Community Forums

Bobby F · 01-22-2020, 11:46 AM

The last time I heard "it's completely safe, just travel by day and stay in caravan" was about traveling in Beirut.

Excesses · 01-22-2020, 12:21 PM

Those that say they couldn’t be paid to go to Mexico with their RV seem to be unable to articulate their experiences that make them put forth such a comment. Something read in the media? Then why not say the same about Las Vegas or any other city or site of extreme violence?
We have been to Mexico extensively. In our RV, we’ve been to San Carlos and Puerto Penasco. Never a problem. We don’t travel at night anywhere. Mexico or USA. We don’t like to drive at night period. We have found the Mexican people to be polite and hard working. Not all are honest, hard working people, but one can say that about a percentage of all countries, regardless of their wealth.
Our experience has been that if you are polite, try to learn a few phrases in Spanish, and follow these simple rules/suggestions , you’ll probably be just as safe as any large city:

- leave your superior attitude at home. You are a visitor. You don’t have to cower, but you also don’t have to swagger
- leave your flashy jewellery at home in your safe. You make yourself a target for bad things to happen, whether you are in a poorer country where what you wear around your neck or wrist is the equivalent of a couple months of wages, or whether you are in the inner city USA where bad guys like fast cash
- carry small amounts of local currency
- don’t flash around large amounts of cash
- do carry a dummy wallet with some expired cards, business cards, small $ in both your currency and the local currency. Give it up readily if robbed.
- dress modestly. You are on vacation, and if you are out and about, you make yourself a target if you stand out too much
- use your common sense. Stay in populated places and don’t go wandering off and isolate yourself.

These rules go for Canada, USA, Mexico, Costa Rico, Columbia, Uganda where ever.

Mexico is a very nice country with many many very nice people, many of whom make just over 100 pesos per day (federal minimum wage). Tip accordingly. 20 pesos may be a buck or two, but it goes a long way in helping out a hard working individual or family and reduces poverty.

Where poverty is reduced, crime rates drop.

Enjoy Mexico. Puerto Penasco is a good place to start.

Cheers

DJ

TXiceman · 01-22-2020, 05:42 PM

DJ, I will still keep my RV on the US side of the border.

Ken

Rvlegaleagle · 01-29-2020, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby F

The last time I heard "it's completely safe, just travel by day and stay in caravan" was about traveling in Beirut.

Mexico certainly isn't Beirut

DRvt · 02-03-2020, 09:12 AM

Just got back from Merida and Progresso. The locals where friendly and helpful the beer was cheep and the water was warm

van-gogh · 02-03-2020, 09:21 AM

Here is a link I found for many RV Parks in MEXICO.

https://www.mexicomike.com/rv-parks/rv-directory.html

Enjoy and have fun

Fossil one · 02-04-2020, 11:12 AM

I still am trying to gather info on ULSD fuel for Baja Sud. Any CURRENT info would easy my mind. Thanks, in advance.

moisheh · 02-04-2020, 02:50 PM

Try asking on Baja Nomads. Baja Norte is all ULSD. All Arco stations are ULSD. But who knows about Pemex?

McRod · 02-06-2020, 06:12 AM

Ahh...good 'Ol Penasco. Love it. Arizona's ocean front property.

You wouldn't like it though. Too many Illegals...wait, ok, I guess their not technically Illegals in Mexico.

That's Playa Bonita RV park on the right side of Sonoran Sky Resort in the second photo.

This is not what Rocky Point looked like 35 years ago, when I first came. Back then, you needed to be cautious. Like most young people, I threw caution to the wind. Glad I did.

Now days, it's unfortunately, very "Americanized". AirBnBs, Resorts and American seaside second homes/condos abound the ocean front.

Wrktfsh · 02-06-2020, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

You couldn't pay me enough to take my RV into Mexico!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

I travel Baja some through the year fishing. Never had a problem, never scared. I can’t say the same for chicago

SteveNSue · 02-06-2020, 08:01 AM

We have driven in large cities in the US, sometimes at night, and can attest to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A family member commuted across LA on a major street that avoid having to drive the freeway. If traffic stopped at a red light, folks standing on the sidewalk would stroll along looking into windows and would smash and grab purses or laptop bags. Finally, the police escorted these caravans and used their emergency light changer (flashing strobe) to get green lights so traffic never stopped and traveled at a high rate of speed. Once past the town center the normal traffic flow would lighten and they drove without escort.

claude m · 02-07-2020, 11:12 AM

I'm new to big motorhomes. Had 40 ft Toyhaulers an a fords for ever. So its a new world to me.
We have a 2018 Newmar Dutch Star 4369... 43 ft long ,tow a trailer so were around 61 ft.
& 13.5 ft ft high. Finding fuel other than truck stops can be hard some times. not to forget about DEF. Would that be a problem .Also where can you find groups that want to go together. I would feel better in a group.

moisheh · 02-07-2020, 12:36 PM

Your rig will travel in most areas with no problem. Lots of big Pemex truck stops for fuel. But DEF is hard to find. You need to bring your own. I understand it is available in some auto parts stores but I have never seen any.

FL420 · 02-07-2020, 03:16 PM

Here is a 3 y/o article about getting around in Mexico by an American resident of Toluca.
https://nohaybronca.wordpress.com/20...-need-to-know/
Here is a long comprehensive article written for RVers about driving in Mexico.
https://www.rversonline.org/ArtMexDriving.html
I was based in Caracas some years ago. We had a crew van with a Venezuelan driver who drove us back and forth between the Caracas Airport and our hotel in La Guaira, a 45+ minute drive in heavy daytime traffic and a -30 minute drive at night. The driver stopped at every stop light and sign during the day but only slowed down a little for them at night. I asked him why and he answered "carjackers."
Buenos Aires has made it legal to run red lights at night for the same reason.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...110-story.html
I don't know if Mexico has the same problem with intersection carjackers that Argentina and Venezuela do but it helps to be aware how, where and when it can happen.