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Big Al
Nomad
Posts: 184
Registered: 12-17-2002
Location: El Cajon
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Truck for Baja
I am thinking of getting a new truck, and I want to be able to use it for daily commuting (30 mi R/T) as well as my Baja trips. I know nothing will
fit all of my needs, but I will compromise where I have to. Requirements: Must seat at least 2 adults, 3 children and the dog. I will use it to tow
either a small trailer and mount a tin boat overhead or tow a boat and put on a camper, not sure yet.
I am thinking that either a Chevy 2500 HD, crew cab, 4x4 or a Ford F250 HD, crew cab, 4x4. Is diesel a good idea? What motor do you all prefer?
What options/packages for these loads do you recommend, i.e. tow package? I would like to increase my travel range between fill-ups so I don't have
to carry so many cans with me, so is there a motor with better range or do I just go with more fuel storage capacity?
Thanks for the tips.
Big Al
[Edited on 11-14-2003 by Big Al]
[Edited on 11-14-2003 by Big Al]
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Anonymous
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You forgot as a requirement....
....a CD player for your awesome Baja Music! I just wanted you to know that I love the CD you gave me a while back.
Thanks again!
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: Encantada
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Anonymous
....a CD player for your awesome Baja Music! I just wanted you to know that I love the CD you gave me a while back.
Thanks again! |
Whoops..that was me!
Funny...sometimes when I tune here I'm already "pre-logged-in" other times I'm not.
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Sonora Wind
Nomad
Posts: 228
Registered: 9-25-2003
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It all Depends
If your a chevy or a ford dude. I haul a lance lite and a 24' pro-line to Kino every year and my last two trucks have been a 96 and 02 F250 supercab
diesel 4X4 long bed. Very happy with both out of the box trucks. Comfort power and reliability. The down side, there not cheep.
PS: Sometimes I have to check the rear view. With all that power you forget the boats back there. Good Luck.
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4342
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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We like our F-250 Powerstroke. 130,000 miles so far and no hassles. I have yet to pump my own fuel in Baja. ALWAYS someone at the diesel pumps to do
it. We have a Four Wheel pop-up camper we put on hwen we go past our house on the beach in Baja Norte.We have made it from El Rosario to Mulege with
fuel to spare. The only thing I have added is Bilstien shocks (duals up front) and had the rear leaf springs re-worked by Frame and Axle in El Cajon.
I put the camper on fully loaded and they set it up so it rides level with or without the camper. I also have a Tommy Gate on the back, other wise it
is stock.
We have driven MANY miles on dirt roads with our 7.3 PS in Baja. Have a bunch more on dirt roads in places like Anza-Borrego,Death Valley,Central
Oregon,New Mexico,Zona....we are no experts but we do know that we have made it there and back and we had fun. 
Hopefully many more to come!! 
[Edited on 11-15-2003 by elgatoloco]
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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FORD
F250 Superduty 4x4. You won't regret it. Pass any construction site and count the number of Fords compared to the rest of the lot. There's a reason
Ford has been the #1 truck sold in America for the last 20 years!
Bob H
[Edited on 11-14-2003 by Bob H]
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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Mood: Happy!
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Depends on how bad the roads are you'll be taking the truck on too...I have a Chevy Silverado 2500, and my friend has a 1500(both 4x4), and we've
taken those trucks on the most God forsaken roads in deep, darkest Baja--places where the only tracks we've seen were ours from the year before!(I
could tell you where, but then I'd have to shoot you). They take the punishment. Fords are okay, drivetrain/frame wise, but I think they tend to
lose extraneous parts on those kind of roads...from what I hear. My old Toyota 4 banger went 200,000 miles and held up exceptionally well, but I
don't know much about the full size.....
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Ski Baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 652
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: Rosarito Beach
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secret roads
2WD GMC Van
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Anonymous
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The Ford 6.0 liter diesels are still having problems.That is why I'm going to a one ton Dodge but the HO's are still not available in California.Guess
I'm going to have to go out of state.By the way I was a Ford diesel fan.Bought my first one in 83 and drive a 92 now.Test drove a 2003 Ford 6.0 liter
crew cab and was not impressed.
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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Mood: Happy!
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Ski Baja--don't know where that photo is but it reminds me of the road past El Vulcan....somewhere central B.C...your killing me--give me a hint!
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Anonymous
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ski Baja
2WD GMC Van |
You have posted this same picture numerous times and somebody always asks you where it was taken. Have I missed your response?
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PabloS
Nomad
Posts: 187
Registered: 4-8-2003
Location: North central AZ
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Looks like the road from La Costa San Evaristo to El Bosque
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3732
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Truck??
Since you do not indicate whether you are strictly a pavement cruiser or planning to go off-road it is hard to answer.
If you are strictly a pavement cruiser then drive the same rig in Baja that you are comfortable taking to the grocery store.
If you are going off-road, seriously off-road, then you need to consider a lot of things. (Tires and tire pressure being the most important, in my
opinion.)
I drove my 99 F-150 from Chapala down to Gonzaga, then up to the Sisters and back, at speeds up to 90 mph, then took it down a few side roads to
missions. It never missed a beat, and the few brush marks rubbed out easily when we got home. (well, I did stand it on its nose in a ditch once at
85 mph and put a hole in the front bumper but who is counting)
My guess is that you are doing pavement and I would be more concerned about cabin comfort, music sounds and towing ability then "Baja Proven."
My personal bias, I raced 12 years in Ford pickups and never broke one, but we did bend a few... mighty tough truck!
Baja Arriba!!
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Ski Baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 652
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: Rosarito Beach
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Baja roads
Well, I guess this will give incentive for a new truck. And I am curious as to who besides Pablo knows where any of these roads are.
I will only use the main roads that are on maps to make it easy for everyone.
I'll start with a real easy one.
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Trucks
All of my off-road vehicles were bought for Baja. My first was a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 4WD, heavy PTO winch, etc. With the roof removed, doors
stripped and windshield folded down against the hood she was just what a hot-dog early twenties ego-riddled dude needed. We churned up the sand dunes
south of Rosarito with a vengeance for years. YEE-HAW...
As I eased into parenthood we needed a vehicle that was somewhat larger and carried enough gear for what turned out to be 4 of us and I was not as
heavily into the distant outback as in previous years. For one thing, they had paved Baja by then. We bought a Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon. While it
lacked the magnificent macho stature of the FJ-40, it worked well with the needs of our family.
As I hit my mid ?50?s we downsized into an Isuzu Trooper. On the dirt it handled as well as the Toyotas but had a little less interior space. With
fairly low mileage (100K +) the Isuzu blew the engine and I ended up with the only machine available in San Ignacio that fit our needs at the moment,
last year. In the middle of the night a local there rumbles up in a Chevy Suburban 4WD with a tanklike 454 purring away, shaking us awake. We bought
that and (remember I am getting older and carry much more stuff than earlier in my life) the Chevy is now my favorite vehicle of all time. I have yet
to take it into the most remote parts of Baja, but I know it will fit well: its turning radius is just under a quarter-mile.
Pick your car for your immediate needs. They and the car will change over time. Good luck.
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Ski Baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 652
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: Rosarito Beach
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Turning radius
Then we will call this one" Suburban Road" as turning isn't particularly an issue.
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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looks like the road to puerto cancun.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65107
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I haven't been to Puerto Cancun, but have been to Punta Conejo and that road looks like the one J.R. posted. The earlier photo looks like one of the
roads near Ligui (south of Puerto Escondido).
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Anonymous
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Big Al,
If you are going to tow, get the Ford PSD.
If not, get a Toyota 4 banger.
The chevy/gmc do not have near the off-road capabilities of either. A weak front suspension and ski like, low hanging frame rails are the issues.
The Ford PSD 7.3 is a proven, 250k mile motor. If you can find one on the lot, new ..get it.
Baja Blackie over on Baja.net is an expert on the PSD's and has one that was built especially for Baja travel. He knows what breaks and what spares to
take for sake of mind on those trips into deep Baja.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Any truck will do for the most part. It depends on what you like. If your pulling then a full size is best. Any truck you get will last only as long
as you take care of it. No stock truck will go 90 mph on the Gonzaga Bay road, at least not for very long. If you want the best built truck then take
this test. Look under the hood and the underside of all the trucks. Tell me what you see. Toyota will stand out above all the rest. Tocoma or Tundra.
I haven't seen the Nisson trucks especially the new full size lately. With tht said I drive a chevy K1500 4x4 with 220,000miles and a Toyota 4x4 with
120,000 miles and they both have been all over Baja off road and on.
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