Baja Beach Fun with a Tacoma!

Having 4WD is like security or peace-of-mind if not pure accessability ... that said, I have seen 2WD vehicles on Shell Island (from Mexican fishermen checking their nets to brave gringos who know how to deflate their tires and not panic).

I would recommend going with a 4X4 buddy, and have a good air pump to re-inflate your tires when you leave the beach... a bucket to wet the sand as well.

10 psi front and back should do the job... don't slam on your brakes, but coast to a stop... don't turn sharply, but in wide arcs... when you are ready to park, face downhill if possible so that you have less resistance. If your tires are spinning but you are not moving forward, then you are moving DOWN... STOP, dig away blocking sand, let more air out... but not less than 8 psi... have a good gauge that reads low pressure.

Pouring sea water in front of the tires will firm up the sand and help as well. Driving on wet sand at low tide is a breeze in 2WD, but the dry sand is bottomless.

The only other issue is the mud field that seperates Shell Island from the main part of Baja... During full or new moon phases, the mud will be wet, or under water at high tide... 4WD is pretty important here... so go during quarter moon phases, as the heat of day drys the mud enough!

Now, if you are not quite up to that challenge, then go to one of the many campos north or south of Shell Island's access road ... North 6 km. is Rancho (Laguna) Percebu. South, 6 km. is Nuevo Mazatlan http://vivabaja.com/nm

 

Yea would prob be smarter not to go to that one as I'm not the greatest driver..... yet lol I just love the way that spot is so secluded

 

Speaking as a Mountain type person. I really loved all the pictures. I like seeing parts of the country that I'll never make it too.

 

Never say never!

 

Only in a pos Hummer do you have to worry.

 

what hummer??

 

Jason, here is the Lost Mission story: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/travel/85021-baja-california-finding-lost-mission.html

Also, the Mision Santa Maria trail: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/off-roading-trails/75537-baja-mission-santa-maria-4x4-trail.html

Across Baja from Pacific to Gulf, via Mike's Sky Rancho: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tr...a-california-via-mikes-sky-rancho-9-05-a.html

Last summer trip into southern Baja: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/travel/76126-baja-california-tacoma-travel-7-09-a.html

 

Thanks.

If you like finding things you should look into Geocaching. I bet there are some in Baja you could find.

 

Funny you mention geocaching in Baja! I found the FIRST geocache placed in Baja back in July, 2001 (between Gonzaga Bay and Coco's Corner, left by Tim Walker and his friend Robert). That year I also placed three geocaches in Baja and one is still 'active'...

 

damn that place is beautiful...

 

Haha. You're about 9 years ahead of me. Do you still geocache down there?

 

No, and not because I don't like to. It is just that we have so much 'other' fun in Baja, it never comes up to geocache.

I did a few geocache placements near here in San Diego county and a couple are still active, 8 years later. That was when my kids were still young enough that they liked having fun outdoors with dad... My geocaching name is also 'David K'.

 

Heading back to Shell Island this weekend. Looking forward to seeing if TRAC is as awesome in the summer as it was this past winter for driving on the sand (without deflating the tires)! Look for photos after I get back... HB Murphy, join us!

 

Follow up... the trip on 4th of July we had a heavier load in the bed, and the temperature was higher... we did need to deflate the tires to travel with ease... down to 12 psi. Air temperature has an effect on sand driving!

 

This and your post about lowering psi in the sand bring back memories. Ten years ago or so I took a trip via motorcycle (BMW R1100GS) from Mexicali to Puertecitos and further (I think). It rained one afternoon, turning the roads to gumbo. I must have picked that bike up more than 20 times. It was going no where since the mud had the front wheel clogged.

Eventually, my buddy showed up in a truck, but they couldn't get thru either. The 2d truck finally hauled us out of there and we continued on to the transpeninsular where my friend said he'd had enough.

I'm looking forward to going back. This time pulling a light RV made out of a cargo trailer, pulling it with a 4WD 2.7 Tacoma. Bahia de los Angeles is the goal. Any ideas you guys have for converting or otherwise using a light weight travel trailer would be appreciated. My inspiration is Randy Vining:

http://cheaprvliving.com/StealthCargoTrailer.html

 

Nice!

Here is a sunrise over the Sea of Cortez at Shell Island taken in November, 2006 on our return from pitting for the Baja 1000 at El Crucero... You may enjoy those trip photos, here: http://vivabaja.com.1106