BajaNomad

BORDER CROSSING

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 2-8-2010 at 03:23 PM

Hola, i am planning on crossing the border on or about march 7 and am going to have quite a few new things to take to los barriles in a small utility trailer.

i will have a list of the items with their receipts itemized and would like to have an opinion of which border crossing would be the best. i don't want to go thru otay mesa as i don't navigate very well so i thought going through tecate would be better.

also, if i go through the declaration lane at tijuana, will they send me to otay mesa to pay the import fees or will they take care of it there. my preference is to cross at tijuana.

the biggest items that i won't be able to bury is six new quad tires. i already have two used tires for my suv and two new tires for the trailer so there will be ten tires altogether.

i plan on crossing around 6 a.m. and try to make guerrero negro before dark as i have in the past.

any suggestions would be appreciated with the new customs people.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

mulegemichael - 2-8-2010 at 05:09 PM

Tecate....always....in dozens and dozens of crossings we've never been stopped....knock on wood.

k-rico - 2-8-2010 at 05:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mulegemichael
Tecate....always....in dozens and dozens of crossings we've never been stopped....knock on wood.


Speaking of wood, I was going to find out what the story is from Mexican customs about bringing in lumber. There have been stories about it being difficult. I haven't done that yet.

Sunday I went to Home Depot in Chula Vista and bought 12 2x2x8' sticks. Got the green light.

Bajahowodd - 2-8-2010 at 05:34 PM

Six new quad tires. Obviously not traveling light. :lol:

monoloco - 2-8-2010 at 05:56 PM

I brought 2 quad tires down in October, I didn't have a receipt, they took my word as to what I paid and charged me 15%. I have been told that used tires, aside from your spares are not allowed.

DENNIS - 2-8-2010 at 06:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by k-rico

Sunday I went to Home Depot in Chula Vista and bought 12 2x2x8' sticks. Got the green light.


Oh My Gawd.......I hope Calderón doesn't get wind of this. It'll show him that his efforts have been for naught.
12elve whole pieces of this massive lumber have eluded the eyes of his border guardians. What's next.....a sheet of plywood? :lol:

k-rico - 2-8-2010 at 06:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by k-rico

Sunday I went to Home Depot in Chula Vista and bought 12 2x2x8' sticks. Got the green light.


Oh My Gawd.......I hope Calderón doesn't get wind of this. It'll show him that his efforts have been for naught.
12elve whole pieces of this massive lumber have eluded the eyes of his border guardians. What's next.....a sheet of plywood? :lol:


Exactly, but I was worried about it with all the scare stories about lumber. I was hoping they would send me to secondary so I could I find out the story about bringing lumber in. Next time maybe. When I do find out, I'll post the info.

DENNIS - 2-8-2010 at 06:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by k-rico
Next time maybe. When I do find out, I'll post the info.


The world awaits.
Would it be too much to ask you to accelerate your research? This isn't the government, Ya know. We want answers.

ncampion - 2-8-2010 at 08:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola, i am planning on crossing the border on or about march 7 and am going to have quite a few new things to take to los barriles in a small utility trailer.

i will have a list of the items with their receipts itemized and would like to have an opinion of which border crossing would be the best. i don't want to go thru otay mesa as i don't navigate very well so i thought going through tecate would be better.

also, if i go through the declaration lane at tijuana, will they send me to otay mesa to pay the import fees or will they take care of it there. my preference is to cross at tijuana.

the biggest items that i won't be able to bury is six new quad tires. i already have two used tires for my suv and two new tires for the trailer so there will be ten tires altogether.


BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


There is no declaration lane at TJ anymore, you have to go to Otay or Tecate. Otay is actually pretty good for declaring stuff, good parking, lots of brokers and the bank right there.
I remember hearing somewhere that they don't like us importing tires for some reason, but no first hand experience. There are excellent directions on this forum somewhere as to how to get to Otay and then from Otay to Hwy 1. We did it just a month ago and it was a piece of cake. Good luck with whatever you wind up doing.

torch - 2-8-2010 at 09:14 PM

10 tires 10 tires is going to get attention no matter what... I'vd been turn around for 2 2x4x10

k-rico - 2-8-2010 at 09:31 PM

torch, what did they tell you when they said no to the lumber, anything?

torch - 2-8-2010 at 09:48 PM

My onnly choice was "please turn around"

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 2-8-2010 at 10:02 PM

Hola torch, which crossing ?

thank you in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Otay crossing

fuelpusher2 - 2-9-2010 at 07:01 AM

Quote:
There is no declaration lane at TJ anymore, you have to go to Otay or Tecate. Otay is actually pretty good for declaring stuff, good parking, lots of brokers and the bank right there.
I remember hearing somewhere that they don't like us importing tires for some reason, but no first hand experience. There are excellent directions on this forum somewhere as to how to get to Otay and then from Otay to Hwy 1. We did it just a month ago and it was a piece of cake. Good luck with whatever you wind up doing.


Dido ncampion's posting. VERY pleasent experience @ OTAY. We went directly to the Delcare lane (right lane) and were directed to pull forward & park by two young ladies wearing side arms who spoke perfect English.

We crossed @ 5:30am Sunday Feb 7th in our Expedition towing a 5x8 utility trailer about half full of household "stuff" for a 5 month stay - with receipts showing about $1300usd worth of stuff. Nothing big and showy like tires.

We showed them our FM3s & boat importation papers and told them we had a casa in Loreto. After a very pleasent discussion - "where are you going, what are you bringing into Mex, etc" - they asked to inspect the trailer. We uncovered the back half of the load exposing two large clear plastic bins filled with food stuffs. Opened up one of the bins showing what was inside. We also showed receipts for some boat parts - fan belts, filters, etc.

They then wished us a "Bien Viaje" and we were on our way....no taxes due.

In reality, we were carrying more like $4000usd in "stuff".

Would rather cross @ OTAY than take the chance of being turned around at TJ. Like ncampion said, "There are excellent directions on this forum somewhere as to how to get to Otay and then from Otay to Hwy 1."

We took BLVD 2000 to HWY 1. Nice, wide, divided road. The bad news is that once you get to Rosarito and turn left onto the FREE road (construction in progress), you have to go all the way to Cantamar before you can get up onto HWY 1.

FYI: There are only two river-bottom detours( from the storms 2 weeks ago) - Vincente Gurerro & El Rosario. Both are no trouble at all.

Bien Viaje!!!

torch - 2-9-2010 at 08:18 AM

sorry for the late reply Rat -TJ September 2009

[Edited on 2-9-2010 by torch]