Im debating wheather or not you can fit a 2WD 4 wheeler in the back of one.

Honestly the biggest thing we ever got in our baja is the specialty bikes from our weekend job (good for extra cash, bad for going to meets:( )
we fit either a slingshot, quad, or chopper in it!!

link (http://www.wheelfunrentals.com/product.cfm)

dorky yes but when i find the time i'm buying one and putting 25 hp motor on the back:devil:
monkey-

Putting an ATV (even a small one) in the back of a Baja will do two things: 1) Upset the vehicle's front-to-rear weight distribution. The Baja has a huge amount of rear overhang, and putting an ATV in the back will put a heck of a lot of weight aft the rear axle. ... And, 2) you will most likely exceed the vehicle's payload capacity. Even though it's a pick-um-up, the Baja has a measly 800 pound payload rating, which is LOWER* than any other Subaru sold in North America.

* = All other Subarus have 900 pound payload. This payload rating is in your owners manual, as well as on the front driver's door jam.

Bob

Whats 100lbs? Anyways its not a real pickup. It's not supposed to be. The benefit is having similar utility to a pickup truck but on a passenger car platform for comfort, handling, and economy. You go ahead and buy one of those POS Ford Exploder "Sport-Tracs". Be my guest. :o :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Samirr76
Whats 100lbs? Anyways its not a real pickup. It's not supposed to be. The benefit is having similar utility to a pickup truck but on a passenger car platform for comfort, handling, and economy. You go ahead and buy one of those POS Ford Exploder "Sport-Tracs". Be my guest. :o :rolleyes:

Of course it's not a "real" pickup, but it is a pickup of sorts, no matter how you slice it.. Nevertheless—if anything it should have a higher payload, not a lower payload. A 800 pound payload is lousy no matter what kind of vehicle it's applied to.

Bob

Again, thats based on a passenger car platform and probably in part to the amount of rear overhang.

If you want a real truck there are real trucks out there. Your average Joe Schmoe will never haul more than 800lbs at a time. If you plan on hauling more than that then Subarus are obviously not for you.

Alot of us value the fact that Subarus are all built on passenger car platforms for economy, performance, handling, and comfort. You get none of that in vehicles like the Nissan Frontier Crew Cab, Ford Explorer sport trac, Toyota Tacoma, etc. And they cost more when comparably equipped. Not to mention 4 wheel drive is OPTIONAL on those, not standard AWD as with Subaru.:disco:

Originally posted by Samirr76
Again, thats based on a passenger car platform and probably in part to the amount of rear overhang.

If you want a real truck there are real trucks out there. Your average Joe Schmoe will never haul more than 800lbs at a time. If you plan on hauling more than that then Subarus are obviously not for you.

Alot of us value the fact that Subarus are all built on passenger car platforms for economy, performance, handling, and comfort. You get none of that in vehicles like the Nissan Frontier Crew Cab, Ford Explorer sport trac, Toyota Tacoma, etc. And they cost more when comparably equipped. Not to mention 4 wheel drive is OPTIONAL on those, not standard AWD as with Subaru.:disco:

There's no reason a car-based pickup can't be a bit "beefier" than the car upon which it is based. With the Baja, Subaru went in the opposite (WRONG!) direction, by giving it less payload than the Outback (or any Subaru), upon which it is based. That's about as stupid a thing as Subaru could have done!

An 800-pound payload means "0" cargo payload if you're hauling four 200-pound passengers! In fact, I bet the reason the Baja is a 4-passenger vehicle is because if it were a 5-passenger vehicle (like other Subarus), you could overload it way too easily. The Baja should at least match other Subaru payloads (900 pounds). Better still, it should have at least a 1000–1200 pound payload, IMO.

The trucks you mention have payloads of 1200–1600 pounds. Speaking of the Explorer Sport Trac: Subaru makes direct comparisons with this vehicle in some of their ads. Therefore, if Subaru takes it upon themselves to compare these two vehicles, then payload ratings are fair game...

Lastly, one of the big reasons nobody is buying Bajas, is because it's ability to handle "work" is virtually nonexistent. If it could handle another 100–400 pounds, we wouldn't be having this discussion!

Bob

it's not hard to overload these cars that 100 lbs does make it completely useless to carry stuff

i weight 210, so i'd already be down to 590 lbs of carrying
i take my friend he weighs about 250
bam down to 340, 340!?

yeah a surfboard, or a bike, or a single dirt bike, all of which could be carried in the back of an outback and the outback would still have room for another passenger w/ the 60/40 seat.

it's not a truck it has no utility of a truck except a basically nonfunctoinal bed,

i have had over 900lbs in my car, my car which is lighter to begin with and it struggles to accelerate, it only has probably 5-10hp less now than the baja stock, i would not want to have that car fully loaded

as i've said before if they're gonna make the thing a truck they should make it a truck,
it needs to be able to be lifted, the approach and depatrutre angles are worse than the outback, the rear overhang is much more than the OB
it's just not usefull in any way

OK....given that the Baja is built upon the Legacy a passenger car platform.....try cramming 900lbs of stuff in an Altima.

I never said the Baja would be a good choice for everyone. :rolleyes:

I must say that in my opinion they weren't designed to haul mountains of stuff. They were designed to be unique. Take it to the beach a few friends and a coupla surfboards, how about the mountains? take the same w/ a coupla snowboards/skis. Got a family? this is the perfect car for a dog and some picnic/ beach gear.

But besideds all that. When we first got our apt we used it to transport all of our belongings from apt to apt. 36 in screen tv, full sized bed, entertainment center, not to mention the bags of clothes my gf has :eek: ! I honestly never read about the limit so It doesn't apply to me:)

monkey-
happy w/ his "payload useless" baja:D

Originally posted by Samirr76
OK....given that the Baja is built upon the Legacy a passenger car platform.....try cramming 900lbs of stuff in an Altima.

I never said the Baja would be a good choice for everyone. :rolleyes:

Think of it this way: If you put five 175 pound people in the Altima (which is not unreasonable to assume), you're at 875 pounds. That allows you to put 25 pounds in the trunk, without overloading it. That's of course assuming the Altima is also has a 900 pound payload rating, which I don't know.

Bob

Originally posted by spacemonkey
I must say that in my opinion they weren't designed to haul mountains of stuff. They were designed to be unique. Take it to the beach a few friends and a coupla surfboards, how about the mountains? take the same w/ a coupla snowboards/skis. Got a family? this is the perfect car for a dog and some picnic/ beach gear.

But besideds all that. When we first got our apt we used it to transport all of our belongings from apt to apt. 36 in screen tv, full sized bed, entertainment center, not to mention the bags of clothes my gf has :eek: ! I honestly never read about the limit so It doesn't apply to me:)

monkey-
happy w/ his "payload useless" baja:D

But it might apply to others who are considering buying the vehicle.

So far, since its September release, I seen exactly two Bajas on the road. TWO! In contrast, I see at least two Explorer Sport Tracs a day, usually more... Both these vehicles are aimed at the exact same audience—or at least Subaru seems to think so, since they make reference to the Sport Trac in their ads.

Say what you will about the Sport Trac (and I'll probably agree with you), but at least it offers the "capability" that's MIA with the Baja. More importantly, customers also seem to recognize that fact too.

Bob

I looked up the payload rating at SOA today (where I work) and its roughly 1000lbs. More than enough for my needs, but maybe not for yours. Thats fine. Take into consideration those are probably conservative ratings. :disco:

Originally posted by Samirr76
I looked up the payload rating at SOA today (where I work) and its roughly 1000lbs. More than enough for my needs, but maybe not for yours. Thats fine. Take into consideration those are probably conservative ratings. :disco:

Where did you look this up? I've gotten my info from the label on the driver's door jam, and/or the owners manual.

Bob

I found it in a memo from Product Planning. This was a few months ago. I'll check to see if it has been revised. :cool:

Do yourself a favour and don't even try it... You should have seen the bed of my old pick up from carrying you ATV!!! :eek:

Get yourself a good Hide-a-hitch and a small trailer!!!!

Just My two Pennies...

Originally posted by samson
Do yourself a favour and don't even try it... You should have seen the bed of my old pick up from carrying you ATV!!! :eek:

Get yourself a good Hide-a-hitch and a small trailer!!!!

Just My two Pennies...

I agree. A small trailer is the answer to the ATV question.

Bob

As I had mentioned that the Baja has the lowest payload of any Subie sold in North America, at 800 pounds. All other Subies sold here have payloads of 900 pounds.

I noticed CR listed the payloads of all the vehicles mentioned in the CR Auto issue in one big table. Here are some other interesting payloads mentioned:

Ford Excursion = 1,630
Ford Explorer Sport Trac = 1,190 (the Baja's closest competitor)
Ford Escape = 900
Ford Explorer = 1,325
Ford Expedition = 1,400
Ford Ranger = 1,210
Honda Element = 675
Honda CRV = 850
Honda Pilot = 1,320
Honda S2000 = 400
Isuzu Rodeo = 915
Jeep Grand Cherokee = 1,100
Jeep Liberty = 1,150
Jeep Wrangler = 800
Land Rover Freelander = 905
Mazda Miata = 340
Mini Cooper = 815
Nissan Murano = 860
Nissan Pathfinder = 1,030
Nissan Frontier = 915
Toyota Highlander = 925
Toyota Land Cruiser = 1,249
Toyota Rav4 = 760
Toyota Tacoma = 1,225

As to pickups, even those listed here, a lot depends on configuration. For example, I know some Nissan Frontiers have a much higher rating than the 915 listed here.

Also, CR didn't have ratings for some vehicles, such as the new 4Runner.

Bob

As I said before, the payload rating is about 1000lbs for both the manual and automatic models.

Originally posted by Samirr76
As I said before, the payload rating is about 1000lbs for both the manual and automatic models.

Yeah, if you consider being 20% off equal to "about."

Bob

If you wanted exact numbers you could have asked nicely ;)

Payload Capacities:

1,070 pounds for the manual transmission 2003 Baja

1,005 pounds for the automatic transmission 2003 Baja

Originally posted by Samirr76
If you wanted exact numbers you could have asked nicely ;)

Payload Capacities:

1,070 pounds for the manual transmission 2003 Baja

1,005 pounds for the automatic transmission 2003 Baja

That's incorrect!

Go to any Subie dealer, open the driver's door on a Baja, look on the door jam, and you will see a label clearly stating 800 pound load limit. It's also in the owners manual, and CR even states it to be 800 pounds.

Bob

Originally posted by rsholland


Go to any Subie dealer, open the driver's door on a Baja, look on the door jam, and you will see a label clearly stating 800 pound load limit. It's also in the owners manual, and CR even states it to be 800 pounds.

Bob :lol: :lol: :lol:

that's 15lbs less than the mini cooper! what a joke!

Originally posted by rsholland
Here are some other interesting payloads mentioned:
Honda Element = 675
...
Honda S2000 = 400
...
Mazda Miata = 340


So four full sized dudes will overload the new Honda Element!?! That's amazing!

Samirr76: where you look up that info?

Maybe their lawyers are a bit conservative, but why post a lower number on the door jamb than they do for a much smaller RS sedan?

-juice

It could be taken into consideration that many of these payload numbers are just flat out incorrect. Considering that some manufactures can not even program the trip odometer correctly and most payload numbers for almost every company are under rated for liability reasons. Are you more likely to overload an RS or a Baja? SOA may have considered that when assigning the weight capacity. I seriously doubt the Baja is unable to safely haul more weight then a Mini-Cooper. That defies logic. Then again, what is logic compared to reality.

blah @.@

I am also looking for a definition of saftely loaded....
coming cross country i had the trunk of my rs so bogged down it there was about a .5 inch wheel gap between the fender and the top of the wheel. Now i've had all that plus some in my baja, and not only do the wheels not sag but the car is still as responive as without. I for one find it hard to believe that the baja is harder to load down than an rs and most certainly than a mini.

Maybe somebody at soa f'd up and nobody told them!

monkey-

Originally posted by LinuxGuy
Whats the biggest object you can fit in a Baja?

Your MOM j/k sorry I had to say it. I had a baja for a week and I ddin't think anyone should have bought this vehicle especially if you need to use it like a truck. It is under powered and over uglyed. Just my 3 cents.

BEN:disco:

not all baja's are created equal:p

monkey-

I ddin't think anyone should have bought this vehicle especially if you need to use it like a truck.
If your going to "use it like a truck" you are already in the wrong market. go get a Dodge Ram 2500 diesel. Or a Peterbilt
Everyone else who only moves things now and then and doesn't need a 10000 lb towing capacity to visit Burger King will do fine with the Baja.
It is under powered and over uglyed.
sigh... wrong market
cute, popular and quick==PT Cruiser. Go for it!
need to sometimes haul something bigger then a large totebag==Baja

jeffm
(who, once again, hauled stuff with his useless ugly baja yesterday)

Originally posted by jeffm

If your going to "use it like a truck" you are already in the wrong market. go get a Dodge Ram 2500 diesel. Or a Peterbilt
Everyone else who only moves things now and then and doesn't need a 10000 lb towing capacity to visit Burger King will do fine with the Baja.

sigh... wrong market
cute, popular and quick==PT Cruiser. Go for it!
need to sometimes haul something bigger then a large totebag==Baja

jeffm
(who, once again, hauled stuff with his useless ugly baja yesterday)

I think the reason why I think it is made to be used to be like a truck is because it has a truck bed. But that is just me. I just think they shouldn't have made it so weak. I love el caminos and stuff and i still think they are ugly. But to have something so small and with so little power I think is almost useless.(to me I respect other peoples opinions) And I do still think it is funny that the baja has more ground clearance than the ford exploder sprot track.:D (heard that somewhere not 100% it is true though)

BEN

P.S. I would take the looks of a baja over the PT crusier anyday!!!!!!

P.S. I would take the looks of a baja over the PT crusier anyday!!!!!!

:lol: :lol:
you read my mind
monkey-

Originally posted by juice
Samirr76: where you look up that info?

Maybe their lawyers are a bit conservative, but why post a lower number on the door jamb than they do for a much smaller RS sedan?

-juice

Hes got connections;)

I can't emagine that with a 2400lbs of towing compasity that it only has a payload compasity of only 800 or eve 900lbs. I was able to get this number from the features and specs portion of the subaru website:
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs.)** 2400 (Class One)
**When properly equipped. See Owner's Manual for detailed instructions you should follow when towing a trailer.

Subaru Specs (http://www.subaru.com/shop/specifications/main.jsp?TRIMLEVEL=BAJA&MODELNAME=BAJA)

I have read somewhere that the payload compasity is 1050lbs with the towing compasity of 2400lbs. I have talked with a subaru master tech and he stated that SOA is alwyas extreamly concertive with their payload and towing numbers for liablity reasons and that sometimes they include a average weight for the passangers. so the 800lbs might be with the passangers.

just what I have found.

Ben

800 pounds, is clearly stated on a label on the driver's door jam, and it is in the owner's manual too.

As to towing—and as with all Subarus—they can only tow that stated amount (Baja = 2400 pounds) if the trailer has trailer brakes. If the trailer doesn't have brakes, you can only tow 1000 pounds. Again, this info is in the owner's manual.

So, yes, you can tow (or carry) whatever you want—but you do so at your own risk...

Bob

So, I couldn't get 4x8 drywall loaded this afternoon - I cut it down to 4x4 (in the Home Depot parking lot) and it still hung out, but manageable with a couple of bungee cords. What else would you do if you need to load 4x8 sheet (please no "get a pick up" - be constructive, shall we?)? It made it easier to lift the drywall by cutting it, but that's besides the point... My wife almost got upset when she saw white dusts/skid marks on the bed:lol:

the question on the thread is , the biggest object....
before buying the baja I owned a late model ranger, 4 door stretch, 4wd, short box, (build quality is crap compared to subaru)
I had to haul 6 chairs boxed in the ranger, all fit with the gate up, traded the ford , with the gate extender I was able to haul the same load, both beds had no extra room.
The baja is great for light hauling, it is not a truck. IT does kick truck butt most areas, ride, comfort, handeling, economy, build quality, value.

I am going to cut down the old rubber bed liner from the ranger to fit the bed to protect it.
Great forum here.

i've had two people and two large boxes of t-shirts, and after that i had a very large rost of beef and a large turkey

I think a nice thing about the Baja is that it will allow a home owner to rent yard equipment or take a push lawn mower to the repair shop without having to rent a small trailer.

Would a Sears riding tractor fit in the back of a Baja?

Our '02 Forester towed a small U-Haul trailer, I think it was 1300lbs and about 600lbs of bricks. I think it was at or above the recommended limit without brakes. But the the Forester did a great job on hills. It was an automatic.

Another alternative would be for a home owner to a small $1k trailer or just rent a trailer when needed, but that's a pain. Getting a small trailer with the Baja seems like it defeats the purpose of the car if you can't haul what you mainly need in the bed.

I'm not sure how much a Baja with the extended bed, filled to the brim with firewood weighs, but I did see that site the other day. And the poor little Baja was driving at 50mph at best on a 65MPH highway. Plus, the rear of the thng was so weighted down, it looked like the tires were rubbing against the tire wells. So I would reccomend that no one try to lug a Baja full of firewood.

Originally posted by bbbwrx
Your MOM j/k sorry I had to say it.
BEN:disco:

LMAO...too funny. :lol: Great way to bring some humor to this overly dramatic thread.

Originally posted by hatake
So, I couldn't get 4x8 drywall loaded this afternoon - I cut it down to 4x4 (in the Home Depot parking lot) and it still hung out, but manageable with a couple of bungee cords. What else would you do if you need to load 4x8 sheet (please no "get a pick up" - be constructive, shall we?)? It made it easier to lift the drywall by cutting it, but that's besides the point... My wife almost got upset when she saw white dusts/skid marks on the bed:lol:

I have a 4x8 utility trailer that works great for that kind of stuff. I used to pull the utility trailer, fully loaded, with my Sunfire convertible, so I think the Baja should do even better.

Originally posted by baja
I am going to cut down the old rubber bed liner from the ranger to fit the bed to protect it.

A bed protector to protect the bed protector??? I love it...only in America can we afford such luxuries. :D

all I need is room for one dirt bike

Damn, now thats a close fit! I have a sports bike and was wondering if I could somehow get it in the back of a baja. Maybe if I could use a piece of wood and extend the bed out a little, and have that piece mounted to the bed somehow?

I put ~700 Lbs of laminate floor in my 03 Leg Wagon - similar car, and every now and then on the highway on a bump - a tire would rub the inside wheelwell.

Not rated for much weight at all.

Not to mention, it was all over the rear wheels, as I folded the seats on the wagon, and moved the load as far in as I could.

The 1070 and 1005 pound numbers above are GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) minus curb weight. Subaru GVWR's are very close to the two axle ratings added together. To exactly hit the GVWR without overloading one or the other axle would require very careful weight distribution and a scale to keep track of it.

The GVWR-Curb numbers are higher for the Baja than many other Subaru models even though the published 800 pound load rating is lower.

The long rear overhang is my guess on the probable reason for the lower load rating on the Baja. If you put 600 pounds in the middle of the bed it's about 20" behind the rear axle. The leverage exerted on the axle would cause the rear axle to receive an increase of 714 pounds and the front axle to see a decrease of 114 pounds. The only way to get the full 1070 pounds of load without exceeding the rear axle rating is to pack most of the weight in the cab.

Personally, if I had a Baja I'd keep the weight in the bed down to no more than about 300 pounds at the most.

Back on topic- Biggest object. How about a styrofoam statue 35 feet tall with a 3' diameter base?

I've had a dining room table (in the box) and 6 chairs in the back of my baja, with two passengers, me, and an end table in the cab. That's probably the most. I've also carried a washing machine, but that's not too heavy. Plenty of furniture when I moved, but I don't think I have pics of that.

I've carried a full size washer AND dryer.

A dodge 318 cu. V8

Camping and hiking gear for four people and two bikes on the roof.

A 6'x6' coffee table.

Moved my entire 1 bedroom apartment including the queen sized bed to a new apt 5 miles away.

Taken three trips from NJ to MN (round trip 3k miles) with the bed packed to the brim with x-mas presents, furniture, cooler, luggage, etc. up to the bed extender.

If I think of anything else I'll let you all know. :cool:

hey,

I had a skunk, in a cage, in a large rubber maid garbage can back there. I caught him and wanted to put him in the woods so it would stop eatin the cats food. lol.
frank

I thought this post was how big an object you can fit in a Baja not how stinky it is?

Originally posted by kx200
all I need is room for one dirt bike

What color is the baja in the pic with the dirt bike? The upper half looks like a dark silver and the bottom a lighter one. Is this a new color for 2004, or custom?

It looks like the new Monterey Silver, a new color for 2004.

It's the stock 2004 Monterey Silver Metallic. The dirt bike in the back may not look like it but it's one of a kind. If the Baja will only last and run as hard as that bike I will be happy!

Originally posted by blubaja03
hey,

I had a skunk, in a cage, in a large rubber maid garbage can back there. I caught him and wanted to put him in the woods so it would stop eatin the cats food. lol.
frank A skunk:lol: :D That beats my bed full of sand, hands down!

hey,
lol! thanks chris n.
frank x.

MY WIFE!!!!!!:lol: :lol: :D

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4289929871

A Snap-On 2-stage 5 hp. 30 gal upright air compressor. Can't get one of those in the back of a.. [insert any SUV here]!:D It stuck up beyond the roof about a foot or so. It was pretty sexy, painted glossy black with a big snap-on racing sticker in the bed of the Baja! :cool:

dude....sweet! :cool:

so far, the biggest was a box with a printer on it that as about 2 1/2'd x 3'w x 3'h and ~ 100lbs. but that is only a start :D

30 2x1 units of sod, with three bags of mulch and two 1 gal. aztec grass pots.
One other time I had a six foot by four foot rubermaid shed. It had to hang over the tail gate some, but I got it home. Thats when I figured out to use the cargo net with extra bungee cords to make it somewhat usefull.

I out did myself. I brought home a 40gal home water heater from Home Depot. Approx 4ft tall. While reading the box it said not to tip on its side, transport it upright. I thought, "I can do that!":D I thought I might need help to get it up in the bed, but I just stood on the gate and pulled up. Pesto. Then, on the way home on the freeway I was motoring along with the Audis and Caddys at a decent zippy speed. The Baja can hang with the best of them even with a 40 gal. water heater tied to the sport bars:lol:

I think maybe everyone has gotten a bit off-track. I'll agree that there are vehicles that haul things better than the Baja; it's hard to argue with numbers. Consider a few things:

The Baja DOES have better minimum ground clearance than the Ford, but DOES NOT have a low range transfer case. Personally, I never bought it for off-road playtime. I have a Suzuki Samurai on 33" BFG's for that.

The Ford WILL haul more, but handles like a sponge. The Baja, even in stock form, feels like a Ferrari compared to the Explorer (and most Fords, for that matter) This is precisely the reason I bought it.

With available accessories, the Baja can suit most of the basic hauling needs of those who purchase it. All this, and still, when I'm behind the wheel, I can't see, or feel, or even notice, the fact that I have a bed big enough to load in virtually anything that I might choose to bring home from Costco, or Best Buy, or Home Depot, etc.

On the flip side, after having leased an Explorer Sport Trac, every expansion joint, pothole, railroad track felt like a new adventure in rattles, groans, creaks, etc. Ford never lets you forget that this thing is built on a "truck" chassis (if you call the Ranger a truck).

My Sea-Doo jet boat actually is EASIER to get to cruising speed of 75 than the Explorer (it was a V6), and it pulls it up the ramp with minimal clutch dancing, as well. Mileage while pulling the boat to the Keys, from Tampa, with a bed full of camping gear: 21mpg, compared to the last trip with the Explorer, at 13.

Most important of all, I no longer have to drive a "cookie cutter" SUV (which, I'm told, stands for Sh&*tty Underpowered Vehicle, anyhow), in order to maintain an active, homeowner's lifestyle.

Oh, and another thing, try comparing fuel economy for most of the other vehicles that Subaru compares the Baja too. If that alone doesn't convince you, then you are correct; the Baja isn't for you.

As mentioned before, in Tampa, where I live, I know of, and see on an almost daily basis, at least 10 Bajas. All have been fairly tastefully modified, so that I can tell them apart. The dealer I purchased mine from told me the last time I was in that they have sold 35 to date, both Turbo and non-Turbo. If a reason to own a vehicle is because there are "so many of them" is a prime concern, I would respectfully submit that maybe the Baja (and by extension, the Baja Forum) is also not interested in you either.

Interesting topic......

I have a 2000 ford ranger extra cab....No 4 door option....

The most I put in the back in 4 years was 800 lbs of river rock....

That almost caved the back in on the tires....... I had to drive real slow going home.....

The rest of the time I seem to fit in that catagory of just taking stuff home from home depot..........BarbeQ plants Palm trees......

Thats why the Ranger is on the out..........had to make an emergency turn on the freeway........saw my life pass before my eyes......The front tire almost buckeled under and the rear lifted off the ground ....I let go of the wheel and I came back down........

I dont feal safe with the ranger on the freeway anymore......and its is not as comfortable as my other car.......

Enter the baja..

Before I sell the Ranger I plan on taking out the bedrug and cutting it down to fit in the Baja........

I callled Bedrug and they dont plan on making one for the baja

But when I am done they will get my pictures of it.....

Jim

I have hauled a 12 horsepower, 42" cut riding lawnmower. A minature Ford Model T (6 feet long by 3 feet wide). On both of these the rear wheels were near the end of the tailgate, but I had them strapped on quite tight. I also hauled 3 shrubbery bushes with heights of 5 to 6 feet. That was interesting as the Baja looked like a moving forest. I have also hauled two 55 gallon drums and 2 large garbage cans on a trip to the dump. I haven't mentioned the many times I have hauled 8 foot 2x4 lumber.

For light to moderate loads it works great. For larger loads it will tow 2400 lbs. Subtract 500 pounds of the utility trailer it leaves 1900 pounds, or just short of a ton. If I needed to haul more I wouldn't have bought a Baja.

One of the things I like best. When I get gas for yard equipment (lawnmower, tractor, snowblower, etc), the gas can is outside of the vehicle and not stinking up the interior as with a conventional SUV.

Load it smart, or use a utilty trailer, and a significant amount of what most people haul will fit in the Baja.

The biggest load was my old couch that stuck out 2 ft past the tail gate.The most weight was 8 90 lbs of concrete mix and 2 people.I pull a 5x12 trailer that weighs in at 750 lbs.One day on my way to the dump with a trailer load of tree limbs.I had a guy i thought was wanting to race from the light in his Gran am,but he wanted to get in my lane.I had my window down and i heard him down shift and he finally backed off when he realised he wasn't going to pass me and it was up hill.Now i got a 120 lb camper top on it.



I had a guy parked beside me at home depot watching me walk out with 7 ft fence posts while he was on the phone.By the time i was closing the tail gate he was getting out and said i was wondering how you was going to put them poles in that little bed.I just said piece of cake,you'll be supprise want you can haul.That's the fun of it.Watching people scratching there heads.

I agree. Visits to Lowe's are much more interesting in the Baja. I had to buy an 8' ladder to replace the one my fat-ass brother-in-law broke, and it fit all the way in, with just about 4 inches sticking out above the bed extender. The "cart boy" walked up and told me he never would've believed it.

And yes, as a homeowner, I can safely say, it carries pretty much anything I use from day to day. I did, however, pay for delivery of the 7 pallets of sod I laid down last weekend ( I can't think of anything that would've hauled that that has full-time AWD).

Originally posted by jimqpublic
To exactly hit the GVWR without overloading one or the other axle would require very careful weight distribution and a scale to keep track of it.....The long rear overhang is my guess on the probable reason for the lower load rating on the Baja.

I second this conjecture. Sounded studious, huh?

Now for my own conjecture... That 2,400lb towing capacity, as mentioned earlier, is braking limited. After all, I stupidly towed a 2,000lb trailer cross-country TWICE with my old 2.5RS. Although it had plenty of GO, the brakes were wholely overwhelmed. Iwas braking zipcodes early.

Large things I've hauled in my Baja...
55gal hot water heater, which I did carry on it's side. No problems there. In another load, I carried an IBM AS/400 midrange computer system along with a small computer cabinet/rack and other miscellaneous boxes. Pictures of both of these will be posted at some point.
A pic that I have for you guys today is from when I transported 10 wooden pallets from SE Philly area to the Baltimore area. Trust me, I made sure that was strapped down TIGHT!

http://www.powco.net/img/nasioc/loadedbaja.jpg
(yeah, it's fuzzy. taken with a Motorola V300 camera phone.)

-Pow

Waahooo! :cool: "Haulin" :D Those strap tie down hooks are in perfect position aren't they!?

Those strap tie down hooks are in perfect position aren't they!?

Well, I think its good that they are provided but having a few more (maybe higher up on the sides?) would be nice. There have been many times that I have really had to fight to get my hands down to the hooks in order to attach/adjust/remove straps or bungees. I'm probably going to look into making some sort of extension that I can just leave attached.

On a positive note, once I've got whatever I'm hauling anchored down it has been plenty secure.

-Pow

http://64.239.129.220/assets/users3/peloquin3/default/gallery-msg-1091132506-2.jpg

We fit a few years worth of surplus server equipment in the back of my Baja today. It's not a lot, but it was damn heavy. :cool:

Finally tracked down the pics I had mentioned earlier. Here is the hot water heater
http://www.powco.net/img/nasioc/hot-waterbaja.jpg

and the AS/400 + server cabinet.
http://www.powco.net/img/nasioc/acerrackbaja.jpg

-Pow

Don't have any pictures but I brough home a six foot tall display case that could not be laided on its back (Transported upright.) I did have to take my snug lid off first, but it was back on in no time. I'm getting the hang of removing and reinstalling the snuglid by myself.

I got the Baja because it's a jack of all trades of vehicles.
Honestly, I don't think I will put anything in the bed other than my mountain bike, luggages, groceries, small aplliances, and whatever small anything that would fit but not overload the vehicle.
When I bought my truck, er.. car.. I mean my BAJA, I only have 3 sole purpose that I could not do with my WRX. One is to carry my snowboard and gear during wintertime two, is to carry my mountain bike and gear during summertime and 3, to beef up performance once parts are available (though I promised my wife that I will not do that).
I suggest to you that if you plan to haul off-road vehicle then the BAJA is not for you.
BTW my 6 month full coverage insurance on the BAJA-T is 89 bucks less than my WRX ;-)
I now pay $299 every 6 months

How about big and heavy? My ZX7R needed a 2x8 to fit on, the suspension sagged a bit, but a 300 mile trip @ 75mph went as smooth as buttah!!! :banana:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7vau9/baja.jpg

Oh yeah, the bike weighs roughly 500lbs with roughly another 100lbs worth of gear in the back seat. I love my Baja!

isn't that illegal? how can you drive 300 miles with that 2x8 sticking out like that?

In VA, all you need is a red "flag" at the end and you're good to go.

If nothing else..... put reflector tape on the end. Coming up on the setup above in the dark is dangerous. A few feet is understandable, but I think you may have passed a reasonable length.

Yooper

i can't belive the VA law is that leniant. here in IL, you can have an object project up to 3 feet past the vehicle with a red flag hanging.

I agree that reflector tape makes a lot of sense. I don't actually know if VA has a maximum length, but if it doesn't, it should. I've only driven with stuff hanging out the back of my 61 Chevy Apache C-10, mebbe 4-5 feet during the day (ladder). Here's the way I solve the long load problem (14 feet) in my Baja.

John

The Problem
http://members.roadfly.org/john.d.moore/twofer and crown railing.jpg
The Solution
http://members.roadfly.org/john.d.moore/twofer with crown molding.jpg

I occasionally haul a minature Ford Model T in the back of my Baja. It is 6 feet long and barely fits. I strap it in very well. I am planning on building a case to put it in that will slide into the back of the Baja. It will extend past the tailgate, but..... I have a hitch extender T bar thingy (technical jargon) that I will put in my receiver hitch that will be just a bit higher and 6 inches beyond the tailgate (in the down position). I plan on using a lot of reflector tape on the back of the case and maybe even on the T bar. It is better safe than sorry.

YooperBaja

I occasionally haul a minature Ford Model T in the back of my Baja. It is 6 feet long and barely fits. I strap it in very well. I am planning on building a case to put it in that will slide into the back of the Baja. It will extend past the tailgate, but..... I have a hitch extender T bar thingy (technical jargon) that I will put in my receiver hitch that will be just a bit higher and 6 inches beyond the tailgate (in the down position). I plan on using a lot of reflector tape on the back of the case and maybe even on the T bar. It is better safe than sorry.

YooperBaja

Put some Aux tail lamps or 1 in the center on your case and make a harness to plug them into your trailer hitch harness.You could do your board the same way,just a thought. :D

I had thought about that, but had forgotten about it. Good Idea! Thanks!

I occasionally haul a minature Ford Model T in the back of my Baja. It is 6 feet long and barely fits. I strap it in very well. I am planning on building a case to put it in that will slide into the back of the Baja. It will extend past the tailgate, but..... I have a hitch extender T bar thingy (technical jargon) that I will put in my receiver hitch that will be just a bit higher and 6 inches beyond the tailgate (in the down position). I plan on using a lot of reflector tape on the back of the case and maybe even on the T bar. It is better safe than sorry.

YooperBaja

Thank you for the brainstorm, I am close to being able to buy a Baja and was trying to figure out how to haul my motorcycle, I think a steel plate welded to the T-Bar would make a great platform extension :p

I don't have a trailer hitch receiver installed on my Baja, but wasn't there something in the owner's manual that you can't have the tailgate down with the license plate out while a trailer hitch is in place?

-Pow

Wow! A good Question Pow.

I just went into the garage to check and you are half right. The license plate will not work with the tailgate down when using a hitch because the plate hangs down right at the ball. However, I turned the bar for the hitch upside down because with an extension there will not be a ball on the bar. It is tight, in fact touching, but it does not have any tension where the plate and bar touch. It touches the back side of the plate bracket. I may carefully notch this area to avoid the interference.

Bottom Line.... If you are going to put a T bar in the hitch. Engineer it carefully and it should work. Of course I haven't done it.... yet!

YooperBaja

I don't have a trailer hitch receiver installed on my Baja, but wasn't there something in the owner's manual that you can't have the tailgate down with the license plate out while a trailer hitch is in place?

-Pow


If you get a 2 inch drop receiver the tag will clear,i found this out by accident.The trailer i pull when hitched up had the front up to high,so i got a 2 inch drop now the trailer sits level when hitched up.So now i can leave the receiver in and put the tag and tail gate down with no problems.

If you get a 2 inch drop receiver the tag will clear,i found this out by accident.The trailer i pull when hitched up had the front up to high,so i got a 2 inch drop now the trailer sits level when hitched up.So now i can leave the receiver in and put the tag and tail gate down with no problems.

Cool, good info. I'll keep this in mind down the road when I install a receiver and shop for a trailer. Thanks!

-Pow

So far the largest quantity I have hauled in my Baja was 30 cases of Yuengling Black & Tan 16oz cans. Also had 6 cases of Porter in the back seat area but that don't count as OUT-BACK loading.

Can't get it in Michigan so I thought I'd make a BEER RUN to Pittsburg.

"Honest officer.....it IS for personal consumption" :D

Mmm... beer. Envy me, for I live in the land of the Yuengling! Of course one of our Baja forum members (04TurboGirl?) lives short distance from the brewery as I recall...

The topic of beer brings up an old subject. Over the summer did anyone use their Baja bed as a "keg bucket" and fill it up with ice? It was discussed, but I don't recall if it was done. I definitely would want to see the pics if it was attempted.

-Pow

Postalshark

Where do you live in Michigan? I am in the U.P. From the data on the left of your post it appears we have the same year and color Baja. Cool!

YooperBaja

>Pow
>Mmm... beer. Envy me...

I DO!

Last year I made the "Pilgrimage" to the "Temple of Yuengling" in Pottsville.

>YooperBaja
>Where do you live in Michigan?

Metro Detroit area.

My New Frig came home in the back of my BAJA last week.
The new washer fit this past weekend.

I have carried many things in this vehicle.
1) surfboards,ranging from 6 to 10 ft on baja surf trips
2) ladders from a 6 ft step to a 24 ft extension
3) paint sprayer/paint and other equipment
4) camping gear,fishing poles,wood,and coolers
As one can see this vehicle is practical and does many things for my active lifestyle.By the way it does great on rough "baja" roads.

OK! This is not necessarily the largest item in a Baja, but it is pretty good size. I have a miniature Ford Model T (go cart size) that fits in the back. I have some pics at the following link: (some other fun car photos too)
http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=88361990406&page=1&sort_order=0

YooperBaja

The Christmas tree. It measured over 13 feet long before we trimmed it to fit our 12 foot ceiling. It hung out the back quite a bit, but it was less than a mile on a country road so it wasn't an issue. Look at the pic at the link below.

http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=88361990406&photoid=89801802606

YooperBaja

The Christmas tree. It measured over 13 feet long before we trimmed it to fit our 12 foot ceiling. It hung out the back quite a bit, but it was less than a mile on a country road so it wasn't an issue. Look at the pic at the link below.

http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=88361990406&photoid=89801802606

YooperBaja
:lol:

That's the new record!

-doc

...after too much Thanksgiving turkey, I am the biggest object I can fit into my Baja... >oof<

The Xmas tree is a nice haul, tho! :)

This past weekend pictures...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/196378632/279599824JmszoM
http://community.webshots.com/photo/196378632/279600034BAkVJO
http://community.webshots.com/photo/196378632/279599658NBaUIT
http://community.webshots.com/photo/196378632/279599936csbxEG
1"x6"x8'es
1"x6"x12'es

Damn did you really buy the Baja for its ability to haul heavy payloads? If you did what were you thinking? I own a bturbo and a sporttrac I will tell you that the sporttrac is a way better utility vehicle. WITH THAT SAID I dont like driving my sporttrac at 85+mph it handles like a cow and is hell to drive in the wet. the suby will easily do 120MPH+ Ive had mone on the track at over 130MPH it even feels stable at speed. the most important reasons that I bought the Bturbo is the small bed and the quality build. I live and bleed Ford Blue but when it comes to confidence and driveability my bturbo blows it away. nothing like hauling junk in the back and using a hose to clean it out. next time you buy cow manure or concrete in your car or wagon think of how much better the litle trucklike box is. I really dont think anyone bought a baja for its load handling ability.

I brought my 51" widescreen home in the back on mine. Had to pull the bed extender off and strap the box in good but it fit with about 4 or 5 " of tailgate left. It wasn't a stress free ride home but no issues and the baja handled like it didn't have anything in the back.

Here's ours so far (that we have a pic of-we did transport a full rear quarter for our 73 mach as well, no pic though):

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/796000-796999/796631_32_full.jpg

Arborvite...2 really tall ones, two sorta tall ons, and two little ones-all with the gate closed :D

TEXAS S will you please move the Baja? The pony in the back is eating the bushes in the driveway!

Anyone have any better captions for this one?


http://www.f-8.com/images/bajapony.jpg

HERE is the original thread that this came from. ...
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10072423#post10072423 (showthread.php?p=10072423#post10072423)


http://www.f-8.com/images/bajapony.jpg
(showthread.php?p=10072423#post10072423)

If you want to haul something... the baja can handle 200 lbs tongue weight and 2400 lbs of trailer weight. Get a little tiny trailer and put an ATV in that :D

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Hawk296/IMG_2276.jpg
Moved all of my things back home this weekend.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Hawk296/IMG_2277.jpg
And I had the rear seating area filled to the roof door to doorand the passenger seat was packed up to the windows. It worked great!

here's my two newest:

door, trunk lid, 3 tires & rims, gas tank, misc stuff:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/927000-927999/927204_14_full.jpg

and

wood:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/927000-927999/927204_15_full.jpg

Here's some precious cargo we recently had on a trip out to KC. Also did some towing on the return trip - and no, the U-Haul was not filled with more cases of beer.

E:\Jeff's Files\Nikon Cool Pix\Miscl\KC Road Trip011.JPG
E:\Jeff's Files\Nikon Cool Pix\Miscl\KC Road Trip012.JPG
E:\Jeff's Files\Nikon Cool Pix\Miscl\KC Road Trip013.JPG

Need to read up on posting pics :confused:

Definitely not the largest pile of stuff we've had in there, but at 250 pounds it's definitely the single heaviest item -- a 16" trencher.
http://www.geocities.com/wei_huey/baja_trencher.jpg

i bought my wife a new washer, dryer, and 7cubic foot deep freezer about 2 years ago. they were all still in the box except the washer(display model) and i hauled them frot he store to the house, only about 15 miles. but i tied them down good, had the deep freeze stacked on top and had no problems.

I've been lurking in this forum for about 6 months and finally decided to register and post. I bought a used 2004 Baja Turbo back in April and absolutely love it.
Here are some shots of things I've put in my Baja...

Lawn Tractor
http://home.comcast.net/~jrecord99/Baja_Tractor.jpg

Fence
http://home.comcast.net/~jrecord99/Baja_Fence.jpg

Bikes
http://home.comcast.net/~jrecord99/Baja_Bike.jpg

Kayaks
http://home.comcast.net/~jrecord99/Baja_Kayak.jpg

And my most precious cargo
http://home.comcast.net/~jrecord99/Baja_Baby.jpg

As a Boston commuter, home owner & outdoor sports enthusiast, I can't think of a better designed vehicle.:D

cute kid, a little surprized the mower fit.

Hey Record!

I've also put the riding mower in the back and it used to look just like that. I found that if you back it onto the Baja the rear tires of the mower act as a good barrier to the bed of the Baja below the window. Otherwise the front of the mower tends to rub under the window of the Baja. Just remember to throw a strap over the mower hood so it doesn't fly up as it is hinged backwards.

~YooperBaja

I attempted to haul about 500 sqft of laminate flooring in one shot. After the guy lowered the pallete onto the bed little by little, and seeing the truck come to rest on the bump stops, and noticing that he was still lowering it and the tires were getting stressed, I decided to break it up into two trips. I've hauled lots of furniture and stuff, but I can never put anything too heavy in there.

Unfortunately I think I might need some new suspension pieces in the back. I think there was some damage done since it's much bouncier than it used to be. I'll probably look at replacing them when I do my brakes.

Samirr76: where you look up that info?

Maybe their lawyers are a bit conservative, but why post a lower number on the door jamb than they do for a much smaller RS sedan?

-juice


Because, with the Baja, we are able to put the load farther aft then we can in the sedan - the back of the bed is farther aft than the back of the sedan. Thus further messing up the front/rear weight distribuion. Example in my own case - the most weight I've had in the Baja was about 600 lb - of people in the cab. No problem. But when I loaded 200 lb up against the tailgate, it got pretty loose; I had to drive it like I would a truck, not a sports car.

i hauled a nice six point in there today, did fine. then again i was pretty happy to have a my first deer this year to really notice much. still, dirt road and a nice deer, no prob!

Carried a washer and dryer last night -- no prob.

Love my Baja.

An oldie but goodie I just searched for to post elsewhere. Can we get this stickied?

I've used my '03 Baj as a "truck" from the beginning; moving furniture, hauling refridgerators, junk, gravel, trees, and firewood, etc. I do not use the bed extender when I'm hauling wood and, packed carefully, Baj will carry about 1/2 a face cord. Yeah, I know what the door jamb says, and the owner's manual, but never experienced any "symptoms" of overloadedness when using my baby as a truck. I will post pics if I can figure the thing out.

The only comment I would add is I haven't seen anyone mention the other reason for the weight limit.

The Tires

The potenzas have a max limit of 1609lbs at 44psi, Aside from breaking the suspension which as seen above I think the baja can handle.

It can be very dangerous if you are not mindful of the the weight to pressure ratio in the tires.

Eg when i haul stuff I figure out the weight and adjust air pressure accordinly. I find much better gas mileage at 41 psi then the factory 33. Also keeping the tires underinflated like that causes the outer edges to wear faster

I find my Turbo Baja (stick) to be pretty functional. The largest thing I've had in it were railroad ties (trap door down & tailgate down). However for bigger items I use a box trailer and the Baja tows it fine. If your looking to pull a large trailer with multiple toys forget it, but one or two smaller toys it can handle. I keep the tongue weight and tow weight at manufactures specs and it does great even in the mountains. As for the bed it's good for the weekend chores and keeps the dirt out of the cars interior. A problem that I had with my Impreza wagon.

I actually hooked up a full-sized trailer to my little trucklette and hauled 2 large sections of a bar down the highway. The trailer probably weighed around 400lbs or so and the bar sections were probably around 300lbs each. That plus about 200lbs of extra cargo packed in the bed and back seat. That was the first time the Baja ever pulled a trailor. I think I could smell the transmission getting hot after I pulled over after going up a long hill. :p But it made it - taking it down the road on what's normally a half hour drive.

In regards to the tire pressures - I too find I get better MPG when inflated to 40psi.

Well I think my R6 is the largest thing I've hauled in the back, and I've probably covered over 10,000 miles with it in the back! Rides and drives great!
http://www.socal-sportbikes.com/xmb/attachments/39659.jpg

I fit a large recliner in the back of mine with the tail gate up. A perfect fit!

I have tested the capacities of the Baja. I fill pop machines and when i buy pop at the store I usually buy 30 cases at a time ( approx 20 lbs a case) so that is 600 lbs, granted this is not an every day thing but the baja is able to with stand the weight of the cargo and one or two passangers. I would not recemond hauling a ATV any bigger the one of the toy ones that are designed for children, I have a tough time fitting a ATV in a full size truck with a 6 foot box, the baja has a short box even if you include the length of the tailgate, I would recemond using a trailer. But our Bajas can handle the weight but I would not make it an everyday thing.

I have hauled my wife's Kymco People 150cc motor scooter (pix at scoobytruck.com) to the repair shop. That scooter weighs 250lbs, which the bed is rated for more than that according to the discusions in the scoobytruck baja forums.

When I was having my hardwood floors re-done I had to empty everything from my house. I wish I had a picture but I had something like 33 15gallon roughneck tubs. In the back seat with the seat bottom flipped up (but not the back part down), I 3 side by side lengthwise so they long way went front to back, 3 abreast stacked 2 high (6 in back seat). Front passenger seat one on the floor, 2 in the seat itself. Truck bed I had 18 of them (stacked 4 or 5 high can't remember, with lotsa bungee cords) 2 on the roof rack with lotsa bungee cords. I noted that the clearance on the bridge between my house and the self storage unit was 12' so I had my Baja stacked 11'6" high with those containers (I was kinda worried beleive me). It is a short distance on local roads that aren't heavily traveled and I went slow.

On another trip, in one load I hauled a dining room set with table and 4 chairs, sofa, La-z-boy recliner and lotsa other stuff. Unlike a Legacy wagon, van, SUV etc, The only height restriction is the height of bridges.