Roaming and boondocking in Mexico

Several posters reference Baja. My perception is that is quite different than the miles and miles of border of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Go too www.borderland beat.com and see if you still want to do this!

Did you eventually travel to Mexico? I've been boondocking there for months on end in the winter, since several years. I came back (limping after a major mechanical failure) from there a week ago, and I am already planning our next road trip in October. Over the years, we camped in every single state except Tamaulipas and Veracruz and never had any issue whatsover, on the contrary. PM me if you need practical info. on insurance, vehicle permits (TIP), tourist card formalities, etc. As for truck campers, Mexico has recently been refusing to issue a TIP to any foreign-plated vehicle with a GVWR over 7715 lbs -they consider them as commercial vehicles, unless they show as an RV on the title or registration certificate. We were able to get an exemption for our F350 after submitting photos of our camper on the truck but it was not easy to convince the authorities.

Another thing. If you have collision and/or comprehensive insurance, neither one is usually valid in Mexico. Sometimes your insurance company will have it as an additional-cost option. The Mexican insurance someone mentioned that you are LEGALLY REQUIRED to buy from a Mexican Insurance Company is just liability insurance.

Something to keep in mind, especially if a bank financed your truck or camper and requires you to have them.

Oh, and as to whether or not a road service plan like CoachNet or Good Sam works in Mexico, I have no idea, but you might want to check on that if you have one.

I have Polish young friends, who just few years ago flew with 1-year old baby to California, bought 2WD Toyota RAV 4 and drove it all the way to Equador. They slept in tent not seeking campgrounds.
Seems the white head baby made them friends everywhere with Spanish people, but they had the trip of their life and all excelent memories.
All on limited budget.

Personally, I try to avoid flirtations with ‘known risk areas’ like wrong turns in Oakland, So. Side Chicago, and in more recent years the uncertainty of Mexico - all are deleted from my ‘need to be there’ bucket-list...

This is old saying.
When there is a homicide every 3 days in city like Oakland, CA, that is nothing to worry about.
But when once a decade US tourist gets killed in Mexico, you have all kind of warnings.
Baja is very safe for traveling and since you have basically single highway going to Cabo, not much guidance needed. The region is very catholic and we met lot of US campers who don't lock their RVs... unless greengo arrives. That said, they don't hesitate to cheat in bussines and sticking fuel hose in your RV where the meter was not reset is common issue.
How is diesel fuel in Mexico recently? With new engines that used to be a problem.

DISCLAIMER....My previous post pertains only to Baja.... I’ve been at other locations around Mexico but used commercial flights & stayed at inclusive resorts and did not drive around....

BradW wrote:
Violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread.

Really? I was all over Oaxaca and Puebla this winter and did not encounter ANY of that. We did have a good ground shaker while staying at the Holiday Inn Express.