BYO camper to South America - Pros and Cons?

On the surface, shipping it doesn't sound like a very cost-effective option, but maybe if you provide us with some dollars & cents figures we can be somewhat more objective with our feedback.

What countries are you interested in visiting? We really enjoyed our 6 week driving trip (rent car and Air B&B's in Chile).

Any though of driving to Panama and then ship to Columbia?

When we bought our camper in California a couple of years ago we were living and working in Mexico, and our “retirement” plan was to drive via the pan-american route to Argentina, but when we got to the bottom of Baja California Covid struck the world so we scurried back to USA where we have been enjoying life on the road exploring the US since then.

Now we feel reluctant to drive through central american countries like Honduras and El Salvador but quite comfortable about travelling in South American countries like Argentina, Chile and Bolivia that we know well.

The only problem is our camper is at the other end of the americas ??

If we understand right (but are not sure yet and continue to investigate):

- Truck campers like ours are not easy to find and very expensive to rent for 3 to 6 months in south america
- Roll on/role off shipping from Usa to South America is doable, but we are not sure yet about best shipping company, ballpark cost etc.
- Temporary vehicle import permits can be obtained for up to 90 days in most south american countries

Hence, this line of thought and this post, as we figure many others have already done this, or know others who have, so appreciate your replies

Will you be shipping the truck and camper as a unit? If not I would be worried it could be damaged.

Go on YouTube and search for "Leave Everything and Wander" and "Curt and Snow". Both channels will provide the info you are looking for. The first couple / channel was traveling in a truck & camper. They crossed the Strait in 2018/2019 so will have look thu past episodes. Curt & Snow, that is their names, are down there now and cross the Strait in 2021. They are traveling in a large 4x4 van. Their rig had to be shipped the same as the camper rig. Both share cost and contacts. Good luck, this Golden Oldie wish he was going with you. Not an easy trip both looks worth it to me. I'm only one of the two votes required to make the trip so do a YouTube channel so I can follow along.

rocmoc n The Great SouthWest

Yes, Please! We have always intended to make the trek to Tierra del Fuego and just haven't. Kind of, but not sure that we won't.

Do it and post everything, please!

Thanks for the encouraging replies (-:

....you may want to contact Leave Everything and Wander through their Youtube channel ( LEAW ), and enquire what they plan to do with their truck camper rig now parked in Argentina (and ask about its condition). They had to abandon ship during Covid, and left their vehicle parked at a friend's ranch in Argentina. They are based now out of the Italian Alps.

Luck! Have a super expedition.

RetiredRealtorRick wrote:
On the surface, shipping it doesn't sound like a very cost-effective option, but maybe if you provide us with some dollars & cents figures we can be somewhat more objective with our feedback.

We figure ballpark sale price in the US market for our truck camper is about $20,000.

A similar used rig with US plates can be purchased in South America for a similar price, from travellers who have driven down from USA and are eager to sell their camper after completing their trip, but the process of transfer of ownership, title etc from one foreign owner to another foreign buyer of a vehicle with only a temporary import permit (TIP) for tourism lacks transparency and is (to put it mildly) "complicated"

Hiring a similar rig in South America would most likely cost about $200 per day that adds up to about $36000 for 6 months - too much to be worthwhile

Shipping looks like it will cost about $7500 each way