BC Hwy 5 San Felipe South to Hwy 1

Dodger; First I would have to figure out how to download from my new Galaxy phone, then upload to the site. Some couple on Expedition Portal had just posted looking for some shock absorber help after going through Coco's in their Sportsmobile. They have as good a picture as any at OurRoadLife.Com. Even their close-up of the chiseled granite doesn't do justice to the stretch south of Coco's with the chiseled granite and the ruts combined. North of Coco's it's pretty much graded sand and gravel with lots of washboards. South is a different story. About 10 miles in either stretch.

An image is good for say between 3-4 PM on a given Sunday. Surely you've been on a rough Mexico road detour...

Add fist-size to shoe sized rocks and you're there...

coloradotallman wrote:
OK, I have now done the road through "Coco's Corner" twice in the past month. Today the Highway south from San Felipe has been opened to KM 170, leaving only about 20 miles of the rough stuff. Going south were a 3500 with truck camper and small sailboat trailer and a 3500 with at least a 25 foot trailer. No semi trailers, although this was 9am on Sunday and they have been reported during the week. Looks like it is do-able although you would shake the shi.. out of your trailer. Air down. There is a llantera at the highway.

Thanks for that update. Do you have any photos you can share? It sounds good and very doable from your description. By the time I go I will have shocks installed on my trailer which will help alot with the rough terrain.

Please post any pics you may have

Thanks again.

OK, I have now done the road through "Coco's Corner" twice in the past month. Today the Highway south from San Felipe has been opened to KM 170, leaving only about 20 miles of the rough stuff. Going south were a 3500 with truck camper and small sailboat trailer and a 3500 with at least a 25 foot trailer. No semi trailers, although this was 9am on Sunday and they have been reported during the week. Looks like it is do-able although you would shake the shi.. out of your trailer. Air down. There is a llantera at the highway.

An Update ....I have been scouring the internet for images and posts about the condition of this road south of San Felipe and I get a mostly positive picture with a general consensus that the last 50 miles is the part one has to worry about.

I have gathered a fair number of images and if their headings can be believed as to the location they were taken in then I see quite a few RV's of many sizes in those photos. Including one guy with a huge truck camper and a trailer.

My trailer has a very high clearance as does my Dodge 4x4. So what I have seen so far is encouraging.

If anyone has any specific photos of the road south please post them.

Thanks.

"IT IS SAID..."

There is a stretch on the Chapala end that needs low tire pressure, slow and careful driving, and patience.

My toad is too low because of the transmission oil pan height from the road to use this brecha as it exists today. But the clearance of this car is miniscule anyway so it is a matter of perspective.

I have heard big rigs are now shortcutting and using this route. The bypassing of the stretch from Chapala to the border through Tijuana is awful tempting. I-8 is wonderful between El Centro and San Diego.

The road comes out at Chapala. Talking to a buddy a few weeks back, he did it a few months ago and you have about 50KM of rough road to do. He just airs down his tires. He has a 2WD 1/2 ton something or other. Completion date is supposed to be something like 2016/2017.

Check the Baja Nomads Fourm, there are photos and the info is kept up to date, as things seem to change as it is Mexico. DavidK has many photos and maps of the area, some of the posters are a little cranky at times, but some really good info. JH :)

I drive it in a 15 passenger van no problem.

I have photos but this forum is so weird about the way it handles photos (old tech) and sites I don't post them here, I have a website that has the photos but when I post it here they delete it because they think it's commercial.....PM me and I will get you a list of sites to view. Hopefully the admins of this site will update it to the new tech and make it easier to share, right now, not so much!