RV driving in mexico
RV'ing In Mexico Is A Great Experience
RV'ing in Mexico is as safe as it is in the States, despite what you may have heard from people who a): have never been there or b): are just plain negative. Thousands of people drive RV's (motorhomes and trailers) drive Mexico every year and it is a far more pleasant place to spend the winter than at home. There are plenty of RV parks in Mexico for both temporary and permanent RV parking. The Pacific coast and Baja have the most RV parks. The Gulf Coast has just enough RV parks. Yucatan RV parks are dwindling, due to high real estate prices, but there are enough. Boondocking can be safe, if you park near a restaurant or house. You must have al Mexican insurance for your RV. For Mexico insurance, click the banner. One company has the best rates for legitimate RV insurance and others are better for car drivers.
You will find several different products relating to driving your RV in Mexico (maps, road logs, travelogues or roadlogs) with RV parks and specific RV routes on my shopping cart, as well as a description of my trip-planning services to help you get the most out of an RV driving trip to Mexico.
The Hotel Valles in Cd, Valles no longer has an RV Park, though El Bañito, south of town still has a few spaces. Get The Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping (see ad at right) for up-to-date listings. RV'ers can now get a 10-year driving permit. My has recommendations for good RV routes through Northeastern Mexico.
For up-to-date information on dealing with less-than-straightforward permit issues related to RV's see the Church's site.
Driving through Mexico by using the Mexican toll roads is your safest bet, BUT it will cost you (a fairly realistic average is one peso per kilometer). Toll roads are privately owned, so the rate you will be charged for driving an RV on a Mexican toll road will vary. At some, you are charged by the number of wheels on the ground, not by the number of axles as the signs at the Mexican toll booths suggest. At others, you pay according to axles. In general, your rate is 50% more than for a car.
Driving Mexico is an adventure, but not as much as you think. Mexican toll roads are safe, fast and similar to first-class highways anywhere in the world. Driving your RV in Mexico doesn't require any more skills than driving your RV in the United States or Canada, other than using common sense.
There is a company in Guadalajara, run by an American, that will be able to provide RV parts throughout Mexico. This used to be a big problem. Getting a part for your RV in Mexico used to take an act of Dios. Fortunately, Mexican mechanics can fabricate parts for RV's in ways that amaze RV drivers.
There is one thing you should be aware of. If you tow a vehicle, it must is supposed to be registered in a different name than the owner of the RV. However, things change and (especially in Sonora) this doesn't necessarily create a problem. But, to be safe, ask Charles Nelson at Nelson Insurance before you go.
Most Mexican RV parks have 110 volt plugs, but every once in awhile, you'll be shocked to find that innocent outlet is putting out 220. Have a disposable electric appliance to plug in first to check out the plug.
Voltage in Mexican RV parks fluctuates greatly. A surge protector is mandatory and a voltage regulator is a darn good idea.
Mexican diesel fuel used to be a lot dirtier than US diesel fuel. Mexican diesel is much better now than it was ten years ago, and sometimes it is even the low sulfur diesel. However, I would still carry several fuel filters and drain water from your catch valve every morning.
Please use the toll roads. Yes, they are expensive, but the damage to your vehicle on regular highways from topes, chuckholes and potential accidents is costlier. The toll road signs say that you are charged by the axle. It depends. Often, you are charged for each tire. Thus, if you have two tires per axle, you MAY get charged a higher rate. You should not be charged for the tow vehicle, but probably will be. See note above.
Mike and Terri Church's book, Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping, is a darn good book. I have been recommending their book The Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping since it first came out and they keep improving it. It is well-researched and they are meticulous about updating it. Every time I give a seminar about traveling in Mexico, all I have to do is mention it and dozens of people will show their copies. That's the best form of advertising there is. They sell their book via Amazon, as do I, so you might as well buy it here. Either way, we both make a few bucks.