reed and elaine Posted March 11, 2016 Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 We are spending three nights at Isla Aguada on the Gulf of Mexico between Campeche and Villahermosa on our way back to US. There was one couple from Switzerland and another from Quebec when we got here. We have see a total of 5 other Americans RV'ing in 2 1/2 months in Yucatan. In that time we have met perhaps 20 Germans and Swiss-Germans and about that many Canadians. Have been in contact with others Gringos but they pretty much go no further south than the area around Guadalajara and the west coast near there. We did see a few several years ago at Palenque but that is it. Friends from Cleveland have been coming down with RV for 20 years (they turned 81 this year and went to Florida instead) and said that they figured that there were never more than 5 or so Gringos traveling about in Yucatan. There are a lot of Gringos at gated communities and places like Paa Muul which have RVs pretty much "dug in" under palapas. Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveh Posted March 11, 2016 Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 It all sounds very interesting. Dave and Lana Hasper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telcoman Posted March 25, 2016 Report Share Posted March 25, 2016 I will be scouting out a new Yucatan route in Jan 2017 for a caravan to run in 2018. The company I wagon master for is running a French Language one down there next season, but I have found that what appeals to Americans & English Canadians is very different, so I am I want to make sure its perfect. We already organize tours for another American based company, but I want to come up with something a little better with some trips to more less visited spots in the Yucatan. Want to see the RV parks down there stay open. iF your cleveland freinds have any suggestions, I would welcome them. Paul Beddows Summer-Abbotsford BC, Winter Jalisco Mexico Co-Founder of NATCOA Wagon Master for Caravanas de Mexico RV Caravans 2010 Majestic Class C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted March 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2016 We have stayed at Xpu Ha, the big one at Chetumal, Paa Muul (which is limited) and a few Archaeological Sites. We stayed four days at Izamal which is owned by a Swiss who has a great hotel (see Ioverlander for really good reviews) and who has traveled extensively as an RV'er. Most of the folks who stay at Hacienda Hotel Santo Domingo (www.izamalhotel.com, (+52 1) 988 96 76 136 are overlanders. There is water and a dump station and a few electrical hookups. Izamal is 75 km from Merida, near to the best cenotes in Yucatan and fairly near the many Puuc archaeolgical sites. We spent fiive days at the San Ramon at San Miguel del Allende and there was an American caravan that was finishing three months around Mexico with severl weeks in Yucatan. It was run by a guy who runs what is primarily Baja based group. I would look into archaeological sites like Uxmal that do permit parking for several days. Others willl do the same and there are some cenotes near Merida that permit overnight camping of smaller rigs. Do not think French will be driving big rigs (we had a 34' 5th wheel which is far to large for Yucatan (and we have taken it down there three times but we are full timers and this is home). "Ioverlander.com" has quite a few possible campgrounds in Yucatan. Assume that French have a much greater interests in cultural, historical and anthropological activities than do US Hope this has been of some help Reed Cundiff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telcoman Posted March 26, 2016 Report Share Posted March 26, 2016 Thanks Reed,the french circuit is well tsted and we have parks for them, they tend to travel in Class A's, I need to identify stuff that will interest Americans & English Canadians. Paul Beddows Summer-Abbotsford BC, Winter Jalisco Mexico Co-Founder of NATCOA Wagon Master for Caravanas de Mexico RV Caravans 2010 Majestic Class C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted March 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2016 OK, so I guess they are French-Canadians. We have met a lot of them, as well as French and German Swiss and Germans. Seems like a lot of Americans and English Canadians were interested in birding/nature. A lot enjoyed the Sian Ka'an Biosphere tripw. Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossAnabel Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 @Reed & Elaine, we have a 4x4 truck w/ 28 ft. 5r. Our current 5r isn't good for much more than weekending w/ hookups, so we're due for an upgrade before hitting the road. What are the obsticals in the Yucatan for bigger rigs? What is a good rig for boondocking down there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted March 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 The problems are swing room and low branches at some sites for tall rigs. There are only half a dozen CGs in the Yucatan: A couple near Cancun, Paa Muul just south of Playa del Carmen, Xpu Ha about 5 km south of Paa Muul, the big one near Chetumal. Church and Church's Guide is still good but is now six years old but they have updates on a web site. We have really liked Laguna Azul on Lake Bacalr (very good write up in Church's) but our 5th wheel is to tall and could not get in. The archaeological sites will usually permit folks to overnight in parking lot; notably Uxmal and Calukmal. Uxmal is easy but Calukmal would not permit a 12' tall 5th wheel. Look up "Ioverlander.com" for a lot more campsites. This website is designed of Overlanders (folks driving down to Chile or across Asia (there are half a dozen spots in Afghanistan if so inclined). It notes a large number of cenotes where you could overnight in Merida area. We were told about the Hacienda San Pedro in Izamal and looked it up on Ioverlander. It was great. A 28' long 4 x 4 truck should work almost anywhere. Most of the rigs are VW buses (modern 4 x 4s), converted vans, small trailers, campers, and a number of Mercedes 911/1011 and MAN expedition level vehicles. The Europeans really like specially constructed camper shells. One Swiss-German couple has been on the road for 17 years with on of these (Europe to Cambodia/Malaysia and back and down to Chile and back. Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted March 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 sorry - misread, it is a 4 x 4 truck with a 28' 5th wheel. We have a 4 x 4 truck with a 34' 5th wheel, and 34' makes it idifficult but not impossible. Height is a problem with ours at 12' 6" Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossAnabel Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Thanks for the info. We are running at a couple inches over 11'. We are planing to snowbird in 2 - 3 years. Work schedules keep us close to home until retirement in a couple of years. We don't have Church's book, will have to pick one up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted March 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 Go to iOverlander.com. It has camping sites all over the world (even Afghanistan if interested). We just looked at the iOverlander map and narrowed it down to New Mexico (where we are currently) and have found dozens of likely spots. It has hundreds in Mexico Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoDirectionHome Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Wow! Awesome guide, THANK YOU reed & elaine -S "There are No Experts, Do the Math!" 2014 Freightliner Cascadia DD16 600hp 1850ft-lb 18spd 3.31 260"wb SpaceCraft S-470 SKP #131740 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 We never heard of iOverlander until two months ago. Most of the oflks coming through the CG at Xpu Ha Oveerlander (Swiss and Germans - some with 3 year olds and one pregnant) heading for Chile. They use iOverlander extensively - and we shall do so in the future Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossAnabel Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Wow, thanks for the heads up. Lots of ideas to keep heads spinning. More things to add to our adventure equation. One thing we have talked about is the option of staying small and nimble, off-road capable (within reason). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted March 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Small and nimble is the way to go. Our 34' 5th wheel is great on the beach when our kids come down to visit but prevents going a lot of places that a much smaller rig would permit. Overlanders pretty much stick to VW level campers, camper shells (some very elegant European shells that can do almost anything). There are those in their giant MAN and Mercedes expedition level vehicles but they were planning on 2 to 15 year trips. As noted earlier, there are apparently a number of really nicde cednotes that permit one to camp for several days after paying entry fees and hear really good things about these places: solidtude, beauty, wildlife etc. Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossAnabel Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 The Cenotes sound great. I wonder if a mid size TT would be a better boondocking rig? Put the biggest tires that will reasonable fit on it. Something to research. Our truck is a 3/4 ton 4x4 xcab 8' box. A winch and front receiver is going on it soon for 2 tracking. Hmm, a plan is taking shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telcoman Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 In Mexico smaller is better. I have some large rigs on the caravan I am currently leading and it can be a challenge, even though I know this particular like the back of my hand. This is why I am scouting out the Yucatan route for 2018 to ensure there are no issues. Another company did a Yucatan trip last eyar, I know because we arranged a lot of their tours. They worked off 10 year old road logs and got last a lot. Not good. BTW the church book is now 6years years old and many parks in there have closed and some other opened. Paul Beddows Summer-Abbotsford BC, Winter Jalisco Mexico Co-Founder of NATCOA Wagon Master for Caravanas de Mexico RV Caravans 2010 Majestic Class C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted April 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 We ran into a caravan in San Miguel del Allende (two weeks ago or so) that was in the last two weeks of a three month trip. It was being run by a guy who generally does Baja tours and the folks had had a time. They did have a slight slipup in the Yucatan in accomodations, but overall it apparently went extremely well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossAnabel Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 All part of the adventure! But I can imagine getting turned around in El Centro with a 50 ft RV with all the narrow one way streets would be a PITA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telcoman Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 We ran into a caravan in San Miguel del Allende (two weeks ago or so) that was in the last two weeks of a three month trip. It was being run by a guy who generally does Baja tours and the folks had had a time. They did have a slight slipup in the Yucatan in accomodations, but overall it apparently went extremely well. That would be Dan Goy a good friend of mine. He runs Baja Amigos. It was not a caravan, just a group of freinds. He is currently taking a trip to Copper Canyon. Paul Beddows Summer-Abbotsford BC, Winter Jalisco Mexico Co-Founder of NATCOA Wagon Master for Caravanas de Mexico RV Caravans 2010 Majestic Class C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted April 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Paul Dan Goy is the guy and it was Baja Amigos. They were having a grand time. Any trip in which, six couples are still enjoying the trip and each others' company after three months is a most succcessful trip. You are of course correct, it was a "caravan" of friends and were excited about heading to Copper Canyon. Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted April 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Cannot edit. One of the rigs was an Open Range TT (we have an OR 5th wheel). They had a slide motor fail. They called the factory and a replacement motor was UPS'ed and down in Cancun in two days. They had enough tools and knowledgeable folks to do the repairs in a few hours. We went to a Chevie dealer in Playa del Carmenand they said it would take two months for a part to be sent down. Fortunately, their prognosis was incorrerct. Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telcoman Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Intereresting. We had someone blow a convertor board. It took 6 weeks and we were long gone by the itme it arrived. i guess they should have used UPS. Was that a Swintek slide (the one with the gear rails along the side). The motors are easy to replace in those. Paul Beddows Summer-Abbotsford BC, Winter Jalisco Mexico Co-Founder of NATCOA Wagon Master for Caravanas de Mexico RV Caravans 2010 Majestic Class C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telcoman Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Paul Dan Goy is the guy and it was Baja Amigos. They were having a grand time. Any trip in which, six couples are still enjoying the trip and each others' company after three months is a most succcessful trip. You are of course correct, it was a "caravan" of friends and were excited about heading to Copper Canyon. Reed and Elaine BTW if anyone wants to do a caravan to Baja, Dan is the guy i would personally recommend. Paul Beddows Summer-Abbotsford BC, Winter Jalisco Mexico Co-Founder of NATCOA Wagon Master for Caravanas de Mexico RV Caravans 2010 Majestic Class C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 Telco man Open Range uses the cable slides, a lot lighter. We have had one problem in 3 years and that was due to not checking clearance when pulling slide in. We use screw jack supports on the extended slides to cut down wear and tear on the cabling and cantilever construction. Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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