This article is from the May 1996 The Mexico File newsletter.
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What to Carry When Driving in Mexico

For the Car : Take anything you would need for a week-long drive on Mars.  It's not quite that bad, but you need to carry spare everything...filters, belts, fuses, tools (even if you don't know how to use them, someone will), spark plugs, flares, tow rope, small shovel (for digging out of soft sand, which you WILL get stuck in), water, gas cans, tire repair kit, spare tires and jack, hoses, fluids.  Anything else?  Ho, yeah, a massive sense of humor.

Personal Stuff : Mostly you'll need warm weather clothing.  However, it can be quite cool on the Pacific Ocean side of northern Baja in the winter.  Late spring, summer, and early fall are generally hot...sometimes very hot on the Gulf side.  If you're driving the entire peninsula, be prepared for any type of weather.  I have traveled 60 miles from one side to the other in about an hour to find a 40-degree temperature swing.

An ice chest should be a requirement, along with your tourist card.  There aren't a whole lot of 7-11's on this road, so stock up on drinks and snacks and re-stock as you go along.  Keep in mind that food, goods, and lodging are more expensive in Baja than they are on the mainland.

Other stuff to consider : fishing and diving gear, binoculars, camera, sunscreen, pocket-knife, repellent, sunglasses, and anything else you would normally take on any driving trip.  Actually, once you come to a decent-sized town, you can buy most things you will need, except maybe...gasoline.  The Pemex gas stations tend to run dry once in a while.  So keep your tank at least half full whenever possible.

D.S.