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Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:14 am

Every body talks about going out to the dunes and deserts in their baja's, but what about mountain trails and rocky areas. How well do baja's fair in those situations.

For me those are closer to me than moab and interest me more than sand.

Sorry, I'm a newb to every thing VW, but I know for certain that baja is the way I'm going.

Thanks for all the info and for such a great website!

Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:23 am

They are great for mountain trails and hardpacked dirt, for sand you would probably need some kind of paddles but ive taken mine through plenty of sand trails and havent gotten stuck, kinda cruised across the sand and it felt like i was floating. I have also been in some very rocky stuff and almost got stuck...Just depends on how much modifying you want to do.

Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:33 am

I would rather thrash on a jeep trail than in the desert any day! We hit up the piute Mtns, or Gorman ORV area....bajas do great in the rocky stuff!! I was climbing stuff my buddy with his lifted cj and lockers couldnt touch!! I rin 31" tires and bus reduction boxes and it make driving the steeps a breeze! (A hot 1776cc motor helps)

Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:48 am

like everyone has said a bug will do very well on mountain trails. But there's also lots of desert near salt lake city. and the dunes are only about 2 hours away.I'm in orem so if you ever want to run around or need some help I'm more than willing. Jsut send me a PM and we can chat.

Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:46 am

Thanks guys, I can't wait until I get started on a baja. I'm starting to reconsider that bus transaxle swap. I could make it more street friendly if I had someone changed the gears in the trans to compensate for the redux's couldn't I? Thats the only thing I don't like about a stock bus transaxle is the lower gearing.

Thanks again for the info guys!

and I'll definately hit you up when I get a beetle to "Improve" upon :lol:

Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:51 am

d_m234 wrote: I could make it more street friendly if I had someone changed the gears in the trans to compensate for the redux's couldn't I? Thats the only thing I don't like about a stock bus transaxle is the lower gearing.
:lol:

Stock bus reduction trans turning a 26" tire is ALOT different that in a baja turning a 31" or 33" tire!!! If you are looking for a daily driver I would suggest running stock (bug)gear ratios. (no bus redux) but if you are like me : the baja really never sees the road, then go with the reduction boxes. If you do go with reduction boxes I highly reccomend you go with some laydown adapters:

Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:19 am

Last weekend I went to the top of Mt. Willard in Ogden (9500ft)
I went with several jeeps, some with lockers, and none went anywhere i couldn't. I even went down some ATV trails that were too narrow for the bigger jeeps to get through. By the end of the trail, no one could follow the baja :D

Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:51 pm

I took this picture of my friend's buggy in Wyoming a few years ago while we were coming back from antelope hunting (see hood). These things do awesome in the mountains! He mainly drives it in the mountains, so he's got the bus reduction boxes and we pretty much go anywhere. Can't wait to fnish mine up!

: Greg

Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:53 pm

Gregorio wrote: I took this picture of my friend's buggy in Wyoming a few years ago while we were coming back from antelope hunting (see hood). These things do awesome in the mountains! He mainly drives it in the mountains, so he's got the bus reduction boxes and we pretty much go anywhere. Can't wait to fnish mine up!

: Greg

That baja looks interesting.....Could we get some close ups?.......... :wink:

Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:14 pm

Nicksan -

Don't have too many pics, but here a two more (the first is a good close up). I'll have some more in a few weeks, heading back to Wyoming for another hunt

I think it's a shortened '65 pan with a stock 1600cc engine, small nut redux boxes, swing axle/link pin, bed for boxes, gear, etc. Mine will be similar, but full length with a thing front beam and small nut gear redux boxes ('66 pan)

:) Enjoy!