Mexico Part 1. Attempt No1 into Mexico
Tuesday, 21 August 2012 9:18 am
Saturday 8th September:
A wild hot, windy and dusty night however we are all set to go.
John and Elizabeth are now with us after we met them in town yesterday. The duty free opened at 10am
and we topped up our spirit supply (3 bottles whisky $25 is a good deal).
At US Customs a sniffer dog checked over the vehicles and with a quick passport check it was over the Rio Grande River bridge and into the Mexico customs section. It was challenging with our lack of Spanish, however all officials were very friendly and helpful.
John and I got our Temporary Vehicle Import papers however Bill only had a copy of his Registration papers. (Somewhere along his travels and multiple crossings of US/Canada, a copy had been swapped for the original) Although the official tried to bend the rules, head office would not allow, thus we elected to all return to the US whilst arranging for a replacement original to be FedEx to us from Australia.
This should arrive on Tuesday evening.
For the full ‘How To’ information I will post a separate listing in my DIY Kit.
By 1.30pm we are making our way back through US Customs. At this border the agents were very friendly and fortunately unlike those on the US border coming in from Canada.
Returning to the local RV park, John knew he had a problem with the hubs on his Fuso Canter and was not getting drive to the front axle so now we have time to pull the front end down and rectify the problem.
Sunday 9th September:
it was great to get all the little things done in and around the vehicles. A tighten up of chassis bolts and fix a few things in and around my vehicle then attend to Johns 4x4 problem.
It would seem that at a previous service when the front brake linings were replaced, the mechanic tried to force off the Free Wheel hub and seriously bent the backing plate of the hub. On the other side the same thing has happened however here the entire hub was totally re-assembled in the incorrect order, damaging the internal springs.
For those that have a Fuso 4x4 Canter - there is a ‘C’ clip that holds the axle to the inside of the hub and this MUST be removed BEFORE the hub is taken off.
Forcing the removal of the hub without removing the ‘C’ clip just bends the backing plate. The net result is no four wheel drive, even if the hubs are turned to lock.
The picture shows the rear end of the hub and one bent backing plate and the backing plate from the other hub loose. What is curved should be FLAT !
4pm is happy hour at the Lizard Lounge!
Over the frame we place some of our tarps to give shade from the near 40 degree heat.
We are joined by Donna, Jenny and Jim long term RV campers in the park, and Matthew who stays here and works in Presidio.
Matthew cooks up a storm of BBQ’ed corn and chicken, and we swap yarns and storied well into the evening
Camp 213: Loma Paloma RV Park Presidio
Cost: $10
N29* 32.464 W104* 18.777
Recently : 290Kms.
Trip Total :82,807 Km
Road-Runner
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=29.54072,-104.31282&ll=29.54072,-104.31282&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Monday 10th September:
Spent the day replacing all the airlines to Johns air operated actuators for the roof lift. The lines ATW fitted had continually broken and cracked over the 4 years and were quick fixed with numerous joiners, now with time we went about replacing all the lines and new seals in the rams.
4pm it’s Lizard Lounge time again, and we are joined by a local rancher, RV Park owner and his pure Mexican Wolf dog he found as a pup.
Invited by our new Texas RV campground friends, we join them at a restaurant over the Mexico side in Ojinaga. This gave us the chance to get some local currency, become accustomed to the environment, and learn a few words in Spanish.
A great meal, followed by a walk around the town square and the local bakery (Panaderia)
Air-line repairs continue on Johns truck. Fedex Arrives with the replacement parts for the Hubs and yes at 4pm it’s the LIZARD LOUNGE time.
Wednesday 12th September:
Still waiting for FedEx for the papers from OZ.
The day wafted away until Lizard Lounge time.
Finally at 5pm FedEx arrived.
Tomorrow MEXICO - Lets go