Looking to spend the winter in Mexico, but I pull with a HDT. I have read as much of the history as I can find, but am wondering if anyone has recent experiences with taking a HDT across the border? Thanks

You'd be safer in Compton. Please Google 'kidnapping' and 'Mexico'. I personally know (no BS) two people who have been kidnapped in mexico. One white dude from CA. He got home only after a few weeks being shot up with heroin and dragged from ATM to ATM and his parents paying $200k.

The other is a Jewish Mexican who was a jewler in Mexico City. They kept him two years and his wife had to sell EVERYTHING and he ended up paying for his life with $7mil. (not pesos) He sells cars in San Antonio now.

I have read personal accounts of dirt bikers who have been shot at, caught in the middle of a Federales vs drug cartel men shoot out for several hours in their fiver and others being chased through the hills by bandits.

Mexico is an out of control narco-terorist state. The lame stream media doesn't put these stories on the air. Not good for NAFTA.

Yeah, all these folks go down there and the people are nice and nothing happens. Until it does. Your high dollar rig would look really nice to some bandito patron ... or Federale capitain. Or the local chief of police.

I just want to know how much trouble I am going to have to get my Volvo COE across the border. I have been to 14 countries, 3 times in Russia alone, Brazil alone, etc etc. I have seen everything you talk about in New Orleans already..... they will kill you for a pair of shoes there. No matter... there is risks everywhere. We all make a calculated risk every day.... thus far, I am not afraid to go to Mexico. I will, however, be extremely vigilant...as I am always when out of country or down in New Orleans SO... has anyone tried to take an HDT across the border in the last 6 months?

Dude. Did you have your OWN $125,000 (or more) rig with you when you were in all those other countries? Are you actually informed about recent events all along the border and not just the border? Its a GDmnd war zone down there.

You're going to be 'vigilant' when twenty guys with automatic weapons assault you out in the boonies? Right.

Don't bother to answer. You obviously believe you have a special guardian angel.

I have been all over the world... and not that it matters a whole lot.... the only ONE day I EVER spent in a jail cell was in Texas... thanks to a crazy ex wife. There is bad people EVERYwhere... and I KNOW there is bad people in Mexico also. But there is a lot of good ones too. There is at any time about 600,000 Americans in Mexico. Yes... there is risks... I know it. Thanks for your concern.....and if I am the one that gets blown away by some drug lords... I won't blame anyone but myself. There is a right way and a wrong way to do anything. I do not have a guardian angel, but every American that goes to Mexico doesn't get killed either. There is lots of rules for traveling in a foreign country.... I try to follow them... and still I know there are never any guarantees.....but then I do not have guarantees where I am at either. I understand WELL what you say and how you think about it..... there is many people that think similarly to you. But there is many other people also that still go to Mexico... or other places.
SO... do you think if I am pulling a 5ver that the Mexican government will let me cross their border with a HDT? I will not unhitch my 5ver from the truck except when the 5ver is parked. I would not drive the truck without the 5ver hitched to the truck. Think they will let me across? I read they allowed other's HDTs across as late as last December ( I think?? )
Thanks

Well "Dude" -
I'm in So. CA.

Yes we are well aware of the going's on in MX.
(particularly in the border towns like TJ)
Yes - the media DOES cover it here.

Lot's of the "dudes" I worked with still go to
MX regularly (and have been for years)- some have property there.

Younger bunch of dudes still head South also.

Some of 'em are current and former (ret) Compton FD dudes, so guess it's no big deal.

Jofox - (sounds like you have a very valuable rig LOL!) I would look for the threads posted by
the "other" Texas folks that have crossed there
as to the problems with bringing HDTs into MX -
and particularly the return.
There have been some "difficulties" - which had nothing to do with crime, drugs, or rock n' roll.

BTW -
Who -IS- Scott Fleming . . .
n00b aspirant &
wealth of valuable & indisputable info ???

quote:

Originally posted by 10-9jc:
Well "Dude" -
I'm in So. CA.

Yes we are well aware of the going's on in MX.
(particularly in the border towns like TJ)
Yes - the media DOES cover it here.

Lot's of the "dudes" I worked with still go to
MX regularly (and have been for years)- some have property there.

Younger bunch of dudes still head South also.

Jofox - I would look for the threads posted by
the "other" Texas folks that have crossed there
as to the problems with bringing HDTs into MX -
and particularly the return.
There have been some "difficulties" - which had nothing to do with crime, drugs, or rock n' roll.

BTW -
Who -IS- Scott Fleming . . .
n00b aspirant &
wealth of valuable & indisputable info ???

I'm nobody. 'friend'

I use 'dude' as a humorous euphemism.

Go ahead. Send your fellow human beings off to that @#$%&!hole of a country South of the border. What do you care if they ever come back? Or their kids? Or their wives?

Bad karma!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 10-9jc,

Yea, I read MANY of the threads about MX and HDT's. There has been much different experiences over the last few years. I was hoping somoen had NEW experiences (<5 months ago? ) It seems things change in the way the rules are applied each time you cross. As I said... I would not unhitch from the 5ver and try to come back to the states without the trailer (read about that guy) I like to think of my rig as an "articulating motorhome" I will eventually carry my car on the back of the truck with the 5ver behind that...... but except to load the car or when I am parked..... the truck really never has a reason to be unhitched from the 5ver. I am not going to make a truck that gets 7 or 8 mpg into my daily driver. So... I wish that the governments would let me treat thetruck in that way.... just an extension of my 5ver.
BTW... anyone in the HDT forum ever been to Trailer Park De Alba in Veracruz? Was it a nice place? Was it SAFE?

I don't do RVing forums so often ( until recently), but is asking something about travel to mexico get the same basic response as asking about pulling a camper at > GVWR for my 1-ton truck?
COME_OOOON>>>>> I just want to know if I can take my HDT into Mexico. I appreciate informing me of the hazards I may face...... but it is my choice. I hope everyone here doesn't get in an uproar about going or NOT going to mexico.... I just want to know what anyone else has experienced in the last 6 months.

Jofox - Try the search (find) feature for a lengthy thread a while ago. topic was
"Mexican Insurance" - or try "Rancho Sordo Mudo" for the same thread.

Forum members "Lee Jacobs" and "Robertito" live in Mexico. Robertito and others had some (lots) of HDT/trailer info on that thread.
Many with personal ("first-hand") success/failures & suggestions.

BTW - know what you mean about being informed about the hazards you face. Knew a guy that jumped out of a perfectly good airplane.
Just couldn't convince him it wasn't the thing to do, LOL! He's still jumpin'!

JC

Jofox10,
To answer your question here is a topic about the difficulties one person had getting back into Mexico with their HDT. They had to use a pickup to get their trailer out of Mexico as they weren't allowed to drive their HDT into Mexico bobtail.

Charles

Thanks Charkes. Yes.. I have already read about that one. The thing is that the policy at the border always changes...... what was wrong will sometimes be allowed later..... or what is allowed may go away later. I know some people were able to take HDT's into Mexico for a while. It seems they changed the rules due to something about NAFTA and Mexican trucks entering the USA. That is why I was looking for RECENT info.... I have received a couple of PM's from people that have said their recent attempts were not successful. No trucks >1-ton allowed at the moment is what it looks like. It could change in the next months or weeks, but that is the way it is for now. I won't go into the logic behind this nonsense, everyone with a HDT understands. MOST of the HDT's have removed everything they would need to pull a commercial trailer.... so it is just pure politics that keeps us out for the moment.
Personally, I don't much care for governments... any of them..... they generally make life more difficult for everyone. (That includes my own)
I would rather take my big rig down and be very comfortable, but I still have a 1-ton/ 30' Jayco also. I still would like to be camped on the beach somewhere for Christmas this year.

I don't know about current info, and that is what you are asking for. I can't really help but I can offer another probably unwanted opinion.

If you really want to go, go for it! The only thing you need to find out is the proper amount of cash you need to supply to law enforcement for crossing both ways.

I know of a mechanic who crossed with his rig, his whole livelyhood, and the company he was working for had a man waiting for him just before the border.

The man gets into his truck and instructs him which lane to cross through.

The man then hands over a white envelope and the border patrol asks the mechanic for his paper.
The confused mechanic furnishes a motel receipt from the night before it is examined,returned, and he is waived across! It was that simple.


So if you have these connections and cash to spare in the appropriate amounts, HAVE FUN!


I also wanted to add that this mechanic was NOT me. I was contacted about this job and promptly told them that there was way too much money to be made right here, furthermore how stupid do you think I am? You couldn't give me the whole country for my rig. (its not that the country is bad, I like my truck more )

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pipeline Mechanic,

Oh, boy, I don't think I'd try that stunt in the current atmosphere. Not a good idea!

JoFox, I think that the reason you're not getting an answer to your question is two-fold. You posted it less than 24 hours ago, and lots of folks who might have crossed the border or attempted to last winter are off enjoying their travels right now, and not sitting at their computers like I am. Secondly, most anyone who attempted to drive an HDT across the border last winter did it in November or December, more than the six months you are narrowing your search to.

If you have time to be patient, folks will find this thread, and hopefully, someone will have some good news for you. I do try to follow any thread that pertains to Mexico, because I live there and like to help where I can. And, I don't recall many people having much luck at taking HDT's into Mexico last winter. I also did not see many in country this past winter and spring time. I recall reading, in at least one incident, that the people had finally gotten the Aduana (Mexican Customs) to OK them taking their HDT into country, but only after a long drawn-out hassle, complete with having sent photos of it to DF (Mexico City) for approval from headquarters. With the current crisis, I would be very surprised if any Aduana officer would spend the time and effort to be that helpful.

Sounds like you've already researched for information on this site; how about other RV forums? I am a 'died in the wool SKP', so don't follow any of the others, so can't advise you on where else to look.

Now, to clarify my position here: JoFox started this thread to ask a specific question. He/She didn't ask for our opinion of the current crisis in Mexico. If anyone wants to discuss that issue, I think we need to consider the purpose of this forum, and how our discussion would fit into it. Of course, for me, it's a pertinent subject, but as one of only a handful of people on this forum who live permanently in Mexico, I am in the minority, and I'm also very cautious to respect the rules and regulations of this forum..... having been one of the earliest members. Still, I know that there are going to be many questions and discussions amongst us as fall and winter approach and people are ready to go south of the border to travel. So, when that happens, I would like to find out first if it's OK with Kellie, and then start a thread to carry on our discussions, which, because of the sensitivity of the subject, will touch on political issues. If the subject is deemed by our Moderator and the Administrator of this forum to be off-limits, I hope that we can all respect that ruling, and go offline to carry on our discussions.

Ok, so that's my position on the subject. Please carry on.... anyone have any idea of how to advise JoFox on getting his HDT across the border legally? Bribing officials at this time wouldn't be a wise move!!!

Lee