Southbound and down...

[matt4x4]

Congrats

That is a dream of mine is to enter one of the Baja classes.

Thats one of the questions is how safe is it with the drug wars and the cartels. Lots of people still heading down there.

Definitely need a tough rig to put up with all that abuse. Going over everything 3 or 4 times to triple check its all in order.

We're doing the Baja XL Rally
Should be fun...

Incredible places, Incredible people down here, friendly really helpful.

 

[Endlessblockades]

Wondering if the 'Green Angels' still operate in Baja? I have great memories of these un-corrupt Tourist assistance 'police' driving Alfa Romeos and wearing white turtlenecks as a kid.......

Edit - nevermind - Google says they still operate but in pickup trucks on toll roads.......

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Good update Hopeless and glad to hear all is going reasonably well.



How much did the spring work cost?





Eddie

1500 pesos ,abt $75. He gave them 2000 pesos

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Congrats



That is a dream of mine is to enter one of the Baja classes.



Thats one of the questions is how safe is it with the drug wars and the cartels. Lots of people still heading down there.



Definitely need a tough rig to put up with all that abuse. Going over everything 3 or 4 times to triple check its all in order.

Baja is pretty safe once you get away from Tijuana-Ensenada. Felt safer there then in most of Seattle. Tourists are wanted, and cared for

 

[3bears]

keep up the pictures...looks so warm.

Are you or any of your friends doing a youtube video log ?

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

keep up the pictures...looks so warm.



Are you or any of your friends doing a youtube video log ?

I have a lot of pictures on my cameras to go through and my wife's phone, along with dash cam for almost all of it. That's what I'm really hoping turns out. We were in some pretty sketchy places, deep in the desert

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Yep, off-road...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI61qjxwLyo&feature=youtu.be

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Photo dump on Flickr

Baja XL '''21 | Flickr

 

[HiLife]

Looks like a trip of a lifetime! How awesome and luck that some such as yourself are able to do the trip. Thanks for sharing the journey.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Not bad for over 365k on the original motor and almost 5000 miles through Baja and back.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Not bad for over 365k on the original motor and almost 5000 miles through Baja and back.

I own a S series Saturn so I’m very use to checking my oil at every fillup. Looks like a half quart over that period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Another bit of video from the first night. Didn't realize there was some mud smear in front of the dash cam. This was about 1-1/2 hours distilled down to ~3 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmaCpPQ_7uw&feature=youtu.be

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Welp, rather than start a new thread, figured I just resurrect my old one from 2 years ago. Doing this again, what a blast. Been going through and getting it prepped, maintenance, etc. Replaced a few things (steering rack, fuel pump, sending unit, etc.) probably could have lasted but, might as well refresh things. Sitting at 371k, this will add about 6k hard miles. Last time I used 1/2qt of oil, doubt that will change this time around.

Starts 2/17 down in Socal, at a "Clothing optional" resort. Should set the tone for the rest of the trip. And of course Slow Baja will be there, he brings cases of tequila, as long as you have a shot glass, you have tequila. A great way to start the day...

Still a couple of weeks away, but I'll post pictures when I can.

 

[Endlessblockades]

Nice - always enjoy hearing about this Mexican Madness! Have a blast!!!

"Never Pass Gas" LOL

#PEMEX

 

[chapolito]

"Never Pass Gas" LOL

#PEMEX

Just a few weeks ago I had to wait at the Gonzaga Bay Pemex for 2 hours while their batteries charged so they could run the pump. Really wished I had bought a few gallons on the side of the road.
[MENTION=193907]Hopeless Diamond[/MENTION] We were coming back from a trip 2 years ago when you all were driving down. Everyone got a good laugh when that limo went by. Sounds like fun!

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Yeah, my biggest concern is fuel mileage. Last time I put 18 gallons in the tank twice. 1 of those times was after I had already put in the extra 10 gallons I was carrying.

Those Limo guys were great, how they got that thing through some of the spots was amazing. Couldn't imagine trying to get that over all the whoops. Always with the margaritas at the ready :thumb3:

 

[Endlessblockades]

Sounds like hauling 20+ gallons across the border might not be a bad idea. My parents took me camping in Mexico twice a year for 15 years throughout my youth and we saw the entire country. Big fan of the Olmec civilization to this day, but the current cartel sicarios scare me. I realize it's unlikely and wish you the best.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Welp, ol' Wheezy did good. Passed 375k a few days ago and missed the photo op, oh well, there's always 400k.

Our track...(may have to change to view all tracks on the right)
Baja XL

Awesome time and experience, can't wait to do it again. ROUGH roads, beat the hell out of everything, Raptors had problems, 2 lost 4 wheel drive, most had problems with brakes. Jeeps lost track bars, one over built one, lost driveshafts and transfer case. These were all being driven hard, and the whole thing is very unforgiving. We couldn't go that fast so didn't inflict as much damage. Had to do a little surgery so I could open the rear hatch.

Baja XL Support & News Group | La Paz trunk hatch fix on 3rd gen 4runner


Didn't take as many pictures this time, brought my DSLR along and never took it out. A few with camera and tablet (you had to take selfies, and various pictures of items/areas as part of the competition and turn them each night for points). Got dash cam of the whole trip so have a lot of downloading and processing to do, hoping I can snag some stills from that.

(it's showing the pictures sideways now matter how I inset them)