Texas Mail Forwarder other than...

[flea]

Hi,

I joined a while back but this is my first post.

Does anyone know of a Texas mail forwarder OTHER THAN those jokers in Livingston? They would have to be in a "no emission test" county and I would prefer a fairly full service type place.

I'm looking at a position for the winter and wondered if Texas might do as well almost as South Dakota for my domicile. Since my passport lapsed I thought I might even get one of those passport "cards" using a Texas residence for a quick trip to Mexico.

I know Texas has those rather onerous annual inspections and an extra added fee for first time registrations. Does anybody know what the inspections entail?

Oh, Hidalgo county (way down south) is where I'd likely be wintering.

Other forwarders have to be out there but the SKP mafia always gets the information deleted from "regular" rv forums.

Thanks for any help,
flea

 

[josephusminimus]

Hi, I joined a while back but this is my first post. Does anyone know of a Texas mail forwarder OTHER THAN those jokers in Livingston? They would have to be in a "no emission test" county and I would prefer a fairly full service type place. I'm looking at a position for the winter and wondered if Texas might do as well almost as South Dakota for my domicile. Since my passport lapsed I thought I might even get one of those passport "cards" using a Texas residence for a quick trip to Mexico. I know Texas has those rather onerous annual inspections and an extra added fee for first time registrations. Does anybody know what the inspections entail? Oh, Hidalgo county (way down south) is where I'd likely be wintering. Other forwarders have to be out there but the SKP mafia always gets the information deleted from "regular" rv forums. Thanks for any help, flea

<br /><br />Hi Flea: You're correct about the onerous requirements to bring a vehicle into Texas inspection-wise.&nbsp; At least in my experience.&nbsp; In 2008 I came back to Central Texas driving a 1991 Toyota 4-Runner I considered in fairly good condition despite 300000 miles on it.&nbsp; Kimble County in Junction had me take it over to the business where such inspections are done - not just anyone who inspects for stickers can do that particular type of inspection.<br /><br />They went over that truck with a microscope looking for things needed doing to it before they'd issue the inspection sticker.&nbsp; I spent $750 there, but when bumped me again with exhaust must-be-replaced issues I drove to Kerrville and found a place to get that part done for only another $250.&nbsp; Took it back to Junction where they went over it again but couldn't find anything else they could squeeze out of me while they had me between a rock and a hard place.<br /><br />As for the mail forwarding there's been considerable discussion here recently on threads about it.&nbsp; I haven't approached it in detail trying to get something in place yet, but it won't be long before I'll have to push into it.<br /><br />Good luck in Hidalgo County.<br /><br />It's been a couple of years since I went across the border, incidently, but the tourist activity in the ones I went to for cheap prescription meds didn't have much cross-the-border traffic going on and a lot of the businesses on the other side have dried up considerably.

 

[flea]

josephusminimus wrote:
"They went over that truck with a microscope looking for things needed doing to it before they'd issue the inspection sticker. I spent $750 there, but when bumped me again with exhaust must-be-replaced issues I drove to Kerrville and found a place to get that part done for only another $250. Took it back to Junction where they went over it again but couldn't find anything else they could squeeze out of me while they had me between a rock and a hard place."


OUCH! I hope they supplied vaseline with that bill! I've heard from others that first time Texas inspections for older vehicles always run into some heavy duty cash. That's a big problem with mandatory inspections. Years ago a Rhode Island inspection "sticker" was about $150 for an older vehicle. Sometimes they would actually do some work for the money but not usually.

I'm sick today so I looked around the web. The extra fee I mentioned seems to be on Texas form "130U". Something about the title. You have to update the Adobe crap the see it. Don't think so. It took a long time the get all that Adobe stuff OFF my computer! From posters elsewhere, it could be anywhere from $100- $300 dollars. A heluva lot more expensive than South Dakota.

There was a lady trying to open a forwarding service in Tennessee with blessings of the local county officials, but I doubt that's done yet. Tennessee, by the way, is a really good state for umm... low income folks. The now defunct Cleveland, TN forwarder just screwed things up by letting residents of adjoining counties cheat on vehicle registration fees.

I'm expecting a call about that opening so I'll see- this might all be moot.

Anyway, thanks for your help.

flea

 

[wandering mike]

Your post seems a mix of issues. &nbsp;First, Escapees is just an RV club with some campgrounds and a mail service. &nbsp;They also have a forum. &nbsp;I have used them for years with no problem. &nbsp;I have also used another mail service up in the Dallas area. &nbsp;Any private mail box service should be able to somewhat meet the needs of a traveler. &nbsp;I also know of one in Galveston county that also has a campground. &nbsp;Galveston County is an emissions testing county. &nbsp;That isn't too big of a deal for a Class C RV. &nbsp;I have had my class C (Chevy Express Van 3500 chassis) inspected in both. &nbsp;I found they can't really do the emissions on a 1 ton van/truck, so it just costs you something like $40 instead of $20. &nbsp;The $20 version really just checks safety things. &nbsp;I am using Polk county (Livingston) presently for my RV as that permits me to get it checked in any small county when I get back to Texas. You don't have to have it inspected if it expires while out of state.<br /><br />I bought my RV in Texas so didn't have to do an initial out of state inspection. &nbsp;I don't think it is anything onerous. &nbsp;You do have to pay a transfer tax of some kind when you first bring it in. &nbsp;That isn't an inspection issue though.<br /><br />The "SKP mafia" as you put it is really quite tolerant I have found on their forums. &nbsp;I have seen wide discussions on mail services. &nbsp;The posters over there, including me, can be quite opinionated. &nbsp;There are a good many fan boys too. There really aren't too many mail services that seem to focus on Texas though. &nbsp;Escapees seems the cheapest after you factor everything in.<br /><br />If you are going to be in Hidalgo County for more than 30 days this winter, why not just do the registration there? &nbsp;Sounds like you will have a 30 day stay someplace and you can use that campground rent&nbsp;receipt&nbsp;to show as your residence address. &nbsp;There are bunches of private mail box services there. &nbsp;Also bunches of campgrounds. &nbsp;I spent the winter of 2008-09 in Mission and the RGV. &nbsp;Had some dental work done over in Progreso, Mex.<br /><br />Good luck. &nbsp;

 

[joey]

I don't know about Texas,but checkout the UPS store(united parcel service). They have a mail forwarding service and that is who I will be using until something better comes up.

 

[TxGypsy]

I had a bad experience with the SKP mail service as well. &nbsp;May God have mercy on you if you ever stop using their service! &nbsp;You literally cannot forward your mail from that address. &nbsp;I'm probably missing out on a couple of royalty checks because of this.<br><br>I just recently moved back to Texas and was hit with the extra fee for titling my vehicle, but the inspection was just a normal inspection. &nbsp;Windshield wipers, horn, tire tread, brakes, etc. &nbsp;Part of that could be that it is a couple hundred miles to the next nearest inspection place. &nbsp;Guess I lucked out there.<br><br>I'm going to see if I can pay a friend to pick up my mail and send me an email if there is anything important in it. &nbsp;For a number of reasons, I want to keep my domicile in Texas. &nbsp;Wish there was a decent mail forwarding service here!

 

[wandering mike]

TX Gypsy: &nbsp;The issue of forwarding mail from a mail service is not unique to Escapees. &nbsp;That is an issue with any mail service. &nbsp;They are obligated to collect and forward the mail sent to you at that address for 6 months after you stop using the service. &nbsp;It is up to you to contact everybody sending you mail of your new mailing address. &nbsp;This is a US Postal Service requirement.<br><br>And nothing says you have to use a mail service that is in the state of your domicile/residence. &nbsp;Even your TX driver's license allows a mailing address outside the state. &nbsp;Where you get your mail does not determine your residence when you use a commercial mail service, despite what huge numbers of folks who live in RV's seem to think and what some organizations try to lead you to believe.<br><br>As to inspections, if you are not residing in an "emissions check" county, the inspection is just safety oriented. &nbsp;If you are indeed a couple hundred miles from the next inspection station (which I think would be difficult), you have to be in Far West Texas other than El Paso and not in an emissions county.

 

[TxGypsy]

I am in far west Texas. &nbsp;It is a bit over 80 miles one way to the nearest grocery store from my house. &nbsp;Same thing for the nearest hospital. &nbsp;That really hit home when the first week I was here I stuck a filet knife through my hand!<br><br>SKP refused to forward my mail after I cancelled with them. &nbsp;I didn't know I wouldn't be able to forward my mail. &nbsp;My mail was a mess for a couple of years after that. &nbsp;I'll definitely try to pay a private individual to check my mail before I'd try a mail service again.

 

[wandering mike]

The challenge with a private individual is to make sure you are not dependent then on a single person. The risk being he or she has something happen to them. &nbsp; It sort of sounds though like you might know a few folks in the area and it sounds like you may have a sticks and bricks house which is your residence. &nbsp;That might mean you could forward it to your friend if you have actual delivery to your house. &nbsp;If not, maybe a PO box can be checked by the friend when they check theirs. &nbsp;I know that is what my mother does up in North Dakota. &nbsp;Again, if you have a permanent residence, you can mix the PO Services of holding and forwarding so that it periodically is sent to you where you are. &nbsp;I know you can actually forward mail that is sent to you at general delivery and have it forwarded to another general delivery. &nbsp;In your situation, being that far out, if you have a friend or neighbor nearby, the approach you are taking would probably work best. &nbsp;Good luck. &nbsp;But I certainly would agree that Far West Texas is one neat part of the world. &nbsp;