Campers with gross mass over 3.5 tons

[tony_lee]

Been a few reports of border posts in southern Mexico refusing entry to US camper trucks (not regarded as RVs) with gross mass rating over 3.5 tons even though they were previously allowed in at northern border on the way south.

Under Page 23:
point 2.6
restricciones de los vehiculos que pueden importarse temporalmente
http://www.sat.gob.mx/.../manual_importacion_vehiculos.pdf

anyone had this problem at the US Mexico border.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

JerBear wrote:
How can the border people deny entry if you have a 10 year permit??

The Aduanero stands in the street blocking your entry, points at the hologram with his finger and then wags it. One time at Nogales I got the permit, stopped for Aduana looked around. nobody there. Honked horn. No one. I drove slowly and looked in the mirror. Empty lane.

I pulled off onto a gravel wide spot and affixed the hologram. The next thing I knew two blue sedans, lights flashing pulled in behind me. They were not interested in the TIP. They were extremely polite. They took a 5-second look in the camper and cab wished me a good day then roared off.

If an official decides for any reason you are not eligible to enter the country, then you are stopped right there.

[tony_lee]

almcc wrote:
May not be relevant to the discussion but is that restriction 3.5 tons or 3.5 TONNES (metric tons). That would make the limit about 7,700 lb.

Hmmm, never realized that the US had a special ton.

My TON being 2240 pounds is as near to a TONNE (1000kg) as makes no difference so I guess the US should stick to using pounds as they usually do. Or maybe use Long Ton, Short Ton or Metric tonne.


Given that Mexico is Metric (or did I assume wrongly?) I would say it is 3.5 Tonnes

[almcc]

May not be relevant to the discussion but is that restriction 3.5 tons or 3.5 TONNES (metric tons). That would make the limit about 7,700 lb.

[Tequila]

I wonder that, my registrationis in kilos, If they lump canadians in with americans they may be interpreting it as lbs.

I think if I had a truckcamper I would get my permit on line. You dont even have to mention the camper as they are usually not registered, anyway. If they are, remove the plate before entering Mexico and try to cross at locations like nogales where they cannot see your vehicle while you are being processed. At least if you get it on line you wont get blindsided at the border. And don't cross into Guatemala.

[tony_lee]

I wonder if there is confusion because the US uses pounds and the rest of the world uses kilograms. The figure on my US documents is just a number with no units specified whereas metric conventions is to always show the units

[tony_lee]

Latest post from Overlander facebook from Joe Parsons

It is clearly apparent the Mexican Customs at the Entry points at Hidalgo and possibly other entry points from Guatemala are Refusing entry for Modified Vehicles like Truck Campers. Since March as we can determine 5-6 overlanders have had been denied even though many had already paid for the TIP when entering from the North. This regulation is being misinterpreted by Customs for unknown reason. The regulation in Spanish clearly states your Pay Load amount cannot exceed 3.5 tons. & has nothing to do with you adding camper or a horse stall for that matter
BEWARE if you enter from the north and get a TIP you best not leave unless you go to Guat, Belize, or renter the US.

No, seems to apply to trucks with slideon campers. At least one overlander with TIP who wanted to go back north into Mexico for another few weeks was allowed to go in but only if they left the camper behind. That didn't make any sense because they were using gross weight stated on documentation over three and a half tons as the criteria and that stayed the same - so I guess anything over a 150, especially with dual wheels might get refused.

[JerBear]

Tequila wrote:
I got 2 reports of pickups (via Mexico Mike) that are empty being barred. Banjercito using the GVWR figure instead of curb weight, maybe on registrations that only show GVWR (mine shows both). This would bar everything except a 1/2 ton. I have asked my partner who has connections to try and get some sort of clarification from them. So far I have only heard of this happening on the southern border. Right now I would avoid taking a pickup into Guatamala or Belize. It may get trapped.

I need to get a hold of my buddy at adventuretrek.They run caravans into south america, to see if he knows anything.

So this only applies to EMPTY trucks??

[Tequila]

I got 2 reports of pickups (via Mexico Mike) that are empty being barred. Banjercito using the GVWR figure instead of curb weight, maybe on registrations that only show GVWR (mine shows both). This would bar everything except a 1/2 ton. I have asked my partner who has connections to try and get some sort of clarification from them. So far I have only heard of this happening on the southern border. Right now I would avoid taking a pickup into Guatamala or Belize. It may get trapped.

I need to get a hold of my buddy at adventuretrek.They run caravans into south america, to see if he knows anything.

[JerBear]

How can the border people deny entry if you have a 10 year permit??

[tony_lee]

Trouble is we don't know if this is in the process of becoming enforced at all border crossings or just because some go-getter in charge at one post on the southern border has misread the law and has instructed all staff accordingly.

Those who just go down into Mexico from the US aren't at any particular risk because worst that happens is they turn around and spend the winter in Quartzite (fate worse than death apparently), but those coming from the south can end up in more trouble because they have to ship their truck direct to the US - and at least one central american country has a no-return-within-90-days law which can add to the hassles.

[DieselBurps]

..this would really worry me; banking only on the inspector/issuer not looking at the rig when you show up....playing the odds?

Following this closely as truck camper owners and future MX crossers...

I would personally risk it, since if you are planning on going farther south into CA not having it could become expensive and difficult as some people have now found out. I think the odds are pretty good if you get the 10 year, they won't say a word coming in from the north.

[JerBear]

Tequila wrote:
Jer if you sell it, you cna always get another under the wifes name. I had no problem changing the truck vin back from an RV classification to a truck again. when I go online to the records I can see my truck classified as both depending on how I bought it in. I always cancel the 10 year on the way out and get another.

On line permit link is https://www.banjercito.com.mx/registroVehiculos/capturaOpcionl.do

The link to check your records is

https://portalsat.plataforma.sat.gob.mx/aduanas_cpitv_internet/index.aspx

Thanks for the info Tequila. Can you not use the camper vin number for the 10 year TIP??
JerBear

[silversand]

Tequila wrote:
If you feel a bit nevous take the jacks off and chuck them inside when you cross.

Truck camper owner here.

Even if you remove the jacks, the tie-down are so onerous (imposing), that anyone inspecting the rig could readily see that the camper isn't part of the truck.

Tony lee wrote:
I hear that some owners get in by using the on-line application for the TIP and it isn't checked when they cross the border.

...this would really worry me; banking only on the inspector/issuer not looking at the rig when you show up....playing the odds?

Following this closely as truck camper owners and future MX crossers...

[tony_lee]

So here is an idea I have been thinking about. I am assuming the 'Secretariat of Communications and Transportation' is who determines what 'Capacidad de Carga' means in Banjercito's rule for the 3.5 ton load limit. Since the confusing is stemming from how the agents at the border are defining that rule, how does one go about contacting someone from that agency and get a written definition clearly stating that it does not mean GVWR but rather the total weight minus the vehicle weight? Can a lawyer in Mexico help us with getting clarification once and for all? If we are able to obtain a letter from them we can disseminate the document for people to present at the Banjercito office when applying for a TIP.

This was a post from the facebook group that first raised the problem.

Is there anyone here with contacts that would help this overlander find a clear definition that the border people might take notice of.