RV Driving Tips for Mexico
Overnight at GAS stations
You can’t overnight at Walmart or shopping center parking lots like you can in the US.
You can boondock at a Pemex or other brand gas station. Choose a truck stop or 24-hour gas station. Talk to the manager, tell him/her you will fill up in the morning. Sometimes they have to awaken you early before the next shift comes on but if you give a nice tip, they’ll help you.
You can park at a hotel with a big lot. You may have to pay for a room (or part of one), but it is worth it to avoid driving at night.
RV Tips for Mexico: RV Parks Electricity
Bring extra long extension cords to hook up to outlets in RV parks in Mexico.
Most Mexican RV parks have 110 volt plugs, but every once in awhile, you’ll be shocked to find that innocent outlet is putting out 220. You can get a voltmeter cheap .
A surge protector is mandatory and a voltage regulator is a good idea.
Why You Need a 3-Wire Receptacle Tester
The receptacle tester doesn’t measure voltage, but it does check for correct polarity and ground. If some amateur electrician has switched hot and neutral wires, you could wind up with your RV chassis energized, a dangerous situation not to mention potentially damaging to appliances and equipment. The voltmeter will tell you whether you have the right voltage. Some folks might not be too confident using the voltmeter, but on the other hand it can be very useful in diagnosing all kinds of electrical glitches in your RV.
RV Tips for Mexico: Getting Lost
If it is just a question of being lost hire a taxi driver to lead you to the park. Negotiate the fee first, but when they have a taximetro or meter, you’ll pay what price shows. But ask for an estimate.
Drive The Mexican Toll Roads, But …
Driving through Mexico by using the Mexican toll roads is your safest bet, BUT it will cost you. The toll rate you will be charged for driving an RV on a Mexican toll road will vary but some have a “Casa Rodante” class. Mostly, you are charged by the number of wheels on the ground, not by the number of axles as the signs at the Mexican toll booths suggest. In general, your rate is 50% more than for a car. Generally, you will pay the third category down. Don’t sweat it – it will cost what it costs and you can either pay the going rate or take the free roads. You might do that once. The toll roads are easier to drive, especially for motorhomes and towed units.
Driving Mexico is an adventure, but not as much as you think. Mexican toll roads are safe, fast and similar to first-class highways anywhere in the world. Driving your RV in Mexico doesn’t require any more skills than driving your RV in the United States or Canada, other than using common sense.
Please use the toll roads. Yes, they are expensive, but the damage to your vehicle on regular highways from topes, potholes and potential accidents is costlier.
Thanks for the info. Can you tell me an approximate range of cost per month at RV parks in the Mazatlan area.
Thanks ,Mr. Steve
Steve,
Prices at all RV parks and most hotels go up in early December. For now, 2022, RV parks run about $25 to as much as $45 a night with discounts for long-term stays. Some very basic parking spots can be found for $12-$15.