Annual Baja Rally ~ Feb. 2024

[Syncronoid]

Bety and son.

[0to60in6min]

Here we were at Camp Archelon a few years ago...

x

and touching the whales

[fxr]

It's cheaper than a tow...

So when we got to Mulege (Don Chano's), I got under the van to investigate why we had loud 'clonks' when going over severe potholes. I discovered this:

The lower left front shock bolt had vanished! Now I was the last one to touch that when I replaced the springs, but I can remember torquing it up. Regardless, it was missing. I needed an M14 x 100 bolt to replace it. The first hardware store in Mulege had no metric bolts at all, the second only went up to M12. Now I had an M12 bolt of the right size on the van already - an almost redundant bolt on the front bumper:

And that did the trick, and lasted the next 2,500 miles until we got home.

We also noticed some 'drumming' sounds at speed - just like you get on some roads - but this would be constant regardless of road surface. Eventually, on the way home going up I5 it got worse and worse. Ioverlander suggested a campsite just off I5, but the only review was from 2019. We hoped it'd be open - and as we made our way the last few miles on a side road the drumming became a clanking - but only with power applied, not when coasting or slowing down. Aha! a CV joint had just died.

This is where I truly thank TheSamba, as I knew that by swapping the axles from side to side the thrust would now be on the 'quiet' side of the CV joint.

Above is me removing the LHS axle - in doing this I realised I didn't need to take the wheel off and have Mrs fxr put the handbrake on and off, but just chocking the wheel would work just as well.

Four hours later (two in the evening, two in the morning) the axles were swapped, and we zoomed home with zero drumming and vibrations. The van was quieter than it'd been for some time, so that CV joint (maybe two) had been deteriorating for ages. Two split boots and Baja sand and grit can't have helped.

All in all though, despite a buggered back (saw the Chiropractor this morning) it was far cheaper than a 300 mile tow.

Oh, the Gowesty scissor jack's thrust bearing gave up the ghost in the process, luckily on the last lift just as it reached the right height. A Hi-Lift is in our van's future.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[Corwyn]

As the next trip approaches, I'm keeping an eye on the safety conditions in Baja California and Baja California Sur and will make the decision to cross or not, when I am/we are at Potrero County Park. Personally, I feel very safe in Mexico and even went down uninnoculated (sp?) twice during COVID season. That being said, it's more about my companions . . .

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/travela...California

Hope to see you there!
_________________
'90 White Westy ("Knarr")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[fxr]

We're very unlikely to go to Baja next year - other plans are afoot. I thoroughly recommend this trip though, especially for those who haven't put their toe in Baja waters before.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[Corwyn]

[gbrandt]

We'll be down there already. I'll keep an eye on this thread to see if we can meet up somewhere.

Gregor
_________________
'Lucky' our 1987 Red Westy, ASV 1.9 TDI ~130HP, Peloquin differential (had a GW 2.3 that we loved, but it died, we drove it hard!)
We've driven in 49 countries and 5 continents to date
Canada to Argentina and back, 2015 to 2017.
Canada to Europe and back (including Turkey, Morocco and Iceland), 2017 to 2019
Mexico 2022-2023
https://www.instagram.com/live.travel.play/
http://livetravelplay.ca

[envirogisgirl]

This sounds like a perfect opportunity to for me. Now to be running and ready by then! Luckily I think most camping gear will transfer from my Jeep or tiny Kwick Kamper moto trailer over. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. Is there a way to flag a thread?... Thanks!

[Corwyn]

We'll be gathering at Potrero County Campground, about 60 miles east of SD on the 3d and 4th. I hope to see you there!
_________________
'90 White Westy ("Knarr")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[gbrandt]

[dobryan]

[Corwyn]

For those considering the trip, here is a link to Potrero County Park, where we gather before crossing:
https://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/Potrero.html

I recommend making a reservation as this place can fill up with southbound RV caravans in February. I have already reserved space 1 for 3 and 4 February.

_________________
'90 White Westy ("Knarr")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Energy Concepts]

[quote="Corwyn"]For those considering the trip,
here is a link to Potrero County Park,
where we gather before crossing:
I recommend making a reservation as this place
can fill up with southbound RV caravans in February.
I have already reserved space 1 for 3 and 4 February.

Reserved # 18 !
I'm Jazzed !
See ya all soon!
JC...

[Corwyn]

Try calling the park and making a reservation directly.
_________________
'90 White Westy ("Knarr")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Energy Concepts]

Hi All,
How did the CB Radios work out last year?
(thinking about adding one ;o)
JC...

update:
My Temporary CB Installation
for communication on the Baja
I just built a wooden box to slip into the
Ash Tray hole, as a mount.
And a Cig plug for power
Antenna mounted on rain gutter

"Breaker 1 - 9 good buddy"!
"I'm on the Trans-peninsular Highway"
" I'm on the 1" "I'm on the 5!"
"bye bye,! bye bye !!!

[mtnhome]

Looks like I'm going to try to make this happen, just booked Site 3 for the 4th.
_________________
'84 Westy, '93 Subaru ej22 and Subarugears 5speed
Build thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=763098&highlight=

[Energy Concepts]

[Energy Concepts]

&&& If'n Yer on the Fence Compadres ;
Just Remember this:

[mtnhome]

[MarkWard]

Hello, to clarify, Feb 3 and 4, 2023? How many days in Mexico? 2wd ok? We’d be coming from South Florida. Thanks
_________________
☮️