Full-timer taking Airstream into Mexico - Help!

Thanks to all!! You guys are great!!

More or less. Think less.
Don't go to the things to declare line unless you are taking things down to declare. Don't show anything unless asked for it. Same goes for the cat's papers, vehicles titles, (they don't care about insurance, it's not legally required), or anything else.
We enter at Lukeville, and winter in Mexico. At Lukeville, the only place, they want to see the dog/cat papers. Nothing else. We have been in country since October 18, and have not shown any papers to anyone anywhere except for the pets.
What is the end result? Have everything available, but don't show anything unless asked. Keep it simple and smile alot. Relax, have a great time.
Welcome to Mexico!!

So in summary here is the plan based on what you're all saying …. we are heading to a small town called La Mision, between Rosarita and Ensenada, about a hundred miles south of Tijuana. We intend to take the toll road. Our rented house is on a hill overlooking the ocean right off the main coastal highway. We will be parking on a narrow street outside the house or in the driveway preferably. My main concern was how to navigate through customs. I have been told to go in the far right "things to declare" line, show our passport, vehicle registration, Mexican insurance, vehicle titles, FMMs (I am buying two in advance from Baja Travel Club), show the cat's rabies and health certificate, and we're on our way. Is that about all I need to know to get there and back? Wendy

With what has been going on in Baja you won't have to worry long, it will be cleaned out while you are not there.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=76099#pid944497
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=76343
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=76307#pid947230
http://fulano.info/forum/thread-14086.html

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

gosh what do you have in your trailer?

just go down and relax. they aren't worried about what you have.

Yep, no TIP for Baja or some of the other places near the border. Check my FAQ sticky at the top of this forum for more info.

FMM's aren't free, cost about $28US each.
You pretty much have to get them at the border. At TJ, it's really easy with their new facility. Just follow MexicoWanderer's instructions above.
We always go in the nothing to declare line-we don't have anything to declare.
If you live in San Diego, just head to TJ for lunch and to hit an ATM and get your FMM's ahead of time so you don't have to stop at the border when you head south. That's what we do. We just park at the border on the US side and walk across.
IF you decide to do it that way, say so, and we'll walk you through walking to the right building.

Turtle-Toad, So what you're saying is I don't need a TIP going down to Baja, so there is no need to list contents of the truck and trailer. But I am also told in this forum that I need to go into the "Declare" line when at the border crossing in Tijuana. Is that just to allow them to look inside, they won't need any documentation of the contents otherwise? . I will however need an FMM for each of us, which you get at the border crossing, correct? Is there anywhere to get the FMM forms free online? This is invaluable advice. Thank you again!

NO T.I.P. needed in either Baja estados. But some municipalidades (like counties in the USA) are enforcing current license plate tags for extraneous vehicles. Usually checked at downtown intersection cop congregations. POLICIA MUNICIPAL is how the cars and the badges are marked.

Buckle up. Enforcement of laws requiring EVERYONE IN THE CAR to be buckled up are getting to be almost Draconian. 600 peso fine per person. Do not drive one inch without buckling. Like other mordidas, the cops set traps like immediately after toll booths, the ag inspection station, militar puestos de controles.

And IF you need a TIP, get it on line.