BajaNomad - Crossing with a (small) trailer and household stuff

Crossing with a (small) trailer and household stuff

jedge42 - 10-2-2015 at 08:24 AM

We are planning to load some stuff into our 6x10' trailer to take to BCS for a few months ... we rented a house there and have some household stuff we want to bring, as well as camping gear, some computers and electronics for work (all used), and some other random stuff ... what are the rules on bringing that kind of stuff in? We plan to bring it all back 4ish months later and would prefer not to pay duty on it ... should we be worried? any idea on what the duty might be? or how it is calculated? We are currently planning to cross mid-November at Calexico/Mexicali (in town or east, not sure) if that makes any difference ...

thanks for any info you can provide!

jake

SFandH - 10-2-2015 at 09:08 AM

I don't know if anyone can give a definitive answer. There are different rules for different types of stuff. Create a list of what you have in the trailer and then run it through translate.google.com to get it in Spanish.

If you don't speak Spanish, perhaps a note in Spanish explaining your stay is temporary at a rented house and that you'll be bringing everything back would be helpful.

David K - 10-2-2015 at 02:26 PM

On the tourist FMM permit, you are allowed to bring personal items you need for your vacation. If you are a seasonal resident, that may be a different matter and could pay duty for items available for sale in Mexico.

msteve1014 - 10-2-2015 at 02:33 PM

Don't worry about it. 90% of the things I have brought down they did not care about. Even big items like stoves or refrigerators only got a small tax, if any. If the things look used they have always been very reasonable.

jedge42 - 10-2-2015 at 02:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

On the tourist FMM permit, you are allowed to bring personal items you need for your vacation. If you are a seasonal resident, that may be a different matter and could pay duty for items available for sale in Mexico.

well ... we plan to get the tourist visa as we did last year ... we will definitely be there less than 180 days ... sounds like (as with most everything) it is a matter of interpretation? are we going to get turned around because we have tourist visas but are staying (and working, but for a US company) too long or something?

I would guess some folks with big RVs might have as much stuff as we will have in the trailer ... do they generally need to make a list as SFandH suggests?

I am not looking for definitive answers, really ... just kind of an idea what folks have run into ...

jake

LaTijereta - 10-2-2015 at 02:41 PM

I would cross at Tecate, and have a manifest ready as mentioned above.. Teacte is a easy entry into Baja that handles this sort of entry with a small trailer carrying "household items".. Towing that trailer you may want to avoid the offroad section of Hwy 5, and drive down through Ensenada..

bajaguy - 10-2-2015 at 03:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by jedge42

Not sure you can "legally" work in Mexico (even for an American company) on a standard "tourist" FMM. Your FMM might need to be endorsed for "Lucrativo"

monoloco - 10-2-2015 at 03:35 PM

When we crossed at Tecate a few days ago, aduana went through the truck and camper pretty thoroughly, I ended up paying 2400 pesos duty on a new desktop computer. Laptops are OK, everyone is allowed to bring one.

mtnpop - 10-2-2015 at 04:00 PM

I didn't see where you were going to in BCS, but if past gonzoga bay I would not recommend taking Hwy 5 south.. the 23 miles of dirt/rock road to Chapala will be tough pulling a trailer...
Try to load the camping and fishing gear last so that is what they see when you have to open the doors on the trailer... You are going down on vacation.... don't mention for 4 or 5 months...
you still may have to let em look more...
If you are working over the internet or doing business back NOB and not taking income from the local economy then you should not have a problem or have to pay Mexico tax... or report it ...
as I understand things...
good luck.....

jedge42 - 10-2-2015 at 04:38 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LaTijereta

I would cross at Tecate, and have a manifest ready as mentioned above.. Teacte is a easy entry into Baja that handles this sort of entry with a small trailer carrying "household items".. Towing that trailer you may want to avoid the offroad section of Hwy 5, and drive down through Ensenada..

Hmm, we weren't planning to take 5 south, but to take 2 across to Tecate and then 3 down to Ensenada ... just a lot closer to cross at Calexico, which means we can cross earlier and hopefully beat the crowds ...

Is there a major advantage to Tecate over Calexico?

thanks!

jake

Udo - 10-2-2015 at 04:46 PM

Yes, you don't have to drive over a mountain to get to Ensenada.

AKgringo - 10-2-2015 at 05:04 PM

Mex 2 headed west from Mexicalli is a toll road. I would check what it costs based on the length of your car/trailer. Also, I believe that gasoline is still cheaper on the US side, but my info is a year old.

David K - 10-2-2015 at 05:10 PM

Hwy. 2-D is not nearly as easy to drive up the mountain as is I-8... Oh, it is a 4 lane road, but steeper grades and tighter curves... and it is a toll highway. Not pricey for a car, not sure about the addition for a trailer.

So, the recommendation to stay in the U.S. until Tecate is sound. You will have several miles of country road from Buckman Springs Rest Stop to Tecate using Hwy. 94... but nothing worse than Hwy. 1 south of El Rosario!

jedge42 - 10-2-2015 at 05:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Hwy. 2-D is not nearly as easy to drive up the mountain as is I-8... Oh, it is a 4 lane road, but steeper grades and tighter curves... and it is a toll highway. Not pricey for a car, not sure about the addition for a trailer.

It is a pickup truck and trailer (which probably doesn't make too much difference in terms of toll, I would guess) ... but cost isn't a huge factor here ... from looking around here at Baja Nomad, it would seem that pet-friendly places to stay close to Tecate on US side are really not available, unless we go even further west (and stay north, I guess?) ... plus we'd get to see some new scenery ...

The reason I was asking was to find out if there was something about the *crossing* that made Tecate better (i.e. Mexican customs and such) than Mexicali ...

thanks for all the info so far!

jake

David K - 10-2-2015 at 05:31 PM

Tecate is better only because it is a small border (two gates, usually just one open) and no crowds at all, no lines...

Just for your info: to get on the Ensenada road (Hwy. 3)... after entering Mexico, continue straight (it is downhill) to the big blvd. intersection, and you can turn left there or the next block turn left/ east (on either side of the big park)... go one block and turn right (south)... That's it... You are now on Hwy. 3! Ensenada is 70 miles away.

rts551 - 10-2-2015 at 05:32 PM

Crossing at Tecate is easier than Mexicali. You are more likely to get an inspection at Mexicali, but hey just pay the import tax...it will not be much. 2d is a great road to take. I enjoy it more than 8.

Bottom line...it is a toss up. I would take your "new" route just to experience it.

rts551 - 10-2-2015 at 05:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Tecate is better only because it is a small border (two gates, usually just one open) and no crowds at all, no lines...

Just for your info: to get on the Ensenada road (Hwy. 3)... after entering Mexico, continue straight (it is downhill) to the big blvd. intersection, and you can turn left there or the next block turn left/ east (on either side of the big park)... go one block and turn right (south)... That's it... You are now on Hwy. 3! Ensenada is 70 miles away.

Your info is slightly outdated. They now have three lanes. 1 declare and 2 non declare. The 2 non declare are always open. the declare lane seldom.

David K - 10-2-2015 at 05:49 PM

Thank you!