wocketpatch
Newbie
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Registered: 10-18-2013
Location: PDX
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Jeep rentals?
Hi all, planning my first trip to Baja in about 10 years this January -- we only have 4 days so mostly staying up north. Flying into San Diego. Are
there any places to rent a Jeep Wrangler around TJ, Ensenada, or Mexicali?
I'm told that I'd be better off to just take a bus into Mexico than to rent in the US and drive it over, which sounds fine if that's really the way to
go. Last time there were 6 of us so we rented a mini-van in San Diego which got us stuck in the sand a couple times between San Felipe and
Puertecitos, not to mention the trip up to Guadalupe Canyon which involved a whole lot of "OK, Everybody out!" (but we made it)..
This time I'm thinking we could use some more ground clearance and since there are only two of us this time, darn it if the 2 door Wranglers just
don't look like a lot more fun than the Patriots. I'm having a heck of a time figuring out where to rent one though. Or something similar. Any
thoughts or other advice? Thanks.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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CALIFORNIA-BAJA RENT-A-CAR
http://cabaja.com/
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 9-16-2003
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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Jeep Rentals
Try this:
http://cabaja.com/
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Kell-Baja
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Registered: 1-18-2003
Location: San Diego
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California Baja, Rent-A-Car (www.cabaja.com (619) 470-7368) has 4x4 Jeep Wrangler soft tops that you can take into Baja.
Mention Baja Nomad for a discount
[Edited on 10-18-2013 by Kell-Baja]
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motoged
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Jeep starts at $110.00/day 
Don't believe everything you think....
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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No such thing as a cheap Jeep... at least renting them, you aren't stuck with the repair costs after your trip!
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motoged
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David,
Geez, they should rent Tacomas.....never get stuck, last forever, and can't be damaged  
Insurance doesn't cover anything off paved roads anyways 
Don't believe everything you think....
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wocketpatch
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Yeah, that looks like EXACTLY WHAT I NEED, but the pricing does sting a little. My quote for the Jeep Patriot, including taxes, fees, and Mexican
insurance came to just under $350, and that's picking up right at the airport... Quote for the Wrangler via cabaja.com is $600 for all that..
Definitely appreciate the suggestion though, I suppose I'll get in contact about the bajanomad discount just in case it is actually significant or if
they have any other special offers.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65101
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Is the Patriot a 4WD? Make sure if renting in Mexico, as any Jeep can be 2WD, even when they tell you otherwise... I was told that a Wrangler rented
in Cabo had the front drive shaft removed to keep clients from four wheeling.
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wocketpatch
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Registered: 10-18-2013
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Yes, I hadn't thought of that. I imagine for that price it is the 2WD "sport" model and I have to admit that getting stuck in the sand is a real
pain. We decided to do northern Baja because it is so cheap to fly into San Diego, thus justifying the trip in the first place despite only having 4
nights... but adding that much onto the top just to have the ideal car kinda cancels that out, and anyway is pushing on a little more lux than how we
roll, on principal or some bs like that. 
Here in the states I'm a big fan of Getaround.com which lets me just pay someone to use their car, though they are strictly NO-CANADA-OR-MEXICO in
their TOS which is unsurprising, but a bummer none the less.
Really, I'm mostly concerned with the ground clearance for the trip up to the canyon -- as I said we did it successfully in a mini-van before, though
I'm not planning to jinx my luck and try that again.. I'm pretty sure I'd be fine in a 2WD jeep as long as I am careful about sand along the coast.
What i was imagining as an alternative to the high-rollin' option is if I got a cheap compact car for tootin' around on the highways, and then was
able to find somewhere to rent something fun just overnight, to head up to the canyon and back, without having to go all the way back to SD. Mexicali
or even San Felipe would be doable. Almost tempted to look into a pair of dirt bikes, would that be too crazy??
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65101
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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The dirt road into the canyon was upgraded so a bus can get there now... per website and photos. Buy a tire elec pump so you can deflate for sand.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wocketpatch
...... Almost tempted to look into a pair of dirt bikes, would that be too crazy?? |
Great idea.....except....where will you rent those?
Don't believe everything you think....
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wocketpatch
Newbie
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Registered: 10-18-2013
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I just assumed the dirt bikes would be available somewhere. I recently spent three weeks traveling around Turkey, where ATV and motor bike rentals
were everywhere, and I figured since Baja is known for ATV action, I'd be able to find something like that. I take from your reply that I won't...
No matter though, that was just an idea off the top of my head and neither of us have ridden a motorcycle in years anyway.
EDIT: decided to save a few hundred bucks and go ahead with a regular passenger car, with a tire inflator, and hope for the best. I wonder if TSA is
gonna give me problems bringing the inflator on the plane... we're not checking any baggage, so.. fingers crossed. 
Thanks to everyone for the info!
[Edited on 10-22-2013 by wocketpatch]
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