sachilles
Waitsfield VT
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Hi All,
My family and I are looking seriously into our first RV purchase. A rental 23A from Cruise America looks idea.
We are in Vermont, so the closest Cruise America location is Virginia.
However, Cruise Canada has a location in Montreal Quebec, which is less than a 2 hour drive for us.
Has anybody purchased a unit cross border? Aside from metric units on the dash cluster, did you encounter any issues. Where you able to bring the unit back to the US without issue. My assumption is the chassis is legal to bring into the US.
I've imported cars before, so the paperwork doesn't scare me....but haven't had the pleasure of trying it with a motorhome yet.
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Photomike
Southern Alberta or where the camper is parked!
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sachilles wrote:Hi All,
My family and I are looking seriously into our first RV purchase. A rental 23A from Cruise America looks idea.
We are in Vermont, so the closest Cruise America location is Virginia.
However, Cruise Canada has a location in Montreal Quebec, which is less than a 2 hour drive for us.
Has anybody purchased a unit cross border? Aside from metric units on the dash cluster, did you encounter any issues. Where you able to bring the unit back to the US without issue. My assumption is the chassis is legal to bring into the US.
I've imported cars before, so the paperwork doesn't scare me....but haven't had the pleasure of trying it with a motorhome yet.
The units that I have seen with CC, including mine are all US units. Speedometer is in Miles, Trip can be set to either. I think they are all the same units.
2017 Ford Transit
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Advanced Elements Kayaks
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IAMICHABOD
Sunny So Cal
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Canuck Hauler welcome to the Forum and the Former Rental Owners Club, when you get your rig you will be # 99 on the list ![[image]](https://www.picgifs.com/emoticons/smileys-and-emoticons/thumbs/smileys-thumbs-951446.gif) When you get it please come back and tell us how the process went and your thoughts on your purchase.
It is interesting that you can pick out your RV then have it refurbished,I wonder where they do the ones from Canada,most here are done in Arizona. I know that at El Monte you can request a certain model and when it gets in they will refurbish it for you,this has happened to one of our members here.
It sounds like you have it all pretty much covered,I would look at the shocks,they most likely will need to be replaced.
2006 TIOGA 26Q CHEVY 6.0 WORKHORSE VORTEC
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Photomike
Southern Alberta or where the camper is parked!
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IAMICHABOD wrote:Canuck Hauler welcome to the Forum and the Former Rental Owners Club, when you get your rig you will be # 99 on the list When you get it please come back and tell us how the process went and your thoughts on your purchase.
It is interesting that you can pick out your RV then have it refurbished,I wonder where they do the ones from Canada,most here are done in Arizona. I know that at El Monte you can request a certain model and when it gets in they will refurbish it for you,this has happened to one of our members here.
It sounds like you have it all pretty much covered,I would look at the shocks,they most likely will need to be replaced.
The dealers here do the refurbishing. REALLY depends on the dealer how well it is done.
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sachilles
Waitsfield VT
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For what it's worth. I've called Montreal(Cruise Canada), and left a message with no return call.
I also called Toronto with no return call. Odd for sales staff. Wondering if it's just off season and they aren't in the office that often.
Orlando(Cruise America) called back, as I had called them previously, and they had sold off all the ones in my budget range. Seems they have one in my range again...convenient. Nice enough to deal with, attentive and answering my questions. Haven't called Virginia location yet.
Orlando seems to have a good reputation, Virginia comments here, seem to indicate a less than pleasant sales staff member.
Virginia is a day and a half closer. Which only matters for time off from work to fetch the thing. Flight cost difference is negligible, should be covered by CA/CC. I also have frequent flyer miles I could cash in.
I've been searching the web for the last week plus, and always seem to keep coming back to former rentals. Any reason to choose a certain CA dealer over another if I go that route?
Everything is pointing towards a trip to Orlando in my future. Sadly El Monte inventory doesn't look like it will work in my favor for Orlando....as I've done rentals with them in the past with good experiences.
This is were being patient is going to prove to be difficult. I don't NEED this thing asap. First real trip would be end of May, and I could live without it until August in reality. Of course I wouldn't get to enjoy it as much for the season.
Thank you for putting up my with my long winded post.
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IAMICHABOD
Sunny So Cal
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It looks like there are only 19 units at the El Monte RV in Orlando if there is a specific unit you want you could call Mike Dwan,he is the National Sales Manager @562-483 4949. I have spoken to him many times and he always is ready to help,he knows about this thread and has helped others here.
If you rented from them in the past they have a program that will reimburse you for the rental if you buy and they have a fly and buy program where they will put the cost of the flight towards the purchase.
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sachilles
Waitsfield VT
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I put a reservation down on a 23a from Cruise America in Virginia today. I'm set to pick it up April 17.
Virginia is about a 9-10 drive to our home in Vermont. We'll fly in to Dulles and drive it back. We'll see what kind of adventure it becomes.
It'll drive me nuts, I'm an obsessive compulsive car guy....until I know the noises the thing will make.....I'll fear the worst. Of course that comes from driving too many british race cars.
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Photomike
Southern Alberta or where the camper is parked!
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sachilles wrote:I put a reservation down on a 23a from Cruise America in Virginia today. I'm set to pick it up April 17.
Virginia is about a 9-10 drive to our home in Vermont. We'll fly in to Dulles and drive it back. We'll see what kind of adventure it becomes.
It'll drive me nuts, I'm an obsessive compulsive car guy....until I know the noises the thing will make.....I'll fear the worst. Of course that comes from driving too many british race cars.
Congratulations!!!
Oh how I understand about the obsessive part! I had my wife take me to pick up my Majestic 19G in Calgary which is about 2 hours from home. Did a short test drive but really unless you take it out for an hour or two you seldom hear or see everything. Paid for it, grabbed some gear from my wife's car so I could go camping and headed out. It wasn't 30 minutes later on a major highway that I was just about in tears as the wind noise was so bad, something I never heard on the test drive. Finally got outside the city and pulled over VERY frustrated and I was ready to return it or abandon it!!!
Started checking things out and finally found that the window behind the drivers seat had slightly opened. Slide it closed and away I went without any more noise (it still opens once and a while and I laugh at the memory)!!! I was so happy. Spent the first night in it and started making a list of upgrades that I wanted (towel rack, thicker mattress, different dishes, etc). I have it just how I like it now.
A couple suggestions - Don't rush in the buying process, take your time to check it out and get them to fix and/or adjust everything you find before you leave the lot. Also if you are camping in it on your way home stop at a Walmart for the first night and shop as you find things you need (if you don't already have it at home). I am NOT a fan of Walmart most days but we have spent a few nights in the parking lot to restock on a trip and it is fun to be able to walk in buy a few things several times a night as you are restocking - yes I need a life ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
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sachilles
Waitsfield VT
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Of course now I need to wait until it's in my hands to discover stuff.
Maybe some former owners can answer a few questions. I intend to put a trailer brake controller in. It looks like the E-350 may be pre-equipped with the wiring, depending upon how it was ordered. Usually the wires are behind the coin tray in the upper dash. It indicates if it has a 7 pin rear plug, it should be pre-wired. Anyone know if there is a trailer hitch wiring plug on the rear, and if so how many pins?
I'll bring some tools with me, but because I've flying, I don't want to bring too much. I plan to buy a bottle jack, and 4 way lug wrench in town when I arrive...there is harbor freight and a walmart. I'll bring my electric impact. I'll bring my obd2 tool. Probably buy pillows at walmart, and bring sleeping bags. It's about a 10 hour drive, so the goal is to split that up between 2 days and camp one night on the way home.
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disc01971
Washington
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Hope you planned on staying in town a couple days.. Theres no way anybody should drive the RV off the lot until everything is fixed. I was lucky to be 2hrs away, and took them a week to fix my to do list. Read through the threads, once its off the lot you'll have hard time getting "warranty" items fixed. They will run you through hoops, take as much time as they want before getting to you. Theres 1 guy that approves any work once its off the lot. The local dealership location can pretty much do whatever you ask them, long as you tell them its got to be fixed before singing paperwork (besides deposit) and leaving. We had 8k worth of work done (rig.pinion, exhaust manafold/bolts, front windshield, toilet, and some random repairs like busted faucet and cabinet hinges. Even had the seller himself on a ladder caulking entire RV !!! The RV we got, was the best of 4 on the lot..
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