pezvela
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Re: Refused entry with a truck & camper
Well, I live in Mexico for seven months of the year, and am here right now. Have been since November. Nothing reported on the Sonora or Baja boards I frequent. I know people who have driven down in one ton trucks. Many of them. I live in San Carlos, Sonora. This portion of Sonora and all of Baja are considered free zones, with respect to any importation permits. Dont know if that's applicable here, or not.617Views0likes0CommentsRe: RV Park Price Survey
Mazatlan has OK weather, but the air is pretty bad in Maz, much of the time. Pollution from vehicles and the power plant drifts west after sundown and then comes back in with the prevailing winds around 1030am; where it then mixes with the newly made vehicle exhaust. I, too, prefer the weather from Tenacatita down to Barra.408Views0likes0CommentsRe: ? Buzzing sound from control panel?
Probably, the Xantrex is simply a device that provides inverted AC power when OFF the grid and a high amp battery charger when ON the grid. The original converter, with its 12v fusing, is still needed to convert 120vac to 12vdc. The Xantrex may not do that. The buzzing is probably coming from a 10 year old Parallax/Magnetek converter. That is easily replaced by something like a Progressive Dynamics converter. Much better converter and (smart) charger, though if the Xantrex is what I think it is, he probably has charging already covered. I am no whiz at wiring but, as with so many things these days, there was a youtube video and clear instructions from Progressive Dynamics that showed how to replace it. VERY simple and safe, as long as you disconnect all power sources. But there might still be confusion between the PD and the Xantrex, in terms of charging the battery. I am not sure if that function can be disabled in a PD. The PD does use a good charging algorithm but I believe it is only a 5-10 amp charger. Many of the dedicated inverter/chargers are 20+ amps. If the Xantrex is a smart charger, I would prefer that it charge my house battery.643Views0likes0CommentsRe: RV Park Price Survey
For us, we used ATM cards at either Santander or CIBanco for straight cash. But if we are making purchases we favor Walmarts while using our Capital One credit card. No intl fees and a decent exchange rate. Usually Walmart will also give about 2000p, cash back.335Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trip Report Nogales to San Carlos
azdryheat wrote: Haven't been down that road in 30 years. What are the topes you mention? The topes that he mentions are in a short residential/commercial area that the truck bypass route goes through. Many of us who live in San Carlos and go back and forth 2+ time per year have stopped using that route, since the Boulevard Morelos exit north of HMO was opened. Morelos takes you directly through town, but the lights in HMO are so well coordinated that it ends up being much faster. I take this route even driving a 10-11 long camper and towing a utility trailer. My height is 10-9. It is city driving, but it is multi-lane, all the way through. There are two places where you have to be sure and be in the correct lane as they become left-turn or right-turn only lanes very quickly. But we have learned that. Plus, the municipal police seemed to target foreign plated vehicles, especially RVs, for a mordida shakedown for no infractions, on the bypass route. There are plenty of places to pull you over on much of the bypass. In town, there is virtually no place to do that AND they may be worried about being witnessed by superiors in town. Admitted conjecture. The other alternative is to continue on 15, bypassing the Morelos exit and then going straight at the first signal that indicates a left turn to go to Guaymas. By proceeding straight at this intersection, you go past what many of us call "hotel row" and join up with Morelos coming in from the north (right). This route avoids the favored mordida area of the truck bypass.407Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trip Report Nogales to San Carlos
coloradotallman wrote: As stated, lots of construction from Nogales to Santa Ana. Miles and miles of concrete poured but not open. I think we averaged 40 mph. Nobody else at Declarations, the tourist permit office or the Banjercito. Made it through in 15 minutes. Staying at Edgars in Santa Ana with two French rigs. Next time in Nogales try the Home Depot up on the hill above Wal-Mart. Fewer lights and closed over night. Much quieter. I have also considered this, but I recall No Overnight Parking signs being there. This was about three years ago. Were there none?407Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trip Report Nogales to San Carlos
Talleyho69 wrote: We spent last night at the lovely Walmart in Nogales with 11 other vehicles that appeared to be crossing the border this morning. We didn't see anyone familiar. We left at 7:15, and took the truck crossing. At the Declarations point, got a green light, and the woman had us pull forward and asked for papers. Never wanting to offer too much, we gave her passports and the TIP papers. Nope, she wanted the registration. She compared the license plate with the paper, and asked if we had cigarettes or cigars. Told her we didn't smoke, and were on our way. No dog papers, no coming in, nothing. LOADS of construction to Santa Ana, Santa Ana to Hermosillo is wonderfully good. Hermosillo is normal, bad, except for the small concrete section through the "residential" area. It might have been the time of day, but the topes in this area were invisible and some were not marked. We were both really looking, and missed two. Hermosillo to the Guaymas turnoff had lots of construction, but lots of really good road. We made Totonaka in 5.75 hours, and we don't drive particularly fast. Could you please post what kind of vehicle you were driving? This has become important, since there are instances of truck campers above 1/2 ton being denied entrance to Mexico at certain checkpoints.407Views0likes0CommentsRe: MEXICO STOPS US WITH TRUCK CAMPER!
John & Angela wrote: pezvela wrote: John & Angela wrote: GordonThree wrote: OP Did you forget to include a few crisp bills when you handed over your ID and paperwork? Wow, totally uncalled for comment and completely disrespectful of a neighboring country. Is that acceptable manners in your society? Moderator??? As a person who has lived in Mexico for the last nine years and traveled the country for about 50 years, I wouldn't say it's a "totally uncalled for.......comment". It IS the way it IS. Sure, it has diminished somewhat in the last few years, but it is still a very prevalent activity. And if it is disrespectful, many Mexicans also engage in this means of getting government officials "working". They are disrespecting their own country, apparently. What planet are you on? It's Mexico. It's poor manners. If you don't get that, that's your problem. Reality is often times an ill-mannered performance.542Views0likes0CommentsRe: MEXICO STOPS US WITH TRUCK CAMPER!
John & Angela wrote: GordonThree wrote: OP Did you forget to include a few crisp bills when you handed over your ID and paperwork? Wow, totally uncalled for comment and completely disrespectful of a neighboring country. Is that acceptable manners in your society? Moderator??? As a person who has lived in Mexico for the last nine years and traveled the country for about 50 years, I wouldn't say it's a "totally uncalled for.......comment". It IS the way it IS. Sure, it has diminished somewhat in the last few years, but it is still a very prevalent activity. And if it is disrespectful, many Mexicans also engage in this means of getting government officials "working". They are disrespecting their own country, apparently. What planet are you on? It's Mexico.543Views0likes0Comments
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