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Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:47 pm

ok guys i need some help. im lookin for some vids of bajas out doin some of those 4x4's.

also what do u guys do better off roading than the 4x4's? i know bajas cant do rock crawling.

thanks
andrew

Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:51 pm

Your talking apples and oranges. Sure, theyre both offroad vehicles but Bajas are more of a prerunner style or trail riding offroad vehicle. 4x4`s are for all kinds of offroad riding.

Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:56 pm

Nicksan wrote: Your talking apples and oranges. Sure, theyre both offroad vehicles but Bajas are more of a prerunner style or trail riding offroad vehicle. 4x4`s are for all kinds of offroad riding.

ya ya got a point kinda hard to compare,

warning dumb question whats a prerunner?

Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:40 pm

Trucks or buggies or any vehicle designed for fast offroad driving or racing like these:

http://www.dillonmotorsports.com/dms%20redone/mdr_lucerne%20250_2005/index.htm

Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:36 pm

pre-runners are typically built to Pre Run a desert race course and find any potential hazards before taking out the real race car. these cars/turcks are generally not built to any specific racing class rules like their competitive counterparts.

Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:10 pm

it's real simple. a vehicle's ability to go anywhere is only limited by traction, power, ground clearance, center of gravity and approach/departure angles.
so can a baja or buggy go everywhere a 4x4 can go?
no.
but not ALL 4x4s can go where a 4x4 can go. a well prepared CJ/YJ/TJ, Land cruiser or defender can be a great rock machine... but you couldn't do the same thing with a ford excursion or chevy suburban.

Ask any hard-core 4x4 driver how often his vehicle is in 4x4 mode, and the answer will likely be less than 20% of the time.

because of the rear engine design, there are some inherent advantages to the vw platform. with a little thought, a bit of work, and some driving skill, your vw can go just about every place any 4x4 can go. with a LOT of work, a LOT of thought, and a LOT of skill, you can go EVERY place ANY 4x4 can go.... but the reality is, how often do you go bogging or rock-crawling?

Don't sell your vw short. and keep a tow rope handy to assist overconfident jeep drivers.

Sun Mar 27, 2005 5:11 pm

The biggest place where a baja will out do a 4x4 is often found in ones checkbook :wink:

Also, it is extremely fun to track down a 4x4 on a stretch of trail or open desert and pass them like they are going backwards.

SHMO

Sun Mar 27, 2005 6:11 pm

Hiya Guys, Check out this 4X4 clubs website. www.4wheelnoffroad.com. Us baja guys here have been to most of the places(ghost towns) they have. We don't need no stinkin 4X4 :lol: Enjoy, Ol' John

Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:45 pm

Its always funny when you have to walk down the hill to ask a 4x4 for little tug and they cannot make it even close to the point that your baja is at.

Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:03 pm

I hate to tell you this,but you haven't found the right 4x4s! I am not a rock hound,or a mud runner,or a sand runner, but I do all of that and much ,much more.I have a class 11 baja bug,and a regular baja bug and I know what they can do! But I also know not to stop and then expect to move again in the really deep stuff. I have a 79 F350 4x4 and an 88 Suzuki Samurai that will go just about anywhere I want to go.I really like my bajas....and my 4x4s.It all depends what I feel like driving at the time,and where I want to go! But I CANT STAND CHEVYs !

Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:41 am

huh huh...

Cant stand chevys...

Wheres calvin? :lol:

Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:02 pm

If you want to go anywhere get a dirt bike, then a Quad, a Jeep 4x4 and then a Baja - in that order. I have at least one of each. Full size 4x4s make great tow vehicles - I had a 24v Cummins Dodge 4x4 and damn that thing could tow stuff into really rediculously nasty places. I love my Baja and it goes lots of places but my Jeep can go to more. A Baja can go faster than my Jeep over most terrain but when it gets really slippery and steep my Jeep keeps going when the Baja's are forced to stop. We were out at Ocottio Wells a while ago when there were flash floods and a bunch of rain which resulted in quite a bit of mud and off-camber ruts. The guys driving Baja couldn't keep em going straight and a few slipped into ruts. My Jeep just kept going. One guy had a Big Chevy 4X4 and had to turnaround because it got too tight and twisty. When we hit the whoops or the rough trails the Baja's were long gone.

Remember each tool has it's purpose. The fun is picking the right one for the right job. I personally want a full tool bag. :D

Desert Bob

Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:13 pm

hmmm, maybe a 4x4 baja based on a jeep........ the best of both worlds.

Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:06 pm

One of your problems was you were in a jeep! I belong to a off road club down here and we have all kinds of 4x4s,more jeeps than any other kind.They all try to follow me in my Samurai, and as of last weekend none can! The second problem is you were in a chevy! What my 79 F350 can't fit through it goes over! All kidding aside, your right, it is the tool and how it is used that matters! :)

Sun Apr 03, 2005 5:18 pm

Yep,

that "tool" analogy pretty much sums it up.

SHMO

Sun Apr 03, 2005 5:43 pm

Nope! Baja`s rule. Everything else Sucks! :wink:

Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:08 pm

I agree a 100% with Nicksan. I used to have a baja years ago and couldn't find any truck or jeep that could keep up with me. Whether I was playing in deep ruts or hill climbing. There is really no comparison between vw's and 4x4's, The four wheel and offroad shows won't even let us compete in there shows any more due making them look bad. The huge difference is cost, When we do break something, It doesn't cost us 5000k to fix, And a chopper to get it out of the woods. I have a woods rail now and all my buddy's are former 4x4 freak's. Everyone of them swear's they will never get another truck now that they see what a rail can do @ fraction of the cost. I could go on and on about how 4x4 are average @ best but everybody already knows it or is in denile. Next time your out in the woods and it starts to rain, Watchem all scramble to get em back to there trailers. I appoligize if I'v offended any 4x4 buffs out there ,but until I see one keep up with a rail in the woods It's hard to respect them.

Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:37 pm

Fgrir,

Keep in mind I am definitely a Baja’r first and foremost, and I don’t intend to sound sarcastic. However, I have also fabricated a few purpose built 4x4 machines so I feel I have a good working knowledge of both vehicles.

With that said, I am here to TELL YOU that there are places a Baja can't compete with a 4x4, namely the places you mentioned in your post. Now, I am sure everyone has seen a Baja whoop up on a truck in a little mud puddle or some slippery hill once or twice. But, if you’re comparing true enthusiast vehicles, there is no comparison to which one can cover rougher or more slippery terrain. A Baja will not run with a lifted truck running huge mudders, lockers and a big block. Not in the deep mud it won’t! The same holds true for a rock crawler type 4x4 with sliders, major articulation, radical approach angles and ultra low gearing. It is just not a fair comparison. If your personal Baja could outperform a 4x4 in these arenas, you had a very special Baja bug…haha

As for the 4x4 guys heading for the trailers when it starts to rain, well….haha….I dunno what to say about that. Maybe your should have compared your Baja to a different group of off roaders.

SHMO

Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:09 pm

You guys know I was just kidding, right :?:

Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:59 am

SHMO,

I will agree 100% on the rock crawler thing, That stuff they do is incredible. I don't think any vw can ever matchem in that arena. My baja days where about 20 years ago, and no I couldn't go though deeper holes than they could but I could always find faster and funner ways to the same destination. Thats my main point, These guys spend ungodly amounts of money to go through a mud puddle, And everytime I see a group of them there working on something. I guess to each his own, But me and my railing buddies spend most of our time riding. With regards to rain, Last time out we ran into 3 4x4's in the woods.The first one couldn't make it up a slightly wet bunny hill and starting having engine trouble after multiple attempts. One of his friends got stuck at the bottom trying to go up a different hill (none of these hills were tough,even wet). The third in the group was a healty looking land cruiser, While turning around on the top of the hill so he could pull his friend he snapped his axle. Is that the typical kind of day that a 4 wheeler should expect when he goes out?