Mexico travel

[Chuck]

I am stationary for a few months in Tombstone. Talked to a guy who just pulled in. He was headed to Mexico (Nogales port of entry) to work at a friends Rv park. Pulling a 5er with 2000 F 450 flat bed. They would not let him across the boarder. Even though the truck is registered recreational, the flat bed was the deal breaker. He said all other paperwork was in order. Not a conventional pick up set up. I guess they determined that he could come into Mexico and do commercial work. We had thought about doing a Baja Caravan in the future. What does this mean for HDT's. Anybody have an experience here.

[GlennWest]

My understanding is we can't go there. If I'm wrong someone will correct.

[DesertMiner]

That's the story I heard....but I know a fella that uses his MDT to pull his 5er into Mexico every year for some time now.  Have to ask him how he does it!

[jkoenig24]

I can't address HDTs entering Mexico but, I've heard and read too many horror stories of serious problems south of the border (things like rampant theft and crooked local authorities) . A few years back, I took a Carnival cruise to Mexico. On the two shore excursions I took, when I walked more about 6' ~ 8' away from the tour guide, I'd be swamped by locals trying to part me from my money. It was unsettling. For me, travel to / in Mexico with or without my RV, is NOT something I would ever have an interest in. If you choose to go, do your homework BEFORE you head south or, you could find yourself in dire straits. 

[BlueLghtning]

I was just going to come on and ask about this. The Xscapers are hosting a trip to San Felipe, MX in January and I'm signed up to go. I remember speaking to a lady at the National HDT rally in 2017 and she stated she had taken her HDT into MX several times before. She stated she had some specific paperwork and it was registered an as motorhome which was important. I don't know who this was and really don't remember anything more. 

The good thing about this trip is it's a caravan of about 40 RV's going down there. Last year, they arranged for a police escort from the border through the town of Mexicali. So once everyone was across the border, the convoy of RV's was led through town not having to stop anywhere until they were well out of town. They had an escort also coming back too that allowed them to move up to the front of the line more quickly also.  That's the plan for this year too. I don't know if being in a caravan of RV's would make that any better and less likely to have issues. 

I'm sure looking for any personal experience on this. 

[Fhkw9DPJ8V1g]

5 hours ago, DesertMiner said:

That's the story I heard....but I know a fella that uses his MDT to pull his 5er into Mexico every year for some time now.  Have to ask him how he does it!

I'd be interested to hear the details of how he does this. Which border crossing would be good info. Thanks

[justRich]

They get the  truck permit online.  https://www.banjercito.com.mx/registroVehiculos/# 

3/4 and 1 ton trucks are denied permit purchase at the border to my knowledge.

Much information on caravans here: https://www.mexicorvbuddies.com/index.php  

[DesertMiner]

It seems he doesn’t need an “import  permit”  for the truck or his 5er because he goes to a RV park in Puerto Penasco MX which is in the “free zone”. Don’t know anything about the “free zone”!

[justRich]

Member telcoman is the  expert on RV travel in Mexico and I've sent him a message regarding this topic.  He should be able to provide uptodate clarification on the topic.

[GeorgiaHybrid]

You can also do some research here:

https://www.mexpro.com/mexico/rv-vehicle-import-permit.html

To get you started.

[telcoman]

HDT's are not allowed although you can use them in Baja as it is a permit free zone, however driving an HDT on narrow Baja roads could prove challenging. As for theF450 flatbed, I believe I have already been communicating indirectly with this person. He may be able to get both his tourist card and permit on line. That means he does not even have to stop at the permitting location if he uses Nogales or Lukeville. In bith cases you are not checked fro permits at the border as the permit stations are about 20 km south and both are in the free zone. This is not the case at Texas crossings. The on line procedure with screen shots is available at Permits. I updated it for this season.

You can only apply for the tourist card 30 days in advance and the permit 60 days in advance. If you intend on doing the tourist card, do both 30 days in advance. I think you need to do the tourist card first as you will need the number for the truck permit (rather than getting the temporary pre-application number outlined in the linked instructions, above). Should you be rejected on the truck permit, you have only lost $30 on the tourist card,  but if you get both the card & permit successfully on line, no need to stop and have some Aduana reject your vehicle. Even so if you still need the tourist card, cross at Nogales, park your rig at the Pemex just before the km 21 permit station and walk to the trailer to do your tourist card, where they cannot see your rig and you don't have to drive it through the exit booth at km 21. You are in the free zone until San Carlos anyway.

 

There is no way you can get a permit on line as an HDT unless its one of those HDT Class C's which are classified as a motorhome. There are no restrictions on those. Nor F550 Class C's. They have to show motorhome on the registration.

[telcoman]

2 hours ago, Rich&Sylvia said:

They get the  truck permit online.  https://www.banjercito.com.mx/registroVehiculos/# 

3/4 and 1 ton trucks are denied permit purchase at the border to my knowledge.

Much information on caravans here: https://www.mexicorvbuddies.com/index.php  

To be more specific https://www.mexicorvbuddies.com/border.php

[telcoman]

21 hours ago, GlennWest said:

My understanding is we can't go there. If I'm wrong someone will correct.

san felipe is in the hassle free zone, no problems

[telcoman]

19 hours ago, jkoenig24 said:

I can't address HDTs entering Mexico but, I've heard and read too many horror stories of serious problems south of the border (things like rampant theft and crooked local authorities) . A few years back, I took a Carnival cruise to Mexico. On the two shore excursions I took, when I walked more about 6' ~ 8' away from the tour guide, I'd be swamped by locals trying to part me from my money. It was unsettling. For me, travel to / in Mexico with or without my RV, is NOT something I would ever have an interest in. If you choose to go, do your homework BEFORE you head south or, you could find yourself in dire straits. 

I have to address this. I have RVed for 4-6 months a year in Mexico for the last 12 years. No incidents, nor have i seen any. I have also led 5 caravans all over Mexico , west coast, Yucatan, you name it. Also zero issues. I was in Tucson 1 block from the shooting of Gaby Giffords. An acquaintance of mine is paralyzed after being shot at a country music concert in Vegas. You have to keep things in perspective, most violence in Mexico is targeted, not the random sort of shooters that seem to be endemic these days in the US. Stay away from drugs and you are probably less at risk than you are in many parts of the US. Or Europe where you can be mowed down by a truck in a public place.

[GlennWest]

1 hour ago, telcoman said:

san felipe is in the hassle free zone, no problems

So you saying we can cross there with our HDTs

[HERO Maker]

This is a thread that should probably appear in the Resource Guide!  Mark Bruss, what do you think??

Thanks for spending the time educating us Paul.

 

[telcoman]

1 hour ago, GlennWest said:

So you saying we can cross there with our HDTs

Yes you should be able to.

[BlueLghtning]

@telcoman, this thread has helped out a bunch. My plan is to head to San Felipe with the Xscapers in January. So that's in the free zone and sounds like I should not have any issues with my HDT/5th wheel and staying connected for sure. I won't be driving the HDT bobtail. I also hope traveling as a group will make things smoother too. 

Do you still need a tourist card for travel to San Felipe? 

So from what I'm reading, there's no option to get a VIP or TIP for a HDT/5th wheel setup or if you could, would it even help in the free zone? 

[2gypsies]

BlueLghtning:  I'm surprised the Xscapers doesn't have a checklist and suggestions for those going since they've done this trip previously.  You might ask.  They should also give you recommendations on getting the necessary insurance.

[telcoman]

3 hours ago, BlueLghtning said:

@telcoman, this thread has helped out a bunch. My plan is to head to San Felipe with the Xscapers in January. So that's in the free zone and sounds like I should not have any issues with my HDT/5th wheel and staying connected for sure. I won't be driving the HDT bobtail. I also hope traveling as a group will make things smoother too. 

Do you still need a tourist card for travel to San Felipe? 

So from what I'm reading, there's no option to get a VIP or TIP for a HDT/5th wheel setup or if you could, would it even help in the free zone? 

Not sure, you do not need one in some areas of northern Baja,  but you may for San Felipe. Once you get into the  zones requiring permits, of which Baja is not one (yet) they consider an HDT a commercial truck. You are only allowed to bring trucks into Mexico that have a cargo capacity of less than 7710 lbs or 3500 kg.  Unless its a Motorhome.

 

BTW on the mainland you can go as far south as Guyamas, there are RV parks there and in nearby San Carlos, also at Kino bay further north. One issue is Mexican RV parks are not designed for humongous rigs. It is like camping in the US in the 50's. In Mexico smaller is better.

We would love to organize an Escapees trip to Copper Canyon sometime,  we already run caravans there, that is in the zone you need a permit.