Mexico RV experience?

[DHayden]

Who has RV'd through Mexico? What were road conditions? Fuel stop availability? Friendliness, dangers, hazards? Any experience and input would be very helpful. Please include how far into Mexico you traveled, best area's, worst area's and any other info you would like to include. TIA

 

[StevenP]

Where at in Mexico do you want to go? I spent a whole year in Baja and w/o the 5th wheel went several places throughout Mexico. There are also some excellent web sites to help you on your trip. I wouldn't worry about fuel in Mexico. As a matter of fact right now Diesel is about $1. 75-1. 85. Yes, cheaper than here. As always take those fuel filters with you. Steve

 

[GFrance]

You could try www.irv2.com bet you would get plenty of feed back.

 

[DHayden]

I havent decided anywhere specific yet. I live close to El Paso and there is alot of crime just over the border lately. In Juarez there have been some abductions and assaults lately and alot of drug crime. I am a well cultured and travelled person but have never been through Mexico, only to border towns. Wanted to get an idea for the rural area's on how warmly or coldly you were treated, road conditions and if there were any stretches you had to worry about no fuel availability (like 93 thru Nevada). I'll go take a look at irv2 thanks for the input, keep it comming

 

[mhenon]

We've been all over the west (Pacific) coast of Mexico and inland a little.

Fuel is no problem and the prices are good. The quality is also good. RV parking starts to poop out south of Manzanillo. Big trailers can be a problem as you go south. Having said that. . you still see plenty of 35' 5th wheel's headed way south... I wouldn't do that again. Towns are too conjested and roads questionable the further you go.

As far as safety. . I don't think there's much to worry about here. Just use common sense. We've spent many a night at the Pemex gas stations while travelling from point A to B. Most of the truckers and RV'res are using them to overnight (kinda like Flying J).

Don't drive at night. I've done it. . but it's just stupid.

There are plenty of web-sites to guide you through your first trip to Mexico. They helped me alot. We winter down here every year now. Wouldn't even consider going any place else.

Mike

 

[StevenP]

Mike is right stay off the roads at night. I took my rig all the way down to Cabo San Lucas. That stretch was something else. There are some beautiful places to visit though. There are many of my friends that do visit San Carlos. Travel safe always. Steve

 

[JJ Jackson]

If you like Baja, the Sea of Cortez side is beautiful, if you are adventurous check out some of the beaches there. No one for miles. I encountered no problems and the people were as friendly as can be. I believe I was south of Puertocitos somewhere and met a man with an entire home made out of Tecate cans, the stories he told, wow... ... ... . Jim

 

[opiefire]

StevenP,

What type of rv did you drag to Cabo San Lucas? My family owns a time share, and I have always wanted to drive the rv down. I have heard the roads can be very rough to say the least! How many days did it take you to get there? I'm sure it was great trip! Take it easy. David

 

[Fireman]

Jim,



A house made frome Tecate cans Wow ! I'll bet he COULD tell some stories :-laf



Fireman

 

[JPudenz]

I have never driven an RV through Mexico however have been considering it. RV.net has a whole forum based on Mexico travels, there are a lot of good people sharing there experiences, and a lot of people who are to scared to go to mexico telling second and third hand stories about why you shouldn't go. The best piece of information I received was tip well, remember where your at(third world country, in there opinion you have everything they have nothing), and do not travel at night.



JJ

 

[tpuig]

Road to Cabo San Lucas

Well, there's really only one main road to southern Baja. Last November I took Mex Hwy 1 south from Tijuana/Ensenada along the Pacific. On the way back cut across to Bahia Gonzaga, North to Puertocitas/San Felipe. (That would be the only part I definitely would not recommend taking a trailer or a low clearance RV) The highways are a gamble depending on weather. Rain sometimes washes the roads out. A pickup can make it through, but maybe not a trailer. RV's could probably make it, albeit more slowly.

The further away from the border, the slower the pace and the nicer the people. We've got a timeshare in Cabo, and it was a very nice trip. Just recommend you bring along any spare parts you might need. Saw one or two Pemex without gas, but no problems with diesel. And although everyone suggested topping off at every opportunity, I went 500 miles easy on a tank. However I had 5 spare fuel cans with 35 gallons of #2 in the bed... There is usually at least one Pemex in each town of any reasonable size.

I also found the dirt roads to be a much more enjoyable than the highway, just because of the lack of trucks and buses.

Driving from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas at midnight was a real adventure. It took about 3 times longer because I went really slow. Really slow. There must have been a dozen cows, a couple horses, some pigs, and at least 100 burros in the road along the way. Toss in a couple Policia, some big rigs and an occasional drunk, and you can see why slow is good.

Make sure to get insurance. It cost me less to get an annual policy than for just 3 weeks. Go figure. Hope this helps, and do a search for Baja travel forums, there are some good ones.

TP

 

[Rider]

Well, I lived in Central America for 13 years... and just returned from a 10 day motorcycle trip through the Copper Canyon region. Read about it here if you are interested:



http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=474310



And yes, that's a CTD we hauled the bikes with.



You should be fine. Your two biggest obstacles will be paperwork at the border and insurance for either.



In terms of paperwork for the vehicle, you'll need title in your name, the driver. And so on--many sites will guide you through this.



As others have said, fuel is no problem. All stations are state-owned Pemex and of good quality. All that's missing is high test gasoline, but you won't be needing that.



May I recommend the Copper Canyon region or San Miguel de Allende? Let me know if I can answer any questions.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I have pulled my 5th whl to Cabo San Lucas and back, to San Felipe twice, to Mazatlan and back, to Cancun-Belize via the east coast of Mexico. In fact i am now in Zihatanejo but flew this time. Diesel is $1. 76 per US gal and gas is $2. 14 today with diesel readily available in about three quarters of the Pemex stations.

Roads are ok but vigalance for potholes, animals, topes etc. are a must. Nothing ruins your day like hitting a tope at about 50 mph with your 5th whl on behind. It really tests your whole rig.

Hit the road and come on down.