rocmoc wrote: Your trip report has been most entertaining. Sorry to say IMHO most problems resulted from bad decisions on your part. You just can not go down streets and roads in Mexico with a big rig without knowing what is ahead of you. I have road a bicycle down many a street only to come back and change the planned route. Beyond your bad choices, sounds like you had a great trip. Waiting for the final chapter!
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
I don’t take offence to being told I made bad decisions but I do take exception. I believe my experience level had much to do with the problems that arose during this trip, not the lack of planning. The level of experience I had prior to this trip was a 5 day vacation in Baja which can’t come close in comparison to a 30 trip on the mainland. With this trip under my belt I have learned allot and I’m confident that our next trip south will not be without problems just not to the level we had on this trip.
I strongly suggest anyone planning a trip south for the first time consider taking a couple of smaller trips to acclimate yourself to the driving and living conditions you will be faced with.
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As folks who travel with our RV's in Canada or the US, we are spoiled by the (generally)good roads, excellent signage and gadgets like the Garmin Nuvi which will take us point-to-point and even avoids inappropriate roads if it's set up for trucks.
Mexico is different, you have to drive at lower than posted speeds, arm yourself with all the Mexico maps that you can get, and most of all, take it slow, the posted speeds are generally not attainable with an RV.
Someone down there told us about the "rule of two" (200 miles max per day, in the campsite by 2:00 pm and stay a minimum of 2 days). Good advice! One thing that I find refreshing about Mexico is that you can be significantly below the speed limit and people just pass you without giving you the finger, they are used to passing slow moving trucks (or cattle).
If you pay attention, take it slow and have good info., you won't have a problem.
I did have a problem down there this winter, a cup broke when it fell out of the cupboard!
ArmySFCRet wrote: Would anyone recommend caravaning with a well known company on your first trip or will they avoid the pitfalls and then you really learn nothing?
We went down our first time with Bill and Dot Bell's La Peñita Express, which was partly to give new Mexico travelers a little experience in driving there. Unfortunately, I don't think they will run anymore. Your best bet would be to find someone experienced to travel with. There are several sites where you can find fellow travelers, here would be a good start. Also, www.ontheroadin.com also has a BYOC (build your own caravan) section. What I've seen of the big caravan companies is that they stress how dangerous it is to keep you in line and to help their business. (flame away if you must but that is my impression).
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almcc wrote: As folks who travel with our RV's in Canada or the US, we are spoiled by the (generally)good roads, excellent signage and gadgets like the Garmin Nuvi which will take us point-to-point and even avoids inappropriate roads if it's set up for trucks.
Mexico is different, you have to drive at lower than posted speeds, arm yourself with all the Mexico maps that you can get, and most of all, take it slow, the posted speeds are generally not attainable with an RV.
Someone down there told us about the "rule of two" (200 miles max per day, in the campsite by 2:00 pm and stay a minimum of 2 days). Good advice! One thing that I find refreshing about Mexico is that you can be significantly below the speed limit and people just pass you without giving you the finger, they are used to passing slow moving trucks (or cattle).
If you pay attention, take it slow and have good info., you won't have a problem.
I did have a problem down there this winter, a cup broke when it fell out of the cupboard!
I live here fulltime and we still stop by two p.m. I gotta be setup and ready for my nap by 2:30 . That being said, the rule of two is a good thing to follow. Driving all day has never been for me. I want to nap, relax, look around, set up for happy hour and then whatever comes next.
The best thing to do is hookup with someone who has traveled in Mexico and follow them for a while. After about a week you will be comfortable in going your own way. We offer every year the opportunity and have yet had anyone take us up. But we have had people follow us OUT of Mexico after they just felt a little overwhelmed. We will be going down again next winter, South down the East Coast and up the West halfway turning inland the rest of the way to USA. We will again welcome a few others, 5 at the most. We will be leaving in late Nov returning late Jan. Have Fun!
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
If you were on the quota when the windsheild was broken the repair might have been covered under the quota's insurance. The high toll price includes insurance if I understand it correctly.
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. That being said, the rule of two is a good thing to follow. Driving all day has never been for me. I want to nap, relax, look around, set up for happy hour and then whatever comes next.
