Truck Recomendations

[cris]

Man that picture is one of my dreams

[taggermike]

You don't need a full sized truck to pull a small boat. But a full sized bed is nice for carry yaks n small boats.

I'll drop a thought that others have not mentioned. Baja can be brutal on trucks. Auto accidents, crappy roads, hitting live stock, possibly losing a truck to Mexican law enforcement, and the strangely common fate of getting stuck in the sand with a rising tide.

A buddy of mine had an amazing Sports Mobile custom 4x4 camper van. It didn't break his bank but he found he was feeling anxious about the value of the vehicle. He sold it and got a older dodge 4x4 diesel truck. Thing runs like a top but is ugly as shit with dents, Bondo, and mismatch body panels. It can go any where, tow any thing, parts are available in Baja, and we never attract unwanted attention from law enforcement.

His logic of getting this truck was that if some thing bad happened he could grab his ID, a few valuables, and walk away from it w/o being our a bunch for and broken hearted.

This might not apply to you if you're mostly in the US. But when I see guys in Baja with epic trucks that they still owe 50k on I wonder how they'd handle abandoning it. Mike

[Mr_Fixit]

Originally Posted by taggermike

You don't need a full sized truck to pull a small boat. But a full sized bed is nice for carry yaks n small boats.

I'll drop a thought that others have not mentioned. Baja can be brutal on trucks. Auto accidents, crappy roads, hitting live stock, possibly losing a truck to Mexican law enforcement, and the strangely common fate of getting stuck in the sand with a rising tide.

A buddy of mine had an amazing Sports Mobile custom 4x4 camper van. It didn't break his bank but he found he was feeling anxious about the value of the vehicle. He sold it and got a older dodge 4x4 diesel truck. Thing runs like a top but is ugly as shit with dents, Bondo, and mismatch body panels. It can go any where, tow any thing, parts are available in Baja, and we never attract unwanted attention from law enforcement.

His logic of getting this truck was that if some thing bad happened he could grab his ID, a few valuables, and walk away from it w/o being our a bunch for and broken hearted.

This might not apply to you if you're mostly in the US. But when I see guys in Baja with epic trucks that they still owe 50k on I wonder how they'd handle abandoning it. Mike

You noted precisely why I HATE going to Mexico.

[makobob]

Looking at the boat you want to pull, you might just need a full sized truck. Not really to tow it but to STOP it safely in a tight spot. As far as Mexico goes, YOUR attitude is EVERYTHING. If you need SAFE traveling hints for Baja pm me, I'll be glad to help you in the right direction. Tight Lines and good hunting for your truck.

Originally Posted by Mr_Fixit

You noted precisely why I HATE going to Mexico.

[YakDout]

Originally Posted by taggermike

You don't need a full sized truck to pull a small boat. But a full sized bed is nice for carry yaks n small boats.



I'll drop a thought that others have not mentioned. Baja can be brutal on trucks. Auto accidents, crappy roads, hitting live stock, possibly losing a truck to Mexican law enforcement, and the strangely common fate of getting stuck in the sand with a rising tide.



A buddy of mine had an amazing Sports Mobile custom 4x4 camper van. It didn't break his bank but he found he was feeling anxious about the value of the vehicle. He sold it and got a older dodge 4x4 diesel truck. Thing runs like a top but is ugly as shit with dents, Bondo, and mismatch body panels. It can go any where, tow any thing, parts are available in Baja, and we never attract unwanted attention from law enforcement.



His logic of getting this truck was that if some thing bad happened he could grab his ID, a few valuables, and walk away from it w/o being our a bunch for and broken hearted.



This might not apply to you if you're mostly in the US. But when I see guys in Baja with epic trucks that they still owe 50k on I wonder how they'd handle abandoning it. Mike

I insure my truck every time I go to mexico. I pay roughly $100 for full coverage and insures my truck up to 25k. At minimum you need liability down there. You dont want to get caught up in a accident down there without that, so you have to get some type of insurance anyway.

Here is a frequently asked question straight from baja bound website where I get my policy. Read the first sentence of number 9.

[Mr. NiceGuy]

MB Sprinter

The short wheel base of the two options is long enough to slide my Outback kayak inside with ease. I think it's about 20' bumper to bumper. The extended chassis is a few feet longer if you want more cargo area for something bigger. Get a tow package if you want to pull a trailer. I wouldn't be without one. Available with windows as a crew cab or passenger van.

The 4x4 sits higher than the 2WD, so I may or may not choose the low roof configuration for myself. I'm adding a small shower and toilet, then re-registering from commercial van to a personal motorhome for lower yearly fees, lower insurance, and camping convenience. The toilet and shower I use in my Chevy Express van now are modular and portable, so there's no need for installation, tanks, etc.

I've driven trucks all my life prior to my current Chevy Express 3500 passenger van. I like the additional cargo space of a van. I like the convenience of locking everything inside rather than the more limited space available under a shell for a truck. I like the lower loading point through the back doors, compared to a truck.

This particular photo looks like it has dulies in the rear. That's overkill unless you plan on carrying a very heavy payload. I would choose single wheels with good all terrain tires.