Unimog Expedition Camper - Vancouver Island
- Thread starter Victorian
- Start date
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
Thanks for posting this. It's a pretty capable and handsome looking rig:
My fellow Mogger George met the owners on a trip to Victoria Island several years ago and found them to be very nice people, FWIW.
There's a good deal more information on their BC Explore website: http://www.bcexplore.com/index.html
My fellow Mogger George met the owners on a trip to Victoria Island several years ago and found them to be very nice people, FWIW.
There's a good deal more information on their BC Explore website: http://www.bcexplore.com/index.html
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
Apparently a well regarded truck. George wrote back after I sent him the link:
"I wish I could afford that rig...that is a VERY well thought-out build. About the most elegant U-series truck I have seen. I really like it!"
OverLand Soon
New member
This is just what I have been searching for .. thanks for the post!
workerdrone
Part time fulltimer
Oh, for the exchange rates of my youth 
Gorgeous rig!
Gorgeous rig!
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
It's my understanding that the 25% duty is on trucks and not RVs, and that you would pay 2% to import this rig. That was my experience when I imported my Unimog camper.
That said, I felt like Customs was actively looking for a reason to classify things as trucks, so it seemed pretty clear that a potti and a cookstove under a truck canopy wasn't going to do it, nor even a big slide-in camper. It had to be an inseparable RV that couldn't later be subdivided to yield a 25% duty truck.
It's definitely worth looking into, as my expertise is based on a single event, but in 2001, importing a vehicle conceptually identical to this one required I pay only a 2% duty.
Mike,
After reading through the EPA web site I could only find language that now states vehicles older that 21 years can be imported. Has this been changed from the commonly referred to 25 years?
I was trying to sort through the logistics of importing this Unimog and trying to decipher whether an individual can do this or would you need the assistance of a ICI. Certainly a lot of homework needs to done beforehand to consider emissions testing and certification. If you use the ICI the vehicle needs to be held for 15 working days after submission of all EPA certifying paperwork for a non-US vehicle.
I was also looking at the legality of purchasing non-US vehicles already here in the US especially if the above 21 years is now the consideration. The reason why is that Mercedes 817D of John Speed now Margaret, is still sitting here in Reno NV. If 21 is the magic number then it is eligible with one slight wrinkle. The vehicle has exceeded it's temporary import certification and is here illegally. According to EPA documents it cannot legally be sold to a US resident. I would assume something could be worked out but definitely using an ICI would help in this situation.
Tad
After reading through the EPA web site I could only find language that now states vehicles older that 21 years can be imported. Has this been changed from the commonly referred to 25 years?
I was trying to sort through the logistics of importing this Unimog and trying to decipher whether an individual can do this or would you need the assistance of a ICI. Certainly a lot of homework needs to done beforehand to consider emissions testing and certification. If you use the ICI the vehicle needs to be held for 15 working days after submission of all EPA certifying paperwork for a non-US vehicle.
I was also looking at the legality of purchasing non-US vehicles already here in the US especially if the above 21 years is now the consideration. The reason why is that Mercedes 817D of John Speed now Margaret, is still sitting here in Reno NV. If 21 is the magic number then it is eligible with one slight wrinkle. The vehicle has exceeded it's temporary import certification and is here illegally. According to EPA documents it cannot legally be sold to a US resident. I would assume something could be worked out but definitely using an ICI would help in this situation.
Tad
Unfortunately I answered my own question when I cross referenced with the NHTSA Vehicle Importation Guidelines for which vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Sorry for the WOB.
The importation legality of the 1991 Mercedes 817D is still a problem though when it does reach 25 years of age in 2016.
The importation legality of the 1991 Mercedes 817D is still a problem though when it does reach 25 years of age in 2016.
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
Yep, you guys have got it right as per my understanding . . . It takes 25 years before you're clear of the EPA and the DOT agencies. However, once you make 25 years, importation is relatively straightforward, though some people get the assistance of a customs broker. I did it myself and it was a tense two hours waiting for them to announce what problem they found to cause me vast amounts of trouble, but they didn't find anything.
Interestingly, though, I found out later that they could have. Turns out that they could impound a vehicle if it had not been steam cleaned, including the bottom, and CamperMog's underside had no end of ex-Sahara sand and gunk. I assume that this is still enforced, perhaps even more vigorously than before. Having CBP impound the vehicle because it is dirty is not the end of the world, but it would cause much inconvenience and some expense.
I'm sad that Margaret's van now has an additional strike against it. It's pretty easy for CBP to know that the vehicle didn't leave when the year was up, and so the VIN will be flagged whenever someone does try for a legal importation. Kind of a messy situation.
Interestingly, though, I found out later that they could have. Turns out that they could impound a vehicle if it had not been steam cleaned, including the bottom, and CamperMog's underside had no end of ex-Sahara sand and gunk. I assume that this is still enforced, perhaps even more vigorously than before. Having CBP impound the vehicle because it is dirty is not the end of the world, but it would cause much inconvenience and some expense.
I'm sad that Margaret's van now has an additional strike against it. It's pretty easy for CBP to know that the vehicle didn't leave when the year was up, and so the VIN will be flagged whenever someone does try for a legal importation. Kind of a messy situation.