How prepared would you be?

durangotang · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:33 pm

So I was talking with a friend of mine who drives a rather groovy landcruiser...he is planning a trip with 4 other people to drive from Albuquerque, NM all the way down the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. I have heard of some people doing this trip but it sounds like he is planning on spending a lot of time in the backcountry rather than the main "highway". Would YOU take your liberty on this trip? What would you bring for spare parts and equipment? I'm not talking about sleeping gear and whatnot just strictly vehicle supplies. He's got me rather curious about the possibilities of that one. I'm not so worried about breaking down on the highway but breaking down off road down there would SUCK!!! (not speaking Spanish seems like a disadvantage for me haha) I just moved down here from Alaska and have done plenty of trips through northern Canada but never made it south of the border....may just be a future trip in the making here.

Here's what I was thinking for spare stuff:
2 Mounted Tires
Hi-lift on each vehicle
Plenty of diesel
Oil
Coolant
Trans Fluid
Gear Oil
Gasket Sealer (forgot what it's called)
Various lengths of various hosing and some fittings (in case "creative plumbing" must be done)
Serpentine Belt
Fuel Filters (quality of diesel there seems scary coming from the land of B20)
Air filter?
Good ol' shovel/axe, come-along, and pickets
Obviously tools
Compressor
Tow straps

What else would you bring for you KJ? Oh and anyone want to go? haha

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:42 pm

Oil and fuel in Mexico are cheaper and the quality is just as good as ours. Mexico has a lot of Wal-Marts and very good chain US stores. If you need minor things that these places carry, no problem. Tires etc. are another problem. There is a guy on here that lives in Mexico and would be a good source of information.

Now wouldn't it be great to have a L.O.S.T. caravan of Jeeps meeting on the border and heading south :shock:

There are people that set up caravans for RV's and could probably do the same for Jeeps! Talk about fun!!

Terry

itsajeepthing · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:53 pm

fire extinguisher and portable battery charger, fully charged up of course!

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:17 pm

Toilet paper :shock: Their restrooms don't supply it! You also don't flush the toilet paper, you put it in a trash can by the toilet. Most septic systems down there just were not made to handle paper.

All the grocery stores carry purified water.

Don't trust electrical outlets to be wired correctly.

Don't trust water outlets to be safe even if posted that they are.

Once you are a way from the borders the people are VERY friendly, but fewer and fewer will speak English the further south you go.

Be VERY, VERY careful at gas stations. A lot of them will rip you off. Watch them!

If you are pulled over for something that doesn't seem right demand to speak to the policeman's superior NOW.

Under no circumstances take any weapons of any kind.

Terry

csukoh78 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:34 pm **Posts:** 501

I would definitely take a 400W inverter so you can power up anything 110 that you have like cell phones, computers, GPS's, TV's etc etc etc. EXTREMELY useful. Remember that guy that died in Oregon trying to save his family? If they had an inverter in their car, they could have charged their cell phones and it would have been easier to find them.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:10 pm

All the above is great. I would do some research first to see where the guy plans on going to decide if you libby is up for the task. First and for most, you need skids and tow hooks. After that, a lift and better tires are always a plus.

I carry an extra upper control arm now.. That seems to be one part that fails along with the front diff although I would say traction control helps keep wheels from spinning.

RQuarte · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:33 pm

LOTS O' WATER!

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:22 am

An extra set (or two) of upper control arms. As well as several of the things mentioned above.

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:29 pm

welding cables and rods

spencevans · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:51 pm

The most common break down besides getting stuck or getting a flat would be the front end. So probably some cv axles and an extra front differential if you talking about the libby. If he has an fj80 then he has nothing to worry about. He just needs a winch, HiLift, 2 spare tires, gas, water, and a shovel. Those things are built like tanks.

Something else to consider is taking a gun, so if the libby was mortally wounded you could just shoot it and put it out of it's misery. :lol:

opo · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:59 am

I used to live in La Paz Baja. I plan on returning some day soon and for good. Right now I'm living in Mexico City.

Please post the planed itinerary, that way I can point out a thing or two. It all will depend on how far south you guys are going. There is only one (or maybe 3 or 4) paved highway for most of the Baja peninsula. That means off-roading heaven.

The most common mistake is SPEED while going off-road in baja. Some times you will be driving for some time in a sand covered corrugated road, you'll get bored and start driving at >55mph (it is fun) and suddenly BANG! you are on the air, enjoy the view, but when you come back down to earth many things can break. Soo watch your speed at all times specially if you are the first vehicle of the convoy. If you go to the mountains this may not be an issue.

Cheers,

Octavio

Fanofliberty · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:33 pm

Remember, your U.S. insurance policy is voided when you cross the border (Continental US, it's territories and Canada, eh). Your policy doesn't say Mexico. Make sure you buy Mexican liability insurance.

Personally, I wouldn't take my dog to Mexico. Every time I went I got visited by some guy named Montizuma. Besidses, I'm sure the anti-christ is going to come from Mexico. Whole bunch of people who call themselves Jesus...

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:28 pm

Fanofliberty wrote:

Remember, your U.S. insurance policy is voided when you cross the border (Continental US, it's territories and Canada, eh). Your policy doesn't say Mexico. Make sure you buy Mexican liability insurance.

Personally, I wouldn't take my dog to Mexico. Every time I went I got visited by some guy named Montizuma. Besidses, I'm sure the anti-christ is going to come from Mexico. Whole bunch of people who call themselves Jesus...

Wow, can you tell us how you really feel? :lol:

hooperswish · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:30 pm

Quote:

If you are pulled over for something that doesn't seem right demand to speak to the policeman's superior NOW.

I think the best thing here is to just bring a stack of tens for bribe purposes. The police and other officials don't get paid for sh@#, and it is generally accepted that small bribes are a given-they gotta eat. It is just part of the culture- just roll with it.
What an AWESOME trip. JEALOUS....

bthomas · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:04 am

Lost shaker of salt could be appropriate.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:37 am

bthomas wrote:

Lost shaker of salt could be appropriate.

Hmmm, another parrot-head???

Yeah bribes are pretty much a way of life, especially near the border. Used to hear so many stories when I was in college about kids going down to Juarez and getting hit with La Mordida for some minor infraction or other. Not saying that all the cops are like that, but most of the ones in the border towns tend to operate that way...

durangotang · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:46 pm

Well I talked with them ever-so-briefly about the trip and it still sounds like they are trying to figure the exact route they are taking. They did decide that they are driving all the way to Cabo!! Yikes! Now I just need to hear how much "off road driving" they are talking about on this trip..... one of them was talking about the possibiliy of jumping on and off the actual Baja Race course for some of the more scenic portions.... hmmm....

Signcutter21 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:17 pm

like Corwyyn and other said, take a roll of tens/ twentys. paperclip a bill to your license, it'll help alot. sent you a pm about some more info.

mike

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