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Re: GCWR
I might add a couple items to consider. The state may allow 20K on the front axle but very rarely does any M.H. have 20K rated axles or tires. Usually they are only found on heavy haul trucks. 18K may be on Magma, Newell, Bluebird, most others are 16K fronts or lower. A single rear axle maybe rated for 20K with 4 tires but m.h. with a tag axle (6 tires) will often overload the tag (2 tires), especially when adding a trailer. Towing capacity may be 10K but tongue weight is the most important number to consider. Long rear overhang plays havic by overloading rear axles, severly effects steering and braking. I agree that many, many m.h. go blissfully down the road and it may not affect them until they can't stop and plow into some cars. That is when the attorneys and insurance co. wants to know the details. Who will pay. Bruce Jennings driving a SUV pulling a trailer with ORV, plows into stopped cars, one person dies, is example of million $$ suit. Did trailer have brakes?? Were they working?? What was GVW? or GCVW. You can bet they will dig all that up. Stay tuned.1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Motorhome Fire
Wow, what great advice and information you all have imparted on us. Thank you. Will I ever remember any of that when the times ever comes that I need it? Probably not but at least I know how to reach you all again for support. I like that idea of taking pictures of VIN with your passport along side. Fellow travelers, thanks for all the knowledge you share with everyone benefiting.503Views0likes0CommentsRe: Playa Bonita in Rocky Point question.
Yes, you are both right. We are coming down for a Desert off road race and it will be busier than normal. We, being ahead of the crowd on Wed will probably be Ok Then there is always the Reef as a backup. I was just trying to be courteous to them by hanging out closer to the far back, away from the campers, since we do have noise vehicles. Last year we had all of us together in a 10 space square and I was trying to do the same thing again, since it worked so well. We had 6 occupied spaces with 4 parking spaces between us for setting up tables, awnings and race trucks and it shields the noise from other campers. Take care, Norbert222Views0likes0CommentsPlaya Bonita in Rocky Point question.
To those who might currently be at RP, how full is Playa Bonita? We are coming to Play Bonita on the 23rd and just curious how busy the place was this week. I don't want front row but we have about 6 RV's and wanted to camp together. They won't accept reservations (only a month or more in advance) They say we just have to show up in person and they have lots of spaces? How many empties? "Many empties, no problem". Can we camp together? "Sure, sure". I'm sorry, but I am just a skeptic by nature. If we pull in at 7 or 8pm, with no reservations, what is their normal procedure? Are we on our own until morning? Is the office open late? This is not a big problem and I know we will figure it out but I thought if somebody knew more than what I know at this point, I would ask. By the way, I'm coming from Tucson and if somebody needs something brought down (legal stuff, no guns) message me and we can discuss it. Thanks1.2KViews0likes4CommentsRe: Permit issue at border
Turtle-Toad Thank you for your reply. So I BETTER cancel my 10 yr TIP every time I come out, cause EVERY time is see a bigger or newer M.H., I THINK I am going to sell/trade my vehicle in for that. And then the wife reminds me that I am NOT trading up. Life can be confusing.411Views0likes0CommentsRe: Permit issue at border
robatthelake wrote: The best advice is to get The Permits before crossing the border, either by ordering on line or walking across at the actual border. Waiting until Km 21 is not very bright in My Humble opinion! Coming from Canada, through the USA and needing lots of permits, I get your point. For the past 10 years, since they implemented Sonora Travel, life was easy, I didn't need a car permit to take a car into Sonora. Only needed a free visa for a short 7 day trip. Didn't know about the towing a trailer exemption. But I do now. I was not talking about the 10yr hologram that they put on the windshield of the M.H. I will now make NEW color copies of the title. They will look so original "only your hairdresser can tell the difference". Last night, I was more venting and telling my tale of woe. More like chastizing myself for not having it all together, like I thought I did. And looking for sympathy. ha ha But that is hard to find these days. This morning I am all better and back up on top of myself. The border is a constant changing entity and I hadn't kept up with the changes and didn't know all the rules. That was disappointing to me and my passengers. Today, we are laughing about it, cause it all started with, "can I have a 6 month visa"?? And there it went downhill. Cheers411Views0likes0CommentsPermit issue at border
I go down to San Carlos or the beach 4x a year for the past 35yrs and I thought I had my stuff together crossing the border. I was proud of myself because I have a multi-compartilzed folder for everything I bring, Kayaks, 10'inflatable, wind surfer, 14' sailbat w/trailer, SUV, m.h. air compressor, O.B motor. Whatever I bring down I have a sales receipt, title, regis. notorized statement, triple copies of every legal document, etc. I have learned over the years that they can ask for proof of ownership on anything. Including inflatable kayaks, portable generator and scuba compressor. So today I go through KM 21, going to San Carlos, I will come down again in Nov so I asked for a 6 mo visa. He says I have to pay next door. I go next door to pay and he asks for the car title, I give him that and the title for the small sailboat trailer I am pulling. BIG mistake. He didn't ask for the trailer. He says, were are the originals? In Tucson. He needs them. I point out that these are NOTORIZED copies and I keep the originals in a safe. That does not work for him. I tell him I don't need a permit because I am only going to San Carlos. He tells me that "Sonora only" applies only to a car and since I am pulling a itty bitty trailer, the Sonora only does not apply to me. I ask to speak to somebody else, he sends me next door to Aduana. They say I need the original titles and a photocopy that is notorized by a notary will not work. Man o Man. I have been using these same notorized documents for 20 years and it has never caught up with me. Today was my lucky day. What was really strange. I had stopped at the Shell station just across the border and a American from Kino stops by to talk about my trailer and sailboat. He says he has a similar one and last time he came across they would not let him in because he had a copy of the title. He had to go back to Tucson and get the original. I commented how I have never had that problem. Twenty minutes later, I suddenly have that problem and I had to go back to Tucson for the original. I am proud of my composure. I did not raise my voice. I am not writing this from the jail house. I just starred at them with my mouth open. That is 160 miles of useless driving. I left the house at 7am, was turned around @ 10am. I got back to that same spot at 2pm and down here to S.C. at 9pm. 520 miles What is so silly is that a color photocopy is completely indistinquishable from the original. One with a notorized stamp is more authentic. I am going to try it next time just to prove my point. This afternoon I was in no mood to talk. What I did was leave the sailboat & trailer at home, took the kayak off the trailer and put it on the car roof rack, went back down and got a 7 day free visa and I fled the scene. Now I'm just venting to you. Travelers Beware! They get us when we least expect it. Like today. I had no clue that a car with trailer does not qualify for "no car permit needed" status in Sonora. (And I thought I knew everything.) Obviously I also had no clue about the notorized copies of titles no longer being excepted. Maybe they never did and I somehow managed to deal with folks who didn't challenge it. (The "nice people" in the permit office.) So if you folks who understand the system better would enlighten me on were I went wrong, I would appreciate your comments. I have read Turtle Roads extensive and extremely helpful (thank you for all your work) dictionary on Mexico entry, etc but I failed to read that which pertains to my situation. Thank you. Norbert PS:: In Nov. I bring down a M.h. I plan to stay in Sonora for 5 days, I will need a 10 yr permit because it is not a car. Yes?? I tow my car behind the m.h. and I need a 6 month permit for it. Yes?? I return to Tucson and come down in April with the car. Do I have to turn in the 6 mo permit when I leave in April, if I don't return before May?? What if I leave in Nov with m.h. and car and I don't come back down in the car before it expires in May. Am I obligated to send that 6 mo car permit back to KM21 before it expires?? Thanks.3.7KViews0likes16CommentsRe: Filling with fresh water
Word of caution. The overflow on mine was a 1/2inch clear tube in the fill compartment and I could see the water start to run down it before it started building up pressure I would then quickly shut it off. The garden hose has a lot more volume and pressure than would be able to escape from that small overfill hose. The water tank was plastic and sandwiched in between the tongue & groove hard wood floor and steel supports underneath, the tank would expand and lift the floor. That happened to the previous owner and I was pretty paranoid it would happen to me. I took that job very seriously, since I did not want it to happen again.146Views0likes0Comments
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