Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

N2Futur

Aug 5, 2003, 12:08 PM

Post #1 of 7 (618 views)

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Is Self-Moving still an Option????

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Anyone out there that has moved their own belongings into Mexico lately? We have a Pickup truck and an enclosed car hauling trailer which we are considering using for our future move to the Lake Chapala area. Any suggestions on how to do this the easy way?

Elke
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"When choosing between two evils, I always like to pick the one I never tried before." - Mae West

Uncle Jack

Aug 5, 2003, 12:22 PM

Post #2 of 7 (612 views)

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Una Pregunta?

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Does that mean that you are planning to haul another vehicle down here in the trailer, or just use it to haul "Stuff"?

uj

N2Futur

Aug 5, 2003, 12:45 PM

Post #3 of 7 (609 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Una Pregunta?

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Very funny, Uncle Jack! Just hauling household stuff, the extra cars have to go. Anybody want to buy a 1982 DeLorean and and a 1986 Buick Grand National (Turbo) both show cars in great shape? There's also 1997 Lexus SC300, black, tan interior, a Honda Magna V60 Motorcycle, and a gutted 1969 Camaro, has rollbars welded in already and a fiberglass panel kit, hubby never got around to turning it into a drag racing car.

Elke
___________________________
"When choosing between two evils, I always like to pick the one I never tried before." - Mae West

Uncle Jack

Aug 5, 2003, 2:29 PM

Post #4 of 7 (595 views)

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Mas Preguntas

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Actually, that was a serious question.....just didn't know for sure. Before anyone can really be of much help here, there are a couple more questions

How soon are you planning to move?

From where are you moving and to where?

How much "stuff" are you planning on bringing?

Do you understand the difference between FMTs and FM-2s?

Do you know what a Menaje de Casa is?

There is a whole XXXXload of information on these forums and other sites. Let us know what you need to know and we'll try to point you in the right direction.

uj

N2Futur

Aug 5, 2003, 2:48 PM

Post #5 of 7 (590 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Mas Preguntas

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Thanks for the fast reply. We don't have an ETA yet, maybe within 2 years or less I hope. We live in Colorado Springs, we'd be entering Mexico via I-25/El Paso (direct shot from Colo Spgs). We'll be visiting the Lakeside area for the first time during Thanksgiving week. I've done some extensive research about retiring there, and yes I've read most of the postings of these forums here, but had not found anything recent of self-moving. Yes, I know the difference between the FMT's and know about the Menaje. We're thinking about bringing everything that fits into the truck/trailer, mostly anything electric/electronic, some furniture, lots of movies and books. Some of the books I may send via M-bag to the LCS library. A lot of our household stuff will go to our children and/or will be sold prior to moving. We're planning on moving our stuff with the truck/trailer (which we own both), and then returning to CO to sell it and return with our SUV to live happily ever after at Lakeside hopefully much sooner than later! Thanks for your help!

Elke
___________________________
"When choosing between two evils, I always like to pick the one I never tried before." - Mae West

(This post was edited by N2Futur on Aug 5, 2003, 2:55 PM)

esperanza

Aug 5, 2003, 4:22 PM

Post #6 of 7 (571 views)

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Re: [N2Futur] Mas Preguntas

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You will need an FM3, a menaje de casa, and a customs agent at the border in order to move the stuff yourself. I've done it and it is not a big deal. You will need to plan one entire day to be at the customs agent's place of business, as that agent will want to inspect your vanload, review your menaje de casa lists to be sure all boxes and other items correspond to what's on the list, etc. You might want to investigate customs agents in the near-ish future to make sure that the one you choose will actually handle a small load like yours; they're used to 53-foot trucks and a vanful is more a bother than anything. The customs agent should be willing to walk you through the process...literally...accompanying you as you cross the border and go through customs. They usually have one agent stationed on the US side and another on the Mexican side; the one on the Mexican side will meet you as you come across the line and then ride with you in the van to facilitate the process as your van is checked through the menaje de casa part of customs.

You need to know that going through that process bears little resemblance to going through the process of just crossing into Mexico. You will not be able to bring animals (if you are traveling with cats/dogs) through the menaje de casa line. One of you (NOT the one in whose name the menaje de casa is listed) will have to get out of the vehicle with passport, FM3, and animal health certificates to walk across through the regular route, rejoining the other of you after that one has finished passing through menaje de casa customs.

I've done all this (albeit a few years back), and it worked just fine. I also crossed at El Paso. If you want the name of the customs agent I used, send me a PM and I'll find the paperwork for you.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

N2Futur

Aug 6, 2003, 2:32 PM

Post #7 of 7 (511 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Mas Preguntas

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great info - thanks. Though ours will be not a small vanload by far, our trailer is 24'x8'x8'. The way I read your message - once we get with the agent, we will have to unload all ourstuff, so he/she can check everything? Jeez, that would be a pain, but better still that paying thousands of $$$ to a moving company. Well, our move is still a few years off at least, no more than two I hope - I'm ready to kiss Corporate America "good bye".

Elke
___________________________
"When choosing between two evils, I always like to pick the one I never tried before." - Mae West