PICKUP TRUCKS DENIED ACCESS TO MEXICO
Over the past week or so I have had quite a few emails back and forth with people who appear to be the authorities in Mexico on the subject of how much a vehicle can legally weigh when entering Mexico...
Forum Discussion
I have no idea what changes may be being made at various border crossings or why. But the last time we crossed at Laredo/Columbia we had already taken care of all our paperwork south of Deming, NM at Columbus/Palomas where it is always quick and easy - and we go to the dentist there. We park on the US side in a large parking lot and walk across. There is no line and no waiting.
With everything done we head across TX to cross. Even with all our paperwork done - everything - we are subjected to not only a full vehicle inspection but they have us go through their new X-ray machine just like they do coming back into the US. We thought we had it figured out and would just glide through. Not. We have a 40 foot motorhome if that means anything in this equation.
Getting your paperwork out of the way ahead of time is a great idea - no question. BUT that does not mean they are not going to pay any attention to you when you cross. Nogales may be easy today. Other crossings may be easy today. But things seem to keep changing. We never expected the full-on inspection at Columbia but we sure got one.
If the rule they seem to be applying to pickup trucks is taking affect all along the border they may start taking a closer look at vehicles too. Someone needs to be communicating with the various Mexican government agencies to try to find out what law is being applied and why. I am out of it. But if this is not resolved in some way the law they seem to be applying at this time could apply to any and all pickups larger than a 1/2 ton.
The law says - and I could be totally wrong - there should be a tag on the door frame that shows the load capacity of the vehicle - a number besides GVWR. I do not have a pickup and have never looked at one of these tags but it is my understanding that there is no such tag with any number other than VIN and GVWR. Does anyone know - or have any ideas - about how to convince them there is not such tag? In another thread someone sent me photos of their tags - one on the door frame showed the GVWR and another in the glove compartment showed load capacity. The border people would not accept anything but the tag on the door frame.
With everything done we head across TX to cross. Even with all our paperwork done - everything - we are subjected to not only a full vehicle inspection but they have us go through their new X-ray machine just like they do coming back into the US. We thought we had it figured out and would just glide through. Not. We have a 40 foot motorhome if that means anything in this equation.
Getting your paperwork out of the way ahead of time is a great idea - no question. BUT that does not mean they are not going to pay any attention to you when you cross. Nogales may be easy today. Other crossings may be easy today. But things seem to keep changing. We never expected the full-on inspection at Columbia but we sure got one.
If the rule they seem to be applying to pickup trucks is taking affect all along the border they may start taking a closer look at vehicles too. Someone needs to be communicating with the various Mexican government agencies to try to find out what law is being applied and why. I am out of it. But if this is not resolved in some way the law they seem to be applying at this time could apply to any and all pickups larger than a 1/2 ton.
The law says - and I could be totally wrong - there should be a tag on the door frame that shows the load capacity of the vehicle - a number besides GVWR. I do not have a pickup and have never looked at one of these tags but it is my understanding that there is no such tag with any number other than VIN and GVWR. Does anyone know - or have any ideas - about how to convince them there is not such tag? In another thread someone sent me photos of their tags - one on the door frame showed the GVWR and another in the glove compartment showed load capacity. The border people would not accept anything but the tag on the door frame.
