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
blah, blah |
the OP is not seeking 4wd to go to those examples, ken.
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