New Mexico Owners BS Thread

Anyone know of any good camping spots at Navajo lake? I was hoping to camp right on the water if possible so I can leave my boat beached and in the water. Thanks!

 

Yeah I can get that done.

 

I like how that top one came out. Post pics once it all done. I've considered this same idea for my truck as well

 

Yeah that's box rockets so of course its super nice.

Will do!

 

Is goose lake trail doable with my stock 2017 TRD Sport?
Any other suggestions would be great. This is my first experience camping, and I think I have the whole BLM thing figured out. I will taking my Taxa Outdoors Tigermoth camper with me. I don't want to stay at campsites and I think I should be fine since will be cool enough at night that I won't need to use the AC (no generator yet). I am planning on 1 night in Bisti, 1 in Taos and 1 near the Tent Rock things. Can anyone suggest a place near Tent Rock so I don't have to stay at Cochiti Lake campgrounds? And where should I do near Taos? I saw that the ski valley allows free camping in parking lot.

 

Regarding Goose Lake.... Yes, absolutely doable in your stock Tacoma (but don't try and pull that trailer up there). Worst case scenario is you run over a larger rock and it contacts one of your front lower control arms, rear diff, or front skid plate, but that will only happen if you stop paying attention. There is one optional "hard" line near the beginning that might challenge you in a stock truck, but like I said, completely optional. You'll know it when you see it, the trail forks and the left line is the "hard" one, really just very steep and rutted, and the right is a run of the mill switchback. The rest of the trail is pretty much a rough FS road with a few rocky sections. It does get narrow in sections with room for only one vehicle, and there are many blind curves, so take it slow and watch for traffic in the opposite direction. The ATV/motorcycle crowd like to move pretty fast on that trail. The east fork of the Red River (which you cross at the beginning) will be at minimal flows this time of year, but I would still expect water 18-24" deep, just go slow and steady right through. Beyond that, watch your tire placement on the rocky stretches and you'll be fine. Also, as you approach the top there is an area that gets a little confusing... you'll top a ridge and the trail forks three ways if I remember right. Just stay far left and it'll take you to the lake.

Why are you avoiding campgrounds? There are many beautiful places to camp near Taos, it seems like a waste to sleep in the ski valley parking lot.

 

I am all for cool places near Taos, any suggestions are welcome. I was more referring to wanting to be on BLM land as opposed to more formal pay campgrounds full of people.

I really appreciate the advice as well.

 

Do you still have that seal puller from your rear axle seal write up from 7 years ago?

 

For the night that you spend near Taos, I would camp along the Rio Grande Gorge in the Wild Rivers area just west of Questa. The campgrounds are fee areas managed by the BLM ($7/night I think), but they are rarely crowded. Most times I have camped in there I see only a couple of other vehicles (many just there for day use), and there are five different areas to choose from so if one is busy just move on to the next one. The campgrounds along the Red River as you head up toward the town are nice too, but are often crowded.

If you want to be closer to Taos, there are three little campgrounds along the Rio Fernando De Taos as you head east on US 64... Las Petacas, La Sombra, and Capulin. There is as small nightly fee there as well, and the campgrounds will probably be busier being so close to Taos.

Yeah, I have it. I've done the axle seal job 3 or 4 more times, on various Toyotas, since I posted that write up.

 

Oh nice, I was going to ask to borrow it for tomorrow but I think I'm going to try the c-clamp method

 

Never heard of the c-clamp method, but good luck.

 

I just heard of it too. Given I have the stuff might as well try it first

 

That should work... assuming your c-clamp is the right size. If the clamp has too short a jaw opening, or is too deep, you'll be fighting it.

How did you pull the one on the other side last week?

 

With this, but I gouged my flange a little even with tape around the metal so don't want to use it again.


My seal came in today. We are going to go to Durango Friday through Monday and wanted to get it done before then but I think I will be fine (I hope) and will just do it probably next weekend. So could I actually borrow that tool for a day?

 

Sure, but I won't be around to lend it to you until sometime next week.

 

That'd be fine, I'll be rafting down the Juan the 10th - 15th so wont be around to work on it anytime soon anyways

 

Any wood workers in here?

 

Bisti Badlands were amazing

 

So awesome! On my list of places to camp for sure!

 

That was a half assed follow up. Did you make it to Taos?

BTW, I studied your Bisti badlands pics, and the area where you are camped may have been illegal to travel in a vehicle.