Libertyzz
Quebec
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We are planning a trip across the americas with a TC.
What is your experience with driving with DRW in Mexico and Central/South America? with the narrow roads/bad road conditions would the dually be a major drawback?
Thanks!
Pascale
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moisheh
North America
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Joined: 05/04/2002
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We took our DRW crewcab to Chiapis twice. More than once the outer RH tire was hanging over the edge but nothing serious. We try to use the toll roads where possible. Road conditions in Mexico have really improved in the last 10 years. IMHO a TC is one of the best Mexico travel vehicles.
Moisheh
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amazingvanstones
Southern Ontario, Mexico or somewhere in between.
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Pascale
I would think you would have no trouble at all in Mexico. We have traveled a bunch with our 38' diesel pusher without any major issues.
2006 40' Camelot, 02 Explorer Sport Trac 4x4, Remco Disconnect.
We are travelling life's highway. Join Us: amazingvanstones.com.
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silversand
Montreal
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Joined: 09/12/2004
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Pascale:
Central America portion of question:
Thinking back, I don't recall many "dually" pickups running around Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Costa Rica or Panama, however, there are many SRW full-sized pickups there. Anyhow, there are thousands upon thousands of full-sized school buses far wider than a 1-ton dually running around virtually every back road in Central America without issues. so I think a pick-up with a dually should be no problem at all.
I have a friend (in Honduras) that runs several buses (school buses) and a transportation route to some pretty remote locales, and I asked him about his bus width. His answer was "...well, I'm about the biggest thing on the road, so I don't even worry about hitting another vehicle going around a corner...unless its another bus..."
Cheers,
Silver-
Silver
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4 6.0L Ext/LB Tow Package 4L80E Michelin AT2s| Outfitter Caribou
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Snow River TC
BC Canada summer / Jalisco, Mexico winter
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I have that combo, no problems in Mexico, except Baja. The big hazard is low trees & wires. The trick I use is to cut fibreglass tent poles to the height of the camper & use those to test debateable arches & tree branches. Guatemala is not issue with road width. Bus travel is very common throughout central America and most of those are DRW.
2008 Snowriver 10.8
2004 Chev Dmax dually
5 x 9 cargo trailer
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rocmoc
AZ/Mexico
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Pascale, One thing you do need to remember is in a lot / most large Mexican Cities a dually pickup is considered a truck and is not allowed on some streets and downtown squares. Church's book indicates some of the cities where this is found.
rocmoc n AZ/Baja
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
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crandle
Campbell River, BC, Canada
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We hardly ever take our Honda Accord downtown in most Mexican cities. Traffic and parking are the issue and it is just not worth the hassle. We either take a taxi from the RV park into town or drive to the outskirts and cab it from there.
Taxis are very reasonable in Mexico but the old rule applies, negotiate the price before you get in. We got burned in Cancun and were charged $20 USA for a couple of miles from the ferry terminal to the RV park. We argued and ended up paying 150 pesos after telling him that was all we had. I got some satisfaction yelling at him in front of some prospective customers that he was a thief. The RV park owner told us it should have been 40/50 pesos (30 for Mexicans). That was the only time in three winters we got burned.
If you park at the outskirts and cab it, take some digital photos of where the vehicle is parked to show the cab driver on the way back. I take photos of the closest intersection street signs and the parking lot. It gives me peace of mind.
My Mexico Blog
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bilmo
Fulltime
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Tolls for DRW vs. SRW are general higher--sometimes as much as 50%. We drove with DRW all over Mexico with no problem, but like paying less tolls and the ability to take the PU into any city.
BillMoRex&Princess
'06 Chev D/A--'08 Cardinal 35 SB
Fulltiming since 8/93
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gwbaines
Central coastal Calif
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We drove our TC along with a friend in DRW camper all over Central America a few years ago. My camper is only 7 ft wide and I had a lot less driving through small out of the way towns, than my friend with his 8ft wide camper. That said he went everywhere with me. If you have DRW, and you go off pavement as we did, be sure to check for rocks wedging between the duals! WE had this happen in the mountains of Panama and it resulted in a two tire failure later in the trip. To get the rock out we had to deflate the outer tire and use a 2x2 to pry out the rock. I have an onboard compressor so this was no problem, but rock damaged the sidewalls. I suggest with DRW you need two spare tires. GBaines
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rocmoc
AZ/Mexico
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Good point gwbaines, we carry two spares for our Pickup in Mexico and it is NOT a dually. We carry three spares for our triple axle fifth wheel. We also carry a spare air bag as we killed a bag on a tope and could not find a replacement in Mexico in the time frame remaining for that trip. At the time we were nearly 1,200 miles SOB, what a wild ride back to the border with only one airbag in the rear.
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
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