Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

Hi folks!

With my FSW application almost complete, I'm starting to think seriously about the difficult bit! :ohmy:

When I finally leave for Canada, I'm planning to put all my stuff (not much) in storage over here, then purchase a motorhome out there and spend some time touring across the country looking for a likely place to settle - somewhere that feels comfortable, where rents are reasonable, and where I can get a job (not too bothered what yet, or how high the income is: shop work, admin, labouring).

My questions concern motorhomes. There'll only be me, so it won't need to be anything too large - as long as it has a shower and toilet. Any ideas how much a smallish, secondhand motorhome might cost me in Canada, please? At today's rates, I'll have a budget of between $14,000 and $20,000 (roughly £8,000 to £12,000). Then there are insurance costs. I'm 50 and have held a clean UK driving license for 30 years. I've been told, though, that vehicle insurance costs out there are much steeper than here. Do I sound like a good (i.e. cheap) risk?

Finally, does anyone know if I'm likely to run into problems with vehicle registration, insurance, etc., if I technically have no fixed abode? (sounds like I may have answered my own question!) I'll be vacating my rented flat here, so won't be able to use that address, and I don't have any family address in the UK that I can use - or the addresses of any friends/sponsors in Canada.

Any help would be most appreciated, thanks.

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

You might want to think about a pick up and either a trailer or 5th wheel or camper. Gives you lots more flexibility than dragging a m/h around. You are not going to get much of a used motor home under $50-$60k. Even for a pick up and trailer the budget would need to be $40k to get a half decent rig.

For the budget you have mentioned you would get a bit of a beater when it comes to motor homes.
http://www.rosmanrv.com/usedlot.html

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

Me again on the whole RV option, seems it may be more straightforward for the legality of the whole process to buy in Canada, head south quickly, but as with Martian Tom, I will be of NFA, anyone know which legal department can answer this conundrum?

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

I don't know which legal department can answer you conundrum.

However, I do personally know of a couple who sold up in Canada bought a big motor home and planned to head south to follow the sun in their retirement. They got to Buffalo and the border guard asked them what their permanent address in Canada was. They said " This is now our permanent home". They were refused entry because of not having a permanent address in Canada. They then drove to Niagara Falls and tried to cross at The Rainbow Bridge. They were asked if they had ever been refused entry to the US. They said no !! The Border Guard says "According to our records you were refused entry at Buffalo 1 hr 8 minutes ago so you can just turn the rig around and head back to Canada and you are hereby banned from the US".

It was in October and all they owned was in the spiffy motor home. They were snookered because they didn't have a permanent address and hadn't done their homework. Living in a motor home in the winter, stuck in Canada, isn't much fun.

Make sure that you do have a permanent address in Canada before you attempt to cross into the US or you will have problems. Saying that you have NFA will not cut it.

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

Okay... thanks a lot, folks. Stuff to think on. I may have to look at a Plan B... :unsure:

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

Valuable advice, thanks, must be a way of doing it as a tourist in the USA then, with an address back here in England! Anyone would think they are paranoid!!

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

You can try craigslist for RVs, although Canada looks a bit thin - here's Toronto
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/sear...0&maxAsk=20000

Whereas in the US there are plenty of reasonable RVs for your budget - this is San Francisco area
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/r...0&maxAsk=15000

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/rvs/1352282945.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/rvs/1352147283.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/rvs/1348707668.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/rvs/1345433981.html

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

As The aviator said, If its just you have you considered the option of a getting a truck and a trailer or 5th wheel. Makes more sense to me anyway.


That way when you checking an area out you can leave the trailer at a site and just use the truck to get around...saves on hassle and fuel.


I saw a really nice 10 year old 5th wheel trailer with slide out for $15k locally...

Autotrader carries listings...

www.trader.ca

look under vehicle type / RV. Cant believe there is a RV there for $1.5 Million!

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

Thanks again, I now think the fifth wheel is the best option and the best place to buy is Florida! Got the USA address sorted out through an insurance company, all looking good for a winter tour of the southern states, better get my banjo!

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

Thanks a lot for all the info, folks. :thumbsup:

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

There's one for almost $3m in Smithville! Think I'd want a pool room and a cinema for that! :rolleyes:

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

and a swimming pool and a bar and barmaids.....................

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

Hi again, folks...

Just as a follow-on from my original question...

Supposing I did get a rig for around £35-$40,000 CAD - can anyone give any idea, please, how much it might cost me to insure? I guess it would depend on the province, but for argument's sake let's say Ontario. I've held my UK licence for 30 years and have had no accidents or convictions in that time (not even a speeding ticket, Goody Two-Shoes... think I've just been very lucky!) I gather, though, that my UK record will count for nothing.

Also... will I need to take a driving test out there before I'll be allowed to drive a rig like that? I just have a standard UK licence at the moment.

Thanks again for any help. :thumbup:

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

A friend from the UK has just bought a 1 ton Dodge ram and a bumper hitch trailer which he insures for $2250 per year (Alberta). $2k for the truck and $250 for the trailer.

Re: Buying a motorhome for a recce
 

From your original post you will be completely on your own. It seems to me you need a much smaller vehicle/rig than has been suggested in other posts. What about a camper van which should be more than adequate for a single person. They are well appointed today, don't require special licence and there are many second-hand ones available and in today's market the prices will probably be right. Just a thought.