Is Mexico Safe?

[VidereStudios]

Originally Posted by SR

This is a motorcycle website, so you know what we are going to say!

Any kind of trailer-caravan type deal is nothing but a huge PITA in Latin America. You want reliable low profile setup. Really, the only reason to take an expensive bike to LA is that it's so much more fun to ride than a POS beater bike like a KLR. Your trailer rig will not be any fun to drive or deal with, especially long term. It will be a hand break, guaranteed. Take you $10k and spend it on gas, lodging and beer!

That's my 2 centavos

Thanks for the valuable input. Trying to decide between the two has been wearisome to say the least. Low profile is the way to go, either route I choose. Obviously the bike by itself is better in that sense...

[SR]

Originally Posted by Pedro Navaja

!Report

At the bottom of each post.

Oh oh, now I know. Look out everyone!

[PirateJohn]

I am a full-time RV'er and I bought my 40 ft. motorhome with the idea of using it in Mexico. In hindsight I doubt if I'd go wandering around most places in Mexico without scouting them out first. For one thing it's too bulky for anything except the most open of motorways. For another (and this probably doesn't apply to your situation) I have never found a Mexican RV park with 50 amp electrical service and I just can't run my A/C off of anything less.

I have seen older Land Rover campers in Mexico. It's a bit overkill for most of northern Mexico, but if you are going well back in the boondocks I'd say that's not a bad idea.

I think that most of us would agree that avoiding new Ford and GM pickups is probably wise in Northern Mexico, although there are certainly plenty of them being driven around. But those vehicles are popular targets for hijackers. A pickup truck camper might make sense in Baja or once you get out of northern Mexico.

Then again, just about anything can be stolen. I saw a photo of a stolen Land Rover Discovery recovered near La Pesca that looked just like mine except for the color.

A Land Cruiser might or might not be a bad idea because they aren't seen that often (the trucks that get stolen the most seem to be the things that blend in or can be made to look like the military).

I will say that if you go much bigger then you might have trouble parking in the secure parking that most motels and hotels have.

A couple of the guys that post here are active in the Jeep community in Mexico. They could probably give you some of the best advice when it comes to 4 wheels.

Personally, I think that the idea of a small trailer for a motorcycle is pretty good, but I would suggest that you consider some sort of rugged trailer like a military trailer if you are planning to do much in the way of dirt roads. And with a trailer you are going to have that issue of being excluded from some secure parking areas.

Good luck!

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by SR

Oh oh, now I know. Look out everyone!

Well, there goes about half of my posts.

Complaints, complaints, complaints ...

[VidereStudios]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

I am a full-time RV'er and I bought my 40 ft. motorhome with the idea of using it in Mexico. In hindsight I doubt if I'd go wandering around most places in Mexico without scouting them out first. For one thing it's too bulky for anything except the most open of motorways. For another (and this probably doesn't apply to your situation) I have never found a Mexican RV park with 50 amp electrical service and I just can't run my A/C off of anything less.

PirateJohn, thanks for the excellent post. Perfectly relevant information and exactly what I was thinking. Another pro to the Land Cruiser / dirt bike combo...the perfect scout bike to go out and check roads and tracks before committing.

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

I have seen older Land Rover campers in Mexico. It's a bit overkill for most of northern Mexico, but if you are going well back in the boondocks I'd say that's not a bad idea.

I think that most of us would agree that avoiding new Ford and GM pickups is probably wise in Northern Mexico, although there are certainly plenty of them being driven around. But those vehicles are popular targets for hijackers. A pickup truck camper might make sense in Baja or once you get out of northern Mexico.

Then again, just about anything can be stolen. I saw a photo of a stolen Land Rover Discovery recovered near La Pesca that looked just like mine except for the color.

A Land Cruiser might or might not be a bad idea because they aren't seen that often (the trucks that get stolen the most seem to be the things that blend in or can be made to look like the military).

Concur on the Ford and GM vehicles. Land Rovers, while great, just don't quite have the dealer coverage that Toyota has worldwide. That's why I went the Land Cruiser route. It is a bummer hearing about that one Land Rover stolen. If I do continue down the Land Cruiser route, it will be to make it as stealthy as possible...and not as something desirable!

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

I will say that if you go much bigger then you might have trouble parking in the secure parking that most motels and hotels have.

A couple of the guys that post here are active in the Jeep community in Mexico. They could probably give you some of the best advice when it comes to 4 wheels.

Personally, I think that the idea of a small trailer for a motorcycle is pretty good, but I would suggest that you consider some sort of rugged trailer like a military trailer if you are planning to do much in the way of dirt roads. And with a trailer you are going to have that issue of being excluded from some secure parking areas.

Good luck!

Yeah, I think when it boils down to it, that is probably my biggest concern. I'll have to think about that.

Regarding the trailer, yeah, I am looking at either a military trailer or building my own with matching tires (2 extra spares!). I just really like the idea of trailering a super nimble bike down there. That way I can eliminate the problems of a big, heavy bike.

Thanks for the considerable thought in your post!

[wayno]

[QUOTE=
Regarding the trailer, yeah, I am looking at either a military trailer or building my own with matching tires (2 extra spares!). I just really like the idea of trailering a super nimble bike down there. That way I can eliminate the problems of a big, heavy bike.

Thanks for the considerable thought in your post![/QUOTE]

There is a company that builds off road trailers that have some kind of U Joint in tongue. Cant remember name

[VidereStudios]

Originally Posted by wayno

There is a company that builds off road trailers that have some kind of U Joint in tongue. Cant remember name

You probably mean Adventure Trailers. They make some very nice offroading trailers...unfortunately they don't have a small model with an area for a bike. Outlander Trailers makes a very similar trailer and they do have a trailer that has some compartments along with room for a dirt bike. It is a nice trailer, but the last time I looked it was north of $6K. Too rich for my blood.

I think I would go down the road of either refurbishing a military trailer or designing and fabricating my own.

Adventure Trailers Multi-Axis Coupler is one of the nicest connections between the trailer and the rig. It allows for greater than 90 degrees in difference of travel between the trailer and the tow vehicle. Extremely nice...here's a link:

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/coupler.html

[WeazyBuddha]

Why not take a month or two and do a motorcycle-only trip? You can offload the motorcycle and accoutrements fairly easily and should not be a huge investment if you buy used. Less is usually more; stuff just gets in the way in maintenance, hauling and worry. If you like the motorcycle only trip, there you go and if you don't well, there you go.

[PirateJohn]

If money wasn't an object you could always contract for something like the Perentie scout vehicles that Land Rover built for the Australian military. This model was designed to carry a motorcycle; add a sink and a chemical toilet and you'd be good to go.

[SR]

Originally Posted by VidereStudios

Regarding the trailer, yeah, I am looking at either a military trailer or building my own with matching tires (2 extra spares!). I just really like the idea of trailering a super nimble bike down there. That way I can eliminate the problems of a big, heavy bike.

I have a three rail MC trailer in Mexico that I use for moving dirt bikes around and my blood pressure goes up 20 points every time I hook it up to my truck.

-It sucks on narrow windy roads with no shoulder!
-It sucks in the city on narrow streets, traffic and for parking!
-It sucks on topes and potholes!
-It blew when some cholos stole both wheels and the spare off it and I had to special order the rims and tires from Guadalajara, because they didn't sell the size and bolt pattern in the city where I am!
-It even sucks on the toll roads where they charge almost double for a single axle trailer!
-One of those single rail t-shaped racks that plug into the trailer hitch receptor would be a much better option than a trailer for a light bike.

Generally traveling in a big truck with a trailer is almost the exact opposite experience of traveling on a motorcycle in terms of care free mobility. If you must have a truck-trailer combo you should see one of those 4x4 overland travel websites.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Originally Posted by SR

This is a motorcycle website, so you know what we are going to say!

Any kind of trailer-caravan type deal is nothing but a huge PITA in Latin America. ... Your trailer rig will not be any fun to drive or deal with, especially long term. It will be a hand break, guaranteed. Take you $10k and spend it on gas, lodging and beer!

That's my 2 centavos

Totally agree with SR
Spoke with sombody trailering in Mexico who once got off the wrong exit going through a big city, said it took him a couple of hours struggle just to get turned around ,out of the maze of streets and back on the hi-way.I have seen the undersides of trailers scrape topes or have stuff knocked off the sides in narrow situtaions.Never see them on the neatest winding mountain roads.
I only have one experience of helping drive a big trailer down I 75 and wish NEVER to repeat it!
Take your cash and a bike and some light camping equipment (for emergencies) and stay in cheap hotels.
The idea of using a trailer and setting up"base camp" may sound rugged and explorerly but it is a big crippler for your travel enjoyment. You will be restricting yourself to just doing loops and forays and must always return to that ball and chain
. If you were on a bike you could just pack up in the morning and head out to whatever point strikes your fancy wander aimlessly and find another hotel or campsite for the new night.Sure you can still stay long term in the same town if you wish, but if you have checked out of a hotel there is nothing to force you to return there if you happen to discover a neat road which leads to another neat area and the day is done . All the while your mind is free of the worry about whether your beloved mobile bedroom is being ransacked or dismantled.Ewan and Charlie may have made an interesting film ( which I have not seen) but I doubt that their experience applies to you... do you have Hollywood $$$$ connections? , will you have factory sponsors , a camera crew along and one or more support vehicles to see to your off-camera needs?
The trailer/ suv/armoured car you are contemplating is, by your description, going to suck up a LOT of cash even before you set out .To ,insure, and operate it is going to need . tons more money as outlined by Pirate John
Take all that money and bank it and use it on the road for actual travel purposes on a motorcycle .

[Arte]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

If money wasn't an object you could always contract for something like the Perentie scout vehicles that Land Rover built for the Australian military. This model was designed to carry a motorcycle; add a sink and a chemical toilet and you'd be good to go.

I have saved lot of $$ on tolls with mi kangaroo carrier carrying my dual or sport one, no worries.

[Flagixxer]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

I am a full-time RV'er and I bought my 40 ft. motorhome with the idea of using it in Mexico. In hindsight I doubt if I'd go wandering around most places in Mexico without scouting them out first. For one thing it's too bulky for anything except the most open of motorways. For another (and this probably doesn't apply to your situation) I have never found a Mexican RV park with 50 amp electrical service and I just can't run my A/C off of anything less.

I have seen older Land Rover campers in Mexico. It's a bit overkill for most of northern Mexico, but if you are going well back in the boondocks I'd say that's not a bad idea.

I think that most of us would agree that avoiding new Ford and GM pickups is probably wise in Northern Mexico, although there are certainly plenty of them being driven around. But those vehicles are popular targets for hijackers. A pickup truck camper might make sense in Baja or once you get out of northern Mexico.

Then again, just about anything can be stolen. I saw a photo of a stolen Land Rover Discovery recovered near La Pesca that looked just like mine except for the color.

A Land Cruiser might or might not be a bad idea because they aren't seen that often (the trucks that get stolen the most seem to be the things that blend in or can be made to look like the military).

I will say that if you go much bigger then you might have trouble parking in the secure parking that most motels and hotels have.

A couple of the guys that post here are active in the Jeep community in Mexico. They could probably give you some of the best advice when it comes to 4 wheels.

Personally, I think that the idea of a small trailer for a motorcycle is pretty good, but I would suggest that you consider some sort of rugged trailer like a military trailer if you are planning to do much in the way of dirt roads. And with a trailer you are going to have that issue of being excluded from some secure parking areas.

Good luck!

I just return from six days in Mexico (East coast side). I took a mission team in from Florida and was planning to trailer my bike, but hit a deer and did not get it back in time for the planned trip. We did not have any problems, gas every where, Military every where and no local police(?).
I was speaking to our mission director in CD Victoria about the possibility of bikers staying over night at their compound. This is not a hotel but a mission. He said no problem.
Chacko Thomas, the director, is not Mexican, he is from Dallas TX by way of India. Received a degree in Dallas before God called him to Mexico. Speaks English, Spanish, and of course his India dialect.
His Compound has electrical hook up and water for large RV’s. He also has beds for up to 20 people. (even has AC J ) This is a very clean, secure facility with a 10 ft walls in the front and 8 feet fence around the 3 acre facility. I am not sure about how he handles long term stay?
He also has a mission 200 miles farther south in the Xilitla, San Luis Potosi, Mexico area. This location is in what they call the Valley of the Witches. Be prepare for some strange things to happen if you stay there!! L It will not accommodate RV’s, but, again very secure for you and yours bikes.
The mission in Victoria is called Casa de Esperanza located at KM 13.5 Carretera, Matamoros (Hwy 101) CD Victoria, Tamps, Mexico. It is about 5 miles North of Victoria.
His phone number is (956)425-5342 and is good in US or Mexico.
His mailing address is: Chacko Thomas PO Box 531966 Harlingen, Texas 78553

[SR]

Originally Posted by Arte

I have saved lot of $$ on tolls with mi kangaroo carrier carrying my dual or sport one, no worries.

Nice, those carrying racks beat the heck out of a trailer for a single bike, but you are seriously pushing the weight capabilities of that rack with those bikes. I used to put an XR-650 on one of those racks and felt like I was pushing it, but KLR? It looks like now they make heavy duty racks with capacity up to 600 lbs that mount in 2 places directly to the frame of the vehicle.

Woops!, we are way off subject now.

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by Flagixxer

His Compound has electrical hook up and water for large RV’s. He also has beds for up to 20 people. (even has AC J ) This is a very clean, secure facility with a 10 ft walls in the front and 8 feet fence around the 3 acre facility. I am not sure about how he handles long term stay?

Is this on the eastern side of Victoria, not too far from the Centro? There was an RV park there not too many years ago; I rode by maybe 2 years ago and it looked pretty vacant.

In fact there used to be a couple of RV parks around Victoria and a buncha bass fishing gringos around Presa Vicente Guerrero / Nuevo Padillo (my Mexican atlas shows a town called Big Bass - tell me that isn't a gringo hangout ) with travel trailers, but I have lost track of 'em since I left Florida and the troubles have started.

Thanks much Flagixxer for the info and the contact. I will try to check this out for future reference.

EDIT:

I need to read closer. I see that you provided the Victoria address. Let me see if I can find that on Google Earth.

Once again ... thanks!