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wesleyj
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#5 hywy south to San Felipe and on to Mex #1
Any reports on condition of road (Hywy 5) south via San Felipe to join Mex 1 at Laguna Chapala???
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Santiago
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Lots of previous threads on this:
1. San Felipe to Puertecitos - older pavement with lots of vados and whoo-de-dos.
2. Brand new road and pavement to just north of Papa Fernandez - we're talking 60mph plus here.
3. 20-25 miles of straight washboard to Coco's. Slow or 45-50mph, your call.
4. Rocky road, no marshmellows, from Coco's to Hyway 1. Solid hour to 1.5 hours. If towing, slower.
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nbacc
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How about from Mexicali to SF, Any change in the last few weeks? How much off hwy driving? Nancy
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David K
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There was like a 2 mile final section of widening mentioned a short while back... Near La Ventana...
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Riom
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| Quote: | Originally posted by nbacc
How about from Mexicali to SF, Any change in the last few weeks? How much off hwy driving? |
A couple of weeks ago there were 5 bridges being rebuilt/improved (north of La Ventana), each had a short dirt detour. Work was progressing fast.
Plus there are lengthy dirt detours where the final stretch of road is being replaced south of La Ventana, I'd expect that to take a few months more.
All the detours are well graded, but watch out for sharp drop offs from the pavement to some of the detours around the bridges.
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nbacc
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thanks!!!!!!!!!! Will be headed down to Sf in the next week or so, Nancy
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wesleyj
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via San Felipe to Mex 1
Thx for comments -- 1st trip on this route -- always Mex 1 since 1996 -- it's time to look at another route -- I guess there is still a fair amount of
traffic if any breakdowns occur ??
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bajabuddha
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Wes,
If you're hauling any kind of camper or trailer behind you, i strongly suggest you don't try the grade from Gonzaga to Laguna Chapala. For years the
whole road has been nicknamed "the Road From Hell"... for a reason. Since the construction of the new highway, you have 50 miles of gorgeous scenery,
impressive road cuts, and smooth sailing to Gonzaga (watch out for rockfalls that happen almost daily).
However, the road up to Hwy 1 is still 35 miles of steel-breaking, screw-popping, dish-rattling washboards, wash-outs and holes. I've driven it 3
times in the last year; it's fine if you're just in a pick-up with the tires down to 25-30 lbs pressure, but i DO NOT recommend any kind of
tow-trailer behind. I went against my better judgement and pulled my 5th wheel up it, tires down all the way around, and took a full SIX HOURS to
drive 35 miles, hubs in and 4wd up the grades SLOWLY, and still found a broken spring shackle at Chapala, had to limp into BOLA Jct. to get it welded.
I had one guy stop me as i was entering the upper grade and ask me if i really wanted to do this, and told him it's ok, been twice before (but was
only in my pickup). I'm still kicking myself for not doing the Ensenada Loop.
A friend did it twice with his Jayco, 1st trip broke a spring, 2nd trip broke a weld on a rear carrier that cost him his inflatable boat later on.
So, if you do decide to try it, do all the tricks and good luck. I'm going back down Hwy 1 next week. When and IF they ever do the upper stretch
it'll cut a day's travel time off for me, but until then, Tecate here i come. Far's the rumor mill, they're still saying "oh yeah, next year they'll
finish it". I've been hearing that rumor since the 90's, and they just got to Gonzaga. I'm not gonna hold my breath for the next stretch; Mexican
Standard Time (maņana) does not mean tomorrow, it just means ''not today''. Happy trails!
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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bkbend
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I drove it twice last winter and while I wouldn't call it a fair amount of traffic, we met a half a dozen rigs going the other way on the gravel
portion and three or four went by in the half hour we were stopped at Coco's. You wouldn't be sitting long if you broke down and nobody's whizzing by
at 60mph like on hwy 1.
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bajabuddha
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bkbend
I drove it twice last winter and while I wouldn't call it a fair amount of traffic, we met a half a dozen rigs going the other way on the gravel
portion and three or four went by in the half hour we were stopped at Coco's. You wouldn't be sitting long if you broke down and nobody's whizzing by
at 60mph like on hwy 1. |
Very true, BK, but it's a looooonnng way for parts, either way; Guerrero or Sand Flippy, and the nearest welder is BOLA jct south of Chapala; there's
only a llantera there.
But as they say, ya gotta go to know...
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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TMW
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This is what happens when towing a trailer south of Gonzaga.
Left side frame rail.
Right side frame rail.
[Edited on 10-7-2013 by TW]
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bufeo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabuddha
Wes,
If you're hauling any kind of camper or trailer behind you, i strongly suggest you don't try the grade from Gonzaga to Laguna Chapala.... Happy
trails! |
It really depends on the type of "camper or trailer". We've towed our Horizon (Adventure Trailer) over that road twice, including side trips out to
the east coast from Hwy 1 to San Francisquito and north to Bahia de Los Angeles. Otherwise, for 'normal' travel trailers I agree with The Buddha.
Allen R
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wesleyj
Newbie
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#5 SF to Hywy #1
Tks for the repies and info. We will not be towing. Only 1 F150 and 1 Subaru wagon which will require watching clearance. WE live/travel dirt south of
Cabo Pulmo all winter and have varying depths of washboard and washout so we expect some difficulty. Will probably give it a "slow" go anyway. San
Felipe --- any kind of accomdation that allows 2 dogs --- we like clean --- amenities optional.
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bonanza bucko
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Some of us don't get our &%^$ off over the Baja 1000 because it wrecks the road even more than it was wrecked and the Mexican Gummint, naturally,
doesn't use the money SCORE pays them for the damage to fix it. So the users of the road pay...naturally.
So maybe someone could tell me when the damned thing is so we can avoid driving down there that weekend,
BB:-(
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bonanza bucko
Some of us don't get our &%^$ off over the Baja 1000 because it wrecks the road even more than it was wrecked and the Mexican Gummint, naturally,
doesn't use the money SCORE pays them for the damage to fix it. So the users of the road pay...naturally.
So maybe someone could tell me when the damned thing is so we can avoid driving down there that weekend,
BB:-( |
See the thread: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=68481
Race Days Nov. 14, 15, 2013
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willardguy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bonanza bucko
Some of us don't get our &%^$ off over the Baja 1000 because it wrecks the road even more than it was wrecked and the Mexican Gummint, naturally,
doesn't use the money SCORE pays them for the damage to fix it. So the users of the road pay...naturally.
So maybe someone could tell me when the damned thing is so we can avoid driving down there that weekend,
BB:-( |
theres no reason those 800 horsepower behemoths couldnt drag a blade behind em! 
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tripledigitken
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wesleyj
.... Only 1 F150 and 1 Subaru wagon which will require watching clearance.... |
We made the drive last Jan in our Subaru Outback and clearance was never an issue. We do take it slow in the rocky sections though.
by the way......
2013 F150 6.5' bed 4x4 ground clearance 8.8"
2013 Subaru Outback ground clearance 8.7"
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
| Quote: | Originally posted by wesleyj
.... Only 1 F150 and 1 Subaru wagon which will require watching clearance.... |
We made the drive last Jan in our Subaru Outback and clearance was never an issue. We do take it slow in the rocky sections though.
by the way......
2013 F150 6.5' bed 4x4 ground clearance 8.8"
2013 Subaru Outback ground clearance 8.7" |
Subaru sure has a good GC number... more than when they had 13" tires back when I had them! I still got to Gonzaga Bay from Puertecitos in 1979,
however! My Tacoma is easier to off road in, 9.75" min. GC with 32" tires. 
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rts551
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Is that a Toyota? Tacoma?.... guess that will never be seen in an Advertizement.
| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
This is what happens when towing a trailer south of Gonzaga.
Left side frame rail.
Right side frame rail.
[Edited on 10-7-2013 by TW] |
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David K
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Non-factory suspension modification/ towing over the limit/ exceeding cargo limit would be three possibilities.
I have made plenty of trips on the Gonzaga road with all three of my Tacomas... at speed, loaded heavily, never an issue WITH ANYTHING.
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