going to baja... home made rack and bed cover thread

[rwright07]

me and a friend are planning on driving south to baja from WA in june and we are thinking about making a bed cover and a safari rack for my 85 k5. we would like to leave the hard top at home and go down with our valuables under a cover bolted to the bed rails using the hardtop bolt locations. we are trying to determine which materials to use... keeping cost in mind as we are seniors in high school with VERy limited income.

we also are trying to build (likely get built for us) a safari rack that also utilizes the stock hardtop bolt locations and will clear the hardtop. we are currently thinking of building (or having built) a frame using 1.5" .120" wall HREW tubing. 2 or 3 hoops welded to plate to be bolted into the hardtop bolt locations.

any thoughts or comments would be awesome. if there is anyone close who sees this who could help us either build these or help us come by the materials for less would be greatly appreciated.

thanks rick


i will keep this thread updated with pictures and ideas as my thoughts and the build progresses.

 

[rwright07]

we are thinking of using aluminum diamond plate w. supportive understructure bolted to it, expanded steel with supportive frame and lexan? underneath for watertightness, or something else.

any pictures of either a bed cover or a custom built safari rack of similar design would be AWESOME

rick

 

[rwright07]

no one has insights?

 

[dremu]

I would consider something like a locking toolbox, a Weatherguard or Knaack-style box, bolted to the bed, for security.

Then your tonneau thing need only keep out the elements and not angered Pancho Villa look-a-likes.

-- A

 

[marv_springer]

me and a friend are planning on driving south to baja from WA.

I too have been wanting to do a Baja trip. How far South you gonna go?

I'm not sure a gas guzzling K5 would be my rig of choice tho. Is it still difficult to get gas along the way...?

Marv

 

[ntsqd]

Wer eit me I'd leave the top on. I know & understand why you'd want to take it off and I'd still leave it on.

Pemex is reasonably common along the major roads & in the larger towns at the end of dead end paved road (SF, BOLA, etc). It's the back country that will have you buying out of a bunch of jerry cans (San Juanico etc.). Should KNOW your range over a variety of road conditions, and NEVER pass a remote Pemex station w/o topping off.

I hope you have at least one other vehicle going with you. The larger the group, the less likely you are to meet the banditos.

 

[Metrodps]

The larger the group, the less likely you are to meet the banditos.

Hide your Frito's too!

Senior we have petrol! Please turn dis way!

 

[juanblzer]

check this website out:
look under baja pics
you'll notice that every truck Randy takes to Baja has a top/windows/doors. www.randyellisdesign.com
This is because inclement weather is not uncommon. If you need to walk for help you can secure your stuff a little easier and you can sleep inside the blazer if you have to (rain, local street, drinking frenzy without a hotel).

Mount some jerry cans to that spare tire carrier (the NATO cans not the blitz brand). Build a roof rack and carry at least two spares. Try not to drive at nite. Know what your ride's weakpoints are and how to fix them. Bring a spare everything but stay sensible. Check out
www.scorpionbay.net this is a cool little place (san juanico is discussed earlier in this thread).

Theft happens in mexico. Last time I went, my drivers side harness belts were snatched from my truck at the hotel. The steering wheel is removable though so the truck was a little harder to steal.

Baja is the place to adventure though. SOme places are very americanized and others are straight out of a Pancho Villa flick. Watch your back, dont take guns EVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR, and have a blast (take lots of pictures and bring stickers to give the federales and locals everytime you stop. Porn mags are also easy bartering chips (straight only though unless you want to be labeled a "joto")

 

[juanblzer]

i just read a book about a group of guys and gals that drove from washington or oregon and surfed all the way down the west coast and all the way to Cabo San lucas (the end of baja peninsula). They ran biodiesel in a f350 crewcab and still had some troubles (eventually even running straight vegetable oil). I'll see if I can remember the title.

 

[juanblzer]

It's called "Bend to Baja" you can buy it used on amazon.com
also check out the book titled "In Search of Captain Zero" if you want some real stories of baja.

 

[rwright07]

yea we allready have 5 jerrycans, old military metal ones. we were thinking of putting them on the roof. the idea of fuel cans in a collision zone didnt go over well in my mind.

we intend to go all the way to the tip of the penninsula and then return home. the diesel will make it easier on the wallet, especially since the friendly mexican govn't subsidiesed the diesel down there.

we dont plan on staying in towns overnight. at most for 3 hours during the day. our overnight spots will be chosen very soon and will never be within sight of the highway.

that san jaunico place looks interesting. we will have to make a stop.

we are trying to find someone else to come down with us but having some difficulty

thanks-- keep the replies and ideas coming!
rick

 

[rwright07]

what types of spare parts should i bring?

we dont anticipate doing any SERIOUS wheeling but i am still nervous and thinking about brining at least:

heavy duty agricultural tire patches
shocks
d44 front shafts
u joints (check)
electrical stuff
alternator?
spare battery (check)

what other parts should we pack along?

o and we are bringing 4 7 gallon water jugs with us to.

feel free to chime in.

rick