Crossing borders

billandeve wrote:
We are New Zealand citizens planning a lengthy RV tour of Canada and the USA.
If we buy a Canadian registered motorhome (we expect to start in Canada) what restrictions or annoyances are there on taking that vehicle across the border into the USA?
Conversely, if we buy a US registered MH, what problems might we encounter taking it across the border into Canada?

You didn't ask this question but you'd want to carefully consider just where you'll be buying this motorhome as costs can vary considerably from one region to another. Generally speaking you'll find that Canadian cost overall will be noticeably higher than if you had purchased the same unit in the US as almost all RVs sold in the US & Canada are manufactured in the US. Secondly, since most manufacturing facilities are located in Indiana you'd find that the cost of any given unit purchased from a dealer in that locale will be less costly than the same unit purchased from a dealer in California or British Columbia, if for no other reason than freight charges to get that unit from the factory to the dealer will be higher the further away it is from the factory.

JMO, but I'd be carefully trying to integrate my purchase plans with my itinerary to best maximize what I'd get for my $$$$$$s. You'd also want to factor in your flight costs which could vary quite a bit depending on where you land - west coast, east coast, US or Canadian destination. For example, Air Canada now runs daily, year round, non-stop flights directly between Vancouver & Sydney and if the same is the case from one of your major NZ cities your flight costs could be reduced substantially, particularly if you plan well ahead and wait for deals, just as we did recently when flying Vancouver to Sydney. Fly into the US which relies heavily on a hub system and you could well be stuck with multiple flights to get to where you eventually want to end up.