New Los mochis RV park

[Tequila]

I have been in communication with a Mexican man who lives in Vancouver, His father owns land north of Los Mochis and is thinking of putting in an RV park. For those who have driven 15D, you may remember a toll booth between Los Mochis & El Carrizo, followed by a hill northbound. The location is just north of that toll booth 1/2 km off 15D. He will be putting in water, power and at least a sani dump.

Would people use this instead of boondocking at a Pemex?

I hope to check the site out myself northbound in March and we currently have 2 sets of wagon masters heading north in late December to pick up caravans, so I will also have the check out what is there and maybe use it if the parking is available even without services at this point.

[Talleyho69]

There are two Pemex, each just past the overpass into Los Mochis that are set up for overnight truck parking, one on each side of the highway and very secure, and there is a restaurant just at the overpass on the east side that looks Asian, but isn't, that has a yard for overnighting.

We are with you-better sleep and a bit of an experience is great.

[Keela]

I certainly would stop there rather than a Pemex and I would feel much better being a lone traveler..Also would be great to be able to ask local people about any places of interest in the area .. I realize many people just like an overnight stop. I think charging accordingly for electric versus dry camping would be a good idea .I'm all for a better stop than what now exists.

[Talleyho69]

Electricity is interesting here, and expensive. Commercial use is higher than residential. Here is a short cut and paste from the Zihuatanejo blog, zihuatanejo.net in regards to residential rates:

Tiered rate: The more you use the more you pay, lots more. Low use in KWH are reasonable at tier one. This will run a fridge, a few lights and fans so the average low paid local can afford it. But the more KWH you use will quickly put you into higher and higher tier rates really fast. This part is easy to understand.

Tiered over time is a bit harder to understand. For example, let's say you run all your fans, don't turn off lights when not in use, use a computer and add some other high wattage users so you are in a high tier rate category. Here is the tricky part: Using a lot of KWH will kick you into a higher tier rate AND for the first billing period it won't look too bad, say 2,000 pesos. Then on the second billing period it will jump to 4,000 pesos, then the third billing period might be 7,000 and then so on and so forth until you max out on both tiers. Not only that, if you figure out it is costing you a lot of money you don't go to both the lower tier rates on the next billing period. You must "walk down the tiers" over the next several billing periods.

Here was my response:

To make it muddier, here in Zihuatanejo, we are allowed 800 kwh per 2 month period before we go into the DAC rate. The DAC rate hurts. Once your 12 month average exceeds the 800 kwh per billing period, you stay at the DAC rate until your 12 month average drops below 800. It's not an easy thing to get out of.
There are 2 tiers before you hit DAC, that take you up to 800 kwh.

We read our meter every Sunday (used to be daily) always turn off fans and lights and when we bought appliances and AC units, paid the extra for the inverter types.

We use our AC 3-4 hours a day in the summer, use the washer and dryer, fans, microwaves, run 3 refrigerators and 3 computers. Our bill was for 695 kwh, 983p, about $50 US.

End result, non commercial rates, we are very careful and use less than our allotted kwh to stay in the non penalty range-notice no TV, or anything else not listed.

Commercial rates are killer. Electricity is affordable for the worker who uses a little and a LOT for those that use more. Seems fair.

I agree that a 12 amp limit and turning off the electricity is a deal breaker. If you can't run at least your fridge and something else, what's the point of electricity? In that area AC is a must after a drive from either Mazatlan or San Carlos. Charge accordingly. Offer dry camping for those that will run their generators.

[westernrvparkow]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Mochis is not a destination. I hope the new prospective owner understands to limit electricity to 12-amps. If I was to plan a park, there, I would chop site power for a few hours between 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM to keep tariffs at a minimum. I found electrical cost to be 70%+ of cost of running a park. Trade thriftiness for a low tariff. Rig batteries will easily survive three hours of autonomy and in winter at that latitude lots of 1,500 watt heaters would be glowing.

Curious as to how much your electricity costs are in Mexico. At most, in the US electricity costs around $5.00 US per day for a large RV. I would think that a 12 amp limit and times when power was cut off would be a customer service disaster. I realize the average RVer In Mexico has very different wants, needs and expectations than US RVers, but are those electrical management plans actually used by successful parks in Mexico? They sound almost prehistoric and third worldly to me.

[Tequila]

I think he intends to do all that, but it wont be this season.

[stanbnv]

We would definitely stop there. We need electric hookups, and water might be nice. Maybe just one sewer dump for those that didn't dump in Guaymas or Mazatlán. I hate spending the night at truck stops.

[Tequila]

It a ranch so the RV parking would just be a sideline.

[Talleyho69]

Looks good, I'd like to think he can make a go of it, at least seasonally. The 500 miles from Mazatlan to San Carlos is done by many, including us a time or two, but it's just not smart.

[Tequila]

Ok I have the location. It is just a few hundred feet south of the San Miguel toll booth. There is pemex 9917 (if its still a pemex, opposite the turn, there is also a federal police station there.

Coordinates are N 25.973491 W 109.035518



The property is less than 1/4 km down the side road. Accessible from both sides of highway

N 25.968461 W 109.034240



I will find out if its usable with dry camping this season and post here. I have giving orlando the address of this forum, maybe he will register and answer questions

[Tequila]

I think he is looking at the fact there really is a gap between San Carlos & Mazatlan. he would be relying on caravans & overnighters in both directions. he would not get caravans that have Copper Canyon as a destination as they go in at El Carizo and out at Los Mochis. I will try to help him by seeing if Totonaka in San Carlos would hand out info sheets. nearly everybody heading south stops at Totonaka.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Mochis is not a destination. I hope the new prospective owner understands to limit electricity to 12-amps. If I was to plan a park, there, I would chop site power for a few hours between 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM to keep tariffs at a minimum. I found electrical cost to be 70%+ of cost of running a park. Trade thriftiness for a low tariff. Rig batteries will easily survive three hours of autonomy and in winter at that latitude lots of 1,500 watt heaters would be glowing.

[dkilley]

We would definately pick the park over pemex provided it was reasonably priced.

[Tequila]

I will be finding out the coordinates shortly and whether dry camping is currently possible there.

[Talleyho69]

Yes. We used to use the park at Rio Fuerte, then the dump that was in town. We also used to use Hotel Calli on the hill because it was a nicely tended place.

It's a long stretch without anything except a Pemex. We give the location a thumbs up!