Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - Your thoughts on moving

Zihuatanejo Ixtapa Troncones Mexico
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Probably sometime later this year, I will need to get my stuff moved from San Diego down here. Mostly all my woodworking stuff, big mechanic's toolbox, air compressor and tools. There are a few pieces of furniture, personal items and books.

So I know we need to apply for permanent residency and present the Menaje de Casa. But every time I ask the question "how detailed?" I get a different answer ranging from each wrench and screwdriver to just say "mechanic's toolbox with tools".

By what method? I've again gotten recommendations of everything from one of the Majors (Allied, Mayflower) to "a guy with a truck".

Any advice welcome! (But not necessarily taken...)

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Three years ago next month, we made the big move. Like you, we tried to consider all of our options.

What we finally did was buy a nice used Dodge Durango here. Then we located an 8' enclosed cargo trailer. We drove to California, sold EVERYTHING except our kitchen stuff, our art, and a couple of boards. 99% of it fit in the trailer, the back of the Durango with the dogs and cat, and in a soft roof carrier. A few things were given away at the last minute.

We crossed at Nogales with each box labeled as to contents and numbered. We also had four copies of the master lists, and most importantly, it turned out, photos of the trailer being loaded so every layer was visible.

We were finished in less than 30 minutes, the duty fee was under $300 USD payable only by credit card. We only had to pull our surf boards out of the trailer, after that the photos took care of things.

We made it back here in a week under 3 months. So glad we did it, this method worked perfectly for us.

Sold the Durango, got something smaller. Sold the cargo trailer. Never once were we questions about driving Guerrero plated vehicles in the US. We had our drivers licenses from here just in case.

Brokers wouldn't talk to us, we didn't have enough stuff. We were more than 6 months (I think that was the cut off) after getting our permanent residency, so couldn't use a mensaje de casa. It was all part of the adventure, it turned out to be the perfect answer for us.

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We had power tools, hand tools, none in original boxes. Sports equipment, many of the things that supposedly have to be itemized. Small ouse hold appliances, sewing machine, everything you would have if you were setting up a household.

One checkpoint on the highway asked us to open the trailer, but I pulled out the paperwork that we got at the border when we paid the import fees, he glanced at it and wished us safe travels.

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My thoughts: "tool chest with misc. hand tools" Anything electrical or electronic a separate item. Be SURE to state that the item is used condition, preferably not in original box. With serial number. My experience driving down from Portland (with a Mx friend, my spanish was not up to the task) was no problem border crossing with the correct papers in order, but requiring hiring a broker to get thru it all. At one point on the way down I was stopped by a Fed. police roadblock just as I was about to end my day of driving (dusk). They wanted me to unload everything and inspect for no drugs or weapons, in the near darkness. In order to get past that, it cost me a one hundred dollar bill. Not sure they were police, being you can buy the official mark tee shirts very easily. Black police-looking PU with "official" looking decals on the doors and no red/blue roof lights. That was my only tense moment of the six day drive, from Portland to Zihua. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH! (no comments on hiring someone to move it for you)

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I do have personal experience from SoCal and recommendations if needed, I was going to email you, but not sure it is activated?

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It is now

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Probably sometime later this year, I will need to get my stuff moved from San Diego down here. Mostly all my woodworking stuff, big mechanic's toolbox, air compressor and tools. There are a few pieces of furniture, personal items and books.

So I know we need to apply for permanent residency and present the Menaje de Casa. But every time I ask the question "how detailed?" I get a different answer ranging from each wrench and screwdriver to just say "mechanic's toolbox with tools".

By what method? I've again gotten recommendations of everything from one of the Majors (Allied, Mayflower) to "a guy with a truck".

Any advice welcome! (But not necessarily taken...)

My thought. I hate moving.

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We had been in our So Cal beach house for 38 years. It turned out to actually be quite freeing to eliminate almost everything, after we got over the OMG how do we do this part.

Every so often, however, one of us hold something up and says, "Why did we bring THIS?" and laugh.

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My thought. I hate moving.

I hear that. Grew up military and hate it more each time.

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We used Mayflower recently and although we never got the Menaje certified. They were able to clear Customs this past Monday. Mexico has a new rule which states you have to first register with immigration within 30 days of your arrival and get your card. Don't forget to get you VISA stamped when you go thru immigration at the airport or the border crossing if you are driving.

Now you can go back to the counsel in San Diego and have your Menaje de Casa legalized and ship your property. OR! as we were informed by the Mexican consulate in the states, if you can cross into Mexico at Otay they will let you in with out the Menaje being certified....you will need two copies of your Menaje,and Visa.

The idea of first entering Mexico, registering with immigration to get your card then going back to the states to get you Menaje legalized was explained to me as a complete foul up by the Mexican immigration system in mid 2020. This was explained to me at the stateside Mexican consulte we used. They also suggested that anyone coming in from the southwest USA use Otay crossing.

Let the folks at Mayflower pack your stuff (they did it for us, it was part of their fee))and they know what to write on each package for ease of getting thru customs. Mexico is not fond of you bringing in major tools and equipment as they interpret you bringing them in as an attempt to work, Now if you have a permanent residency visa and register with immigration as a permanent resident you are golden and no need to worry. Remember if you don't do this this on your FIRST entry with your visa and the stamp on it is over 180 days old you are dead meat and your going to pay duty on everything.

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We used Mayflower recently and although we never got the Menaje certified. They were able to clear Customs this past Monday. Mexico has a new rule which states you have to first register with immigration within 30 days of your arrival and get your card. Don't forget to get you VISA stamped when you go thru immigration at the airport or the border crossing if you are driving.

Now you can go back to the counsel in San Diego and have your Menaje de Casa legalized and ship your property. OR! as we were informed by the Mexican consulate in the states, if you can cross into Mexico at Otay they will let you in with out the Menaje being certified....you will need two copies of your Menaje,and Visa.

The idea of first entering Mexico, registering with immigration to get your card then going back to the states to get you Menaje legalized was explained to me as a complete foul up by the Mexican immigration system in mid 2020. This was explained to me at the stateside Mexican consulte we used. They also suggested that anyone coming in from the southwest USA use Otay crossing.

Let the folks at Mayflower pack your stuff (they did it for us, it was part of their fee))and they know what to write on each package for ease of getting thru customs. Mexico is not fond of you bringing in major tools and equipment as they interpret you bringing them in as an attempt to work, Now if you have a permanent residency visa and register with immigration as a permanent resident you are golden and no need to worry. Remember if you don't do this this on your FIRST entry with your visa and the stamp on it is over 180 days old you are dead meat and your going to pay duty on everything.

How was the experience dealing with HomeLand Security? I was told by the Allied rep that the packing has to be overseen by DHS and they have to approve the shipment. Frankly I would rather just walk away from everything than have a bunch of DHS goons basically doing a warrantless search of my stuff.

I got estimates from a couple of the majors, Allied & Mayflower. They were both insanely expensive, around $40k. Then the price would go up about $10k every time I had to tell them "you are shipping to the wrong coast". I could replace almost everything I own for that kind of money. Hell, for that kind of money I could hire a private jet and haul everything down here.

It seemed like this was the first time either of them had ever encountered someone moving to Mexico.

Neither of them seem to know much about geography; they both wanted to ship by sea from Long Beach, one to Veracruz, one to Puerto Vallarta. Seems kind of dumb to use the ports when I literally live in the border city, but apparently there are some rules that household goods can't cross the border by land.

They couldn't seem to find Zihua on a map let alone la Playa Buenavista. I even gave them the GPS coordinates of my house, circled on a map, and they still couldn't find the west coast. By the time I was done with Allied the route would be San Diego, Long Beach, Galveston, Veracruz, Morelia, Buenavista, and the price was north of $50k.

So they both seemed to me at best incompetent, and actually downright scammy. I've completely given up on them as I can see my stuff ending up in Buena Vista, Colorado in DHS custody.

Perhaps you could share the name of your Mayflower rep? Sounds like they can at least find the west coast of Mexico on a map, which puts them way ahead of the last Mayflower person I dealt with. I don't know anymore who is is bullshitting me and who is telling the truth.

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I just hired a international moving company to pack/unpack and ship my entire household from Toronto to Zihuatanejo for $21000 Canadian.

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What company?

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Orbit international moving logistics, they are taking care of everything with the US and Mexican customs, so far stress free.

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We had the menaje de casa, but they didn't really look at it. We had my truck and a 7x14 enclosed trailer filled to the gills. They asked about my tools and I said they were in the center of the trailer. Sent us to the xray machine. Ended up paying $300, but they kept saying we needed a customs broker...overall not a big hassle. I would take as many tools as possible, Things that I have not used: dress clothes, winter clothing, shoes. Flip flops and sandals.

We looked into having our stuff professionally moved, but it was way out of our price range.

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Exactly our experience. :megusta:

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generalizing, tools in Zihua especially good power tools can be twice the USA price making it worth toting them along. I am continuing to fly with tools though flying with a dog has reduced the volume. A person can never have too many tools!

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generalizing, tools in Zihua especially good power tools can be twice the USA price making it worth toting them along. I am continuing to fly with tools though flying with a dog has reduced the volume. A person can never have too many tools!

Some tools I own date back to my pre-teens. The first half of my working life, I was a tech for Ford. My hobby is woodworking. I have a lot of tools.

While I will likely never have to rebuild another variable venturi carburetor, or perform another Pinto gas tank recall, it's nice to know that if Ford called me out of retirement...

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While I will likely never have to rebuild another variable venturi carburetor, or perform another Pinto gas tank recall, it's nice to know that if Ford called me out of retirement...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, MindPilot, but you would need to go back and get a computer engineering degree. Mechanics don't actually work on cars anymore. When you open the hood, there are only ports to plug in your myriad diagnostic devices.

A million years ago, my significant other had a Ford Pinto that had the gas tank recall. All they did was spray some kind of insulation foam between the gas tank and the back of the rear seat backs. She sold the car soon after that.

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While I will likely never have to rebuild another variable venturi carburetor, or perform another Pinto gas tank recall, it's nice to know that if Ford called me out of retirement...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, MindPilot, but you would need to go back and get a computer engineering degree. Mechanics don't actually work on cars anymore. When you open the hood, there are only ports to plug in your myriad diagnostic devices.

A million years ago, my significant other had a Ford Pinto that had the gas tank recall. All they did was spray some kind of insulation foam between the gas tank and the back of the rear seat backs. She sold the car soon after that.

Man, I owned a ford Pinto wagon. What a hunk of junk. It was falling apart exponentially. The front brakes went metal on metal and I was not going to put another dime in that car. Well one day the brakes locked up two blocks from home.

Drove that car to the curb without the front wheels spinning. Called and negotiated a price for a scrap yard to tow it away.

GOOD TIMES, FUN TIMES!!!

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"It was falling apart exponentially."

That is how they got the exploded view for the manual.

I had about a dozen Pintos. The cars were cheap, parts were cheaper and my labor was free. When I got tired of one and it quit, just roll to the curb, put the pink under the remaining wiper and walk away.

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I had about a dozen Pintos. The cars were cheap, parts were cheaper and my labor was free. When I got tired of one and it quit, just roll to the curb, put the pink under the remaining wiper and walk away.

I had 2 Pintos at the same time for about 3 years. Loved them. The rear seal went out on one and I yanked the engine out by myself without a hoist. Getting it back in I had my neighbor help me lift and guide it onto the mounts. Also didn't have to take the hood off because you could open it all the way back to rest on the windshield.

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While I will likely never have to rebuild another variable venturi carburetor, or perform another Pinto gas tank recall, it's nice to know that if Ford called me out of retirement...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, MindPilot, but you would need to go back and get a computer engineering degree. Mechanics don't actually work on cars anymore. When you open the hood, there are only ports to plug in your myriad diagnostic devices.

A million years ago, my significant other had a Ford Pinto that had the gas tank recall. All they did was spray some kind of insulation foam between the gas tank and the back of the rear seat backs. She sold the car soon after that.

Good thing I learned about electronics and computers in the Navy! My very first automotive job that wasn't "gas station" was working with the University of Colorado to develop emission testing and diagnostic protocols. Later with Ford, I became a go-to guy for weird electrical problems.

Yeah I heard some dealers would do that. The theory was it was a layer of fireproofing between the interior and the tank...except that it wasn't. They would still collect the full payment from the company for performing the recall.
Anyone doing that is opening themselves up to all kinds of liability. It's not surprising though; some of the dumbest people I have ever met were dealer service managers. Oh man, I got stories...

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