How bad, really?

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I got the same concerns from my in-laws regarding the homicides in TJ, Juarez, Nuevo Loreto, etc. when I was about to take the family to Gonzaga Bay....

I pulled up statistics from Dallas (where the in-laws live) and reports about crime in Gonzaga...guess which place was hundreds of times more dangerous...hint...no es Baja.

BajaSurf hit the nail on the head. Don't be an ugly American and avoid the areas that are known for crime and violence. Heck, I won't go wandering around certain parts of Phoenix at 2am!

As for RHD, I didn't overtake too much in my Troopy, but it was handy to have a passenger as lookout. As for diesel, I never had issues with either quality or availability; however, I did make sure to fill the tank when I got a chance, especially for longer sections.

-H-
 
Hltoppr said:
As for diesel, I never had issues with either quality or availability; however, I did make sure to fill the tank when I got a chance, especially for longer sections.

-H-
Click to expand...

Absolutely. These days the longest section without fuel on the main road is between Guerrero Negro and El Rosario.

cheers,
J
 
As a whole who really is interested in visiting the trouble areas anyway(unless you have fam or need your teeth worked on for CHEAP).. though there are some really good tacos in Tj, it smells there, and Jaurez, well yeah, its bad there. all those points were well made.. 'HLtopper', Jan-78FJ40, RufusTheDufus.

The dog thing for Brecken. Any dog you have will be an amount of protection. Even if its a baby that submits to your cat, the guy poking around your car doesn't know that. (not that im saying that will happen). It will make you feel better and your dog will have a blast NO LEASH LAW! And you dont have to pick up after it.. (you just wont get funny looks if you don't)

Not sure if it was mentioned before, but the cell coverage is great until after San Quintin, and spotty unless your around any amount of infrastructure. When you hit La Paz all the way to San Jose i know for a fact its 3G, (just watch your usage).

Oh and the bribe thing you can almost always get away without paying or getting your license taken away.. If for some reason you get a stickler and you feel thats its just been because you were a victim of profiling, ask for his name and badge number. And that, usually they dont like. That or if its in a public place start speaking over the top of your voice "that you cant Believe he's asking for a MORDIDA..) But let me clarify this has never happened to me i've never been pulled over in baja Sur. These are only the stories that people like to tell because they were able realize the situation was ridiculous and the cop just wanted money for lunch.

I have only had friends take the ferry across and have never heard anything Negative.. Again assuming your not Stupid, and Not a wanted cartel member, or transporting illegal goods, drugs, guns etc.. I have heard its safe and you have a choice of various amenities nice/ economical rooms. Though the prices add up if your taking your car and however many you have with you including dogs.. Just google "Baja ferries" and press the 'English' link..

also for EOE_overland, i heard it cheaper then the one from Mazatlan.. but same overall.


Anyone who wants to do the Baja should and they wont regret it.. But if your a little to fearful when you cross the border, don't be, Cause there new border control can smell it.

Im just kidding, But seriously.
 
only time I've been shaken down was in a govt office of all places, where i needed to get some permit to take the ferry. Forgot what the permit part was, something to do with bringing the van to the mainland from baja. Needed some registration bit.
 
BajaSurF said:
The dog thing for Brecken. Any dog you have will be an amount of protection.
Click to expand...

We're bringing our two pit bulls. One makes a lot of noise, bares her teeth, etc. and is completely harmless. (She's more likely to hump you than bite you.) The other one makes no noise and will ruin your day if you open the car door or reach in and invade his space. They both love the Cruisers and get pissed at us if we start one up and they aren't in the car with us.

I'm a little worried about the Army checkpoints with the dogs. We're brushing up on our Spanish to be able to clearly state that the dogs need to come out of the vehicle with us if the Army guys need to inspect our vehicle. We're planning to keep plenty of cold cans of Coke handy so they can have a refreshment while digging through our stuff.
 
e9999 said:
only time I've been shaken down was in a govt office of all places, where i needed to get some permit to take the ferry. Forgot what the permit part was, something to do with bringing the van to the mainland from baja. Needed some registration bit.
Click to expand...

The Baja is a free zone for car registration.. Anywhere past the border towns on the mainland, and you plan to go past the border areas, You need to pick up the registration at the office that you get your visa at, and they will give you a sticker to put on your windshield, its like a visa for your car..

And if your coming from the Baja to Mainland.. i can see where that will get tricky being your coming from a free zone where its not necessary or might not even know about it..

On the way out of Mexico i recommend you get it removed and they'll put that in to there system (yes theres a system) cause if you dont cancel it out.. the next time you get your car registered and it gets put into there system they wouldn't know that you didnt live in mexcio and assume you might've been driving on an expired registration. and try to give you a fine.. If you think it will expire (180 Days) before you come in again. Just cancel it out.

i didnt know you had to cancel it on the way out. they were understanding, being the dumb gringo, trying to figure it out. and gave me a freebie..

It might seem monotonous but thats the arrangement in place for foreign cars and drivers.
 
RufusTheDufus said:
I'm a little worried about the Army checkpoints with the dogs. We're brushing up on our Spanish to be able to clearly state that the dogs need to come out of the vehicle with us if the Army guys need to inspect our vehicle. We're planning to keep plenty of cold cans of Coke handy so they can have a refreshment while digging through our stuff.
Click to expand...

The army checkpoints on the way down are pretty lax.. last time we made the drive not one asked us to exit the vehicle they ask where are you going.. and past us along.. and we had both our Belgians.. i was thinking they were scared of them didnt want to mess with our bad mojo's..

BUT. on the way up.. Every single stop. "turn off the engine exit the vehicle" didnt care if we had Mr. Hyde in the trunk.. had the leashes on them and just took a pee break with the dogs while they did there thing in the car.. ended up just leaving the leashes on.. all the way up.. but its legit id leave my goods right there in the mid console wallet phone ipod camera.. didnt even touch it...

so bien para y

good to go.
 
Several years back I got pulled over for an illegal turn on a motorcycle in Hermosillo...and since my buddy and I were trying to make time, we tried to "pay the fine" directly to the officer right there and then...

He'd have none of it! We had to follow him to the station, where we got to pay the fine and now have a nice ticket receipt to remember the event! Afterwards the same officer was kind enough to give us an escort so we could find our way. :grinpimp:

So much for a bribe....
 
You guys are awesome. I guess I better get cracking on my projects to get the car is shape for the trip... Think I can rebuild an engine/trans/trans before christmas?

BTW... for the budgeting purposes, how much is Diesel running now?
 
BreckenridgeCruiser said:
You guys are awesome. I guess I better get cracking on my projects to get the car is shape for the trip... Think I can rebuild an engine/trans/trans before christmas?

BTW... for the budgeting purposes, how much is Diesel running now?
Click to expand...

Much cheaper in Mexico than in the US. Last time it was at 2.30 a gallon, don't know right now.

I could not rebuild an engine, tranny and trans before christmas, and would not take an untested combination down there, but then, I work full time :D

cheers,
J
 
Yeah... that's an issue. Devil I know vs. devil I don't...

My engine has a HG issue and I just started hearing a bit of grnding in either the transfer case or the rear diff...

Either way, this may all end up being academic if I can't get my rig up to snuff in time...

I work full time, but I get to pick when... May give it the old college try!

K
 
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