San Luis Crossing into the US

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San Luis Crossing into the US

March 01, 2018, 09:13:05 pm

I had posted a thread last month, asking if anyone had first hand knowledge about crossing into Yuma at San Luis. Much to my dismay, most of the replies discussed crossing at Lukeville.......NOT the question.
Well, we have some firsthand knowledge now, and I must say it was a LOUSY experience.
Our friends had told us of their experience about a year ago. Another bad story. They told us to get to the " Left" as we approached customs, as we needed to go through the only lane for RV's and buses. It was NOT clearly marked, but it did say to go through lane 6. About a mile (?) out from the booth was a divider. I mistakenly followed signs that said Servi ( a high dollar lane to speed up rich guys crossing. ) The agent was livid, as I approached the booth. He had to move quite a few orange barricades to allow me to get into line. Mind you, I just bullied my way to the front of a four hour line, although I was kinda glad I did. Getting the 36 foot motor home through the entry was near to impossible. I barely missed a metal pylon , about five feet high with no paint left on it. I aked the agent how 45 foot coaches navigate the entry. She didn't know. I asked her if I could have crossed with the semis. Amy had called them, but help. We think you would need a commercial manifesto.....They waved us up to the dogs. An agent cleaned out Amy's high dollar veggie hot dogs ( not marked or sealed ), from the freezer, my hamburgers, (same ) and some smoked salmon. Then, on our way.

So........although I liked the more direct way to get to Yuma, I will reconsider this experience, in the future. I don't see them improving the experience, anytime soon.

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #1 – March 02, 2018, 12:50:04 am

Glen, sorry I could not help as I had not gone thru that one for a long time and could not remember anyway what it was like. We came thru the Nogalas crossing last Sunday and had done it 4 0r so times in last 10 yrs but the US side has changed it again for Rvs and Buss's, going from the far left lane to the far right lane (out of maybe 10 lanes). This means now that with the concrete barriers (dividers) now placed to segregate lanes you cannot go down the usual access way or you will be cut off from using the only one lane available ( impossible to traverse across lanes left to right) so NOW it means you MUST take the #15 hwy exit for Centro and then turn left for the Colisio which in turn brings you to the Mariposa crossing still BUT now on the right side along with the Buss"s . Thank goodness my Friend in San Carlos warned me. This US crossing is only a few years old and cost multi millions $ but they did not make the lanes any wider. We had about 2" either side of those concrete pillars. Not a bit issue for me but am sure many others have problems. This lane has a dedicated X ray machine which we had to go thru and all the other usual dog etc issues. They just looked in our fridge but we had already removed all the items not allowed as we are very used to that part. 5 officers chatting away for 1 coach and really doing nothing in the way of checking our coach.
Oh by the way you cannot go thru a truck crossing section and if you get down those lanes you WILL be asked to reverse out and that could be a real mess if there are trucks there too. I know as once going north at the Laredo crossing I screwed up and got into truck section( missed the last turnoff before crossing which takes you to the public cross point) and finished up getting an armed crew to seperate me and had to back up some and then drive thru the mexican office block parking to get back on freeway to get to correct entry point. Lots of fun for sure.
JohnH

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #2 – March 02, 2018, 12:14:19 pm

Many thanks for the info. Glenn. Leaving Mazatlan for Yuma on sunday and was considering trying the San Luis crossing. Thanks to your very timely report i'll definitely use the Lukeville crossing.

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #3 – March 03, 2018, 12:18:16 pm

Quote from: Shady Lady – March 02, 2018, 12:14:19 pm

Many thanks for the info. Glenn. Leaving Mazatlan for Yuma on sunday and was considering trying the San Luis crossing. Thanks to your very timely report i'll definitely use the Lukeville crossing.

How about a Mazatlan city and RV park review. Any highlights or things to miss?

Pierce

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #4 – March 03, 2018, 12:43:29 pm

I have used the San Luis crossing a couple times and found it was a long wait but I just stayed in a car lane.

I was considering getting the strips repainted at Los Algodones, but the the left lane for returning to USA is closed, because the road surface is sinking and Customs will not use it until it is repaired. The two right lanes require a right, then left snake pattern which I do not think can be done with a 40 foot Foretravel. The Customs would not provide an estimate for when the left will be back in service.

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #5 – March 03, 2018, 03:06:46 pm

My Cummins manual says not to idle the engine for long periods of time. This always struck me as strange, as I have been parked next to semis leaving their engines idle all night long. This may be fodder for another thread, but the thought of idling the FT for four hours and inching up the passenger lanes helped in my ( bad ) decision to drive up the left side of the concrete barrier that we encountered. I didn't have any time to look up the definitions of Spanish words, poorly painted on the road surface. How do you deal with this type of " logjam", while Cummins says no no no. ??

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #6 – March 03, 2018, 09:34:32 pm

Cruise has two fast idles built into it

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #7 – March 04, 2018, 04:56:56 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – March 03, 2018, 09:34:32 pm

Cruise has two fast idles built into it

I have no idea of what that is supposed to mean.
How does it work?
What does it do ?

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #8 – March 04, 2018, 05:20:17 pm

Quote from: GleamB – March 03, 2018, 03:06:46 pm

My Cummins manual says not to idle the engine for long periods of time. This always struck me as strange, as I have been parked next to semis leaving their engines idle all night long. This may be fodder for another thread, but the thought of idling the FT for four hours and inching up the passenger lanes helped in my ( bad ) decision to drive up the left side of the concrete barrier that we encountered. I didn't have any time to look up the definitions of Spanish words, poorly painted on the road surface. How do you deal with this type of " logjam", while Cummins says no no no. ??

Cummins, CAT and Detroit strongly recommend not to make a practice of idling the engines in normal circumstances. Waiting in line to cross the border is not a normal circumstance. How much time is spent idling at a border crossing compared to normal operations?

Idling the engines promote more engine wear as the water pump will not circulate coolant as effectively as a fast idle or driving down the road. This can create hot spots in the cylinder head, uneven cooling and carbon deposits. The pollution produced is also another factor with many areas making it an offense to do so.

Most truckers don't own their own trucks so may idle for heat or AC. I see many big rigs back into a spot for the night and then go to a ten to fifteen minute cool down period of fast idle before they shut down.

Pierce

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #9 – March 04, 2018, 05:38:06 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – March 03, 2018, 09:34:32 pm

Cruise has two fast idles built into it

Unfortunately Cats don't....In fact, you have no throttle, or very little till it warms up

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #10 – March 04, 2018, 09:27:49 pm

Chris I have never seen a Foretravel diesel coach without a fast idle. Really? Not built into the cruise if not the ECU? Call James Triana at FOT.

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #11 – March 04, 2018, 10:23:52 pm

I'm STILL at a loss. Am I to understand that there is some way(s) to fast idle the coach. I was not shown how by the PO. If there are TWO methods, I would like to know:

1) how to set them and
2) why would I choose one over the other and
3) do I fast idle when I'm in a four hour long waiting line crossing the border from Mexico into USA??

You just can't say there are two settings, bro. Doesn't really help. I know you mean well. Please help me and all new owners to better understand these very complicated machines. Thanks

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #12 – March 04, 2018, 10:28:24 pm

Fast idle?
See reply #12, think it will work on any coach with a smart wheel.

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #13 – March 04, 2018, 10:36:25 pm

Glenn, I believe there's instructions in your operators manual on how to do that. The functions are activated by using the cruise control settings on your steering wheel

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #14 – March 04, 2018, 11:40:22 pm

With the engine running, the transmission in neutral, parking brake set and the cruise control turned on, pressing the "set" button will increase the idle slightly to about 800RPM. Pressing the "res" button will increase the idle to about 1200RPM. Touching the service brake pedal discontinues the faster idle.

I often use the slower fast idle in the morning to bring the air pressure up a little faster. I usually allow the engine to idle normally for a short time to get the oil well circulated before I increase the speed. I rarely use the faster fast idle even though the air pressure would come up faster as it also increases the noise level of the idling engine. I hate to disturb the neighbors.

Richard

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #15 – March 05, 2018, 10:09:20 am

We used to fill the compartments and part of the interior with furniture from Juarez in our 4107 bus. The border lines are always long there with an hour and a half crawl the norm. With both the manual transmission bus and the U300, I would just put it in neutral and put a light touch on the pedal until there was a several car length space in front of me and then move up. With the U300, the torque converter is wasting fuel and generating heat at idle while in gear so never a bad idea to help them both out.

No fast idle on Foretravel Detroits unless you have a Pro-Link connected. Even then, it's too much bother to engage it so I use my foot when stuck at border crossings.

Either no wait or a short one at Lukeville or Tecate.

Pierce

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #16 – March 05, 2018, 03:02:28 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 05, 2018, 10:09:20 am

so never a bad idea to help them both out.

[so never a bad idea to help them both out.

Pierce

.....never a bad idea......
Help them out......HOW?? Raise idle?? slow 800

or fast 1200?

Sorry, this seems to me to be a simple question. I was recently sent a PM that suggests that idling for 4 hours with our engine should not be a major concern. Come on folks. I can't be the only one out there asking for a little clarification. Thanks

Pierce

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Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #17 – March 05, 2018, 03:32:47 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 05, 2018, 10:09:20 am

Either no wait or a short one at Lukeville or Tecate.

X2 We crossed at Lukeville this morning, no wait, no hassle. Only comment we got was what a pretty coach we had!

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #18 – March 05, 2018, 07:32:53 pm

Quote from: GleamB – March 05, 2018, 03:02:28 pm

.....never a bad idea......
Help them out......HOW?? Raise idle?? slow 800 or fast 1200?
Sorry, this seems to me to be a simple question. I was recently sent a PM that suggests that idling for 4 hours with our engine should not be a major concern. Come on folks. I can't be the only one out there asking for a little clarification. Thanks
Pierce

Glenn,

When our department went to all Detroits, the factory came to us to give instruction on the operation of the engines. Every few months, they would come back for a seminar. As one of the driving instructors, my job was not only to teach the new guys how to drive a stick shift fire truck but to also make sure the engine was operated exactly as the factory recommended.

Detroit made it clear that for maximum engine life, the diesels should never be idled. Every morning we would start them and pull out of the station onto the front ramp. Once the parking brake had been applied, the fast idle switch would be pulled out. This brought the idle from 600 rpm to 1000 rpm. At fires or any other emergency, the engine was never allowed to slow idle.

RVs don't have switch as engaging it with the coach in drive would overpower the parking brake and could cause a disaster. Our Pro-Link 9000 has two digital warnings to make sure the coach is in neutral before it goes into the 1000 rpm fast idle.

So, besides the reasons I listed in an above post, a warm engine will have lower oil pressure and while our Detroit does not have oil squirters, many RV diesels do. A straight stream is directed up into the hollow piston crown to cool the piston. Lower pressure at idle may not allow the straight stream to be strong enough and in all engines, the oil splash from the connecting rods may not adequately lubricate the cylinder walls. I already talked about uneven temperatures from poor coolant circulation at idle.

Diesels all have a B50 rating. This is the mileage that 50% of engines will need to be overhauled. Say that your engine has a B50 rating of 250,000 miles. Half of the engines installed will need an overhaul at this time. Others where proper operating technique is used may go three times this far. Still others where the engine has been allowed to idle for prolonged periods, not allowed to cool down before shutting down or not had their oil change as recommended may not last this long. This does not mean that they just wear out, this means the carbon deposits from idling may collect on the exhaust valve stem or face resulting in a "dropped" valve. Sticking rings may also be the cause of failures. This usually happens with Cummins on #6 cylinder more than others.

Yes, many people may send a PM why it's OK to idle your engine for extended periods but the factory has all the data from the hundreds of thousands of engines they supply. All the engine manufactures say don't idle for an extended period and they say it for a reason.

Plus, it's against the law in many locations.

Why prolonged (over 30 seconds) idling is bad for your engine: Dangers of Engine Idling & Why It's Bad | EcoTrack Fleet Management

Pierce

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #19 – March 06, 2018, 12:27:57 am

Pierce,

Thanks for the reply. But I must ask you again.....what am I supposed to do in a situation like I described? You say idling is bad. OK.
Imagine I am crawling along in a four hour long line into a checkpoint.

What do I do ?? Do I raise the idle speed ? To 800 or 1200 ?? I fell like I am just not asking this question correctly. And YES.....I want an engine that lasts a long, long time.

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #20 – March 06, 2018, 10:27:52 am

Quote from: GleamB – March 06, 2018, 12:27:57 am

Pierce,
Thanks for the reply. But I must ask you again.....what am I supposed to do in a situation like I described? You say idling is bad. OK.
Imagine I am crawling along in a four hour long line into a checkpoint.
What do I do ?? Do I raise the idle speed ? To 800 or 1200 ?? I fell like I am just not asking this question correctly. And YES.....I want an engine that lasts a long, long time.

I thought I explained how I have done it coming back from Juarez with both the bus and the U300. First, if you don't make a habit of idling your coach at every rest stop, fueling, etc., the time you spend at the border is nothing compared to the thousands of miles you put on in normal use. Second, the long lines are creep and go so why not just punch the neutral button, put you foot on the pedal a tiny bit (800 to 1000), allow a little gap to develop between you and the vehicle in front of you and then move up. What else do you have to do while in the long lines? Mexicali can also be a very long wait. One of the drawbacks of going to San Felipe. I've even gone up the dreaded "La Rumorosa" grade to cross at Tecate without the lines. Hundreds of broken cars litter the canyon walls. It's four lanes now but used to take hours behind slow trucks. Check how fast the bus goes up the steep grade. Better have checked the air and have the Jake on coming down.

Mexicali has some of the best food anywhere. Every other restaurant is Chinese for some reason. Guadalupe Canyon is not to far away for camping at very private pools. Poor road so only for AWD or take the shuttle. Guadalupe Canyon Oasis Desert Hot Springs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3nk27kJ1XI

Re: San Luis Crossing into the US

Reply #21 – March 06, 2018, 01:41:28 pm

You're great!!
Thanks
I get it. Faster idle is a GooD thing when crawling along
I've had mexican chineese food twice now.....not quite New York, but not bad!!
Again thanks

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