BAJADUDE
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 8-16-2005
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OTAY
Can anyone tell me about crossing the border at Otay and going through customs with a 'menaje de casa'. I already have my FM3 and M.D.C. Is this a
good place to do it? Do I have to hire a customs broker? Do you have any recommendations? We are coming from Colorado.
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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I have the same questions as Bajadude and we too are all packed up and ready with FM3 and MdC. All our stuff is loaded to the ceiling of a 14' cargo
trailer. Anyone with similar experience? Do ya just drive up to the "something to declair" line and Smile??? Or do you need a broker. If a broker is
needed, any recomendations? Thanks mucho!
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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bajaden
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Registered: 4-7-2005
Location: Ensenada
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Mood: vicarious
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This probably is not going to be helpful, but I drove three trailer loads down in july. Came through TJ. They only stopped me once to look in the
trailer. Then they waved me through. After that it was a straight shot to Mulege.
Bottom line is that I never declared anything. It wasn't as though I was trying to avoid it, they just never asked.
At a feast of egos, everyone leave\'s hungry...
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Anonymous
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OTAY
I only can tell you of my experience 12 years ago. I also had my pickup loaded to the gills. When approaching the border at Otay, the Mexican custom
guys started, way before I got to them, to make turn around motions. Was too late, and when I got to them ,they told me that I "HAD" to go through San
Isidro. Now I had to go back through American customs and had a hell of a time explaining, that I never took any of that stuff into Mexico. They
didn't quite believe me. So ,my advice, better check with the Mexican authorities. Could save yourself some time and embarrassment. Have a good and
save trip, and drive careful on Hwy #1.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 6-21-2005
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That was vandenberg. Sorry, forgot to log in 
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osoflojo
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Posts: 378
Registered: 10-29-2004
Location: c.s.l./b.c.s.
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If you are comming from CO anyway why not go through Tecate then down to Ensenada on HWY 3. Avoid ALL the San Diego and TJ traffic and the Aduana
there has always been friendly. I dont like crowds and Tecate fills the bill. Either way enjoy the trip.............
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Subastador
Junior Nomad
Posts: 53
Registered: 10-11-2003
Location: Live Oak, CA
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My experience last November may help: I went through the process of getting my FM-3 and a fully approved, (by the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento)
Menaje de Casa. Got to the border, (TJ) about 3 in the afternoon. Thinking I would merely show them my paperwork and be let through, I entered in the
far right lane. Driving a flatbed pickup with stake sides, load about 6 feet high, and pulling a 10' trailer similarly filled. We took enough
furniture to completely furnish our 2 bedroom house in Mulege. When approached by the agent, I told her I had a MdC, and she said, "No inspection
here". When I asked why, she said, "Too big load. You go to Otay" wherepon they opened the fence and stopped all 24 lanes of northbound and turned me
around. I then had to explain my presence to American Immigration and was sent to secondary. After an hour wait and multiple explanations to them, we
were released and headed for Otay. Not knowing any difference, we got in line at 6 PM and were once again turned away, because there "Is no inspection
today, come back tomorrow". Same routine through American customs, except they were nicer this time, and did explain to me that the Mexicans were not
inspecting trucks that day because it was Veterans Day and the US Ag. inspectors were off. Next morning at 8:30, hit it again. Got into Mexican
customs just fine, but when I showed my Menaje paperwork, the inspector told me I had to hire a broker. Found a broker who did Menaje de Casas, (Not
all do). They took my paperwork, filled out then necessary entry forms, sent it all to customs, and 4 hours later came back with all the documents
needed for inspection. Then the broker said, "now we will take you over to be inspected" and escorted us out of customs, back into the commercial
truck inspection area, where we turned over all the paper work to a guy in a little house at the entrance, got in line with all the semis, and were
told to back up to the dock. (This dock is truck height and about a 1000 feet long.) The broker said, "now you will be inspected). NO ONE told us to
unload. We waited for over 4 more hours, and I finally walked back over to the broker area, found my broker, and asked for help. He said "I'll be
there in 15 minutes" 45 minutes later, he came over, and told us the reason we hadn't been inspected was that we had not unloaded our truck. After
some wrangling, we hired a crew and unloaded that which it had taken me 2 days to load. Still no inspection. Finally at 8:30 PM, (dark) a lady came
over, walked by our stuff, and climbed into the truck. She tore open the only box we had left in the truck, because she could not find the # of it, so
I asked her "que problema" and she asked what it was. I showed her on my list, and she got out of the truck & left. No further explanation. I ran
down an employee of my broker who I recognized, and had him go check. He came back & said "You are OK, just a few more minutes". So we found our
crew, reloaded in the dark, back came the paperwork, (approved) and we tied down & got the hell out of there.
Be aware, that an approved Menaje does not exempt you from the inspection process, and a broker IS necessary. My experience is not unique, I think,
because we met an American known as "Jim from La Paz" who has a mini storage business there and does Menaje importations for hire as a business. He
told us that he had been on the dock for 6 hours that day, that it was normal procedure. The thing is that small truckloads of household goods have
very little importance to them, and they always make them wait till last. It was a harrowing experience for us.
Hope this helps. I have since heard that Tecate would have been better, as in Otay, they REQUIRE you to go through the commercial truck inspection
with a MdC
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Call these people in Otay..they speak english and can walk you thru...
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Salsa
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Registered: 2-4-2003
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Subastador
You did GOOD.
It took us 4 days. We loaded and unloaded 9 times.
Don
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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Wow Subastador, that is a sobering story! We happen to know Jim from La Paz as we stored our trailer at his place for several years. He is a good guy.
I'm thinking now that we will go trhough Tecate. Last time through we noticed a broker right near the crossing. At least everything will be on a
smaller scale and we may not feel so much like the neglected little guy. Crap! I was stressing about this before. Now I'm gonna be even more worried.
Bajaden, your method is tempting, and I have to admit we have done a bit of the tempting fate routine in the past and gotten away with it. I want to
do it right this time, but it seems that it is not going to be as easy as I had thought.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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