We are exploring the idea of buying a 5th wheel or travel trailer and leaving it in storage in Arizona from May through November. We have family in both the US southwest and the US northwest so we would spend the winter in Arizona and the spring in the Seattle area. Rather than driving home to Ontario with the rv we would rather keep it in storage in Arizona or Seattle. A couple of questions:1. Can I insure an RV that is kept in the USA year round? (Canadian or USA insurance company?).2. Can I buy an RV in the USA (say Arizona) and use it as a vacation home with US plates and insurance? Of course bringing it back to Ontario sometime in the future (if ever) it would be subject to import duties, taxes, licensing etc.Input from anyone with experience in this area would be greatly appreciated. I have seen posts from people from Australia that have purchased 5th wheels and trucks in the US and stored them while they return home but these posts are 5 years old so I don't know if they are current.

Under the rules for licensing, in order to license the rig in the states you would need a US address (in the state it was licensed in):* Have some friends act as a "mail-drop"* Use a mail-forwarding service (Escapees, commercial)Either of the above might be tough, as the old ID you will have is NOT in the state you are licensing the rig in. Local state rules may prohibit this.* Open a Montana LLC. There are firms in Montana that specialize in setting up an LLC just to own an RV. This -might- be a real option as it gives a "US" owner.

I leave my 5th wheel in Birch Bay Washington, and my Canadian insurance company knows and allows that.

Hi tomike49We currently have a 5er and truck in storage in Phoenix. It is registered in Texas and insured through Explorer RV with National Interstate. Yes the insurance company is aware of the storage and in fact gives us a discount when not on the road. We use Escapees in Texas which provides us with an address for registration and insurance and we use their mail forwarding service. We are back home in Australia at present but will be returning to the US in a few months to hit the road again.Good luck with your plans

We have many Canadian friends in Yuma, AZ. that do just that. They are insured in Arizona and some are tagged in AZ. This part(tagging) I can't comment on as nobody seems to know the real deal. My neighbor has had his fiver there for five years with B.C. tags and it never leaves Yuma. His insurance is in B.C.

we have friends from Victoria that do exactly that. Our park - Mesa regal RV Resort even has a special yearly rate that they get that lets them pay the full monnthly while here and storage on their site while home. Google Mesa regal and then phone them for more detail.

Leaving travel trailer/5th wheel year round in US Southwest

bobsallyh
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2013
We have many Canadian friends in Yuma, AZ. that do just that. They are insured in Arizona and some are tagged in AZ. This part(tagging) I can't comment on as nobody seems to know the real deal. My neighbor has had his fiver there for five years with B.C. tags and it never leaves Yuma. His insurance is in B.C.
aussie1
Explorer
Jun 18, 2013
Hi tomike49
We currently have a 5er and truck in storage in Phoenix. It is registered in Texas and insured through Explorer RV with National Interstate. Yes the insurance company is aware of the storage and in fact gives us a discount when not on the road. We use Escapees in Texas which provides us with an address for registration and insurance and we use their mail forwarding service. We are back home in Australia at present but will be returning to the US in a few months to hit the road again.
Good luck with your plans
mamestra
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
I leave my 5th wheel in Birch Bay Washington, and my Canadian insurance company knows and allows that.
n7bsn
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
Under the rules for licensing, in order to license the rig in the states you would need a US address (in the state it was licensed in):
* Have some friends act as a "mail-drop"
* Use a mail-forwarding service (Escapees, commercial)

Either of the above might be tough, as the old ID you will have is NOT in the state you are licensing the rig in. Local state rules may prohibit this.

* Open a Montana LLC. There are firms in Montana that specialize in setting up an LLC just to own an RV. This -might- be a real option as it gives a "US" owner.

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Leaving travel trailer/5th wheel year round in US Southwest

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