LCXC 2018: Baja!

[Taco2Cruiser]

I’m interested. New career next year so maybe I’ll be able to do things like this. I won’t be able to make a determination till pretty close to the trip, whenever and wherever that is. Hell, I coined the “LCXC” name, I need to start living the dream!

 

[indycole]

Wife and I were chatting about this last night and tossed out Big Bend. I’d always be in for Baja as well.

 

[TonyP]

Looks like it's happening again.

Now all I need is a Land Cruiser...

@Mogwai You in?

@Atwalz I'll take your 80, you take the 200. Problem solved...

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Wife and I were chatting about this last night and tossed out Big Bend. I’d always be in for Baja as well.

Oh please no Big Bend, only because I grew up there... I know I’m being selfish.

If you want desert, I recommend the generally unknown off road trails across northern Grand Canyon rim. Then I could take you’all into the Gala NF.

 

[Roy Park]

Oh please no Big Bend, only because I grew up there... I know I’m being selfish.

If you want desert, I recommend the generally unknown off road trails across northern Grand Canyon rim. Then I could take you’all into the Gala NF.

North Rim to Lake Powell to Grand Staircase/Escalante would be a fun trip.

 

[indycole]

Oh please no Big Bend, only because I grew up there... I know I’m being selfish.

If you want desert, I recommend the generally unknown off road trails across northern Grand Canyon rim. Then I could take you’all into the Gala NF.

Hah! The good news is there’s no shortage of amazing places so let’s definitely do something that everyone’s excited about. It’s just been a while since we’ve done BB. It’s one of the most underrated National and State Parks in my opinion.

 

[mcgaskins]

I’d definitely be interested in a trip this year if it was not Mexico. Don’t want to open the can of worms discussion, but I just don’t have a desire to contend with the safety factor. I know many people here have done many safe trips south of the border, but I’ve done Mexico a couple times and unless it was for an official sanctioned race event like the Baja 1000 it isn’t for me any more.

The desert SW is an amazing place to explore in the spring time with near perfect weather and low crowds, and BB sounds cool too. Anything in the CO or Rockies area will have snow to contend with until late in the summer, but there are a ton of places to explore in the US in the spring.

 

[TonyP]

Understandable.

That said, I can safely I never felt even remotely unsafe on our trip. Aside from the Margaritas the dude was piling us this beach bar. Those were unsafe for another reason.

 

[Union]

So i read the first 4 or so pages thinking this trip was coming up in a few months....
Got so excited, I doubt the man would let me go OCONUS so naturally I'm inclined to favor the stateside stuff.

 

[Markuson]

My family was freaked out by the Mexican Outback thing, and it’s true that there can be bad guys. But as Tony said...we had no problems as far as security. We had 4 or 5 trucks (one driver was only there part of the time) and although we were stopped/searched over and over by military checkpoints, we were otherwise fine.

Doesn’t mean baddies couldn’t have popped up. But we were fine, and I never felt I was in danger.

Understandable that Mexico wilds make people nervous though.

My main gripe about Mexico is what can happen when things go wrong. -Injury accidents, arrests, etc. -That’s where corruption can kick in and then all bets are off. On the other hand, my family survived drug lords and rebels in the boonies of Colombia for 15 years. Baja was fine.

I would absolutely go again.

If we do go again, we know what not to do upon entry.

I’d kinda like to try making good time getting to the bottom of the peninsula and then meandering back.

By far the most fun driving was through the middle terrain through crazy cactus and other bizarre growth.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

So i read the first 4 or so pages thinking this trip was coming up in a few months....
Got so excited, I doubt the man would let me go OCONUS so naturally I'm inclined to favor the stateside stuff.

You’re good for Baja, just not the mainland of Mexico, if you submit early enough. But agree that stateside is easier. But I’ll say this, and this comes from someone who worked in this arena. Baja is far safer than west of Big Bend in spring time.

I’m inclined to want stateside because I’m going to be in North Carolina. So travel time is probably either going to be long... or really long for me.

 

[Markuson]

If I do mainland Mexico, it will be en route (quickly) to Central America and south.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

If I do mainland Mexico, it will be en route (quickly) to Central America and south.

Absolutely, in fact, it may be better to just have the trucks shipped to Columbia. That’s a trip I have planned for a few years from now.

I’m kinda getting excited for a South West Arizona, New Mexico, hell maybe even southern Utah expedition roaming driveathon. Mark I’m gonna need a lot of jerry cans to hang with you and that auxiliary tank.

 

[Markuson]

Absolutely, in fact, it may be better to just have the trucks shipped to Columbia. That’s a trip I have planned for a few years from now.

I’m kinda getting excited for a South West Arizona, New Mexico, hell maybe even southern Utah expedition roaming driveathon. Mark I’m gonna need a lot of jerry cans to hang with you and that auxiliary tank.

I’ve wanted to return to Colombia for 40 years...and to make it to my old home, which would mean an amazing drive through the Andes south of Bogota to Villavicencio, then south to the total boonies. Amazing terrain down there.

And ya, the tank really is nice. If it’s just me (no passenger), I can bring water inside and throw another 19 gallons on the back for a total of 67.6 gallons! And ya I know...guys with the 49 could do 81.6, but my butt is nicely tucked.

 

[Markuson]

Random super-long-range fuel thot-

It recently dawned on me (DUH!) that my aversion to weight on my roof could actually be no big deal (for fuel only) if I simply dump roof cans into my tank early on in the trek and put them back up there...so that Rotopax or whatever would basically have almost no COG effect as the trip continues.

Usually it’s a ways into the trip before tippy stuff hits anyway.

With this thought, I’m more glad than ever that I went with the high and tight 24 vs the 40.

 

[indycole]

Among the group maybe we should consider a utility trailer for hauling gas, spares, firewood...

Not necessary at all but may help out a bit.

 

[Markuson]

I hope we could do without a trailer. Think I’d rather tote extra fuel for others before that.

I’m still planning on adding an OUT for my 2nd tank to enable sharing fuel in a pinch. Maybe when u do your larger tank, that could be considered. Personally I would hate pulling a trailer unless in a day-run area like Moab, etc. Firewood... Man those logs you had were pretty awesome. Been using them since.

We’re gonna do a little desert campin thing next weekend and will be toting a couple of those per night.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

I think, and just thinking here, it’s what the group really wants that matters.

LCXC should be planned to accommodate the factory fuel range, and that way we don’t alienate anyone from joining. Now that still means mean we push factory range to the brink, and that it is required to have at least spare portable can (jerry/Scepter/rotopax) of fuel for a bad day of excessive idleing. But we don’t make trips that requires double range.

But... every vehicle needs to be self sufficient and ready to take care of themselves. That way we don’t put all our eggs in one or two “Sherpa” trucks (trucks that carry extra gear for the group) because if those go down, we have other issues.

I only say that because we are all taking the same truck. If LCXC had a couple of tundras, ok, Sherpa trucks make sense, and it would be awesome to do that. But just a bunch of 200s, we don’t really have the resources to make a couple of them carry 200 gallons of fuel and almost a thousand pounds of water, food, and camp supplies.

 

[T4Runner]

I’m still planning on adding an OUT for my 2nd tank to enable sharing fuel in a pinch.

I think carrying a super siphon is tantamount to keeping jumper cables in every vehicle (whether off road or on pavement). It’s also likely less expensive, less of a hassle, and less of a liability than turning your rig into a gas station on wheels — tho it’s a cool idea...

 

[Markuson]

I do like super siphons and have one on hand.

But ever try siphoning from a low-mounted sub-tank to a buddy’s high stock tank?

No worky.

And not wanting to tote a transfer can if I can help it.