Re: [A/S] Mexico vintage travel trailer insurance

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I'm getting ready for a 3 month trip into Mexico this winter (a big
> adventure for me).  I'm looking for insurance options.  My Canadian
> vehicle and trailer insurance do not cover Mexico travel.

Hi Cindy,

The five times we've gone deep into old Mexico for six month periods, 
Point South in Moreno Valley, California has insured our Airstream.

Since 1993, we've taken a 1969, a 1977 and a 1986 Airstream into 
Mexico. There has never been an issue associated with the age of our 
trailer, but changes do occur.

We've always towed with the same vehicle - a 1978 Ford Van E-250 with 
460 CID V8, an oversize five core radiator, a 30,000# capacity 
transmission oil cooler, all new belts and brakes, two spare tires - 
plus a "stash box" of parts, i.e. all ignition components, water pump, 
U-joints, engine oil, brake fluid, steering fluid, anti-freeze fluid, 
grease gun, bearing grease, bearings for truck and trailer and an 
assortment of hoses and clamps.

Although I'm not a mechanic, I can usually fix simple problems. When 
I've had to hire a real mechanic, I've had the parts and four factory 
manuals for our specific truck.

My goal has been to minimize the number of occasions when the truck 
couldn't be repaired due to no parts available or due to the mechanic 
not being familiar with how the truck was built.

There have only been four occasions within the last 400,000 miles when 
I've had to use my own parts or the mechanic needed to review the 
manuals. Sometimes I feel like my attitude is overkill, but during each 
of those four occasions, it felt sooooo good - that I won't change my 
way of doing things.

We never had occasion to submit a claim on our Mexican insurance, so we 
have no experience on that aspect.

For more info on Point South, go to:

http://www.mexican-insurance.com/

Friends of ours often buy insurance from Sanborn's because Sanborn also 
provides detailed maps and a listing of Campgrounds. You might want to 
consider that company. Go to:

http://www.sanbornsinsurance.com/travelogtext.html

If you're interested in generic comments and FAQs, go to:
http://www.mexadventure.com/Mexican_Insurance_Faq.cfm

I hope some of this helps. Sandie and I have not gone into Mexico 
recently, so I'd suggest being on the lookout for someone in Texas or 
Arizona who is just returning from Mexico. Pick their brains for the 
latest hot scoop.  Invite them over to your rig one evening for 
Margaritas.

During our trips throughout Mexico, we've traveled solo, but it's a lot 
more fun with another couple, especially when they're willing to swap 
off on deciding where to park for the night.

Every other day is a break from intense attentiveness to figuring out 
the exact route and final destination. Sight seeing is more enjoyable 
for us when it's not our turn to make the daily mundane decisions.

Have fun, bring candy or comic books or marbles for the younger kids 
and convert a roll of Canadian quarters to Mexican coins for the older 
kids who will invariably wash your windshield - even at stoplights in 
the center of town. It's going to be an enjoyable adventure - with a 
few challenging situations thrown in now and then.

Terry
1989 32' Excella
1967 22' Safari
1963 22' Flying Cloud