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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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There's guys that can't make it on the runs, because they sunk the last amount of $money$ they had into their Jeeps for modifications. Not good
planning, IMO.
There are also the guys who spent $100,000.00 on their Rubicons (including the price of the vehicle) who are now, "bored" with the sport and want to
try something new.
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Desertbull
Senior Nomad
Posts: 558
Registered: 8-27-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I've heard this opinion over and over about Pro-Comp shocks, but their valving has stayed the same and they're not MUSH like I have been warned about
over and over on-line. Take a ride in my Jeep, and see for yourself. |
I hear ya'...and whatever works for you is what counts! I had taken a good look at the top of that shock mount etc...and seen it all to often etc.
Travel safe and have FUN!
DB 
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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Fox 2.0. Nowhere near that price. And bulletproof. Baja tested on a four ton vehicle (my diesel F350). Remote reservoir, handles anything you throw at
it. Not up to the gucci standard set by DB with Fox 3.0, but ample for your jeep.
Again, just sayin'. Seems like almost every trip report you post, you have some fairly major failure on some component on at least one Jeep in your
group. I haven't driven a Jeep, but it does not compute for me when I have taken trip after trip on the worst roads Baja can throw at me with no
failures. For year. Go figure.
An example would be a fairly recent stay in Bahia de Los Angeles. One morning I decided that I should show my wife San Francisquito. Now please note,
my wife is definitely NOT an offroad-friendly person. We left Bahia about 9:00 AM. Drove down, not racing mind you, crusing about 60, stopped in San
Rafael, spent about 1/2 hour there, got to SF, had lunch, hung out for a couple hours, and started back. Got back to Bahia by 6:00. Photo stops
included. No complaints from my wife re: being beaten to death on the road.
Did the shocks get hot? Yes. Did they have any failures? No. Continued the next day to La Paz via San Ignacio and San Juanico via the beach road.
Setup? dual Fox 2.0 in the front, singles in the back. 8200 lb vehicle. And this is basically routine performance. I cant tell you how many times I
have been passed on that road like I was parked and at a standstill by simple prerunners. So I don't get the multiple failures on what I would think
should be routine trips in an off-road vehicle. Santa Maria is certainly difficult terrain, but should not be a strain on shocks, anyway.
Hope you don't take offense. If I were in your shoes, I would be quite unhappy with the performance of my vehicle.
Once again, just sayin'.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Roberto,
The problem wasn't the shock overheating, foaming over, etc. The problem was when I adjusted the shock from 'soft' to 'firm', it caused the upper
shock pin to taco in half. The shock is still in 1 piece, providing dampening like before. But, there is a forged crowbar that was hacksawed with
two bushings and looped wire holding everything in place.
The problem was the standard shock pin, not the shock.
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Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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Ive got the Donahoe Racing (now Icon) coil over shocks on the front of my Tundra as part of the Ivan Stewart Edition package. I've got Bilsteins on
the rear.
All of my recent Baja driving has been trailering 2 or more quads so very slow on the washboards.
This year I have no trailer, so I'll be going a lot faster hopefully.
What is the proven reputation on these shocks? Bull?
No worries
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dizzyspots
Senior Nomad
Posts: 603
Registered: 9-22-2008
Location: Mescal AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: rather be on the beach at Gonzaga
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all five of my trips were made with a heavily loaded (15 gal , 10 gal water, camping gear, even a 12 ft aluminum boat on top...pulling a off road
camper...doing the washboard part at 40-45 San Felipe top Gonzaga Bay in about 3 hrs.....stock suspension on BFG AT stock 07 FJ Cruiser just my 2
cents...l
PS the 1st 3 trips were on the OLD Gonzaga Road...one of which was to San Ignacio Lagoon and back
[Edited on 5-22-2011 by dizzyspots]
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
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We do that run to Gonzaga in either of our Full Time Baja Dead Stock Toyotas ('88 4x4 P.U. or '93 4x4 4Runner) and do just fine. Hang on, I have to go
adjust my shocks and tuck in my shirt.
Ok back, gotta couple extra rattles in the doors but that's about it.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Oh what a feeling!
It is a shame really... because the first Toyota 4x4 was a 'copy' of the U.S. invented Jeep (as was the Land Rover and all others)... Now, if only the
'new' Jeeps could be made as good as Toyota using some quality parts or construction techniques that don't break under 'normal' off highway use.
As a former Jeep owner, I had nearly everything (it seemed) fail on a brand new Jeep in 1975-77, this poor quality goes back to the AMC days before
Chrysler took over. My next car was a Subaru 4WD wagon, and it was amazing that a inexpensive Japanese vehicle could be built so well, with such high
quality... I was able to travel all over Baja with that and not fear breaking down... I had 3 of them over the next 20 years all with over 100,000
miles on them.
Come on Jeep, you can do better!!!
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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Non coilover 2" - reservoir - $189 to $270 depending on length at ORW
http://offroadwarehouse.com/products/manufacturerID/2/sfID1/...
Coil over - 2" reservoit - $261 to $342 depending on llength.
http://offroadwarehouse.com/products/manufacturerID/2/sfID1/...
Plus spring Eibach $53 to $77.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Just one level up from stock (well stock on a Tacoma TRD that is), are the Bilstein 5100's if you aren't racing Baja and they are under $100! I had
them on my last Tacoma and loved the ride.
[Edited on 5-22-2011 by David K]
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Phil S
I cut two ten ply Toyo's on that road maybe 12 years ago, driving to Hwy 1 from San Felipe. Beautiful drive. Looking forward to making that my
regular rt from now on. (or from whenever it gets done. Are they also paving from Hwy 1 east??? |
I blew the side of a Toyo Bridgstone Dueler there in '07. I always have two spares aboard.
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by soulpatch
I'd love to put some of those Fox 2.5 Coilover's on our ride....lets see...$2000 worth of shocks on a $40 Isuzu......doesn't make much sense but if it
would keep it from shaking it apart for another 120,000 miles then maybe it does.
Boy, I bet that'd ride awesome. |
Soulpatch, cost isn't in the shocks (2.0 would be more than fine). It's in the install. These are not "out of the box" components we're talking about.
They need to be tuned, or you are wasting your money. Cost is in: finding the right place to do it and tune your setup, which may include spring
tuning. Takes time, and, by definition, money. It's a black art.
[Edited on 5-25-2011 by Roberto]
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nagyarpad
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 5-31-2011
Member Is Offline
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hello,
Question for those that know the road conditions between the stretch south between San Felipe to Gonzaga to southwest to Hwy 1. Is this road drivable
in a newer minivan, not 4x4, with 5-6 people in it? If so, what is the expected speed and how many hours does it take to cover this stretch? Much
appreciated.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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Is it driveable?....yes
is it advisable?.....no
How long?....depends on how many things you break...
Seriously, people drive it every day in passenger cars and make it to their destination. I would be concerned about the van being overloaded with that
many people and all their stuff. Tires on a minivan aren't typically designed for the type of abuse that they would be taking. Plan 6 hours fron SF to
hwy 1 if you don't break anything.....dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by redhilltown
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Ivan's input is what lead to TRD Off Road Tacomas... why they are made so well and just don't break down in Baja.
Just having fun with you Ken... I just want you to not stop going to Baja because of troubles with your rig! More Baja, more fun!
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I happen to be a 30+ year Toyota guy too but I certainly understand the Jeep thang and what comes with it. Many a time in the Inyo or Panamint
mountains I have wished for something just a TAD smaller  |
Agree! A CJ-5 is sure the ultimate bobcat 4WD... The Wrangler TJ Rubicon (like Ken's) is also good (when it is running)... The new JK big Wranglers, I
am not so sure of... and the 4 door JK is just as big as a Hummer H3... Heck, I would like to have an old Willys-Overland CJ-3A. M-38, MB or CJ-2A to
really get around tight spots... That would be fun! |
Like the one I leave in Abreojos.
[img] [/img]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Awsome... what year CJ-3A is it?
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Awsome... what year CJ-3A is it? |
52. owned it since 1968. Son drives it most of the time now.
Skipped right on down to Gonzaga and across to 1, while the truck broke two shocks.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
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 nagyarpad
hello,
Question for those that know the road conditions between the stretch south between San Felipe to Gonzaga to southwest to Hwy 1. Is this road drivable
in a newer minivan, not 4x4, with 5-6 people in it? If so, what is the expected speed and how many hours does it take to cover this stretch? Much
appreciated. |
I would strongly advise against this, because of the possibility of blowing out tires, and also because of the placement of your oil pan,
transmission, and the possibility of damaging these vital components.
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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It's absolutely doable. As long as you go slow to Gonzaga at least. I mean 15mph slow. Sometimes slower.
After Gonzaga you should be able to speed up a little, but don't let the stretches of sand base lure you into 35+ mph speed, or you will regret it
when you those stretches of hard rock base. Last section (after Coco's when the road winds it's way to Mex 1) is the best of all, usually.
The only thing I would really advise against are heavily worn tires.
Let's not forget that Mexicans do this road every day as a matter of course, and very few of them are driving Trophy Trucks. 
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
Member Is Offline
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11 miles north on Gonzaga is in bad shape,it's doable, but take it easy...I just did this road last Saturday..
you don't need 4x4..
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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