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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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3 reasons not to take a vehicle with street queen tires to Baja
Had a great trip to the 7 sisters area, ok water temps except for first 2 days when they dipped into the low 60's. Warm air in the 80's. Awesome
light shows at night with the red tide. Some good meals of halibut and sheephead.
But on the way out, my sister's new Nissan Armada with 265/70R18 Continental street tires got 3, count them 1, 2, 3...flat tires in less that 2 hours.
The first was easy to fix with a single tire plug
The second was a large hole that we attempted to patch with 8 tire plugs, but no go. So, on with the spare.
The third was a catastrophic failure of the spare just before sundown. Hmm?..this looks like a nice place to camp   .
Luckily we got it out of the road as a car came by at 2:30am, and another at 5:50am.
Being that her vehicle has 18 inch rims, we could not simply put one on my 16 inch rims or my other sisters 17 inch rims on, as they would not clear
the large brake calipers (We tried though), in addition, the difference in tire height may have caused damage to her limited slip differential.
So we had no choice but to patch the second flat, the next morning of course. The hole was big enough to poke a finger into, with strands of steel
belt poking through. We amazingly were able to break the bead and dismount the tire. We then put on a 2? diameter patch over the hole, and then a
large 3?x5? patch over the first patch. We then topped it off with several strips of duct tape.
A little soapy water and a few blasts from a high-pressure air tank reseated the bead with little trouble.
We then said our prayers and headed off again, stopped of at the shrine to the Virgin on the way out, said more prayers, left money for the
caretakers. And made it back to the pavement, many many hours later than originally planned. Hit the border at 8:15pm and crossed in 1 hour, even
though the line was at the beginning of the bridge.
Moral of the story, Never bring street queen tires off road, especially if you have an oddball size like 18 rims that probably no tire shop in Baja
has ever seen
.
The second moral is to have a full tire repair kit including an hydraulic jack (note twisted scissor jack in photo that broke under the strain of
lifting her car on a slightly uneven section of off road dirt, even on a jack stand), large and small inside tire patches, tire plugs, tire spoons to
dismount the tire, an air compressor (preferably a hard mount one with an external tank), soapy water to help break and reseat the tire bead, and of
course DUCT TAPE!
P.S. My sister?s Armada is now outfitted with 285/65R18 BFG All Terrain TA?s.
First flat:
Second Flat:
Second Flat, On goes the spare:
Catastrophic third flat (I wonder what she's thinking?):
Another view of third flat (note twisted jack):
Patched second flat for the third flat (ain?t Duct tape great?)
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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there, that's better, I hope.
They were too large for me too. so I resized them.
More pics to follow, probably in the photo section.
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rpleger
Super Nomad
Posts: 1087
Registered: 3-12-2005
Location: H. Mulegé, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Was good.
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BGF rules.
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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tunaeater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 617
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: Chula Vista, CA
Member Is Offline
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Stock tires can be a real problem when matched up with Baja's tough terrain. Last year I had 6 flats on my new F-150, General tires. I got all the
flats from LA Bay to San Felipe via Calamuje,Gonzaga Bay,San Felipe. I bought brand new BFG's when I came home. I haven't had a flat yet knock on
wood....Paul
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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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Great story and pictures, Brooks, you all did good.
The tire shops here in San Felipe use Transmision fluid for the lubricant to mount/dismount tires. I've used it and works great. Just a thought
Thanks
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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Mike Supino
Nomad
Posts: 351
Registered: 10-16-2002
Member Is Offline
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Maybe you should use BFG projects like we use on the Trophy Trucks??????
Therianthropic
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Toyos v BFG's
| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
Richard...you old off-roader, you....my BFG's bit the dust long ago. And I refuse to buy French-owned 'Michelins', so went with Toyos like whistler
wants to do. Never go back. |
Can Toyos be ran @ 8-12 lbs as someone told me BFGs can??
Al
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Taco de Baja
Varrry resourceful.
I will admit I would not have been prepared, but I will be now!
Al
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Thanks Pompano
I would have tried it in an area like Taco de Baja was in thinking it would keep it from punching through.
What is the best preasure for sandy wash board roads??
Al
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
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Toyo A/Ts
30,000 mi on my Toyo A/Ts. A good multi-purpose tire. I have ran them at 20 psi for many miles w/o probs. Good sand tire in my opinion.
Fronts look almost like new but both rears are almost gone. I guess my alignments cool!
Great tires but I did pick up a spike shaped rock last trip. Kept hearing this tic tic sound. Later I heard this psss psss sound. The rock was
plugging the hole till it split lengthwise and air was escaping out the crack in the rock. Took six plugs but goyt me home. I want OBA!
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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Patches? need some patches!
Taco - where did you locate and what kind of patches - how did you adhere the patches, self sticky stuff on them? You wrote:
"We then put on a 2? diameter patch over the hole, and then a large 3?x5? patch over the first patch. We then topped it off with several strips of
duct tape."
We've run BFGs - All Terrain or Mud Terrain - 31x10.50s at 15 lbs for extended dirt road distances, like from Chapala to Puertocitos via Gonzaga. Done
it for years with no apparent bad effects on the tires. Of course we don't drive the higher speeds some folks might - mostly under 30 mph on the
better surfaces and around 10-15 mph on rockier parts.
John M.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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Al G - John M has a small Jeep - I have 32" tires on a Tacoma with a slide-in cabover Pop-top camper and use 20-25 lbs. on washboard with BFGs with
great results and no problems at 40-50 mph.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by John M
Taco - where did you locate and what kind of patches - how did you adhere the patches, self sticky stuff on them? You wrote:
"We then put on a 2? diameter patch over the hole, and then a large 3?x5? patch over the first patch. We then topped it off with several strips of
duct tape."
We've run BFGs - All Terrain or Mud Terrain - 31x10.50s at 15 lbs for extended dirt road distances, like from Chapala to Puertocitos via Gonzaga. Done
it for years with no apparent bad effects on the tires. Of course we don't drive the higher speeds some folks might - mostly under 30 mph on the
better surfaces and around 10-15 mph on rockier parts.
John M. |
We used a Camel brand patch and Camel adhesive for the small patch and I do not know the brand of the large one, only they it said "Made in W.
Germany" on the back and may have been something from my father's tire kit from a long long time ago.
Camel patches can be found in almost any auto supply place like Pep Boys. The larger 3x5 patch may be available at a big rig truck stop.
We basically followed the directions on the can of Camel adhesive: Sand away all ridges and rough areas in the area where the patch will go. Apply
the adhesive (looks like rubber cement, but thinner), allow to dry, peel the back off the patch and apply over the hole. Roll out all the air holes
with a patch wheel (or small rounded rock).
Apparently the material on the back of the patch reacts with the dried adhesive and vulcanized the patch to the tire, but you have to get out all the
air between the patch and the tire or it may not fully vulcanize.
When finally patched we inflated the tire to 40 PSI in an attempt to not get a side wall puncture, a real threat when running low pressure off road.
In sand this is not an issue, but on a rocky road a definite possibility.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
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I normally only deflate in extremely deep sand but usually just try to blow through. Sometimes when I drop off into deep stuff and feel the frontend
starting to plow I'll stop, airdown, back up slowly 10 or so feet then forward ho. Good insurance is to carry a proper sized inner tube for emergency repairs.
Be knowledgeable in tire repairs. Don't break the bead unnecessarily if you are not confident you can reseat the tire after a repair. Many repairs
require unmounting
Big, wide tires can be tuff to get reinflated/remounted,especially without a good volume of compressed air. I had to use a come-along wrapped around
my old Duplex tires to reseat.
It's next to impossible w/o water and I have used lotion, shampoo or soap, even beer. When you have to make a temporary sidewall repair or large
hole use a higher pressure after serious repairs.
A good bet is to carry the right glue and have an ample amount of repair items including sheet rubber and plenty of butyl rubber cement. Always use
REAL rubber. I bring at least two jacks, one being high-lift, some 4"X6" wood blocks and a 3'X3' piece or two of 3/4' ply. Two compressors because
they are made in China and a couple of good tire spoons. I hate the dirty job!
[Edited on 9-7-2005 by Sharksbaja]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64945
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Even though my New Toyota comes with 16" BFGs (Rugged Trail T/As), as did my last.. when it is time to replace them I very well would likely use the
Cooper/Futura (U.S. made) tires sold through Pep Boys (Dakotas) at less than half the price of import owned BFGs.
I have seen one too many sidewall punctures in the famous 3 ply sidewall All Terrain T/A's to spend so much $$$ on them... buit, we will see when time
comes to get new tires... I'll check Costco.
[Edited on 9-7-2005 by David K]
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Stuck in Baja and can't wait!!!
The stored knowledge base of Baja Nomads is incredible! WOW
I can not imagine a more difficult sitiation then Taco de Baja, But if there is please tell us, as I learned a lot from that. If there are stories
about motorhomes all the better.
Albert
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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A friend had a possible worst scenario.
Imagine this. You are going up a steep hill in your Toyota Land Cruiser when suddenly POW! Your rear tire blows. It is a deeply rutted road and the
spare is now resting on the ground. You are on a hill so there is no way jack the vehicle up high enough to access the spare. What do you do?
Luckily, there was another LC along on the same trip. So they placed rocks under the frame near the blow out, then dug deeply enough below the blown
tire to remove it, put on the spare from the 2nd LC, refilled the hole under the tire, jacked the LC just high enough to remove the rocks under the
frame, and continued on their way.
With enough time they probably could have excavated the spare out, but pretty dangerous to excavate under the spare when the weight of the LC is
resting on it and it?s on a steep slope.
Moral of this story is to have picks and shovels at all times when going off road. A shovel is not enough in rocky ground, it'll just bounce
off the gravel, cobbles and boulders.
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eetdrt88
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 2-20-2005
Location: Az/Ca/Baja
Member Is Offline
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that vehicle in the first few photos...
looks more suited for the 405 freeway than offroading in baja...maybe i'm way off but alot of these new so called "off road" vehicles look like they
were never intended for the abuse that the bad roads of baja can dish out
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
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Good grief man.......you just noticed!
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eetdrt88
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 2-20-2005
Location: Az/Ca/Baja
Member Is Offline
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my new baja rig...
4x4 yugo goes places most rigs cant even dream of
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