rv to Lake Chapala area

bcr wrote:
We would like to take our fifth wheel from Canada to Mexico to the Lake Chapala area for 3 months in Jan. 2017.

Can't say about road safety since I'm on the Pacific side. The issue seems to be a bit overrated though.

But I wonder if you've ever been to Chapala before, and what could be the reason to drive that far and to a place as "un-campy" as Chapala/Ajijic. Gringos own homes there, often getting in and out by plane to GDL, bus connection is excellent. The entire North side of the lake is one long developed stretch. OTH, RV parks there are not too numerous, to put it mildly. To think of it, a big 40ft motorhome is an equivalent of a small 320 sq.ft. studio (that would probably cost you less than RV pad in Jocotepec).

I have lived in Chapala since 2007 and traveled the west Pacific highway this past April. I crossed at Nogales, only took about 15 minutes to obtain my tourist visa once I crossed the border. I had a Visa to live in Mexico for 9 years but due to the change in immigration laws I dropped it and now come down on a 6 month tourist visa. I have a 30 foot motorhome and have traveled all over Mexico. In 2010 I drove to Panama with 2 other motorhomes, we spent a year traveling thru Central America. I will return to the USA in October and plan on driving back to Chapala in December or January. Others mention the bypass around Guadalajara and they are correct in that it is a bear to drive. It has been improved the past 10 years but I still grit my teeth when driving it. You are NOT allowed to drive a 5th wheel or RV inside the city and will be ticketed if you do.
I have crossed the border at Laredo, Texas and McAllen, Texas. I used to cross all the time at Santa Theresa, New Mexico which is near El Paso, Texas but there are no RV parks for most the drive and it is a lonely drive with few vehicles in the event you break down. I now cross at Nogales, Arizona and drive down the Pacific coast highway. At Tepic, Nayarit I go east to Guadalajara and then to Chapala. More traffic so I feel safer and there are RV parks but a long drive between them.
I built a place for my RV in Chapala and have space for another RV or 5th wheel with 30/50 AMP service, water and sewer. You can view my place at https://www.flickr.com/photos/ronohio/albums
and look at the pictures n the Albums section. These were taken back in 2011 and since then I have planted more trees and shrubs and now looks completely different. You can see the RV I had at the time parked in the bay and friends of mine parked at the other RV site. A friend of mine has his trailer parked there now but will be moving it. Ron

Have a friend who had his car stolen off the beach, never found. He had paperwork from three offices saying it was stolen. Back home he got payed out for the vehicle, upon entering the next fall, he was handed the amount he would have to pay for selling his car! They paid, not wanting to forego the winter in Mexico. Afterward, we have heard that this is / was standard procedure when a vehicle is stolen. Stolen = you sold it. This may have changed from eight or so years ago.

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
I agree with Brian/Sue. We too use Lewis and Lewis, and can attest from 1st hand personal experience the help you can get from the Broker should there be an issue with the adjuster.

Here is a link to our blog which describes our several crossings from Texas (Laredo, Columbia Bridge) and also one of the "horror" stories that you hear about, our Jeep being stolen. Note that this incident did NOT prevent our returning to Mexico.

Here is a better link to part of our blog starting with our crossing at Columbia Bridge in November 1015

Be prepared to spend at least an hour dealing with paperwork at Aduana and Inmagracion. There are usually two stops and inspections; one at the border and a main one several (often 20 or more) kilometers south of the crossing.

Buen Viaje

Did they ever recover that jeep? After your incident & Ron & Vicky's I put a GPS tracker and anti hijack device into my truck. It did not deter Ron & Vicky either. He put the same anti hijack device in his new truck as I have.

Check the deductible on the insurance you're looking at. Our first buy had a 1,000 dollar deductible. Then we heard about Lewis and Lewis which had 500 dollars for a deductible. We went with Lewis and Lewis for the rest of our Mexican travels and although we never had a claim, felt their service was great.

I agree with Brian/Sue. We too use Lewis and Lewis, and can attest from 1st hand personal experience the help you can get from the Broker should there be an issue with the adjuster.

Here is a link to our blog which describes our several crossings from Texas (Laredo, Columbia Bridge) and also one of the "horror" stories that you hear about, our Jeep being stolen. Note that this incident did NOT prevent our returning to Mexico.

Here is a better link to part of our blog starting with our crossing at Columbia Bridge in November 1015

Be prepared to spend at least an hour dealing with paperwork at Aduana and Inmagracion. There are usually two stops and inspections; one at the border and a main one several (often 20 or more) kilometers south of the crossing.

Buen Viaje

briansue wrote:

The only company which has no cap that I have found, is Lewis & Lewis (there may be others since I checked). We now recommend everyone use them for their insurance or at least check this out on the policy they intend to buy.

We also use and recommend Lewis & Lewis but there are a couple of points travelers should be aware of. Lewis & Lewis is a US company that sells Mexican insurance. There are a number of Mexican insurance companies and brokers in the US such as L&L which all sell insurance from the same companies - the same policies for about the same amount. We feel with L&L we can get help on a personal level if we ever need it in Mexico - help the other companies may not provide. This is a personal impression which is not based on personal experience - other companies may be just as good. We will only find out should a need arise - which we hope never happens. We recommend L&L based on what others on this forum have said about them over the years.

Also Note - It is our understanding that Mexico has limits on how much liability someone can be sued for - unlike the US where people sue for as many millions as they can get. More questions to be asked.

Also about insurance - some US policies and companies do cover comprehensive - collision etc. (I don't know about Canada) but only Mexican companies can provide liability so you must buy liability from a Mexican company. If you do not buy liability and are in an accident the law in Mexico is the police arrest you until the whole thing is sorted out (could this take months?) - with insurance the insurance takes care of this and you will not be detained. You should check with your US or Canadian insurance to see if you are covered for collision etc. We changed to Progressive in the US because they cover us for collision in Mexico - not all companies do. Having US collision means we can get repairs in the US at US rates - but questioning Progressive told us they will only pay for so many miles or so many dollars toward towing back to the US - I forget - or maybe it is our Good Sam policy that limits - more questions need to be asked of your insurer. But Progressive only covers our motorhome and not our towed vehicle so we buy Mexican insurance for the car. There are many questions about insurance we cannot answer because it is just to complicated. We read of people buying something called "driver's license" insurance which is supposed to cover you no matter what vehicle you drive - we have heard good and bad about this and have chosen not to risk it.

Thanks

The only company which has no cap that I have found, is Lewis & Lewis (there may be others since I checked). We now recommend everyone use them for their insurance or at least check this out on the policy they intend to buy.

We also use and recommend Lewis & Lewis but there are a couple of points travelers should be aware of. Lewis & Lewis is a US company that sells Mexican insurance. There are a number of Mexican insurance companies and brokers in the US such as L&L which all sell insurance from the same companies - the same policies for about the same amount. We feel with L&L we can get help on a personal level if we ever need it in Mexico - help the other companies may not provide. This is a personal impression which is not based on personal experience - other companies may be just as good. We will only find out should a need arise - which we hope never happens. We recommend L&L based on what others on this forum have said about them over the years.

Also Note - It is our understanding that Mexico has limits on how much liability someone can be sued for - unlike the US where people sue for as many millions as they can get. More questions to be asked.

Also about insurance - some US policies and companies do cover comprehensive - collision etc. (I don't know about Canada) but only Mexican companies can provide liability so you must buy liability from a Mexican company. If you do not buy liability and are in an accident the law in Mexico is the police arrest you until the whole thing is sorted out (could this take months?) - with insurance the insurance takes care of this and you will not be detained. You should check with your US or Canadian insurance to see if you are covered for collision etc. We changed to Progressive in the US because they cover us for collision in Mexico - not all companies do. Having US collision means we can get repairs in the US at US rates - but questioning Progressive told us they will only pay for so many miles or so many dollars toward towing back to the US - I forget - or maybe it is our Good Sam policy that limits - more questions need to be asked of your insurer. But Progressive only covers our motorhome and not our towed vehicle so we buy Mexican insurance for the car. There are many questions about insurance we cannot answer because it is just to complicated. We read of people buying something called "driver's license" insurance which is supposed to cover you no matter what vehicle you drive - we have heard good and bad about this and have chosen not to risk it.

Mr: Tequila, the crossing at the Anzalduas bridge avoids going through Reynosa from Mission, if crossing here be careful with the speed bumps on the American side, they are rather nasty and tall.

Once past the initial check point, turn left next to the building into a big parking lot, Banjercito and Inmigration are in the big building, there is a door from the parking lot, rather than going arround the building, have copies of all the documents.

Once the TIP's and visas have been processed exit the parking lot by the same entrance and make a left turn, the next check point is the military unit, they are looking for weapons and ammo, after that proceed to exit going to the left, this is highway 2.

Go easy untill you see the exit to Monterrey, it is a hard one to spot so go slow and it is not well banked and sharp this gets you to 40 and 40D to Monterrey.

The return is the same, the on ramp to 2 is a little tricky it is a right turn in what looks like an industrial road and then comes the right turn onto no2 toward the Anzalduas bridge, once on the American side stay on the right side and be patient, they only have 3 booths, depending on the hour there can be a line and a wait, to retun paper work to return the visas and TIP uspe the same parking lot.

navegator

That is one of the crossings that people with pickups are being hassled right now.