Anza Borrego Advice

I air down to 22 normally, 18 if that's not cutting it. I forgot I was aired down 1 time & went on a drifting/donut spurt & never rolled a bead off. I'd feel comfortable crawling around in the low teens personally. I'm more concerned about driving trail to trail on the highway when I'm aired down, paranoid about overheating the sidewalls from so much flexing.

"Do not attempt. Professional driver on a closed course. Obey all traffic laws at all times. Adult supervision required. Terms subject to change at any time without notice. Your mileage may vary. Member FDIC."

 

Thanks @dumontrider all you're advice on this thread will be heeded. We're leaving Sunday before the sun comes up.

 

Me & a Jeep are leaving Los Angeles tomorrow around 0700 so long as the refinery doesn't call him in overnight Maybe you'll Cash Me Ousside



Look for this duo, probably going way faster than conditions warrant for such a non-built Tacoma. I don't upgrade stuff until it breaks, so hopefully something lets go on this trip

 

Love it. You guys going to be there for a day or two or wha? If you're there past Sunday I'll be the one flashing his high beams screaming "HEY HEY HEY YOU'RE MY FIRST REAL LIFE TW FRIEND" and I'll invite you to drink with us and bbq but you were just being friendly and I'm going to make it real awkward. That's a promise threat.

 

He got called in so we won't be there until 4ish saturday, sucks. We're staying until Monday afternoon. Find us after sunset in the campground with cigars & lots of beverages & firewood!

 

We're staying at the something palms something campsite on the east side, you?

 

Probably Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, about 1 block out of Borrego Springs proper. We're in Tamarisk Grove Campground about 20 minutes south right along hwy 78

 

You could go down to 12-15 if you don't go really fast. I usually go down to 20 in the front and 15 in the rear unless the sand is really thick.

 

Topped off with more firewood about an hour away

 

You should have said something earlier I could have just brought you some.

 

It was a last minute decision my friend made, lol he was out of room in his Jeep so i got volunteered to mule his shit, thank tho that's quite a stack you have! Wish we saw you this weekend, but not surprised since it's 600k+ acres! How'd you like it? We found some fun stuff, had us scratching our heads how my (locked) 2wd truck got up a few hills I got too ballsy on a fast wash road & smacked a huge bush, shattered my passenger mirror right off the mount We found Diablo Drop (lame) & Heart Attack Hill (nucking futs). Here's a few pics! The bottom one I was teetering on 2 wheels, that shit was sketchy enough that I put on my seat belt!

Random hill top:


Heart Attack Hill (only allowed to go down, not up). Youtube videos are crazy, tons of people roll their rigs here.


En route to Heart Attack Hill, steepest thing I've done to date, pics never do justice to inclines.

 

@dumontrider man we had an awesome time. Got back late Thursday. Sorry we didn't make it over to your campsite we got into town and got down to drinking and night hikes. We went all over and got several chances to use the 4x4, even got some 4lo time on the route up to sheeps canyon up those big rocks and over the creek crossings. We spent most of our time hiking, drinking and touring in the Tacoma and have a whole new respect for southern Cali. Thanks again for all the pointers. Airing down to 15/20 got us everywhere no problems and never dug out once. Here is a bit of a picture drop, thanks for yours too. I'll drop you a line when we head back down in the fall, I owe you you some beer and firewood.

 

Nice!! I have that trail marked on my map it's just way farther north than we usually play around. There's always next time! Glad you had fun, So Cal deserts are a ton of fun & beauty!

 

Hey dude. To get to sheep canyon campground, would you recommend 4wd. Sounds like it. I have a lifted prerunner with good tires.

 

@adadandhistruck i would. I got up there on stock 3rd gen height and slightly larger tires so you'd be good on that side of it. It's steeper than it looks in some spots but mostly just the first pull. Right before the first good climb there is a good wide spot where you could back down to turn around should you start spinning or can't continue forward. Also, in terms of being able to safely back out should you have to abort the first good pull is nearly perfectly straight with no turning. And if you can make the first little pull in your truck then you can make the rest.
There is great traction as it is mostly a rock garden, and my biggest issue was clearance with rocks bigger than basketballs but with patience and a half drunk spotter I didn't even bump nothin.
Part of me just wanted a chance to try out my 4x4 as it was (still is) brand new to me. I managed not to use it though in most of the park. Most of the park was a cake walk in two wheel and slightly softer tires. But pulling up to that hill seemed like a real good reason and opportunity to use it.
Have you been before? Need some other rec's?

 

I've never been and id love to hear some recommendations. It looks like another member here will be leading me on some trails on Saturday so it should be a good intro to the park

 

It's close to 600k acres, I've been for a total of 6 days of wheeling and haven't even made a dent in my to-do list. You'll enjoy your intro!

 

First most vital/easiest to accomplish- stop by the visitor center, trade them 5 dollars for a Topo map/trail map. Best tool. And cheap. Also those volunteers there are cool as fuck and super knowledgable.
Mountain road dead ends. Right before the end make a right. That's the trail to the wind caves which are cool to look at and also passing thru that area is where I took that 3rd and 4th pic. Super dope to drive through. Fish creek wash also leads to a gang of different routes, all of them a cake walk in 2wd
Go up to fonts point. Gets a little thick but I was in 2wd drive the whole time. Fonts point was the best view I had while there, also leads to verde wash where there are a bunch of cool trails. Also, we didn't do it for lack of time but there's a route into the bottom of where you see looking down from fonts point. Pretty easy to find on the map but never went.cannot speak to trail conditions/ability.
And if you have a buddy (4x4?) and good clearance (Do you have front recovery point?) stick him out in front and hit sheep canyon. He could potentially pull you real gently out of a sticky situation but some of the spots are a little tight (not super tight) and you won't have a lot of room to tug.
And pester the shit out of @dumontrider. I'm new to the game and the area so I hit him about a gang of different stuff and he has great info. And to second what he said we were down there for 5 full days and only saw a fraction.
Take pictures. Have fun. Post the pictures here and check in after your trip.....I wanna see!!
Also I didn't mention before my last picture is the first little bit of the climb up to sheeps canyon. Like @dumontrider said pictures don't do much justice to incline real size of rocks but it's a glimpse at least.

 

I was planning to check it out Saturday probably nothing too crazy but will definitely hit up visitor info center to chat and grab a map now thanks

 

For sure, I'm glad this thread has new life. Grab the map and hit the trail. I think if you go once you'll come back again and again. I came down with friends all the way from The Great Snow Covered North and can't wait to return. It really is quite a place. Depending on what you're looking for, 4x4 trail of scenic photographs make sure and tell the Ranger volunteers. And ask more questions to any of us. You'll have an awesome time.