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The main problem is Betsy's charging system. A mechanic managed to damage the vacuum pump, alternator and two voltage regulators before I collected all my parts and took them elsewhere.
On the plus side, I now know how to rebuild a Diesel vacuum pump. This is largely a useless skill as the pump on my Toyota almost never requires rebuilding. All you have to do to keep it running is not mess with it.
I've since taken the alternator to a new rebuilder. This new alternator hacker is fixing the mistakes in my FrankenAlternator and building me a FrankenRegulator to go along with it.
I think I'll be on the road soon. 10 days?
My plan for Mexico is pretty basic. I'm going to cross the border at Mexicali, drive through Baja, take the ferry to Mazatlan and continue south.
I'll camp from the truck, sometimes in campgrounds and sometimes in the backwoods, occasionally hitting up a hotel for a decent shower.
To get started, I'm collecting my thoughts in this google map. Reading about the ruined missions, warm water, fresh clams, cold beer and hammocks leaves me feeling more stir crazy than ever.
So where are you now? Hit the road yet?
ReplyDeleteI'm doing a very similar trip, (solo female driving to Costa Rica with my dog). I've got a 4wd, although it seems to need some fixing since I've weighed the truck (Dodge Ram diesel) down with a heavy cabover camper.
I expect to be getting the ferry to Mazatlan late in the week, but you never know (I need camper repairs at the moment - stuck in Guerrero Negro). I'm sure that's sooner than you anyway, but it would be awesome to keep in touch and see if we can convoy and/or camp somewhere along the way together! :)
Dani
orangudani@gmail.com
Howdy Dani - definitely keep in touch. I'm stuck in Sacramento right now and I'm not sure when I'll make it to Baja.
ReplyDeleteYou'll definitely be leaving for Mazatlan before me. Good luck and happy travels. Maybe we'll meet up further south if you travel slow enough :)