Trailer, 5th Wheeler?

The obvious advantage of a trailer is the ability to detach the tow vehicle, and to use it for errands and day trips. Most people who tow large rigs to Mexico park them in one place for months or even years, so having a “runabout” vehicle is a big plus.

Years ago, when virtually all Mexican highways were two-lane or worse, I wouldn’t have considered towing a trailer here. Thanks to an expanding system of tollways, however, and increasingly liberal import regulations, trailers and fifth-wheel rigs are now far more common. Thanks to good highways from the American Southwest, bigger RV’s and trailer rigs also tend to congregate along Mexico’s Pacific Coast and the Baja Peninsula. To a lesser degree, you’ll also see them around Guadalajara, Ajijic, San Miguel de Allende, and a few other popular gringo enclaves north and west of Mexico City.

On the other end of the scale, small travel trailers and folding camp trailers aren’t that common in Mexico. My theory is that most RV’ers here tend to be older, or retired, and more concerned with comfort. When Mexico’s attractions are more widely known, however, I expect that to change.

The accompanying photos of Jim and Maggie Hunter’s colorful trailer clearly illustrates that bigger isn’t necessarily better, and small can definitely be beautiful. We recently ran into this creative couple in the PAL Trailer Park near Ajijic. In planning their trip south from Tennessee, Jim and Maggie reasoned that traveling with four dogs and a canary would strain their welcome at most motels. Their main requirement would therefore be a place to sleep for them and their pets.

“We bought this thirty year old, fourteen foot trailer, and then thought, ‘hey, why don’t we paint it up a little?’” As they traveled through Mexico, they also began to collect plants and other interesting treasures for their “yard”.

I’ve briefly towed a trailer of similar vintage up north, so I was curious about how it handles in Mexico. “We don’t go over 50 mph,” Jim said, “And sometimes even slower. Enjoy the scenery. That’s the secret.”