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bajabum
Nomad
Posts: 144
Registered: 9-29-2003
Location: San Diego, Ca
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tire preasure
I know alot of you have alot of experience driving off the beaten path and was wondering what your opinions were for what to air down to when driving
down the many dirt roads of baja like the road from Puertocitos to Gonzaga, or from Chapala to Gonzaga or the road to La Gringa, etc. I drive a Dodge
1500 Quad cab 2 wheel drive and like to drive those roads fairly aggressively (50-60 mph). I normally run 35-40 PSI (cold) on the hwy but want to
soften the ride a little. Does airing down make the tires more or less suceptible to flats?
Work is just something I do to keep me buzy between baja trips!
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Russ
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I found my Exploder runs better at 25# on the Chivato road and I still back and forth to town too. Also launch the boat over the beach. But for longer
trips I'd go back to 35#+. But a loaded truck I don't know.
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bajabum
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Registered: 9-29-2003
Location: San Diego, Ca
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Bancoduo...HUH??? Please explain your strange response to a serious question
Work is just something I do to keep me buzy between baja trips!
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comitan
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Me thinks he thinks your not being serious when you say 50-60 MPH between Chapala and Gonzaga.(are you?)
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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woody with a view
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bancoduo is the resident left fielder...........60 mph on the chapala road = mucha cerveza.............
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bajabum
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Location: San Diego, Ca
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Well maybe not from start to finish, I have to slow down to a crawl in a few spots but alot of all 3 of those roads are straight and flat and unless
you get up over 45 mph the wash board will shake your fillings out. 50-60 get you up on top of it and the suspension takes over.50-60 is the minimum
speed I typically drive on the dirt! If the road allows I will push it up in the 70-80 range, guess Ive even hit 100 a few times! I am still looking
for some serious input to my origianl post, I dont want this to turn into a thread about what some might consider unsafe driving!!!
Work is just something I do to keep me buzy between baja trips!
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Too late
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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roundtuit
Senior Nomad
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Mood: Wife's Job
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Always found the higher the speed the easier the uncontroled DRIFT
Never learned from a book-Only from mistakes, mine and yours
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bancoduo
Banned
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Registered: 10-3-2005
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabum
Well maybe not from start to finish, I have to slow down to a crawl in a few spots but alot of all 3 of those roads are straight and flat and unless
you get up over 45 mph the wash board will shake your fillings out. 50-60 get you up on top of it and the suspension takes over.50-60 is the minimum
speed I typically drive on the dirt! If the road allows I will push it up in the 70-80 range, guess Ive even hit 100 a few times! I am still looking
for some serious input to my origianl post, I dont want this to turn into a thread about what some might consider unsafe driving!!!
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I'm a good person. If I ever see you all bloody & broken at the bottom of a cliff I'll throw you a "COLD
ONE".
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabum
Well maybe not from start to finish, I have to slow down to a crawl in a few spots but alot of all 3 of those roads are straight and flat and unless
you get up over 45 mph the wash board will shake your fillings out. 50-60 get you up on top of it and the suspension takes over.50-60 is the minimum
speed I typically drive on the dirt! If the road allows I will push it up in the 70-80 range, guess Ive even hit 100 a few times! I am still looking
for some serious input to my origianl post, I dont want this to turn into a thread about what some might consider unsafe driving!!!
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i think you can help US out here. how do you like the 70-100 MPH on rock solid tires? if the road is rocky, i'd stay hard..... less chance of a
sidewall blowing. deal with the fillings when you get home......
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
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Location: San Diego
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ya, airing down the tires helps alot. but optimum air pressure # depends on the vehicle and the tires. i do it visually, let some air out until i
get a bit extra sidewall bulge, but not too much or you'll screw up your rim and maybe get pinnch damage to tire.
50 mph on washboards is certainly smoothest, as long as you don't endanger anyone and can see road far ahead. going 70 to 100 mph on washboards and
smooth unimproved roads is foolish, as you can't see finner details of potholes and rocks far enough ahead to react and stear around them, unless you
REALLY know the road
watch out for hot tires when aired down and pound out mile upon mile of washboard. tires get much hotter when they are flexing and air is squishing
around.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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Location: South of the broder
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Lower tire pressure makes it more succeptable to damage by sharp rocks. It's the air that keeps this from happening. So you have to keep enough in to
carry your load. I too like to do about 40 or 45 or so on that trip - at least most of the way. Much smoother ride letting the suspension do what
it's designed for. My vehicle's a lot lighter than yours so I can run about 15-20 lbs.
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?\"
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And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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bajabum
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Location: San Diego, Ca
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I guess it has to do with age and skill. Too young and your reckless and inexperienced, too old and you loose the need for excitment and your skills
decline. It seems a few have a picture in thier minds of a truck flying down the roads at excessive and uncontrolled speeds with a mad man behind the
wheel...its not the case. With the proper rig it is perfectly safe and advisable to let the suspension do the work and not beat the crap out of your
vehicle. When the road permits its also fun and safe to get after it! There are many places where the road is fairly wide, semi flat with a little
wash board and nothing for hundreds of yards on either side except for a few cacti. You can see for miles and to let loose in these places is what off
road enthusiests dream of. Take the turn off at Chapala to Gonzaga...the first 5 miles is an example of what I am talking about. driving 50-60 MPH on
a road like that is almost a must. ANYWAY...I am not looking for anyones opinion of HOW to drive. Pleas refer back to my original posting and comment
on tire presure, if you dont have any opinion about tire presure please reserve your opinions to yourself 
Work is just something I do to keep me buzy between baja trips!
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bancoduo
Banned
Posts: 1003
Registered: 10-3-2005
Location: el carcel publico mazatlan sin.
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Join SCORE and learn something, instead of being a runAway cowboy. The nature of your question tells me you are nothing but a Baja menace.
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bajabum
Nomad
Posts: 144
Registered: 9-29-2003
Location: San Diego, Ca
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You must be one of the old ones...
Work is just something I do to keep me buzy between baja trips!
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bajabum
Nomad
Posts: 144
Registered: 9-29-2003
Location: San Diego, Ca
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Pro amnesty...what the heck does that have to do with tire preasure or driving skills? Too funny! I guess I should let this thread die and come back
another day to get advice. I hope retirment solves the angst that seems to be embedded in your persona. PEACE, LOVE & FISH TACOS to ya.
Work is just something I do to keep me buzy between baja trips!
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DavidT
Nomad
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Registered: 4-9-2005
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I was on one of the straightaways between Puertocitos and Gonzaga Bay, running 70-75 mph.
And was passed from behind my a military Humvee running about 90, two of the soldiers were even standing up, and still had ahold of their rifles.
Used to rent a minivan from Avis, which we would drive to BOLA. Runs to La Gringa up to about 80 mph. Never lowered air pressure on any of those
runs, so I can't answer your question.
I've ridden with Bajabum a couple of times, on the off roads on visible open straight runs he will crank it up. On the highways and in town he is one
of the easiest going, alert drivers around.
He must be doing something right, 30+ years of driving in Baja without even a fender bender.
And no lost mirrors.
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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BFS
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 9-28-2006
Location: Todos Santos
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how low can you go
Ive been running around with 12 lb and 15 lb (cold) pressure on the horrendous pothole roads around Todos Santos and it has made a huge difference.
Fillings intact. But this is slow driving. On the long (rare) straights of washboard I tend to go fast too and with the low pressure it feels nice!
Have not experienced more flats due to the low pressure. I used to run much higher pressure but after snapping a suspension thingie I was advised to
air down and I feel it has made a big difference.
Aq
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805gregg
Super Nomad
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Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
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Cool bajabum, I feel the same way about rough roads. I will be driving Puerticetos, Chalpala next month, I usually don't air down (just lazy) but I
will be going fast enough to smooth out the studder bumps, look for a cloud of dust.
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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It all depents on what your baja rig is equiped with,if you are running Fox suspention or equivalent,tire preasure it's not a issue, unless you are
driving on some deep sand.
Im running Rancho's RX 9000 XL on my rig and on my last trip to Gonzaga,coming back via Gonzaga puertecitos Rd, I
air down to 25 psi and I was averaging 45 to 50 /HR in some sections.If you don't have a high price suspention on your rig,lower tire preasure it's
your best friend,air down to suit the terrain and your needs or may I say your knees hahahaahahha..
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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