chuckie
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
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Beat to death!
This topic gets discussed every few days it seems...How bad REALLY is the stretch of road from Chapala to the improved piece..Seems no one has the
same opinion? I talked to a guy yesterday, who said he ruined 2 tires on it a couple of days ago...I now have an interest since I am heading north in
a couple of weeks and wanted to go out that way...
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basautter
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 7-1-2013
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I drove that section in my F250 with a trailer in tow recently. The overall condition was not too bad. Some sandy and rocky areas. 4 WD was not
required. I did air down my tires to 20 PSI to help with the wash boards. Overall, no problems.
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larryC
Super Nomad
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Registered: 8-11-2008
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I agree, no problems. It is just a graded road with the normal washboard and some loose rocks that are not hard to avoid if you are going at normal
speeds. I didn't air down and it took me 2 hours 20 minutes from pavement to pavement. So basically a 20 mph road. Some places faster and some slower.
Larry
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
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Agree with LC other than I air down to 25psi in pickup. Not needed for traction, just a little smoother ride. No big deal.
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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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The airing down will save tire damage... and improve the ride... but preventing the sharp rock from piercing the rubber is a prime reason. I didn't
and my only flat in a 3,000 mile Baja trip was between Chapala and Coco's Corner. The tire was patched at Rancho Grande/ Gonzaga... but I stopped a
few times to re-plug the hole and add air, so I didn't have to put the spare on.
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woody with a view
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typical dirt road....
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TMW
Select Nomad
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Everyone will have an opinion based on their experience. Your experience will depend on the type of vehicle you are driving, what if any suspension
upgrades have been made and how heavy a load you are carrying as well as how you drive. I drive a 2004 Tacoma 4x4 and a 2004 GMC Z71. Both have
leveling kits added, upgraded shocks and larger tires. I usually air down but sometimes do not. I adjust my speed for as smooth a ride as possible,
sometimes faster is better and sometimes slower is better. The road is certainly a workout on shocks. I've melted the rubber boots on shocks going
over that road I also have blown shocks on it, but my Bilstein 5100 series seem to be holding up good.
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Cliffy
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Would love to go back out that way but with my F150 and towing a 22 ft travel trailer with D rated tires and 5000 lbs overall I think I will bypass
this even if I went 15 mph I don't think I could make it without popping a tire.
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Pompano
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1973 - Baja Hwy 1 was built and provided smooth driving to Mulege.
1975 - Baja Hwy 1 was nothing but potholes for literally hundreds of miles north and south of Lake Chapala. 20-30mph was sometimes way too fast.(That
is some Baja nostalgia I DO NOT miss.)
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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DaliDali
Super Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cliffy
Would love to go back out that way but with my F150 and towing a 22 ft travel trailer with D rated tires and 5000 lbs overall I think I will bypass
this even if I went 15 mph I don't think I could make it without popping a tire. |
Smart move!!
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bajabuddha
Banned
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Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cliffy
Would love to go back out that way but with my F150 and towing a 22 ft travel trailer with D rated tires and 5000 lbs overall I think I will bypass
this even if I went 15 mph I don't think I could make it without popping a tire. |
Right on, but there's more to that stretch than just popping a tire. You have springs, shackles, weld joints, cabinets, stuff in cabinets, and all
are subject to a merciless pounding on the washboards.
I did it w/ a 5th wheel last year, took SIX HOURS to drive from Gonzaga to Chapala, and had to seek out a welder at Bahia LA Jct. Tires aired
down, the works. Did the uphill part in 4x4 low-lock, literally walking up the grades. Another friend has done it twice w/ an RV trailer, and paid
dearly both times.
Chuckie, mi amigo, like one poster said, just depends on what you're driving and DON'T haul anything. I'd do it in a heartbeat if just my truck
and nothing too heavy in it, knocks a full day off your drivetime to the border. A neigbor in San Lucas made it from there to Mexicali in one full
day (real early start). Passenger car? I'd seriously have to think about it, again, depends on your vehicle.
But, no guts, no glory, que no? Que la via bien,
 bb
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by chuckie
I talked to a guy yesterday, who said he ruined 2 tires on it a couple of days ago. |
Must have been running BFGs. 
Speaking of beat to death, we havent had a good tire mfgr. argument in a while...........let the games begin!!
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
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I'll say this, the roads in the worst shape i've seen it since don rafa was kind enough with his own money to blade it ten years ago. unlike some dirt
roads theres just no fun to be had on that stretch
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Cliffy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 12-19-2013
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China will-pops on a travel trailer? :-) :-)
C range tires on a 30 ft 5th wheel?
8 year old STs on a heavy 5th wheel?
HMMM
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chavycha
Nomad
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We did it about a month ago with a Trailblazer, standard shocks, and highway tires at 40psi (didn't want to air down for just a short stretch of
crummy road). Took about an hour and a half from the Pemex in Gonzaga to Hwy 1, and I didn't need to switch out of 2WD.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
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SOLD! I'm going out that way...Shouldnt be a problem, driving a Dodge Diesel with 4 mismatched tires that are only 10 years old, one even has tread
left. carrying a mint condition Steinway grand piano YES I AM KIDDING.. Just for grins the other day, aired one of my tires down to 25 and reinflated
it to 50...took 6 minutes using my lil compressor..thanks all
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
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Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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Attaboy Chuck!! Don't fergit to post how you fare. BTW, once past Coco's. you can turn it loose (er) on the little side-slider roads, but don't get
too joy-happy. Keep smilin,
bb
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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