BajaNomad

San Luis border crossing

RogerMears - 3-7-2014 at 03:49 PM

Just curious if anyone has crossed at the San Luis border crossing. We will be towing a 28' empty toy hauler. Planning our trip home and just wanting to cross somewhere different and more east since we are traveling back to North Carolina.

Thanks, if anyone can answer our question. Roger

dasubergeek - 3-7-2014 at 04:04 PM

It's pretty straightforward. You come in on Hwy. 2 over the toll bridge, drive through town, make a left on 26th (there's a traffic light and a Goodyear tire shop on the right side), then go up to the border and make a left. It's just like Tecate, except without the hypervigilant police. The US entrance is easier to navigate than Tecate.

David K - 3-7-2014 at 07:11 PM

You wouldn't be the guy who I chatted with in Ensenada a bunch of years ago in a Jeep Honcho race truck... who has a brother named Rick?



No matter, welcome to Baja Nomad! :bounce::bounce::bounce:

woody with a view - 3-7-2014 at 07:48 PM

don't know which way you're crossing but head south on 16 from yuma, past somerton and cross. it's pretty easy. go two streets and turn right, then follow the signs.......

RogerMears - 3-8-2014 at 01:10 PM

Thank you "dasubergeek". With your information we will definitely cross at San Luis. We will be leaving Bahia de Los Angeles next week, traveling Lake Chapala turn off thru Coco's corner, Gonzaga Bay, San Felipe, Guadalupe Victoria onto San Luis. The first part will be mighty slow since we are pulling a 28' empty toy hauler but being able to cross at San Luis will be nice since we are heading back to North Carolina.

@David K, yes, that would be me! Nice shot of the Honcho!

chuckie - 3-8-2014 at 01:21 PM

I'll be on the same road on Wednesday, onite at Gonzaga...

TMW - 3-8-2014 at 01:22 PM

Thanks Roger for all the good times racing.

David K - 3-8-2014 at 01:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Thanks Roger for all the good times racing.


Ditto...

You were nice enough to talk to me during race registration in Ensenada when I was a kid in my early 20's. Walker Evans was there too and you commented about how nice it was to have air conditioning inside the Jeep instead of eating dust. I think I was asking about the safety net inbedded in the clear plastic window?

Bummer when AMC got out of racing... there were a lot of Jeeps in it until then!

capt. mike - 3-8-2014 at 01:47 PM

Roger does your brother Rick still havs a place at Guaymas?

RogerMears - 3-8-2014 at 03:17 PM

@TW....welcome, off-road racing was the good ole days!
@David K...love these old pics!
@capt. mike....I don't recall Rick ever having a place in Guaymas?? He lives in FL and has a home in NC as well. Maybe you know something I don't know!

David K - 3-8-2014 at 04:28 PM

De nada Roger... I found them when I Googled you! I flipped through my old Baja album but didn't find any pics I took of you.

I do really miss the old days of Off Road Racing when it was a family event and the few super stars were also people you could talk to. I had a chance to speak with Mickey Thompson at his Riverside race in 1974, for example. Mark and LeRoy Hanson were friends of mine in Escondido and we used to go pre-running and pitting with them and others... Lot's of fun memories! When invited to co-drive the '79 Baja 1000 (Class 6), that was a nice reward for my time with the sport.

dasubergeek - 3-8-2014 at 06:22 PM

Just bear in mind that there's no direct connection from Hwy 5 north to Hwy 2 east (the toll part, so you're not driving into Mexicali). There's a left just north of the intersection and you should be able to U-turn there even with a 28' trailer... then go back under the freeway and exit right for SLRC.

basautter - 3-8-2014 at 07:12 PM

I have crossed at San Luis many times, and never had an issue. The line to cross forms to the east of the crossing gate. When you drive through town on the main drag, you can look down the alleys to find the end of the line. I recommend overshooting the end of the line a bit so you don't get in a tight spot with the trailer.

RogerMears - 3-9-2014 at 06:07 AM

@dasubergeek: We will be connecting to Hwy. 2 from Hwy. 3 traveling north from Guadalupe Victoria up onto the toll road Hwy. 2 East (looks that way on map) at Colonia Miguel Aleman. Very short distance from there to San Luis border crossing. We will enter San Luis from the west. (Our route planned is: Hwy. 5, Hwy. 4, Hwy. 3, Hwy. 2)

@basautter: Thanks for the heads up. We will overshoot the end of line watching down the alleys! Good tip!

larryC - 3-9-2014 at 08:12 AM

And welcome to the board Carol, since I know Roger doesn't do this computer stuff.
Larry:tumble:

CortezBlue - 3-9-2014 at 09:48 AM

I will tell you, traveling between Fenix and San Phelipe for many years, we almost always cross south at San Luis.

However, coming back, I am not so sure I wouldn't just use Calexico East.

There are far more lanes and it is an easier entrance to pull a trailer through.

I have pulled my car hauler through many times. You will, more than likely, get pulled into secondary regardless of where you cross.

What I dislike about San Luis is the fact you must keeping looking down each road to see if you can turn left and flow into the lane of traffic for crossing. If it is a bad day you must go quite a ways down before you can make the turn to enter the stream of traffic. I have SENTRI and even with that you have to follow the same rules. An don't even think about trying to cut in, you will be pulled out of line and sent to the back by the local PoPo's

cliffh - 3-9-2014 at 10:07 AM

Crossed thurs, no problem, make sure you stay to the left when the other lanes open just before the right turn when towing. The boarder guards have no sense of humor. I was in a class 5 with Bob Maynard , when Kenny and Judy Marsh were in your group. fun travels Cliff

RogerMears - 3-9-2014 at 10:17 AM

@larryC: Larry C as in Larry Cochrane....why thank you Larry!! We really like the board-great people & great information! Oh and it's called dictation, Roger's words, my fingers....the dude can't type!

@cliffh: Blast from the past with the names...such good off-road memories!

larryC - 3-9-2014 at 02:54 PM

I'm sure it is Rogers words, I can visualize you looking over your shoulder and saying "Hey Roger look at this", any ways you guys have a safe trip tomorrow and let us know how the road is.
Larry

LaTijereta - 3-9-2014 at 08:07 PM

Carol y Roger..

Some great times back with the MTEG series.. Let me know when you guys get down here to Loreto.. We can meet up at Augies for a c-cktail...

RogerMears - 3-18-2014 at 05:54 PM

We made our trip as planned pulling our 28' empty toy hauler from, Bahia de Los Angeles, Hwy. 1, Lake Chapala turn off, Coco's corner, Gonzaga Bay, Hwy. 5, Hwy. 4, Hwy. 3, Hwy. 2 toll into San Luis border crossing. We traveled super slow the 13 miles to Coco's corner. I think we averaged around 7 mph, then a little bit quicker to Gonzaga Bay. Totally prepared for the trip being slow. Everything went great, trailer still in good shape. Slower traveling our route from Hwy. 4 to the border but pulling a trailer we wanted to be slow anyway. Enjoyed seeing Mexico we've never seen before. San Luis border was not so good for us. Very nasty agents on duty that night especially, a gal with a badge attitude. With a trailer we figured we'd go to secondary, which was fine. They detained us for 3 hours searching and searching with their canine. We had a trailer w/3 dogs, dog beds, food, treats, bones scared about...might have thrown the canine off a little....LOL. They had us sit in their office area, took our keys, and finally came in and said we were free to go. We've crossed the border in TJ, Tecate, Mexicali, and Calexico 100s of times, never had this experience! Can't say we will cross there again but we'd definitely still do the trip and try Los Algodones border next time. We do have a question, when they ask the routine question "Do you have LESS then $10,000.00 American dollars" and you say yes, is it customary to be asked exactly how much do you have, then ask how much we have in pesos, and how much are in our pockets etc. Seems like after you say yes, you have LESS then $10,000.00 that should be the end of a monetary discussion?? Felt a little harassed, but maybe not, we took it all in stride. Tired, hungry and got to spend 3 more hours with the folks. AND yes Larry this is Carol AND Roger....LOL :spingrin:

TMW - 3-18-2014 at 09:31 PM

Not sure what they were looking for about the money thing. Some border agents can be real jerks. I was once asked what I was taking to Baja by an American agent at Tecate and I didn't know how to respond so I said what do you mean. He said very loudly I mean what are you taking to Mexico. I started reeling off everything in my truck in plane sight, cooler with X number of beers and sodas, sleeping bag, blankets, motorcycle, gas can, etc etc until he said are you taking $10,000 down. I said if I had $10,000 I'd be going to Europe instead of Baja. To that he let me go.

chuckie - 3-19-2014 at 03:55 AM

I crossed there last Thursday, and noticed they seemed to be taking a very long time with every vehicle. When my turn came I got engaged in what I thought was a pleasant but long conversation ...But went right on through after that.

Santiago - 3-19-2014 at 05:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
I was once asked what I was taking to Baja by an American agent at Tecate


TW: are you saying you were stopped on the north side of the border when crossing south? I've never had that happen before.

Pescador - 3-19-2014 at 06:57 AM

That is interesting, every time I crossed at San Luis, I have had the same experience you report. We got sent to secondary and got hassled about dog food, even though it had come from the US. They had us wait in the little room while they went through everything. I asked how I could trust them not to steal money or other things and got a really crappy response to that as well. After a couple of times, I decided I would never cross there again. Not that the other crossings are super, but they all seem better than San Luis.

dasubergeek - 3-19-2014 at 09:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RogerMears
We do have a question, when they ask the routine question "Do you have LESS then $10,000.00 American dollars" and you say yes, is it customary to be asked exactly how much do you have, then ask how much we have in pesos, and how much are in our pockets etc. Seems like after you say yes, you have LESS then $10,000.00 that should be the end of a monetary discussion?? Felt a little harassed, but maybe not, we took it all in stride. Tired, hungry and got to spend 3 more hours with the folks. AND yes Larry this is Carol AND Roger....LOL :spingrin:


I've crossed the border at every checkpoint in Baja and I've never once been asked how much money I have... weird!