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Cliffy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 12-19-2013
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Have to make a decision Gonzaga or no Gonzaga
Have to make the decision whether or not to take the Gonzaga dirt to Gonzaga or go through Ensenada with my 20 ft travel trailer north bound. I have 4
days to decide.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
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Mood: Weary
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I have aleady said my piece....Its not that bad a piece of road, BUT I would NOT pull a travel trailer over it....
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DaGreen
Junior Nomad
Posts: 29
Registered: 9-25-2003
Location: La Ventana
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no way!! love the road myself, but you would need a new trailer by coco's.
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Pacifico
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
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I've done it twice in the past couple weeks and I'm getting burned out on it. Seems more rocky each time I do it.
I definitely WOULD NOT want to pull a trailer down that road!
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
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Cliffy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 12-19-2013
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OK sometimes I have to be hit in the head to get my attention I get the idea now. Just really didn't want to go through the corridor again but I
will. NO Gonzaga, crap!
Thanks folks I really appreciate the help.
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Justbozo
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 11-20-2012
Location: Lake Michigan/Bahia Concepcion
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Mood: Got my little stone hut on the bay
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A friend just went north last week that way. 1 ton dually Dodge diesel and a 36'? 5th wheel. Does not air down and crawls. He is a regular on this
road.
I asked for a report from him gauging my full size 1/2ton 2wd and 12' cargo trailer with a lite load. I have traveled this route before.
Very doable was his reply. WATCH for washouts on the rocky section along the road edges that will ruin your day, sand roads OK and the construction
road is good.
I will air down some from highway pressure on the truck and 50% on the trailer.
It is all comfort level as in seat of the pants and nerves. If you have little tolerance for risk stay on the paved road. If you want a taste of the
old road go for it.
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RenoJoe
Nomad
Posts: 161
Registered: 5-8-2012
Location: Reno Nevada
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Mood: mellow
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I took the road the end of march this year with my 22' class c towing my samari. I aired down to 25 on the rv and 15 on the samari. Took 4.5 hours. No
problems, no new rattles. Take it easy and good luck.
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cliffy
OK sometimes I have to be hit in the head to get my attention I get the idea now. Just really didn't want to go through the corridor again but I
will. NO Gonzaga, crap!
Thanks folks I really appreciate the help. |
lol! and you were sooo close! now you gotta go for it!
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Just take it easy and crawl along.
[img] [/img]
If this guy can do it, you can
[img] [/img]
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Why take the Gonzaga road. At best it will take you 4+ hours to reach the border. The Mexicali crossing is no faster than Tijuana.
Whatever you do don't pass another vehicle on that steep mountain part between Catavina and Cocos. Or if you must make sure you're the one up against
the mountain. This winter I came across a vehicle like yours that had slid down off the side of the road while passing another vehicle. He was waiting
for a tow from Ensenada.
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Skipjack Joe
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Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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I just noticed that these 2 vehicles were passing one another on their left, the opposite of what you would expect. That tells me that the guy coming
down knew what he was doing.
[Edited on 5-3-2014 by Skipjack Joe]
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Cliffy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 12-19-2013
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skipjack what do you mean 4 hrs to the border? 4 more hrs to the border?
I'm figuring a 2 day drive through Tecate from the Gonzaga turnoff on Mex 1 as I'm going to Tucson.
It just looked that even with a 5 to 6 hr run on the dirt I'd save at least a day to Tucson if I could use the dirt.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cliffy
skipjack what do you mean 4 hrs to the border? 4 more hrs to the border?
I'm figuring a 2 day drive through Tecate from the Gonzaga turnoff on Mex 1 as I'm going to Tucson.
It just looked that even with a 5 to 6 hr run on the dirt I'd save at least a day to Tucson if I could use the dirt. |
I have A house in Tucson and the Gonzaga RD cuts 200 miles off the trip
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RenoJoe
Nomad
Posts: 161
Registered: 5-8-2012
Location: Reno Nevada
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Mood: mellow
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On my last trip at the end of march my coffee maker didn't even slide off my dinning table. Take your time.
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windgrrl
Super Nomad
Posts: 1335
Registered: 9-2-2006
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If you decide to go through Ensenada you'll be fine with with a 20 footer. We drove through several times with a 28 foot RV. Know your route, take
your time, watch for stop signs and a GPS can be your friend if it's your first time through.
When the way comes to an end, then change. Having changed, you pass through.
~ I-Ching
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cliffy
skipjack what do you mean 4 hrs to the border? 4 more hrs to the border?
I'm figuring a 2 day drive through Tecate from the Gonzaga turnoff on Mex 1 as I'm going to Tucson.
It just looked that even with a 5 to 6 hr run on the dirt I'd save at least a day to Tucson if I could use the dirt.
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If you intend to cross the border at Tecate and are coming from south of Laguna Chapala you have both fewer miles and less hours by driving up hwy 1
to Ensenada and then to Tecate. That's fewer miles than the other route and it's all paved.
Perhaps rts551 can tell you the route to Tucson that saves 200 miles. I think there is a border crossing east of Mexicali that leads to a faster
crossing with fewer miles to Tucson.
The dirt section is about 50 miles I think, 20 to cocos and another 30 to the paved road. I do about 15mph on this section because I am pulling an
aluminum boat and I don't like to look in the rear view mirror and see it bouncing 3 feet in the air behind me. It's washboard in the good places and
is just badly broken up in the bad areas, rocks exposed and dirt worn away requiring really slow driving. Some haul down that road and get a smoother
ride because they're riding the top of the washboard ridges, but you will be doing 15mph because of the size of your vehicle and the punishment it
takes when driving at higher speeds. Once you get to the paved section you can drive faster than hwy 1 because you're not going through small towns,
each with lights and topes. But the road to Tecate from the Gonzaga road is considerably longer than it is from Ensenada so that adds time.
I really suspect that there are better ways to drive to Tucson than through Tecate.
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
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Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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If you even remotely like your trailer, DON'T.
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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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Igor... the route is through San Felipe to Mexicali or points east. The Mexicali East Crossing is better than Downtown Mexicali but can be a 45
minute wait. Algadonas is a Breeze....Heard reports that San Luis can be an hour now. Used to be as easy as Tecate.
Some of the San Felipe residents can give a better estimate of times at the Mexicali EAST crossing. And yes...No San Quintin or Ensenada to go
through!!!
If you have patience and time...you will not ruin your trailer.
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ehall
Super Nomad
Posts: 1906
Registered: 3-29-2014
Location: Buckeye, Az
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Mood: It's 5 o'clock somewhere
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I was at Coco's a few weeks ago and there was a bright yellow trailer being stored there while the owner went to get parts. Coco said something in the
slide out broke and it fell out. If you go drive slow.
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treuboff
Nomad
Posts: 127
Registered: 8-27-2013
Location: prescott az
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NAFTA Port Mexicali just after sun up breeze right through
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