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RenoJoe
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Posts: 161
Registered: 5-8-2012
Location: Reno Nevada
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Mood: mellow
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Mexicali south bound
Which is best east or west from Redlands Cal. in motorhome with tow car?
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bobrehfuss
Junior Nomad
Posts: 80
Registered: 9-26-2011
Location: Around the Way
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The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After
a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US
secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed
me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but
when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway.
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BajaParrothead
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Posts: 460
Registered: 12-4-2012
Location: Portola, CA / Los Barriles
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Quote: Originally posted by bobrehfuss  | | The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After
a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US
secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed
me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but
when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway. |
Does that also include a trailered boat, or is it anything in tow goes to the east? You might have just saved me a huge headache.
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Pacifico
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
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| Quote: Originally posted by bobrehfuss | | The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After
a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US
secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed
me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but
when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway. |
When was this Bob? I've crossed Mexicali West at least a dozen times towing without any issues. If recently, maybe it was because of the construction
going on over there?
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
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bobrehfuss
Junior Nomad
Posts: 80
Registered: 9-26-2011
Location: Around the Way
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Was two years ago. Never went back to west since then. It was also when the US was giving Mexican trucks a hard time and making them cross at east
only going northbound so maybe it was just bad timing.
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Pacifico
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
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Thanks for the info, Bob... Yes, probably a phase they went through. I've trailered several times in the last couple years with out issue. I think it
shouldn't be a problem Bajaparrothead...
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1617
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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| Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico | | Quote: Originally posted by bobrehfuss | | The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After
a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US
secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed
me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but
when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway. |
When was this Bob? I've crossed Mexicali West at least a dozen times towing without any issues. If recently, maybe it was because of the construction
going on over there? |
With all this aside, I am driving down in a week or two. Which crossing do you recommend? Not towing anything this time but I will be stopping to
get my FMM.
In Memory of E-57
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Pacifico
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
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| Quote: Originally posted by Alan | | Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico | | Quote: Originally posted by bobrehfuss | | The last time I went through towing I was redirected from west to east by the Mex authorities and told that all trailers had to go through east. After
a cluster turning around on the Mex side of the border and going back against the incoming border traffic with a Mex police escort I exited into US
secondary, had to wait an hour in line and was on my way to the east crossing. After crossing at the east I found it smooth sailing as my map routed
me around the actual city of Mexicali to go south and avoided the craziness that is sometimes associated with Mexicali. I rarely cross at Mexicali but
when I do I just use the east cause it seems easier to me and only about 8 miles farther east off the same highway. |
When was this Bob? I've crossed Mexicali West at least a dozen times towing without any issues. If recently, maybe it was because of the construction
going on over there? |
With all this aside, I am driving down in a week or two. Which crossing do you recommend? Not towing anything this time but I will be stopping to
get my FMM. |
I usually go south through Mexicali West and north through Mexicali East if I have passengers who don't have Sentri. I have asked and they allow you
drop off walkers as long as you are up on the hill and not right at the booths. Prob more info than you want but maybe useful....
Anyways, going south through Mexicali West, I find it easiest to go east sooner than later to get back over to the 5. I think I've been taking Calzada
Independencia to do so...
As far as getting a FMM, it is easy with plenty of parking.
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5809
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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I crossed going south at Mexicali west on the 21st, and found out that I should have pulled in to the left lane, parked and gotten my FMM before I
went through the traffic gates. They let me park where I wasn't supposed to and walk back to get the paper work done.
When I put Jan 21 down for my birthdate, he said "No, no, not today's date!" (loosely translated from his Spanish)
When I told him "Hoy es mi cumpleanos" he checked my passport card, then reached across and shook my hand!
I got all kind of messed up finding my way over to Mex 5, I guess I didn't bear left soon enough.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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If you don't want to follow the signage for San Felipe all the way on the new route, turn left where the sign for Tijuana points right (& San
Felipe straight). The original route south is a short distance to the left. Turn right when you reach it and go up to the overpass road south to San
Felipe. This way is shorter than the new signed way that comes out near Costco.
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Motofshr
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 1-5-2020
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Hello from the wet and windy Oregon coast,
From what I gather in this thread I'd like to run our crossing plan by the ole hands recently using Mexicali west....
.....ON or around Feb 15th....Two Truck campers in our mini caravan, both pulling trailers (one is a boat) & plan to obtain the FMM as we cross.
So....... We should bear left on approach and look for parking designated for FMM purchase,..... then proceed back into the traffic that is
crossing...where, I assume we will be directed to a secondary area to have our titles & registrations checked. Once on our way, follow the new
signs to SF, as we aim to shop/ATM/at Costco then hit the nearest OXXO for a SIM....
further guidance appreciated...
Gracias amigos
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Welcome to Nomad!
I think that if you follow the signs for San Felipe there is a chance it meets Hwy. 5 just south of Costco...? I am not 100% since I went the left
turn at the "Tijuana right" street. In any case, you do come out to the old route very close to Costco.
If you go the way I did (riding in Cameron's new Raptor) you pass right in front of the Costco.
Here are photos I began taking just south of the Mexicali West (#1) crossing on May 12, 2019:
This is where the Tijuana route turns right and we turned left "Centro Civico" for the shortest route to San Felipe (per street map).
See the elevated (bridge) road ahead? That is the former route to San Felipe before the new border crossing opened. You will be turning right to get
onto it. It is a short distance between the new and old routes here, like only a couple of blocks.
Following the caravan of Raptors (Trail of Missions Recon, May 2019) turning right to join older route to San Felipe. Notice the well-signed San
Felipe to the right, on the overpass.
Fuel prices and dollar value in San Felipe last May.
The full trip report is here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=92768
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norte
Super Nomad
Posts: 1163
Registered: 10-8-2008
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I don't understand why people give 2 year old information, especially without qualification. Renders the info useless and gets people in trouble.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by norte | | I don't understand why people give 2 year old information, especially without qualification. Renders the info useless and gets people in trouble.
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May 2019 is not 2 years old. You (or anyone else) is welcome to prove newer or different information. I don't understand why you need to say anything
if it doesn't help the traveler.
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norte
Super Nomad
Posts: 1163
Registered: 10-8-2008
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That is why I did not give a report. It would have been old, like yours and not up to date. I posted to warn people on these old out of date
"Helpfull" pieces of information.
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RenoJoe
Nomad
Posts: 161
Registered: 5-8-2012
Location: Reno Nevada
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Mood: mellow
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On what i'm hearing east is always a safe bet.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by norte | | That is why I did not give a report. It would have been old, like yours and not up to date. I posted to warn people on these old out of date
"Helpfull" pieces of information. |
Baja photos taken in mid-2019 are hardly old in the first month of 2020... 
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5809
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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| Quote: Originally posted by Motofshr | So....... We should bear left on approach and look for parking designated for FMM purchase,..... then proceed back into the traffic that is
crossing...where, I assume we will be directed to a secondary area to have our titles & registrations checked. Once on our way, follow the new
signs to SF, further guidance appreciated...
Gracias amigos |
I tried following signs, with very poor results! I don't think the signage crews have caught up with the new construction crews.
I went through a "nothing to declare" lane, and if I didn't park and get out of my vehicle, I would not have encountered any human contact!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Driving in Mexico should be an adventure! If we wanted predictable, we would do something else, right? Ha!
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mjs
Nomad
Posts: 305
Registered: 2-20-2013
Location: Off grid in San Felipe
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There is construction on the road next to West entry for a new bridge. The exit of the crossing requires everyone to funnel into one lane for a tight
180 degree turn onto the road that runs west along the border fence. Left at the first stop sign and side streets south until you want to turn east
back to the main road. might be easier to use the East crossing if you are towing anything that prevents a tight u-turn.
Valid as of Jan 10, 2020.
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