We are back in Baja for our ninth season of RVing. I rarely blog anymore and away went the Winnebago as we now have a truck camper (our second). We get a lot of questions about coming down to Baja in a RV so I thought I would do a post on prepping for a trip here and what to bring.
Insurance
At a minimum you need Mexican liability insurance to avoid being thrown in jail in the case of an accident. US insurance will not be accepted. For RVs, we have found Progressive will insure your rig in Mexico but you still need Mexican liability. We use and recommend Baja Bound.
Tires and Gear
The roads in Baja can kind of suck. Although conditions in general have improved from our first trip, you should expect to experience a lot potholes and narrow roads not up to US standards. No worries it’s just part of the adventure (also a big reason away went the Winnebago). Before heading south make sure your tires are in top notch condition.
Here’s the gear we carry –
- Air compressor – The All-top is a heavy duty 12v unit with battery clips and quickly fill truck and RV tires. Going off-road and the beach it’s a good idea to air down your tires for comfort and traction.
- Deflator – You can use a small rock in a pinch but this JACO RapidFlow Tire Deflator with gauge is a nice piece of kit and makes the process easy.
- Tire Repair Kit – Flats can happen in the most inconvenient places far from services. If you can’t change your tire or damage more than of your tires this kit can be invaluable to get you back on the road.
- Recovery boards, shovel, tow strap, and soft shackle – Beach camping is fun. Getting stuck at the beach not so much. Having these items and knowing how to use them can help get you or an amigo unstuck. I have had to rescue a few people at the beach but usually start with deflating the tires.
Communication
Beware of the gap in cell service outside of the cities in Baja. Much of the peninsula has no service and people often enjoy remote places but end up scaring their families back north because they have no means of communicating. The times they are changing now with Starlink and it’s lightning fast internet service from almost anywhere. It’s nice to unplug sometimes but being able to work, home school, and keep in touch with the folks back home from even the most remote beach is a game changer to say the least. We also have a Garmin InReach two-way satellite communicator and GPS with SOS function and text for emergencies. The Garmin is rarely used now with having our Starlink but it’s nice to take hiking or in the Jeep when going off-grid.
RV Stuff
RV parts and supplies can be very hard to come by in Baja, even in the big cities. For parts I have sometimes ordered from Amazon US and waited a week plus for them to be delivered.
Here’s a few essentials –
- Surge protector – A must to test and protect from the sometimes sketchy electrical connections in Baja RV parks.
- Adapters – 50-30, 30-50, and 15amp adapter can come in very handy depending on your rig. Power connections when available can vary so be prepared to adapt.
- Water jugs – We carry two seven gallon water jugs and fill them drinking water at a aqua purificado stores found everyone in Baja for usually about a $1 a piece.
OK that’s a wrap for now the hammock is calling my name. All links are affiliate and we make a small (very) commission from Amazon. Gracias. Let us know if you have any questions.