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RE: Going thru Mexico in PU
Unless the products have sentimental value, you may find it cheaper and less hassle to buy them when you arrive to your destination. In fact, in Mexico they still sell the old-fashioned foot pedal sewing machine model. Just some food for thought.
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qtla9111
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07/21/08 09:13pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: RV Parks near Tampico?
That I know of, there are no rv parks in or near Tampico. We do have a forum member from Tampico who may be able to give you the best advice. My recommendation is to find an empty lot where you could rent space for the time you will be there. Offer to pay electric and water, dumping grey water won't present a problem, if done correctly. Good luck.
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qtla9111
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07/21/08 09:09pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Mitzi - Rest in Peace My Darling
What an impact our "kids" have on us. Enjoy the memories and the good times. They give so much and ask for so little.
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qtla9111
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07/21/08 08:38pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: gas mileage
Not an expert here, but as far as towing, it appears that any combination gets the same, 10-12 mpg. for a standard fifth wheel or travel trailer.
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qtla9111
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07/21/08 08:33pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Mexico West Coast News!
The US/Mexican border is too long to effectively police. Drugs aren't going to be legalized. Additionally, Mexico is out of control and is too corrupt to right itself. On top of all that a large percentage of the Mexicans are already here. As we have to solve Mexico's problems anyway, they might as well be the 51st state. A border east of Oaxaca might be manageable. Were an American president to offer statehood to Mexico, with some level of social economic guarantees, I suspect a majority of Mexicans (read poor)would vote to take the offer. US property taxes on all that Mexican beachfront would pay a lot of bills.
Don you are entitled to your opinion, but it disappoints me. To say, "Mexico is out of control and is too corrupt to right itself" leaves out the other half of the equation. Someone is buying, someone is allowing it to be sold, someone is accepting the monies from the profits of drug sales, and the mafia, Chinese, Russian and who knows who else is operating freely within the boundaries of the receiving countries. Corruption requires two entities for the system to function.
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qtla9111
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07/21/08 06:45pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Mexico West Coast News!
I don't disagree with any of the material in this thread. But the real question is, why does the amount of illegal substance continue to increase? Who is the end consumer? If there are wholesalers on the Mexican side, they surely are not working with small street pimps on the other side.
This is a big business, so big submarines are being captured off the coast of Mexico by the Mexican Navy. All the money being spent on drugs has to be spent somewhere and it surely isn't all going into Mexican coffers. I truly believe that the business and the mafia is so big that the governments in other countries are turning their heads to the amount of money flowing through their countries, both seller and buyer countries. It is just like the illegal immigrant worker problem. Can you imagine that 12 million illegals are working in small business or for themselves? Again, big business prevails, dictates and runs these interests.
As for the crime associated with it, 99% of all the deaths are between rival cartels or within the cartel. The other 1% are the innocent bystanders, those killed in what the U.S. refers to as driveby shootings and cases of mistaken identity.
No one country has the upper hand in this. They are all involved. I feel for these young guys being recuited in the cartels who really believe the line that they will move up in the ranks and have all the money. They give them a stolen car to drive, a weapon and that makes them big sh--. But they are way off the mark, they are disposable soldiers in the battle to make a few at the top wealth.
That says nothing about all the drug addicts who use there products and are never charged with crimes but treated as sick addicted patients who need some special treatment. JMHO
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qtla9111
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07/21/08 03:55pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Introduction: Experience living, working & camping in Mexico
Great post! The Sierra Fria looks like my kind of place. It would be great to hear about boondocking in Aguascalientes. Are there any rv parks in the state and how would you rate them if you have been to them?
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qtla9111
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07/21/08 05:58am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: What to do at night Camping??
Agree with all of the above. We take a nap around 2:30, get up and go exploring or hiking. After, we setup under the awning or around the fire for happy hour. Then we make dinner, talk and listen to some music, usually Astrud Gilberto or Chris Botti. The television is there and we always check for reception. If we get the news, that's great. If not, we keep it off. An occasional DVD movie or Golden Girls episode is enough for us.
Lots of walking and talking, wondering where we are and why we are and where we are supposed to go.
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qtla9111
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07/20/08 07:16pm |
Family Camping
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RE: New to Boondocking
coco1xx, you also asked how long you could go when boondocking. A lot depends on your water tanks, batteries, if you use solar and or a generator and your conservation techniques.
We have been on the road for two weeks and have done extremely well using a generator for air conditioning in 100 degree heat, our batteries are charged and used during quiet hours, and water has lasted by using various techniques from the public showers, to using grey water for flushing (manually).
What type of rv do you have and what are your capacities for water and battery? Do you have any solar or a generator? If so, you can use a microwave and continue cooking ahead. We are gone for another two weeks and are planning many of our meals ahead of time.
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qtla9111
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07/20/08 12:06pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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Cheating Gas Pumps - It's Everywhere
I was reading my RvTravel.com newsletter this morning and came across this article about gas stations in other parts of North America that attempt to cheat their customers Watch Out: Gas Pumps Can Cheat You!
It's everywhere. The key is to not be complacent and accept it but report it. You can report cheating stations on line at the Pemex website.
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qtla9111
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07/20/08 08:42am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: New to Boondocking
Water the trees and plants with your grey water, they love it. It won't hurt a thing. We never dump near lakes, streams or creeks. It is a technology that is used in Europe for watering lawns and flushing indoor toilets.
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qtla9111
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07/19/08 06:30pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: Going thru Mexico in PU
Whatever you do, don't try and pass the customs inspection point without declaring your goods. The law in Mexico says that undeclared goods can be assessed up to 3 times their value for a fine, and they can confiscate your automobile and everything in it as an incentive to pay the fine.
I have had good fortune at Mexican Customs by approaching the subject with a good natured smile and a little bit of patience. I park in the Declaration Zone and then walk over to the office and shake hands with the inspector. Even when my ears ring at their suggestion at how much my stuff is taxable, I try to keep my cool and tell them that I am not rich ("But I want to obey the law--blah blah"). With most inspectors I can pay a "tax" of less than two dollars per hundred dollars of value. Be sure to get a receipt from Banjercito window and take time to list all of the items and include description and serial numbers. This is your protection that the items can be admitted into Mexico more than once (like when you decide to return from Belize).
Great response and keep those tax payment slips.
DonBaja, if you received an official tax payment slip it would be hard for them to be on the take. As for the 1000 pesos minimum, it sounds a bit like b.s. unless she didn't have a computer and was using a hand calculator to do her business and didn't have the knowledge or patience to calculate exact amounts.
This should be another sticky that shows the law verbatum from their website and what to declare and what not to declare. In most cases, in an rv (truck camper included) it is very hard for them to want you to declare something as it is considered part of the house. When I cross back to Mexico, unless I have purchased something over our limit, I really have nothing to declare and go to the "nothing to declare" line. I have never been questioned.
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qtla9111
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07/19/08 06:13pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Going thru Mexico in PU
I am going thru Mexico to Belize and want to take some items like micorwave,sewing machine,etc. Will I have any problems
Those are not considered personal items. Personal items pay no import tax and include the following; camera, video camera, laptop, clothes but not new with labels unless their value is less than 300 dollars until the end of July, after it reverts back to 50 dollars (per person). If you have dated receipts and or the products are Mexican, U.S. or Canadian, you may pay a lower import tax.
I don't have all the exact information now, but it is available on the aduana website. I will try and post it tomorrow. Don't take the above verbatum, but it is close.
When I tried to bring personal items after my parents death, I had some problems getting them across for lack of understanding on their part as well as mine. Better safe than sorry.
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qtla9111
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07/18/08 07:48pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: What is killing the RV Industree?
Might be wise for rv manufacturers to think about building units that are smaller, less expensive, use less energy such as the Dometic European size roof airs, 3500 and 4500 btus not sold in the U.S., and consider the export market. Fuel is still half as expensive here in Mexico, and parts of South America where incomes have increased and campers are growing at ever increasing numbers.
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qtla9111
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07/18/08 06:41pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Batteries
What qtla9111 modestly omits from his post about a/c is that he has outsmarted the whole RV air conditioning world -- most a/c requires a ton of juice and will not run off a Honda 2000. And most a/c units are way too big for your RV (unless you have a really big RV). So he installed a portable window unit that draws minimal power and does just fine with a small generator. Perfect for boondocking in hot climates.
If you want to see how he did it, search his name and "window unit" or whatever. Once you see it, you will wonder why this is not an option on all RVs and trailers. Plus he has a really cool blog about travel in Mexico.
Thanks profdant139. We have been using the a/c on this month-long trip and it works just fine. It may not be the most attractive setup, but we haven't been in an rv park yet so nobody cares. Also, we have a small travel trailer and it takes very little to cool it.
There are lots of changes I will make on my next tt purchase. First will be not to have a roof air. What a pain in the neck, extra weight, lots of noise and that constant vibration and droning.
I want a 21 foot unit, and will install a window unit on the floor in a cabinet. Out of sight out of mind. I say this because our first TT was a Trailmanor. Then, Trailmanor utilized a window unit in a cabinet. It worked like a champ and you could put just about any kind of window unit in there you wanted. It was a great idea. Now they have gone to roof units in all their models. I would make the cabinet in my current TT but just don't have the huevos to cut a hole in the side of my trailer.
Somebody help me out here, there is a new a/c unit with heat pump called a Kool Kat or something like that? I tried to do a search but came up empty. That is a new cabinet unit being installed in some rvs.
BTW, Dometic Europe, makes two roof air models that are both in the 3500 to 5000 btu range. They say they will never market them here. So what does that tell you?
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qtla9111
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07/18/08 07:04am |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: where to go from Mexico
There are several dealers here in Monterrey. In fact, one always has five units on display in the Walmart parking lot on Eugenio Garza Sada and Las Torres. If you are interested, please send me a PM.
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qtla9111
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07/17/08 06:45pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: What's the best form of 'money' to bring into MX
ATMs abound. We have been on the road now for two weeks and carry less than 2000 pesos with us at anytime. Too many ATMs and the charges in real terms are minimal whether we are using our U.S. or Mexican accounts.
ATMs are more common than ever as many companies, factories and government agencies (local, state and federal) now pay via direct deposit even in small pueblitos. This has eliminated the need to pay employees in cash in small envelopes. Seems like the small companies were always getting robbed. Plus, the money makes it home on a Friday night, if you know what I mean.
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qtla9111
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07/17/08 06:42pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Batteries
Finally, try not to use the furnace -- bundle up, make hot chocolate, add extra blankets, bring a warm friend into your bed . . . . . ;)
I turn on my Honda EU2000i and set it to "ECO" mode. It runs whisper quiet and I can use the heater all night long. It sure beats worrying about running down batteries.
We are on a month long boondocking trip and the heat here in Northern Mexico is a killer. I have been using the Honda 2000 with a 5000btu air conditioner. I turn it on around 8:30 at night and it finally runs out of gas around 9:00 a.m. the next morning. I use it in eco mode and it burps for a second when the compressor comes on but not enough to even notice.
It has been my best rving investment. I plug the a/c directly to the generator and then the trailer so I am always charging my batteries.
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qtla9111
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07/14/08 06:50pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel in Mexico
In terms of the ULSD, why not take a couple of samples from different border locations and have them tested? That would put an end to whether it is or it isn't. JMHO
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qtla9111
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07/11/08 07:35am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Just to make it perfectly clear now...
Agree with all the above. No fish tacos unless you are around the coastal areas of Tampico and some in Veracruz. But in terms of the following you will enjoy yourself choosing either flour corn tortillas, enjoy the list:
carne asada
puerco asado
huevo con uno de los siguente; papa, jamon, chorrizo, machacado,
liver and chile en raja
picadillo
ojo de res (yuck)
molleja asada (excellent before you turn your nose up at it, once every six months as it is a pure dose of cholesterol)
chile jalepeño con queso
chile jalepeño con carne
quesadilla
bean with cheese
cheese with salsa
Time for drinks and dinner. Today we found a real jewel of a place here in Cerralvo. A great stop for those coming from the border the first day.
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qtla9111
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07/10/08 05:47pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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