The Whole Enchilada - 2017 Tecate To Cabo!

[Chris@FreedomMotorsports]

I want to being my truck next year. Not sure I could handle all that awesome from the navigator position.

 

[Deleted member 12951]

Sorry for the delay. Was running out of time in the evenings with spotty Internet and the days got longer when off-roading. Just wanted to eat and sleep to get ready for the next day.

We had rooms by the beach and woke to a awesome day for breakfast.




We drove up to the mission that I visited last time I was in Loreto, always a good picture stop.



This was one of the better days with changing terrain. We drove past the mission and crisscrossed back and forth through the river bed.




Continued to the pacific coast once against going the entire distance across baja. We stopped at a light house for a spectacular view then a night run to La Paz going the entire way back across baja.




When we arrived in La Paz, the gas shortage was even more evident. We were able to fill up outside of town, thank goodness but could never make it to our hotel. Streets all throughout the city were closed due to protesters and riot police. Luckily we found a different hotel on the boardwalk. The hotel let us park in the garage. Tight fit but glad our trucks were safe.

 

[Raven13]

Bout time! Looks like an awesome trip, glad y'all had fun and made it home safely.

 

[Deleted member 12951]

The final day was to Cabo. We drove out to take some trails from an old race map but they were so overgrown that it made them impassable. We headed back to the pacific and finally hit some dirt. The trails were fast with some rough spots and water crossings once again. The temperature got near 90 which made for a hot day and had the AC nearly on max.

Morning breakfast and off we went.


Finally on dirt





We drove on dirt nearly to the center of Cabo, following an old race road. It ended up going through some slums and through a dirt storm wash under bridges to the city.





We got to Cabo around 3pm so had some time to actually see some of Cabo. Our hotel was on the marina.




Went to the Mango Deck





Dinner and ready to head out tomorrow morning before the sun rises as we have a long road journey back.

 

[brc misfit]

beautiful pics, thank you. love Baja....

 

[oxfordraptor]

@RDFTS sweet trip. Jealous man thanks for sharing.

 

[Deleted member 12951]

We got on the road at 6am and it didn't seem like the gas shortage issues were evident in Cabo so gas was not an issue. We drove along the pacific coast and said our goodbyes.





Started to cross back and skipped getting gas in Loreto as we already knew there was issues so we stopped in San Ignacio instead hoping for the best. An military truck with soldiers pulled out in front of us then pulled over to stop all cars, they let us go ahead, whew! We stopped in a small town and had some freshly made fish and shrimp tacos, yum. In San Ignacio the only station in town has been out of gas for two days. We got really, really lucky that the tanker showed up about when we arrived. We waited about 15 minutes, filled up and kept going.






See the tanker?


Crossing where the time zone changes



We decided that we could make it to San Felipe. We past Coco's corner at night and kept going. When we finally got to San Felipe at 9pm, counting the time change it ended up being a 16hr drive. All the gas stations getting into town were out of gas. We drove around and found one station that was still open and only had premium but at this point any gas was welcoming news. We had full tanks and our 2 cans were full, plenty to cross the border in the morning.

 

[SKT]

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Wow, awesome trip report - thanks for sharing!

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[Deleted member 12951]

A couple of aftermath pics. I seem to still have something rattling around that I can't find. I first thought it was the loose spare tire but that wasn't all of it.

These tires were new before Baja.



Looks like I hit bottom a few times



Scratches, scratches and more desert pinstriping. If you are worried about your paint or don't have a full wrap, do not go to Baja! My paint is ****** so it doesn't matter anymore.




Antenna on roof broke, lot of low hanging branches on the trails we went through. I just said screw it and we drilled another hole.



We hit some silt beds. I've been through some soft sand and been told that silt is completely different and boy is it. I was in 2wd with the rear locked and sport mode traction control. I hit the silt without any warning. ****, silt went everywhere and I couldn't see a damn thing and I could tell that I was starting to sink. All I could do is aim the front of the truck between what look like shadows of cactuses and practically had the pedal to the floor while moving the wheel back and forth to not go in a straight line. Traction control kept kicking in causing me to lose power which is NOT what you want. So while driving and trying not to get stuck, I pressed and held TC and got it turn off. Definitely helped but I knew I needed to get into 4x4 but I was gunning it and my codriver kept yelling "Don't stop!!". I let off the gas anyways and got it into 4x4 and plowed through and we got out. Wow, okay I officially hate silt.

Changed my air filter.



So one of the shock guards came off apparently, spun around and then got jammed up in the adjustment knobs. It was a bitch to get out and I ended up having to pry the knobs off. The bottom of the plastic broke so my shock bottom is beat to hell. The bracket is bent along with the bolt. Will need to get a replacement.





Sock over the reservoir idea worked well, went through 4 socks as the PSS one tends to spray PS fluid out the top of the cap.



My average MPG



My Heftywork transmission skid plate is bent to hell too, think Matomi had something to do to with that. Will have to remove it and see if I can straighten it out.

We crossed the border and the guy asked me what we have been doing in Mexico. I looked at the truck and said "we were having fun!". Guess wrong thing to say, that landed us in secondary inspection. We waited for 30 minutes for inspectors that were in absolutely no hurry. Took a drug sniffing dog around the truck, check the bottom with mirrors even though we went through an extensive xray machine. Had us open all the doors and open the hood. Then they put us in a waiting area and I guess watched us to see how we would react. What seemed to be about 45-60 minutes later they said we were free to go. Even though having fun was the complete honest truth, that is NOT what to say.



Then off for the 22 hour drive home. Total mileage for the trip, 6,101. And I can say, I drove it home after Baja, twice!!
Truck is still baja dirty, think I will keep it like that for a little while.

Still need to find that rattle....

 

[Raven13]

And here I thought TRR was hard on tires! Thanks for sharing your journey!