3/4 ton truck with campers going to Mexico not allowed to cross?

FR

Freedom

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I'm looking to buy a truck and FWC to make extended trips into Baja. One of my concerns with going with a 3/4 ton truck is that I've heard that some overlanders are getting turned back at the Mexican border if the truck/camper is not registered as an RV. I heard this started on the southern border of Mexico with Americans trying to return back into Mexico on there way north to the USA. It sounds like it is starting to become a problem at the Northern Mexico border now going south, but I can't find any hard proof to these events. Has anyone had this experience with crossing the Mexican border with their 3/4 ton truck/camper setup?

Freedom
 
I've never heard of that, and never had an issue ever crossing into mexico with my camper. Probably crossed a dozen times through San Ysidro with my Tacoma/Eagle combo.
 
PacificExposure said:
I've never heard of that, and never had an issue ever crossing into mexico with my camper. Probably crossed a dozen times through San Ysidro with my Tacoma/Eagle combo.
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It is not a problem the smaller trucks such as your Tacoma, but specific to crossing with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck and camper.
 
When did this supposedly start?
Driving my F250 with FWC Hawk, I encountered no problem like this crossing into Baja at Tecate in March of 2015.
 
day 9.9.jpg Went in May 2016 through Douglas AZ. Had no problems. 2000 Dodge Ram 2500 with a northstar pop up
 
Never had a problem in the last 10 years since I've had the camper. They did x-ray the truck last year at the Tijuana crossing.
 
MarkBC said:
When did this supposedly start?
Driving my F250 with FWC Hawk, I encountered no problem like this crossing into Baja at Tecate in March of 2015.
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The guy who runs the Mali Mish youtube channel has a Vlog and he is the first to speak of friends not being allowed to return in to Mexico on the southern border with a 3/4 ton truck/camper setup. The last I heard from him, he said the friends are still stuck trying to figure out how to return home. Mali Mish family was in Mexico for 6 months with a F-250 and FWC and said that he started to get some issues at the northern Mexico border returning back to the USA because his rig was not registered as an RV on the title.

I just asking if anyone else has had this problem, as this will factor into my decision not to go with a large truck.
 
CBP is aware of this issue and it almost always starts with your vehicle registration. Last month, I discussed this very issue with a CBP agent at ABQ at the Global Entry Office.

Many states classify 3/4 and 1 ton pickup trucks as "COMMERCIAL" or "COMMERCIAL/PRIVATE" and such is stated on the registration regardless, even if 100% private use. North Carolina states "PRIVATE/COMMERCIAL" on the registration for all vehicles with a 7000#+ GVWR.

The problem returning to the US begins when a Mexican agent sees the word "COMMERCIAL" on the registration. thus, for those of us with private 2/3 and 1 ton private pickup trucks, the "official" reason for the visit to Mexico and return to the USA just changed in the eyes of the Mexican government. Mexican officials may now have reason to believe you entered Mexico with out the requisite commercial forms and inspections.

It is very problematic for residents of those states where there is little recourse regarding actual v. state required classification on the registration, such as NC.
 
I had heard the "commercial" trucks were having some problems which is why I was planning on selling my company's F-350 to myself before I try to go to Baja.
Has anyone contacted Baja Bound or Discover Baja (the people who sell vehicle insurance to us gringo's) and see what they have to say?
 
I think all this involves travel to the interior of mainland Mexico where vehicle registration is checked. This is not the case for Baja travel. I've never had my registration checked in Baja.
 
I would love to travel all of Mexico's pacific coastline but these incidents of selective discrimination make me want to keep my happy butt right here in the good ol' USA.
Its Mexico's loss because I'm sure with every internet forum discussion such as this, the locals just keep getting financially hurt because of their own government. It's a systemic issue that has reared its head for decades and all of Latin America is guilty of it.

Costa Rica is notorious for this selective discrimination. Try putting surfboards on the roof of your car and travel from San Jose to the pacific side!

I'd be willing to bet that only about 5% of 3/4 or 1 ton trucks are hassled.
 
In 2000 when I bought my Northstar they recommended me getting a California title to the camper.
The lot supervisor had had a customer turned back at the Baja Norte/Sur border for not having a title or I assume a bill of sale.
However, I've never had an issue at the border and my friend with a utility bed 3/4 Dodge and popup just returned. No problems anywhere.
 
2tallDA said:
In 2000 when I bought my Northstar they recommended me getting a California title to the camper.
The lot supervisor had had a customer turned back at the Baja Norte/Sur border for not having a title or I assume a bill of sale.
However, I've never had an issue at the border and my friend with a utility bed 3/4 Dodge and popup just returned. No problems anywhere.
Click to expand...
Sometimes they check your tourist permit at Guerrero Negro but not the vehicle registration. They'll charge you a buck to spray your tires.
 
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