New Podders- Mexico anyone?

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   Hello fellow Podders,
My wife and I have sold our VW Eurovan Camper after 10 years of great adventures.
We bought a 6 Cylinder RAV and a 2012 RPod 177 so jazzed looking forward to some luxury camping.
We are in the East Kootenays 125 miles north of Spokane Wa.

Want to take a trip down the West Coast from Vancouver- Cabos San Lucas , want to know if anyone has made a trip into Mexico. Would love to have any info that may make a smoother trip.

Thanks,

Michael & Julie

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Michael Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Topic: New Podders- Mexico anyone? Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 2:18am
	Hello fellow Podders, My wife and I have sold our VW Eurovan Camper after 10 years of great adventures. We bought a 6 Cylinder RAV and a 2012 RPod 177 so jazzed looking forward to some luxury camping. We are in the East Kootenays 125 miles north of Spokane Wa. Want to take a trip down the West Coast from Vancouver- Cabos San Lucas , want to know if anyone has made a trip into Mexico. Would love to have any info that may make a smoother trip. Thanks, Michael & Julie

Folornhope Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 2:24am
	Best advice I could give is avoid Mexico. We used to go to Nuevo Laredo a fair amount...but the violence down there now make it a good place to avoid.
	Eddy the Escape Pod...177 Ford F150

Keith-N-Dar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 03 Apr 2011 Location: Mayville, WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447	Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 5:59am
	You need Mexican insurance, so make the arrangements before you cross the border. And prepare for them keeping your vehicle/pod if there is any kind of incident while down there. It happened to me last time in Mexico (1970, so it may have changed but I doubt it). We were in a minor accident and even though the car was driveable we were never able to get it back. And were paid almost nothing for it.
	Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150

Thinker Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2013 Location: S. Mississippi Online Status: Offline Posts: 171	Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 7:00am
	I am sorry to be a wet blanket, and this post will probably get a lot of you torqued. You are planning an expedition (even if you don't cross the border). A Rav4 is way too light for this kind of towing. Yes, I know that the V6 model is "rated" at 3500# pounds tow capacity. But here are some things to consider. The dry weight of the 177 is 2400 pounds. Dry weight does not include the A/C, Microwave, Hotwater Heater, Battery, Propane Tank, Fridge. I have the 171 (lighter) and my true weight towing out of dealer was close to 2800 pounds. Add a few pots and pans, a good mattress, a few cans of beans and corn, a few gallons of spring water, my loaded weight is close o 3000#. From the tow capacity of the vehicle, you have to subtract the weight of the load in the TV in order to compute the CGVW (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight). If your passengers are 300# that does not leave much for cargo in the TV before you are over weight. Whenever you assess capacity, you should always allow reserve. I would suggest to never count on using more than 80# of all your ratings due to other issues, like having some tank liquid for brief times. I know many of you tow with vehicles rated at 3500# and do fine. This is true, especially if you are only going a few hundred miles down the road to the family favorite campground. I am apalled at how dealer sales people skew the truth and will hook a 7000# trailer on a Ford 150. I camped next to this family recently. He had to dump his 150 and get a 250 PowerStroke. About going to Mexico. Lets say you do go South of the Border with a rig pushed to the limits and find yourself in need of transmission repair. You will not find a competent Toyota dealer on every street corner. Please think twice about this kind of risk.
	Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171

coopercdrkey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 26 Aug 2012 Location: Cedar Key, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 457	Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 7:32am
	Excellent advice. Please consider it carefully. Welcome to the Forum!
	Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059	Posted: 08 Apr 2013 at 12:19pm
	Welcome Michael. I agree with others - unless I was flying into a known tourist trap/resort and staying there the whole time, I wouldn't head south of Texas right now. Lots of stories of RV and camper car jackings in the middle of nowhere...
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual