BajaNomad

border crossing vehicle questions

bajadarkskies - 6-19-2023 at 09:22 AM

Hi nomads. I also posted this in Talk Baja. Maybe I am overthinking this, but I’m very nervous about crossing at San Isidro in the next few weeks. Here’s the situation.
a) I’m a permanent resident in MX, US citizen
b) I’ll be driving a MX plated truck (current registration and insurance)
c) I’ll be pulling a US plated utility trailer with permanent plates (no title or registration card ever issued and I crossed successfully into MX with it)
d) I’ll be hauling a US plated ATV on said utility trailer. ATV has temporary registration.

I know a TIP is not required. The situation is I’m taking the ATV down to enjoy at a friend’s property.
Am I likely to encounter any hurdles? Thank you!

JZ - 6-19-2023 at 09:36 AM

The trailer is the only question mark.

They might ask for the registration for that. They will definitely ask for the registration on the truck and ATV (temp registration will be fine).

Why not just put the ATV in the bed of the truck?





[Edited on 6-19-2023 by JZ]

mtgoat666 - 6-19-2023 at 09:52 AM

Is your perm plate trailer California? My perm plates always come with Perm Plate ID card that looks a lot like CA auto registration paperwork, suggest you use that card as "registation." if you lost paperwork, you can request copy from dmv

also, in california when you register for perm plates you can pay a few bucks extra and get title issued, I always do as title makes me happy owner. i avoid buying trailers that dont have title certificates, because you never know...

JZ - 6-19-2023 at 11:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Is your perm plate trailer California? My perm plates always come with Perm Plate ID card that looks a lot like CA auto registration paperwork, suggest you use that card as "registation." if you lost paperwork, you can request copy from dmv

also, in california when you register for perm plates you can pay a few bucks extra and get title issued, I always do as title makes me happy owner. i avoid buying trailers that dont have title certificates, because you never know...


I thought of this too. I have them for my UTV trailer and boat trailer. And was going to tell him to go to AAA or the DMV.

But he says it never had title/registration, so I'm guessing he just bought it from someone w/o doing any new owner registration with the DMV.

bajadarkskies - 6-19-2023 at 12:13 PM

JZ, thanks for reassurance on temp registration of the quad. Truck is a 5' bed Tacoma, double cab so won't fit. No, I did buy it new. (not 'him', btw!)

Mt. Goat thanks, it's the 'permanent plate ID card' that I'm obviously missing, I move too much.

Thanks for the help!!

bajadarkskies - 6-19-2023 at 12:22 PM

I also discovered the 'permanent' plates expire every 5 years, or at least require a maintenance fee, so for sure a DMV visit!

JZ - 6-19-2023 at 12:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajadarkskies  
I also discovered the 'permanent' plates expire every 5 years, or at least require a maintenance fee, so for sure a DMV visit!


Cool. If you have AAA you can get a copy of the registration there instead of the DMW. AAA is generally much quicker.

bajadarkskies - 6-19-2023 at 02:03 PM

I live in MX so AAA wouldn't be much help but thank you!

tomieharder - 6-19-2023 at 02:37 PM

You have to add the trailer to your Mexican auto insurance or else get a separate trailer policy.

David K - 6-19-2023 at 02:46 PM

Lucy, are you offering accommodations or camping at the former Baja Dark Skies Inn? Now using the original name with this website: https://rancholaconcepcion.com/ No more telescope viewings?
The website has no details or links to show services offered. Thank you!

Maderita - 6-19-2023 at 02:55 PM

When I tow a trailer into Baja, I am required to show current registration, 100% of the time. They want the original document, even though the California document say a copy is valid.

Maybe I'm missing something about your situation with the ATV/quad and a shortbed pickup? I load a quad into my Ford Sport Trac, which has an even shorter bed than your truck. The tailgate remains down, of course. If you must have the tailgate up, then many/most quads can be transported in the upright position. Why tow a trailer if you don't have to?

Maderita - 6-19-2023 at 03:09 PM



JZ - 6-19-2023 at 03:58 PM

Good call on standing them up.



bajadarkskies - 6-19-2023 at 08:52 PM

Maderita: The quad measures 85" long, the bed with door down measures 81.5"; the wheelbase of the quad is 51" and the space between the wheel wells is 42 inches. Even if it fit I'd have to take the camper bed off, can't do that. So...no, not happening.

bajadarkskies - 6-20-2023 at 09:24 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Lucy, are you offering accommodations or camping at the former Baja Dark Skies Inn? Now using the original name with this website: https://rancholaconcepcion.com/ No more telescope viewings?
The website has no details or links to show services offered. Thank you!

Rancho La Concepción

bajadarkskies - 6-20-2023 at 09:28 AM

David. I am not as I'm part time in BCS. The ecotourism project on the ranch is leased to a friend. Still no telescopes. But he's working on two more accomodation options in addition to the casita. Yes, that website plus a facebook page. The page does have an airbnb link, other than that I noted it doesn't look quite finished. Thanks for asking!

David K - 6-20-2023 at 10:59 AM

Thank you for responding, Lucy.
The Air BnB link is dead now and I couldn't find any info on accommodations on the web page or Facebook page. If they are there, they aren't obvious (at least to me)... I would be happy to talk with him or assist if I can.

mtgoat666 - 6-20-2023 at 11:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Thank you for responding, Lucy.
The Air BnB link is dead now and I couldn't find any info on accommodations on the web page or Facebook page. If they are there, they aren't obvious (at least to me)... I would be happy to talk with him or assist if I can.


Dk:
The reservation link on home page of website took me to active Airbnb page after another click on reservation/contact page,… try again.

surabi - 6-20-2023 at 12:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  

The Air BnB link is dead now


No it isn't. Works fine.

However, the website needs editing- sloppy translation or lack of anyone looking it over before publishing.

For instance, the section that should say "How to Get Here", says "How to Get".
Then, in that section, it says you need a "tall" vehicle for the bad road, when what they mean is that the vehicle needs to have good road clearance. It doesn't need to be "tall".




[Edited on 6-20-2023 by surabi]

mtgoat666 - 6-20-2023 at 12:45 PM

Visited there a while back when the astrogypsies had it, it’s a beautiful ranch. The drive in is a mini adventure in itself.

From the ranch pics on flickr it looks like the garden, orchard and chicken coop have been let go…. Is no one living there? Would be a fun place to live off the grid, and live off the land.

bajadarkskies - 6-23-2023 at 07:00 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Visited there a while back when the astrogypsies had it, it’s a beautiful ranch. The drive in is a mini adventure in itself.

From the ranch pics on flickr it looks like the garden, orchard and chicken coop have been let go…. Is no one living there? Would be a fun place to live off the grid, and live off the land.

bajadarkskies - 6-23-2023 at 07:03 AM

Glad you had a chance to visit! I don't know what photos you saw; the gardens are working, the hens have been killed by a coyote or bobcat and won't be replaced until we can build a moveable chicken tractor. Nothing has been let go, the fruit trees are still here, although only the apples produce well. And the ranch is lived in!

David K - 6-23-2023 at 08:36 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Thank you for responding, Lucy.
The Air BnB link is dead now and I couldn't find any info on accommodations on the web page or Facebook page. If they are there, they aren't obvious (at least to me)... I would be happy to talk with him or assist if I can.


Dk:
The reservation link on home page of website took me to active Airbnb page after another click on reservation/contact page,… try again.



Just did, when you click the air bnb link it takes you to the air bnb page for the whole world, not to La Concepción's listings. How about pasting the link that you went to? Thank you.

surabi - 6-23-2023 at 10:35 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Thank you for responding, Lucy.
The Air BnB link is dead now and I couldn't find any info on accommodations on the web page or Facebook page. If they are there, they aren't obvious (at least to me)... I would be happy to talk with him or assist if I can.


Dk:
The reservation link on home page of website took me to active Airbnb page after another click on reservation/contact page,… try again.



Just did, when you click the air bnb link it takes you to the air bnb page for the whole world, not to La Concepción's listings. How about pasting the link that you went to? Thank you.


I don't know what you are doing wrong, but the link takes me straight to the Airbnb listing, not the Airbnb homepage. It works fine.

Try a different browser or clear your cache and cookies.

SFandH - 6-23-2023 at 11:16 AM

The Airbnb link on this page: https://rancholaconcepcion.com/hospedaje-2/

Goes to this page:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/887049150643007395?source_impre...

We stayed there many moons ago and did some telescoping. The road in was an adventure. Beautiful, very rural, high altitude place. Tasty apples from the orchard too.

[Edited on 6-23-2023 by SFandH]