BajaNews
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Preparing and Packing for a Baja Trailerboat Expedition, Part 1
http://www.thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=199761
November 29, 2006
By Zack Thomas
Midwinter through late spring is probably the best time of year for a trailerboat expedition to the southern Sea of Cortez. It's not that the fishing
is any better then; in fact, with the exception of the great winter-spring yellowtail fishery between Santa Rosal'a and La Paz, it's generally not as
good. On the other hand, it's still way, way better than anything north of the border at that time of year. Plus, you don't have to contend with the
sometimes oppressive heat of the southern Baja summer; daytime highs average a pleasant 70 or 80 degrees.
Every year, it seems, more people are making their first extended trailerboat runs to Baja - and finding that it's not as daunting as they might have
heard. Still, it's a long and demanding drive that requires preparation and planning. Following are some observations about trailering down Highway 1,
taken in part from my own recent 10-day expedition to Mag Bay:
1. Make sure your tow vehicle and trailer are in top shape. First, change the oil in your tow vehicle. Just the round-trip from the border to Loreto
is over 1,400 miles. Add in side trips and you're close to 2,000. Towing in Baja is about as tough on an engine as anything, so start fresh.
Second, get the brakes on your tow vehicle and trailer inspected. Odds are you'll make at least one full-tilt "crash-stop." On my recent trip, most of
them were for washouts. After Hurricane John, there were more washed-out vados than normal. Many were marked, but on numerous occasions, I topped a
rise at highway speed to see a 6-inch dropoff into potholed dirt 50 yards ahead. Serious stopping power is a must.
Blowing a tire on either your tow vehicle or trailer is very bad news, so you should have plenty of tread depth left. Highway 1, in my experience, has
more loose metal junk - like screws, nails and assorted car parts - littering its surface than most American roads. Good deep tread is also a big help
for launching over sand or mud.
Also, make sure all your tires are properly inflated. Tow vehicle tires should be inflated to the "max load" pressure stated on the sidewall to
minimize deformation, which leads to blowouts and sidewall damage. Obviously, trailer bearings should be in top shape too. Inspect them for pitting,
scoring or heat discoloration, or have a trailer shop do it for you. Then pack them with fresh grease. During the drive, make a habit of feeling the
hubs with your hand every time you stop for fuel or a bathroom break. If one is hotter than the others, trouble could be brewing. Grease it up and
check it again in a few miles. If it's still hot, it's time to pull it apart. (Hubs with brakes will generally feel hotter than hubs without.)
Also, make sure all fasteners on your trailer are tight and strong before leaving home. It's truly amazing what vibration can do to a trailer. Tighten
all bolts and nuts, and replace those that are significantly corroded. I also break all my lugs loose before a trip to make sure they're not frozen,
replace the corroded ones and then re-torque them.
Check your boat as well, looking for things that might be damaged by vibration. Make sure batteries are securely strapped down and that heavy gear
can't get loose. I also stow my electronics and tackle in the truck to save them the wear of the trip.
2. Carry spare parts and emergency gear. Most writers who address driving in Baja advise carrying one or two spares of pretty much everything but the
engine block. Frankly, though, if you're not a fairly competent auto mechanic, you probably aren't going to replace your exhaust manifold gasket.
Besides, parts are far more available in Baja than they used to be. Unless you drive something unusual or a very new model you probably won't have
trouble getting the parts you need.
For my own tow vehicle - a '97 Dodge diesel pickup with around 170,000 miles that I know very well and trust a great deal - I don't actually carry
much beyond fuel and oil filters and some fuses. I definitely don't want to advise against carrying extra belts and hoses though.
For the trailer, spare parts are more important. You should carry enough parts to entirely replace the guts of at least one burned-up hub, as well as
a supply of replacement fasteners, including lugs. One thing that is surprisingly hard to find in Baja is a decent trailer hitch, so I carry a
replacement ball and mount. I also carry wire and electrical connectors, as well as a spare truck-trailer connector and a spare winch-strap.
For the boat, I likewise carry plenty of wire, connectors, cable-ties, heat-shrink tubing and fuses. Vibration can be almost as hard on wiring as it
is on fasteners. Electrical parts are also important to have in case a bilge or bait pump goes out; you should have spare cartridges for each. Measure
all the hose clamps on your boat too, and make sure you have an extra of each, as well as extra drain plugs for the hull, the bait tank and the fish
hold.
In terms of emergency gear for the drive, take at least four or five road flares. There are long stretches of the highway where you simply can't get
off the pavement with a truck-trailer rig, and if you break down on one of them it's critical to warn other drivers. Also carry a tow strap, a shovel,
jumper cables, at least one good jack and a tire repair kit, and seriously consider a 12-volt tire pump. I never go anywhere in Baja without a
5-gallon jug of drinking water, either.
For the boat, it's likewise important to have a good supply of drinking water reserved for emergency situations; MREs or energy bars are a good idea
too. Also carry a set of conical wooden emergency plugs, all the distress signals and other safety equipment you'd carry at home, a backup hand-held
VHF (and GPS if you go offshore), and a spare prop (or spare blades for a modular-style prop).
Again, the more well-prepared your vehicle, trailer and boat are and the more self-contained you are in terms of parts, tools and emergency gear, the
better. These are simply some of the specific things I've found to be most important. In the next issue, we'll look at tools and maintenance gear,
miscellaneous handy stuff to bring along and the drive itself.
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bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 464
Registered: 1-13-2005
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Thanks for the reminders. I'll remember this when I get my boat ready...heading down in late January.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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Outside of the fact that I disagree with the very first sentence of the article, it has some good info. But, comeon, the best time for a trailerboat
expedition is June or October.
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