Charlotte's Web
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- Joined
- Mar 10, 2017
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Travel in Mexico these days is not for the faint of heart!
But many still do it, including myself. I prefer mainland Mexico to Baja & that is where, a few years ago, I got my VW Westfalia completely repainted & upholstered.
I will list paint job pointers first, then upholstery.
Paint job costs vary in Mexico depending on locale. Some choose to cross into Baja solely for the purpose of a paint job. This can be a *quick turnaround* if all you want is a paint job. There are a number of towns popular with expats & snowbirds where it is easy to get recommendations & find a shop where English is spoken.
(If you are a veteran Mexico traveler, choose a location convenient to your travel plans.)
Always remove *everything* from your rig, as paint jobs can take up to several days. In my case, I visited a friend with a winter rental on Lake Chapala & moved my vans' contents into his house.
I elected to match exactly my vans' original paint, so I bought the paint, including clear top coat, in the US & took it with me. If you go this route, be *sure* you take enough paint. Don't skimp. I'm sure Mexican paint is fine.
My paint job was excellent! I don't recall the cost, but do remember it was about a quarter of a comparable job in the US. Make certain the "shop" actually has a paint booth! Like all else in Mexico, you will make out better & negotiate a better price if you speak Spanish. But if you stick to tourist towns you will be fine.
Upholstery: My '85 Westy got a complete upholstery job also at a quarter of the US cost. It was done quickly & well. First, my passenger seat was removed & taken to the shop after all other interior measurements were made. Two days later, I returned to the shop, the seat was replaced & all cushions and seats were fitted with expertly tailored zippered covers.
If I anticipated another such upholstery job, I'd prefer, this time around, to buy the fabric & take it with me. The only (small) complaint I have about the job was that the Mexican fabric has begun to crack a bit on the seams, sooner that I feel it should have. But not a big thing.
!Andele!
Charlottes's Web
But many still do it, including myself. I prefer mainland Mexico to Baja & that is where, a few years ago, I got my VW Westfalia completely repainted & upholstered.
I will list paint job pointers first, then upholstery.
Paint job costs vary in Mexico depending on locale. Some choose to cross into Baja solely for the purpose of a paint job. This can be a *quick turnaround* if all you want is a paint job. There are a number of towns popular with expats & snowbirds where it is easy to get recommendations & find a shop where English is spoken.
(If you are a veteran Mexico traveler, choose a location convenient to your travel plans.)
Always remove *everything* from your rig, as paint jobs can take up to several days. In my case, I visited a friend with a winter rental on Lake Chapala & moved my vans' contents into his house.
I elected to match exactly my vans' original paint, so I bought the paint, including clear top coat, in the US & took it with me. If you go this route, be *sure* you take enough paint. Don't skimp. I'm sure Mexican paint is fine.
My paint job was excellent! I don't recall the cost, but do remember it was about a quarter of a comparable job in the US. Make certain the "shop" actually has a paint booth! Like all else in Mexico, you will make out better & negotiate a better price if you speak Spanish. But if you stick to tourist towns you will be fine.
Upholstery: My '85 Westy got a complete upholstery job also at a quarter of the US cost. It was done quickly & well. First, my passenger seat was removed & taken to the shop after all other interior measurements were made. Two days later, I returned to the shop, the seat was replaced & all cushions and seats were fitted with expertly tailored zippered covers.
If I anticipated another such upholstery job, I'd prefer, this time around, to buy the fabric & take it with me. The only (small) complaint I have about the job was that the Mexican fabric has begun to crack a bit on the seams, sooner that I feel it should have. But not a big thing.
!Andele!
Charlottes's Web