Baja Raptor Run

zombiekiller said:

I'll be clear: some mega-built raptor is 150% NOT required. We have folks bring stock trucks on a regular basis. one of the regulars has been mobbing a stock roush raptor on 35s on every trip for the past few years.

please don't be intimidated by the trucks that show in the videos ( including mine.) I generally run sweep. That means that my job is to make sure that no one is left behind, if something is broken it gets fixed, and coordinating recovery with the other crew members if we have a mechanical that I'm not able to trail fix.

If there is someone going at a more leisurely pace, I just hang out and have a sandwich or something while I let the gap build. If I catch the person in front of me, I stop and wait. There is no requirement to "keep up" with anyone. We're all going to the same place. it isn't a race, it is fun. By the afternoon of the first day, the entire group tends to naturally settle into an order that works.

I would recommend a bump stop kit if you can swing it. it'll save your back if you make a mistake.

Outside of that, just make sure that you have a way to secure anything in the bed with ratchet straps. It is a good idea to secure anything that is hard or would hurt a person in the bed.

Usually, you can simply use the seatbelts to tie down your luggage inside the cab. I'd just recommend maybe using soft luggage.

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Awesome, thank you! Can definitely do a SVC bump kit! Appreciate the insight, hope to see you out there this year.

DFS said:

Awesome, thank you! Can definitely do a SVC bump kit! Appreciate the insight, hope to see you out there this year.

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ah forgot two things.

These are really more things to be aware of, because they do cause issues.

If you upgrade your intake, no oiled filters. ( they turn into impermeable cardboard instantly). Bring a spare air filter JIC. the stock intake works just fine, as do paper filters.

My personal favorite is the volant intake with the Donaldson powercore filter. s&b intakes work well too.

And I personally prefer that people leave any sort of pedal commander or piggyback tuner at home. They tend to cause all sorts of strange issues for one reason or another.

2slo4u said:

Exo says stock Raptors will work. If they do a run in June, I’ll be there and I’ll let you know!

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The dates for the Baja Sur run will be announced pretty soon. It is my favorite run that we do. It is always awesome.

I’ve been to Baja four times. 3 of those times was with Baja Raptor Run with Trey (TRR). The 4th time it was a private run that started off with just 3 trucks. One truck rolled on the first day but he kept going. By the time we got to Bay of LA, his truck was having all kinds of electrical issues and he turned back. Just myself and the other guy who was leading @Sano Dano continued on to Cabo.

I feel that for what I paid BBR for the trips was worth it. Trey puts on a great trip and just like others companies who do the same, everything is planned out and nobody is ever left behind. Regardless what the video shows, BBR trips are very tame and they do not run really sketchy trails. Personally some of those trails can be the most fun and lasting memories. You can definitely go at your own pace within reason.

Most trips are limited to 15 trucks as they do not want to have more than that as it can draw attention and trucks would be spread out too far (usually 1 mile or so between trucks due to dust) and accommodations, parking, food, etc can get difficult to manage time.

That private run was rather the most challenging, especially with just two trucks miles from each other with no communication the majority of the time even though we both had 50w radios. If I didn’t have my Lowrance GPS, I would of been lost. Even though its not 100% necessary for the larger runs, its worth having because you know in advance what corners are approaching.

Baja is definitely a bucket list trip but if its your first time, I suggest paying an experienced crew to take you there and get you home safe.

I h

zombiekiller said:

I think yall will find that the logistics are daunting, crossing ranches needs to be negotiated, you better be up on your Mexico etiquette, finding good places to stay isn't easy, not all routes are created equal, fuel stops need to be planned and I sincerely hope that you're fluent in Spanish.

Check out Expedition x Offroad. Even if it is just for your first time south, you'll appreciate that everything is taken care of, you have the luxury of experienced guides, mechanics, spares, beers at the hotel, chase trucks, a well-oiled machine and you can focus on showing up, having fun, and making friends.

The pricepoint for the added safety and security is not much more than what the food, hotels, and supplies would cost you to go solo. If you factor in what spares, a mechanic, and potentially a tow would cost you, it is actually a great deal.

I'm not trying to dissuade y'all from heading to Baja on your own, but I'd advise that y'all know what you're getting into before you do it. Going to Baja is VERY different than going anywhere in the U.S.

you can have a really great time, or a very scary time, depending on how your luck goes.

Also- if you think it might break, bring your parts with you. you will NOT find any sort of raptor part outside of Ensenada, TJ, Mexicali, La Paz, or Cabo.

and if you don't want to join us, just please be safe. We all love Baja and our community and do not want to see anyone have a problem or get hurt.

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I have lived in South America and spent quite a bit of time driving through Mexico. It’s really not as daunting as most people make it out to be, as long as you don’t plan on driving aggressively off-road and breaking parts. I plan to do Baja as more of a sightseeing trip with light off-roading mixed in, in the interest of not breaking anything. Finding places to stay is really not a problem. Airbnb is usually plentiful and there are bed and breakfast places with quite friendly hosts.

I'm doing Baja for the first time, come June. Signed up for a trip all the way to Cabo. I haven't been to Cabo in years, and I'm excited to say the least!

Zombie Killer, question for you. I just read somewhere, might have been here, might have been Facebook (I know, I know, LOL). But it was said not to bomb through water crossings as water gets into the intake, and into the engine, and the check engine light comes on. Is there any truth to that? I usually see everybody flying through streams and puddles. Thanks!

HOLLYWOOD 1 said:

I'm doing Baja for the first time, come June. Signed up for a trip all the way to Cabo. I haven't been to Cabo in years, and I'm excited to say the least!

Zombie Killer, question for you. I just read somewhere, might have been here, might have been Facebook (I know, I know, LOL). But it was said not to bomb through water crossings as water gets into the intake, and into the engine, and the check engine light comes on. Is there any truth to that? I usually see everybody flying through streams and puddles. Thanks!

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serious answer, it depends. I don't bomb through any water crossing, as I don't want to deal with hydrolocking the engine or a drenched air filter. the risk of ruining the trip and my truck isn't worth "doing it for the gram" to me.

The raptor's intake "funnel" is just above the top of the grill, facing forward and isn't the most waterproof design ever.

There is a sensor just inboard of the air filter that can be rather finicky. IIRC it is a $12 part. I bought 6 of them about a year ago and threw them in my spare kit. I have 2 left.

II Sevv said:

I h

I have lived in South America and spent quite a bit of time driving through Mexico. It’s really not as daunting as most people make it out to be, as long as you don’t plan on driving aggressively off-road and breaking parts. I plan to do Baja as more of a sightseeing trip with light off-roading mixed in, in the interest of not breaking anything. Finding places to stay is really not a problem. Airbnb is usually plentiful and there are bed and breakfast places with quite friendly hosts.

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I sincerely hope that you have an amazing time on your trip!

Half of the fun for me, personally, is showing folks "The Baja" that I've been shown, and discovered. Little spots that it would take years of exploring to stumble across.

I went to Baja my first time with ExO. While I have been to Baja without ExO since, I go with ExO every chance I get. I enjoy it so much that I volunteer my time as staff for ExO runs. I also appreciate that ExO gives a lot back to the Baja community by doing charity runs, supporting local businesses and doing their part to help out the locals.

Even the hotels that we stay in, I'd have never found on my own.

What you're really paying for is the 1000s of hours of prerunning, the network that ExO has built and honestly, not having to worry. That might not be what everyone wants or needs, but it is meaningful to a lot of folks.

I've met friends on ExO trips that have remained friends whether we're in Baja or not. I've never met someone that was unhappy with their experience either, which is important.

zombiekiller said:

serious answer, it depends. I don't bomb through any water crossing, as I don't want to deal with hydrolocking the engine or a drenched air filter. the risk of ruining the trip and my truck isn't worth "doing it for the gram" to me.

The raptor's intake "funnel" is just above the top of the grill, facing forward and isn't the most waterproof design ever.

There is a sensor just inboard of the air filter that can be rather finicky. IIRC it is a $12 part. I bought 6 of them about a year ago and threw them in my spare kit. I have 2 left.

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Thanks David!

Appreciate the advice! I'll have to look into the sensors.

B E N said:

Maybe we need to have a "slow raptors go to baja" raptor run. I'd be down for not tearing up my truck, and safety in numbers is a thing.

Really looks like a cool place to see.

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I agree. I vote @zombiekiller be our group leader!