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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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Udo- you hit it squarely on the head
Roads like that one are either 10-15 mph at full tire pressure, or 50+ at reduced pressure.
I have driven that stretch three times also, and way back before any paving several more times.
Most of that road is straight and at 50-60 mph is much smoother and more comfortable than at 15 mph.
Floating the washboard at those speeds removes the bounce from the equation, and I have no more "load" on my accelerator cruising at that speed than
someone grinding along in a granny gear, so I do not think that I add to the ripples.
However, driving at those speeds on dirt always means you are "up over the wheel" and really reading and anticipating the road condition. (My truck
hates it when we get air from a surprise dip or washout)
My absolutely stock 17 year old F-150 much prefers those speeds than bouncing along with the masses.
Also, earlier comments about only driving that road with a special 4 wheel drive are laughable.
With 25-30 semis running it each day it sort of puts that theory out on the fence, does it not?
Unless you would call an 18 wheeler a "specialized off road vehicle"
Final final comment on that stretch of road....
It is about as benign as an "off road" can be.
If that one gives you concerns you really need to stay on the hard black stuff, cuz that one is as easy and gentle as they come.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Too many times to count over the last 30 years. Over the last ten years 6-8 times a year depending on my mood. It is 200 miles closer than using
Tecate between our 2 homes. I have found the driving slower protects my vehicle more. Found this also from driving the old Abreojos road. For me it
is not exploring during a weekend its about having to use the road constantly. But then I am one of those people that you said were "seriously over
reacting". I also error on the side of caution when people ask about the road.
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  |
We drove a portion after dark with our boat guy tagging along.
I cannot imagine how you could get lost, it is a well defined road.
As to the mud middles and the big dropoffs.....????
It rained really hard the night before we crossed and it was absolutely dry.
Dropoffs are along every road in Baja, nothing unusual or scary.
And, the road is wide enough that meeting semis should not be a problem.
I think some folks here have seriously over reacted to driving on a non-paved surface... just my observation. |
We drove down the night before during that rain. From Gonzaga the view of the mountain range home to the infamous pass was shrouded in clouds with
heavy sheets of rain, Beautiful ! One broke down semi with a flecha from San Felipe all ready in route and a single woman waiting for a 15 inch tire
replacement. If your running 15"s be aware that used 15"s are getting harder to come by.
We met a guy on a BMW off road tour bike at Rancho Grande prior to crossing the pass and met up with him again the next day in Bahia De Los Angeles
and he said he had to stop and camp on the Chapala flat section because mud was filling his front fender to the point of locking up the front tire
We pulled a small tin boat this time and even saw a big three axle Airstream making the crossing.
For a section of Baja Hwy this pass is one of our favorites, slow and lovely 
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mojo_norte
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 2-14-2006
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drove it a couple weeks ago Northbound - going slow ..ruined a tire just before Coco's (sharp rock sidewall puncture) lots of roughish sections w/
sharp volcanic rocks .
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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| Quote: Originally posted by mojo_norte | | drove it a couple weeks ago Northbound - going slow ..ruined a tire just before Coco's (sharp rock sidewall puncture) lots of roughish sections w/
sharp volcanic rocks . |
Did you air down or.......
You ain't kidding, there are some sharp imbedded landmines awaiting ones discovery
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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Also, earlier comments about only driving that road with a special 4 wheel drive are laughable.
With 25-30 semis running it each day it sort of puts that theory out on the fence, does it not?
Unless you would call an 18 wheeler a "specialized off road vehicle"
Well a Semi is a 4 wheel drive vehicle, right
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
- Albert Einstein
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www.cortezblue.com
We put the FUNK in disFUNKtion |
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