Columbia crossing , Laredo updates

We went thru on Thursday, 6 March. With a truck camper and towed we went thru the car lanes, no issues. The biggest problem was the delays for "inspections" the first about 20k north of San Pedro and the second at the large station near Laredo just before the turnoff to Colombia. 45 minutes to an hour each time. No inspection, just a delay.

Coming through #2 on Friday I had my first incident ever crossing into Mexico. They had changed the set up and I goofed by wanting to do a lane change. My driver's side trailer tires were hung up on the curb. Juan got out and helped me back up and the Mexican border agents came running. They guided me too and then motioned me to move ahead. They had the plastic divider barriers and moved them for me to come through. They then asked for the pedimento. The guys were a hoot and we laughed up a storm about rvers navigating through, all positive though. I did almost take out a two inch post as I got hung up on the curb. I told the guy I had heard stories of how much they charge an rver to repair those things. Other than that, we were on our way in five minutes.

It's been a few years since I brought an RV through #2, but it doesn't appear to be a problem. Coming up 85 / 85D it's an easy right turn into the road that leads to where the stickers are turned in. The building is a little west of #2, so when you're through turning in the sticker you backtrack 1/4 mile, then it's a pretty hard right. Don't get in the far right lane, get in the lane just next to the far right. Occasionally the booth ahead accepts stickers, but it's rarely been open recently. You'll keep to the right, cross the bridge and there are a lot of lanes to choose from - they are tight but doable.
After customs, you are at the start of I-35, just go straight.
Last year when we crossed at #2 on a motorcycle we were treated with good humor and no search. They just looked at the passports.

You can avoid TT255 by exiting the bridge area and turning right on Hwy1472. Either way, you still go around both Laredos and I think that is the beauty of the bridge.

After turning in your TIP at the caseta, you go continue ahead until you find the left turn lane. This left turn lane is a constant loop that will take you around and around. Let's say you miss the caseta for the TIP, no issue. Go ahead and take the turn around. After, take the turn around again and turn in your FMM.

All of this can be seen by doing a Google Earth search. It shows quite clearly the immigration buildings as well as the loop turn around, the crossing into the U.S. and Hwy 1472.

You never enter either city by using this crossing. That said, we had issues using Bridge #2 this last week. Heading to San Antonio last week we were not treated very well by U.S. immigration during the TT inspection and the unusually strict interrogation. Coming back through Bridge #2, ICE agents shook us down. I won't go any further but the Colombia Bridge is the best option IMHO.

I can't add much to this as far as recent goes but I do have questions and comments regarding some of the posts.

We crossed at Columbia a couple of times - once late afternoon Sunday and the truck lanes were closed on the US side - since we are a large motorhome they said we cannot fit in the car lanes and were a bit upset with us since they had to open a special gate - they said Columbia is not set up for motorhomes and we should go to bridge #2 - which is ridiculous since a crossing is a crossing - second time they had Sue get out with our dog saying the motorhome has to go through the truck lanes with only the driver but it would only take 7 minutes - it took 2 hours and Sue and the dog had no food or water or anything to read and it was hot out. Neither crossing was a pleasant experience. We have crossed at many different locations and Columbia has been our only bad experience.

If you did not cross into Mexico at Columbia returning your FMM can be tricky since you may have no idea where to turn it in. We have never crossed into Mexico at Columbia and the first time we misunderstood the guy in the vehicle booth as he indicated he entered our info into his computer and that was all we had to do. We found out later that we were supposed to go turn in the FMM. Next time we circled around to find where to turn in the FMM and had a bit of a problem finding anywhere to park a motorhome towing a car - but we did somehow manage to succeed. We are now told is is possible to mail in the FMM but we have no idea where or how to mail it - does anyone have further info on this?

We plan to give Columbia another try but we would love to hear more information about Bridge #2. We have heard there is some tricky part about having to go under a bridge and do something and if you miss the turn something bad happens. We do not understand or know the details. Any detailed recent info on any and all crossings would be appreciated. Details matter.

We are 40' long and 8'6" wide towing a car so we are told we cannot go through the car lanes. Some RVs can cross more easily depending on size. We would like to know your experiences based on size.

When we crossed at Columbia we continued up the Texas toll road and have never received any kind of bill from them. From what we have seen and what we understand there are cameras that try to get a picture of your license plate so they can somehow track you down to charge the toll. In our experience it seems they do not try very hard to find us to bill us. Maybe the toll only applies to those with Texas plates? Again, more info would be appreciated.

We have never had any problem with any transito or any other kind of law enforcement anywhere at any time in almost 43 years of on and off travels in Mexico including the past 8 years of RV travel all over Mexico. We have never had any problems with Mexican crossing official going in either direction other than some confusion about where to go and what to do.

We crossed into Mexico Monday on Bridge #2 in Laredo. There were very few cars in line waiting for customs getting back to the US - at noon. Everyone here loves Columbia, I think it's easier crossing on #2 - no screwy Texas tolls, open 24 hours, and no Transitos shaking down motorists.

Bob.. about 1/4 mile after you come off the highway there's a small casita on the left. traffic cones direct you to it. That's where you turn in the vehicle stickers and vehicle paperwork.
Just past the casita take a left and go over to the Mexican immigration building (where you got your visa and permits when you entered Mexico) Turn in your FMM and get passport stamped.
Then head back toward the highway to the returno and back toward the casita where you turned in the vehicle permit. Pass by the casita and head to the bridge and the U.S.

Did you have any trouble finding the booth to turn in your car sticker? I have heard it's easy to miss and hard to turn around.
Thanks, Bob

We crossed at Columbia several weeks ago with a Class A and towd. We were told to go to the far right hand truck lanes. My wife and our dogs were told to go through as pedestrians and I was to go through the truck lane and the x-ray machine. I was to pick-up my wife and dogs after the x-ray. The whole process was easy and took less than an hour. No one came on board or asked what we were bringing back. This was on a Sunday and there was hardly any traffic.