Bringing my Mercedes Sprinter Van to America

Best travel time? Interestingly, in another forum I was responding in regard to my lack of use of my generator (11 hour in over 50,000 miles) and air conditioner.

"One of my favorite desires is to camp in the southwest in spring and fall when overnight temps drop. During the day we spend our time outdoors and even in 90F temperatures we have with the sliding door screen and back door screen comfort in dry heat by eliminating the enclosed heat buildup. So far we have run air conditioning but a few very short times mainly to drive out the humidity.

In the summer we camp the upper Midwest northwoods of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. There is little need for air conditioning.

In the Rocky Mountains we've camped in high wooded country. Again, the need for air conditioning is minimal.

We camped mostly in Texas for two months in March and April this year. We needed to run our air conditioning that whole time but once mainly because of the humidity buildup. That was for about two-three hours and that one time was with an electrical hookup.

We got as far as Key West, Florida in October two years ago. The whole month from Galveston, TX to Key West we never ran our air conditioner.

Last summer we went to Alaska, a 10 week trip. We did not run our air conditioner once.

We have gone as long as 5 straight days with no hookups in a Sierra Nevada Mountain National Forest in California and in Glacier National Park on one (CA) or two (Glacier) batteries with minimal or no daytime travel. In both instances we did run our generator to top off not more than an hour each day. Mainly it was to brew coffee or run the microwave.

Good planning is one key. Maybe 40 years of tent camping experience conditions one in how to behave in the wilderness. Obviously don't go to Arizona and Florida in the summer if you can help it."

More planning advice. Stay north and in the mountains in the summer. The north usually closes down about October 15 and the middle of September in the Rockies. Stay out of the Midwest in the spring. Go south to Arizona, Texas, to Florida in the winter. Spring and fall are good most of the time around the country.

Hi everybody, I'm back :-)

(In the meantime, our gasprice is even above 8$ per gallon)

I spent 3 weeks at a testride with a rented class-C-motorhome in Britisch Columbia, Washington and Alberta. I will definitivly visit the USA in 2014 for 4 month.

What would be the right forum to discuss the best travel time? March-June, or Mai-August or July-October or ...? As you know, I don't have A/C on board and love night temperatures below 70°F :-)

Peter

Hi Bill,
the transportation costs are calculated by vehicle size. Length x width x height (including Antennas, A/C, etc.). From my side (Europe->USA-Eastcoast) I would have to pay 1.60 USD per cubicfoot. Plus fuel-surcharges, plus harbour-fees, plus transport-insurance.
Very immportant and very expensive is an insurance for your car in Europe, as your American insurance might not be valid here.

How many miles do you plan to travel? Gas prices in Western Europe are very high. I would calculate 8 Dollars per Gallon. (My Sprinter-based RV makes 20 mpg and more)

Peter

Peter ... or anyone else who knows ...

Any ballpark figure on how much the transportation would cost?

I would just love to take our 1999 Chevy Roadtrek 200 Popular to Europe for a few months. I'm just a bit worried as to what would happen if we should have mechanical problems. Can gas powered V8 engines (or full sized Chevy vans) be easilly serviced in Europe?

Bill

Peter, when you get to the states, if you come to Florida I have the Airstream westfalia and live in cocoa beach. I can provide a place for you to park very close to the ocean. Just email me if you get the opportunity. We are 1 hour from Orlando and 20 minutes to Kennedy Space Center.
Dave Spain

mowog wrote:
You're probably set up for 230V/50cycle for anything major, so you could have a problem with using outside AC.

I'm fine with my onboard power system 230V/50, 1500W.
I do not plan to connect to the US-AC-System 120V/60 (I don't have aircondition while standing).

Peter

Have fun. So long as you are taking it back out of the country, it doesn't usually matter what you bring here to drive.

There is certainly some paperwork regarding the vehicle, and at one time there was a bond required to ensure you would not leave the vehicle behind, based on value of the vehicle, import taxes, and costs to convert to DOT and EPA specifications. I don't know if that is still the case, we have reduced some of these requirements to encourage tourism.

Most states have financial responsibility requirements, usually covered by property damage and personal injury liability insurance valid for one of the states.

If you are planning multiple entries, crossing back and forth between the U.S. and Canada, check what is required for both persons and vehicles.

Hi: I live near Baltimore and have a 3500 sprinter camper. If you choose to come in or out of Baltimore feel free to message me. You're probably set up for 230V/50cycle for anything major, so you could have a problem with using outside AC.

I'm sure members could give you feedback on you planning with advice on making your trip as pleasurable as possible.

Bob Skillman
Ellicott City, MD
2011 Roadtrek RS

Blah, got me drooling. I visited the CS-Reisemobile page to look at the Independant... wow.

Not just four-wheel drive, but an undercarriage furnace (to ensure the pipes stay warm without having to winterize), side view cameras (so you see that motorcycle hiding in your blind spot), the Parktronic system (for parallel parking with centimeters to spare), heated seats, automatic sliding door opener, etc.

Nice ride.

When we traveled to Alaska in 2010 we met at least 10 couples that had brought their RV's with them (and were of course taking them back home) One family from Sweden was traveleing for a year. Anyway, I have no clue about the benifits of shipping to Canada v US, but they all had shipped to Canada.
Have a great trip!