Tough decision - what to do with Snomad?

Tough decision - what to do with Snomad?

Author
Discussion

sassthathoopie

Original Poster:

860 posts

214 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
I have a bit of a quandary that I would really appreciate some help with as I have no experience with American vehicles in Europe. For the last 3 years my missus and I have been living and working in the US. In 2012 I bought a 2007 Ford F350 6.0 diesel fitted with an XPCamper.

I managed to wangle registering it in my name in South Dakota. We then lived in it for 6 months; driving off road in Death Valley and the southern Utah national parks, followed by a winter chasing snow in the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas. It was an epic trip and we became very attached to the truck and the camper.




We're now keen to head back to Europe and we're trying to decide whether to
1)Import both truck and camper to UK and keep them
2)Sell both truck and camper in the US
3)Import just the camper, and put it on a suitable European vehicle. Eg Flatbed 4x4 Sprinter, Toyota Dyna 4x4 etc
4) Import both, sell the truck in Europe, and put the camper on something else.

During the buying process I was advised that there is a strong market for US trucks in Switzerland. IS this right?

So questions are;

How hard will it be maintaining this truck in the UK/Europe?
If I'm going to sell would I do better in the US or Europe?

Crafty_

13,248 posts

199 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
If you sell in Europe you should factor in shipping & importation costs.

Maintaining it here should be no problem, any mechanic should be able to work on it. Use rockauto.com for parts who have decent prices and can pre-pay import charges for you so delivery is prompt. As always I'm sure you'll find forums on the internet full of useful info.

Can't help on demand for the vehicle here.

sassthathoopie

Original Poster:

860 posts

214 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
Is there a good UK/European forum for big American trucks?

powerstroke

10,283 posts

159 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
No problem running and using a full size truck in the UK parts or service
But your truck might have a limited appeal being regular cab and not having a factory bed , I had an extended cab 250 super duty and a lance 815 camper very nice with plenty of room without being huge, mine sold in the UK but there was a lot of interested people in Europe , if you want to keep it bring it over otherwise I would guess it would be best to sell in the states imho

ben5732

763 posts

155 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
You'd possibly make a profit selling it in Europe but I'd certainly look into it first before you do it I.e. shipping and import duty. Looks lovely.

sassthathoopie

Original Poster:

860 posts

214 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
Still doing my reading but it's possible we may avoid import duty because we have been out of the EU so long. Shipping costs should be less than you'd think as it was specifically built to fit in a shipping container (just!)

Are there any specialist mechanics/importers/distributors I could speak to? Haven't found any yet with a google search

ben5732

763 posts

155 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Don't know if they are any good but found this site when possibly looking at getting and importing a car from the US myself www​.shipmycar.co.uk

shovelheadrob

1,564 posts

170 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
A couple of friends have used them, only had good things to say. As to the truck, as mentioned it's not going to sell well here as most people want a truck bed & more doors, would make a good tow truck for a 5th wheel though, but with limited market it would need to not owe you too much landed here.

Crafty_

13,248 posts

199 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
sassthathoopie said:
Still doing my reading but it's possible we may avoid import duty because we have been out of the EU so long. Shipping costs should be less than you'd think as it was specifically built to fit in a shipping container (just!)

Are there any specialist mechanics/importers/distributors I could speak to? Haven't found any yet with a google search
Depends where you will be in the UK, but:

Importer: http://www.kingstown-shipping.co.uk/
Parts: http://www.usautomotive.co.uk/
Service: http://www.northamericanmotorco.com/

Although more dedicated to classic or premium cars you may find some support here: http://www.motorvatinusa.org.uk/intro.html

There is also a magazine called American Car World that you might find more resources in.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
sassthathoopie said:
Still doing my reading but it's possible we may avoid import duty because we have been out of the EU so long. Shipping costs should be less than you'd think as it was specifically built to fit in a shipping container (just!)

Are there any specialist mechanics/importers/distributors I could speak to? Haven't found any yet with a google search
Import duty and VAT will be payable if you keep it for less than a year.

I don't fancy trying to get it through an IVA test. What's the GVW on it?

sassthathoopie

Original Poster:

860 posts

214 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
GVW is 5039kg. This is one of the reasons for keeping it. Many of the European options have smaller less powerful engines and will be working much harder carrying the weight of a camper with a 75gal water tank.

sassthathoopie

Original Poster:

860 posts

214 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Crafty_ said:
Depends where you will be in the UK, but:

Importer: http://www.kingstown-shipping.co.uk/
Parts: http://www.usautomotive.co.uk/
Service: http://www.northamericanmotorco.com/

Although more dedicated to classic or premium cars you may find some support here: http://www.motorvatinusa.org.uk/intro.html

There is also a magazine called American Car World that you might find more resources in.
Thanks Crafty!

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
I need to have a read through the IVA manual tomorrow, but at that GVW it would need to be tested as M1 passenger car. One of the stipulations of that is the percentage of bed length of the overall length of the vehicle. Can't remember if it's 45 or 50 %. Either way that bed looks too long. The other problem is too few seats for a passenger car.

Rear arches and tail lights also look like they won't pass. That's why we can't bring chassis cabs in anymore as they're not a complete vehicle.

However, if it was built over ten years ago that becomes irrelevant as it would be exempt from IVA. You just need to try and work out its MOT class and get it tested accordingly.

sassthathoopie

Original Poster:

860 posts

214 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Roo said:
I need to have a read through the IVA manual tomorrow, but at that GVW it would need to be tested as M1 passenger car. One of the stipulations of that is the percentage of bed length of the overall length of the vehicle. Can't remember if it's 45 or 50 %. Either way that bed looks too long. The other problem is too few seats for a passenger car.

Rear arches and tail lights also look like they won't pass. That's why we can't bring chassis cabs in anymore as they're not a complete vehicle.

However, if it was built over ten years ago that becomes irrelevant as it would be exempt from IVA. You just need to try and work out its MOT class and get it tested accordingly.
This looks like a serious concern. Bed length is 2.51m, overall length is approx 6m. So bed length is 42%. It's a single cab with three abreast seating and a column mounted auto shift. It's a 2007 so still some way away from IVA exemption.

Would be keen to hear your interpretation of the manual

powerstroke

10,283 posts

159 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
sassthathoopie said:
Roo said:
I need to have a read through the IVA manual tomorrow, but at that GVW it would need to be tested as M1 passenger car. One of the stipulations of that is the percentage of bed length of the overall length of the vehicle. Can't remember if it's 45 or 50 %. Either way that bed looks too long. The other problem is too few seats for a passenger car.

Rear arches and tail lights also look like they won't pass. That's why we can't bring chassis cabs in anymore as they're not a complete vehicle.

However, if it was built over ten years ago that becomes irrelevant as it would be exempt from IVA. You just need to try and work out its MOT class and get it tested accordingly.
This looks like a serious concern. Bed length is 2.51m, overall length is approx 6m. So bed length is 42%. It's a single cab with three abreast seating and a column mounted auto shift. It's a 2007 so still some way away from IVA exemption.

Would be keen to hear your interpretation of the manual
Could you get it though as a motorhome???

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
What's the GVW off it?

sassthathoopie

Original Poster:

860 posts

214 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
GVW is 5039kg. Currently have it insured as a custom motorhome in the US.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
Right.

GVW above 3500 kg means it can't be tested as N1 light goods vehicle.

If the GVW was between 3500 kg and 6500 kg it could be tested as M1 passenger car if it met the following criteria:

Pick up bed no more than 40% of overall vehicle length and at least four seats.

So it fails on all counts unfortunately. Sell it in the US where it will be appreciated for what it's worth.

Motorama

433 posts

217 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
I emailed you details of the guy I use for this type of scenario, he's very clued up on the legislation side and knows all the ways round

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Motor caravan needs to have:

This equipment shall be rigidly fixed to the living compartment. The interpretation applied to this definition is as follows

Seats and a Table

Are required to be an integral part of the living accommodation area, and mounted independently of other items.

The table must be capable of being mounted directly to the vehicle floor and/or side wall.

The table mounting arrangement must be secured as a permanent feature, (bolted, riveted, screwed or welded), although the table may be detachable.

Permanently secured seating must be available for use at the table.

The seats must be secured directly to the vehicle floor and/or side wall.

The seats must be secured as a permanent feature, (bolted riveted, screwed or welded).

Sleeping Accommodation

Must be an integral part of the living accommodation area.

Either beds or a bed converted from seats (to form a mattress base)

Secured as a permanent feature, with base structures bolted, riveted, screwed or welded to the vehicle floor and/or side wall, (unless the sleeping accommodation is provided as a provision over the driver’s cab compartment.

Cooking Facilities

That are an integral part of the vehicle living accommodation and is mounted independently of other items.

That are secured to the vehicle floor and/or side wall.

Secured as a permanent feature, (bolted, riveted, screwed, or welded.

The cooking facility must consist of a minimum of a two ring cooking facility or a microwave in either case having a fuel/power source.

If the cooking facility is fueled by gas having a remote fuel supply, the fuel supply pipe must be permanently secured to the vehicle structure.

If the cooking facility is fueled by gas having a remote fuel supply, the fuel reservoir must be secured in a storage cupboard or the reservoir secured to the vehicle structure.

Storage Facilities

Storage facilities must be provided by a cupboard or locker.

The facility must be an integral part of the vehicle living accommodation, i.e. mounted independently of other items, unless incorporated below seat/sleeping accommodation or the cooking facility.

The storage facility must be a permanent feature, (bolted, riveted, screwed or welded).

The storage facility must be secured directly to the vehicle floor and/or side wall, unless a storage provision is provided over the driver’s cab compartment.