Thread for weight issues this season for F250 + trucks

Hello all. We are currently on a road trip through Central America. We are one of the couples that had an issue at the Mexico/Guatemala border with their 3/4 ton pickup and truck camper back in April. After this problem we planned on shipping home from Panama, but it seems that there have been some steps towards resolving this issue and we now considering driving home instead of shipping. I believe this info is already out there but we have also contacted Banjercito and Aduana in the last five days and this is what they said, sorry if there is some repetition.

CURRENTLY THE LAW STATES THAT NO VEHICLE WEIGHING MORE THAN 7,716LBS OR 3.5 TONS CAN ENTER THE COUNTRY. IF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO LOOK LIKE A MOTOR HOME OR RV/CAMPER BUT THE TITLE OR REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EXPLICITLY QUALIFY IT AS SUCH THEN NO TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMIT CAN BE ISSUED.
IF OUR STAFF DENIES YOU THE PRIVILIGE OF ACQUIRING A TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMIT BECAUSE YOU DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, THE ONLY AUTHORITY ABLE TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUING OF THE PERMIT WOULD BE ADUANAS STAFF, ON THE BORDER. IF THEY SAY NO, THE VEHICLE ISN´T ENTERING THE COUNTRY.
WE HOPE AN ACTUAL CHANGE WILL BE MADE TO THE LAW BUT AT THIS POINT IT DOESN´T LOOK LIKELY. PLEASE PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH THAT IN MIND.
BEST REGARDS.

Aduana told us over the phone that they can then visually inspect the vehicle at the border and if they feel it is for personal use and not to transport goods they can give you a document to take to Banjercito so they will issue a TIP. We have nothing in writing yet from Aduana because they have not answered an email we have also sent.

We are still looking for and hoping to hear reports of people that have successfully been given a TIP through this process

I don't kid myself. There could be a thousand foot tall monument in front of the Hacienda building extolling the virtues if a law. But if Banjercito is informed by Aduana at a crossing that "things are going to be a certain way" then things will toe that line. Take Garita 2 at Tijuana in June 1997 for instance. No valid passport no FMT period. The jefe migra got a stiff bung and demanded passports. It was outrageous. I was there eyeball-to-eyeball with the jefe and he pointed to a wet paint sign on the wall. I had a passport but it took sonething like 3 weeks to straighten the jerk out. And yes the story made the San Diego Union Tribune.

When I run into a snag I politely with smile ask to see the Aduana chief. Shake hands. Calmly explain my perdicament. Clear cut black flag denials because of uncleared exits are not negotiable. But gray areas like wether a converted bus qualifies as an eligible 10 year vehicle is negotiable. Faced with a denial the age old: "Is there no way that this can be arranged?" still is valid. It's your call. Screaming and cursing leads to anger and 3 or 4 phone calls closes a thousand miles of border crossings. One time a Coca Cola and USA donuts closed the deal. He left muttering how superior Krispy Kreme Donuts are to Mexican hocky pucks.

Oh great. My partner is meeting with customs officials in Reyonosa in a couple of days. I am hoping he can get something official in writing. This is supposed to be all cleared up, but chances are the word has not yet filtered through to all crossings. I cross with my 1 ton on Nov 10th. I am considering getting it on line if Nogales is still an issue.

News from our Isla friends. Apparently all is not resolved with this issue. We crossed at Nogales today.

It took 2 hours to get the permits.

Apparently there has always been a vehicle weight rule but is only now being enforced.

our 3/4 ton empty weight was actually higher then Ken's 1 ton weight.

If you are a half ton you will probably be OK but otherwise to save yourself time take a picture of the sticker in the door of your truck showing the weight because they will want that to compare to your ownership (don't ask why just do it LOL). They just used the picture on the cell phone so I don't think you need to print it.

What happens now is you go to the regular counter with all your papers and they do their thing and then if your weight is flagged you will have to go to another counter and having your photo they will compare it to your ownership and then they will write something on the paperwork and send you back to the other counter where you will once again hand them all the paperwork and they will process you and issue the permits.

When we crossed at Mariposa there was only one lane open and I had to get out of the truck to move pilons because there was no way we could make the turn, truck with a big fiver had to drive over the curb even with the pilons moved.

FYI the road from Hermisillo to San Carlos is probably one lane for 90% of the drive so plan on slow moving.

moisheh wrote:
This is from Sonia Diaz's website> Personally I have no use for her. She hadles car imports but does it in a manner which is likely illegal. Nevertheless it is interesting that she mentioned the weight limit.

Moisheh

"The maximum GVWR (the total combined weight of truck including all passengers, fuel, fluids and cargo) for a temporary vehicle import is 3.5 metric tons (7716 pounds) excluding RV's. This regulation is under review and may soon not be an issue."

:)

Thanks Paul. I appreciate all the hard work!! Well done!!

Tell him I said thanks, I was getting worried there for a while.

Sonias info is somethign she got from banjercito back in June. I sent her the new information yesterday. We are 99% sure this is solved, but some individual border crossings may have not yet got the word. The GVWR business was the doign of one official who is no longer working at Banjercito. I know who he is, but I won't mention his name. Banjercito told our lawyers, the problem has been "dealt" with and admitted it was an error with interpretaton of SAT regulations. We are meeting with customs officials on Oct 21st to confirm there is no more issue at their end. We have had lawyers on this for the last 3 months and it has cost the company I work for more than a few bucks. All of us with 3/4 & 1 ton PU's owe him thanks. I would still like to know if anyone encounters problems & what crossing.

This is from Sonia Diaz's website> Personally I have no use for her. She hadles car imports but does it in a manner which is likely illegal. Nevertheless it is interesting that she mentioned the weight limit.

Moisheh

"The maximum GVWR (the total combined weight of truck including all passengers, fuel, fluids and cargo) for a temporary vehicle import is 3.5 metric tons (7716 pounds) excluding RV's. This regulation is under review and may soon not be an issue."

Without giving out too many details (which I am preivy to a lot more than I am willing to state in public), the individual who was the cause of all this problem is no longer working in his position and government is well aware of the headache it has caused. My partner is having a meeting with the powers that be in a few weeks to ensure the issue is resolved before we take any caravans across this season.

Anyway unless someone finds out otherwise they should have no problems.