Only RV on the boat ...

[BeNimble]

Originally Posted by ABBus

The school bus is way safer and handles the dirt roads way better than any other motorhome.

It is just this falsehood repeated on this forum which got me signed up here.

The joke in Mexico is criminals don't get sent to prison, they are forced to be truck drivers on Mexican roads.

[ABBus]

Originally Posted by peteg59

Mexico is a definite No-Go with a gun. They have plenty of bad guys with guns running amok, but no 2nd amendment for the general law abiding population or touristas passing through.

Apologies to OP for derailing his trip blog...

Not a problem!

[ABBus]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

It is just this falsehood repeated on this forum which got me signed up here.

The joke in Mexico is criminals don't get sent to prison, they are forced to be truck drivers on Mexican roads.

A chance you don't own a Skoolie and are not traveling through Mexico, then

[ABBus]

Our spot for the night:

[Oscar1]

Originally Posted by ABBus

Our spot for the night:

Well lucky you! Very nice.
Safe travels

Oscar

[kazetsukai]

Nice, op. I was wondering if it were feasible to use a ferry like that for a full size rig. How much ish did it cost you?

Originally Posted by o1marc

I often wondered about whether using different size panels in the array was a good idea. Looks like it works in your case.

Series connections are generally OK... Mixing, its the parallel connections that get tricky imo. Not a good idea to parallel different voltages. You can however mix any way you want if you use multiple charge controllers for the same battery bank and keep all the panels of the same type on the same controller, as well.

There are limits and it requires some thinking, but it is doable.

[ABBus]

Originally Posted by kazetsukai

Nice, op. I was wondering if it were feasible to use a ferry like that for a full size rig. How much ish did it cost you?

We paid the Autobus price, around $1000 (4 people, including meals and breakfast we didn't try).

[Bus'n it]

That is absolutely awesome! Good for you on taking such a trip. Please keep posting pictures as you go! I think 1k is pretty darn cheap compared to the fuel costs and time savings. Can't beat that. The experiences are also priceless.

[Meathead]

On your way to Zihuatanejo?

[emoji3522]

[ABBus]

Originally Posted by Meathead

On your way to Zihuatanejo?

[emoji3522]

No, we'll cut through the mainland to Guadalajara and Oaxaca and slow down when we'll reach Chiapas.
Is it the mistake, does the Pacific coast worth it?

[Danjo]

Wow, thanks for sharing. Have a good time and send updates!

[ABBus]

Originally Posted by Bus'n it

That is absolutely awesome! Good for you on taking such a trip. Please keep posting pictures as you go! I think 1k is pretty darn cheap compared to the fuel costs and time savings. Can't beat that. The experiences are also priceless.

I'll try to regularly update this thread, then

[Meathead]

Originally Posted by ABBus

No, we'll cut through the mainland to Guadalajara and Oaxaca and slow down when we'll reach Chiapas.
Is it the mistake, does the Pacific coast worth it?

The Mexicans say that the Pacific Ocean has no memory.

Andy Dufrene

Heck, I don’t know. We’re following you! Good luck, and keep us posted!

Peace y’all

[Oscar1]

Get busy livin or get busy dyin!

Red

[demoman]

I took that ferry 30 years ago from lapaz on a motorcycle. Does it still take most of the day to line up and go through customs? I thought we were getting a room because we got a salon ticket but found out after we got on the ship that salon meant big open empty room with uncomfortable chairs. We had to sleep on the open deck outside in sleeping bags in november. I guess my spanish wasnt as good as i thought. The food was so bad and limited on board as to be inedible. One of my traveling companions who i had just met in lapaz was armed but after he talked to a knowledgable person on the ship he decided it wasnt worth the risk being caught and threw it overboard.
John

[ABBus]

We were at the "customs" around 2pm, and by the ship ready for boarding at 3pm. Boarding started 30 minutes later, and the ship left around 6pm. Not too bad.
We didn't try the food on the ship, had home (bus)-made lasagnas.

[Booyah45828]

I think you're going to the southern point of south america right?

Are you using ferry to cross the darien gap too?

[ABBus]

Darien gap: I'll try to avoid the RO-RO, and find a way to have the bus secured on a "platform container" (basically, a container without walls). First we have to reach Panama!

[Welshie]

Originally Posted by ABBus

No, we'll cut through the mainland to Guadalajara and Oaxaca and slow down when we'll reach Chiapas.
Is it the mistake, does the Pacific coast worth it?

The Pacific Coast is pretty but there're much better parts of Mexico. I'd advise you to get south out of where you are. Sinaloa and Michoacan are both cartel hot spots, I'd get out of them ASAP, I'm assuming your white and driving a bus loaded with solar and toys, which in my eyes makes you a monetary target.

Between those two states is Jalisco, where tequila is made, if you're interested you can visit the town of Tequila where there're many distilleries of well known, and others not so much, brands. It's safer than the surrounding states because of the high tourism value there. Oaxaca is a very indigenous state and has very few troubles. It's where Mezcal is from and is regarded as the food Meca of Mexico. I travelled Mexico, mainly southern Mexico for 6 months, and lived in Oaxaca for two months; I adore that state and it's people and recommend it to everyone. If you're interested in culture look up the Guelaguetza, it is not to be missed and you don't have to go to the main ticketed events, the whole city is heaving with carnival!
Parts of Oaxacas coastline are also stunning. Chiapas is beautiful. If you have time you can hit the Yucatan, as I'm sure you know, where the Maya had a stronghold and the greatest monuments to / remains of their civilization are there. After that it's Guatemala and Belize! Both stunningly beautiful countries; but the food is nowhere near as good as in Oaxaca.
So excited for you! How many of you are there? I see four bikes? I think.

[ABBus]

Thanks for these info and advices.
4 people onboard, you were right, my wife, me and our daughters.
We just arrived in Oaxaca (and we stay in a RV park, it's been a long time!).
Bad news of the day, it seems the Belize land border is actually closed (the Mexico border was officially closed but actually open).