Buying camper in Usa

[dealman5]

Anyone have any experience...Is US any cheaper?

[mikeymike1]

Wobblies aren't necessarily cheaper but used ones are more plentyful

[Geodude19]

Anyone have any experience...Is US any cheaper?

I imported an RV last year. Local guy wouldn't budget on his price of $58K. Not an inch. I made the trip to Indiana and got the same trailer for $30K.

Here are the steps, once you've made the purchase. I did it all on-line and by phone:

1. Call dealer to get VIN.

2. Get insurance coverage before trip.

3. Wire funds to pay for trailer 10 days in advance of pickup and call to verify receipt before leaving.

4. Once at dealer get bill of sale, title/ownership (shows clear title, no liens on the unit), temporary trip permit (the one I got from Indiana is good for 30 days), a "no outstanding recall letter" (from dealer of mfgr, on letterhead). May have to sign document indicating not paying state sales tax and exporting; (the recall letter may not be an issue as
RIV has a database with all manufacturers listed and they know if there are any outstanding recalls.

5. At the border answer the normal questions and when asked about value of the goods importing tell the customs agent you're importing the trailer. The agent will fill out a yellow declaration card and send you to the customs office.

6. In the customs office fill out Form 1 (they should provide a completed sample or describe what to fill out). Fill in the following:
a) VIN
b) Preferred Language
c) Type of Vehicle
d) Manufacturer
e) Make
f) Model
g) Year
h) Manufacture Date
i) Vehicle Condition
j) Title Status
k) Country and State of Origin
l) Name, Address and Telephone Number

7. Agent will stamp the form, fill in their badge number and the port code, look at the ownership of the unit and the bill of sale. They will enter this information into the computer and indicate how much tax is to be paid based on the exchange rate at that time. Pay by credit card at the cashier.

8. Be sure to get a copy of the Canada Border Services "Casual Goods Accounting Document", which is required to register the vehicle in Ontario. Do not lose it -- CBSA will not replace it without you going back to the border, so make a copy as soon as you can.

9. You may also get a copy of instructions on how to pay the RIV fees online but it's not really needed.

10. At home go to the RIV website and enter the red number of Form 1, which is now the case number, enter the vehicle VIN, the entry port number, the custom agent's badge number, pay $195 + tax via credit card, and give RIV an e-mail address. Then wait for the RIV inspection form to be sent, which should just take 3-4 hours.

11. RIV will send an email with a link to an inspection form. Log in to the RIV site by entering the case number and the last six digits of the VIN, print the inspection form, then arrange for an inspection at Canadian Tire.

12. On inspection day, CTC will:
a) verify the VIN;
b) write down the GVWR, Manufacture Date, GAWR for each axle, tire pressure;
c) check that all lights and reflectors met CMVSS 108 Standards, note the tire manufacturer, the type of tire on the vehicle, maximum tire load rating, maximum tire inflation pressure; and
d) stamp the inspection form and Form 1, date and sign the form, and fax it to RIV (there is no further cost at CTC for this, and the inspection takes about 15 minutes).

13. Go to MTO and provide the original ownership, the information showing no liens on the vehicle, Form 1, the RIV inspection form, driver's license, bill of sale, Canada Border Service Accounting Document. Take your existing trailer plate, if you want to transfer it or turn it in. Our previous trailer was in both our names but the new trailer was just in my name so I had to get a new plate. It look 30 minutes at MTO, longer than the border and CTC combined.

14. Pay licence fees, surrender original US state ownership, receive Ontario ownership and plate.

15. Will receive, by mail, a Canadian compliance sticker from RIV to be placed on the trailer.


Other than the drive to Indiana, the part that took the longest was lining up at MTO to get the permanent licence.

[IMHIP2]

As GEODUDE said above for a trailer. Just show up at the boarder with the trailer and the documentation and declare. Customs actually looked up the price online for my trailer to see if the price I declared was legit and asked lots of questions but otherwise only took 10 minutes.

If by "camper" you meen something with an engine then you will need to submit the VIN 72 hours before arriving at the boarder.

Just to clarify. Taxes HST - GST portion is paid at the boarder. PST portion is paid when licensing (at least in Ontario in July 2010)

[Drthorne]

I've noticed some US manufacturers offer a "Canadian" pabckage that's CSA approved. Does getting this mean there's no inspection required at CT?

[IMHIP2]

I've noticed some US manufacturers offer a "Canadian" pabckage that's CSA approved. Does getting this mean there's no inspection required at CT?

No. Anything improted through RIV needs the inspection. Also the "Canadian" package is only available to order by a Cdn dealer so you could not buy one from a US dealer as far as I know

CSA package refers to plumbing, wiring and propane fittings - Cdn Tire doesn't check these things. Cdn Tire is signing off that the vehicle meets the transport canada requirements.

[Notadot]

I've noticed some US manufacturers offer a "Canadian" pabckage that's CSA approved. Does getting this mean there's no inspection required at CT?

Only motorized campers require inspection, and that inspection focuses on general Canadian vehicle safety standards, not on plumbing/wiring/propane appliance standards for the "camper" part of the vehicle.

With trailers, there is no inspection required at CTC. The "CSA" package is only required for RV's that are manufactured for sale as new in Canada.

[Geodude19]

No. Anything improted through RIV needs the inspection. Also the "Canadian" package is only available to order by a Cdn dealer so you could not buy one from a US dealer as far as I know

CSA package refers to plumbing, wiring and propane fittings - Cdn Tire doesn't check these things. Cdn Tire is signing off that the vehicle meets the transport canada requirements.

The dealer I bought our trailer from had the trailer built to CSA standards and CSA stickered. No problem. It cost me $200 for that option.

[IMHIP2]

Only motorized campers require inspection, and that inspection focuses on general Canadian vehicle safety standards, not on plumbing/wiring/propane appliance standards for the "camper" part of the vehicle.

With trailers, there is no inspection required at CTC. The "CSA" package is only required for RV's that are manufactured for sale as new in Canada.

My tent trailer needed an inspection and it was brand new at the time when I imported it.

[Geodude19]

A CTC inspection is definitely required when importing a camping trailer. You won't get your RIV certification without it, and you can't get your trailer plated without. CTC does the inspection, which takes all of 10 minutes, and they fax the inspection form right to RIV. Your sticker shows up in the mail a few days later.