grey nomadin in the US

bill12 · Guru

grey nomadin in the US

Yuglamron · Guru

I am a member of the CMCA and occasionally they have vehicles based in the USA that were purchased by Aussies who have done a tour and sell the vehicle from here on the site.

Maybe a little risky but it does happen. You can visit the site and check out the for sale section without being a member.

The number and variety and low cost compared to the Aussie motorhomes has to be seen to be believed.

Something around the $350K here would be $60/70K over there.

This site is just one of many specialising in used RV's.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/diesel/diesel-motorhomes.php

I must admit I have thought of doing Route 66 in an RV and taking six months to a year to do the run. Saw a Billy Connolly show about the trip and it caught my imagination.

I think we have some forum members who have been over and hired or bought RV's so you should get some good advice.

-- Edited by Yuglamron on Friday 21st of March 2014 12:05:29 PM

rollingstone · Veteran Member

we checked out doing this for three months as we have done route 66 with www.route66tours.com and it was awesome but very quick. we can only do over there for three months on a visitor visa - anyway to hire a motorhome for three months - a decent sized one was around $9000 US. Have just had a look to see if I can remember which site but have deleted it. Just Google motorhomes for rent and there are many sites.

Its still an option someday but would need to see how much renting vs buying

Debs and Graeme

GaryKelly · Guru

I have a few Americans who check my blog each day, Bill. I'll ask there and let you know.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

If you start in Texas, you can buy an older RV, In immaculate condition for 15 to 30 Grand, US Dollars, Registered and on the road,

Texas has many RV sites for used Motor Homes,

Try the, Foretravel Owners Forum,

I am a Member, Very Friendly people with a mountain of excellent advice, and they do have a used Foretravel thread, They helped me put my Grand Villa back on the road,

What ever I needed, They came back with the information, Pictures, Diagrams, Lay outs, Wiring diagrams, Solar Installations, Batterys and care etc, Motors, How to do it, What not to do,

I paid $15,000-00 USD for mine, 1989 Grand Villa and it came from Texas, USA, It was worth $212,000-00 brand new, And it has every thing included in the price,

At the time the exchange rate was a high Aussie dollar, So I actually paid $14,200 AUD for it,

Foretravel are still in business, and still making Motor homes, New ones will cost you around a million dollars, Literally,

Monaco Owners Forum, Is another of the top line American Coachs, Similar prices to the Foretravel,

My Foretravel was personal preference compared to the Monaco, Which I was looking at first,

Google, RV's of Texas, 150 RV's on one Used RV Trader site,

bill12 · Guru

My sister has a friend who said that Canada is cheaper than the USA. I went online to look, and I would say he was right. The prices are Amazingly cheap. I might fly into Vancouver, instead of SanFrancisco. Makes you think why OZ prices are so sky high in comparison.Bill

magnus1941 · Member

Hi Bill,

Not quite enough information in your post to answer fully. You do not indicate if you are going there to live or just to visit. Have you been there before and do you have an idea of where you want to go and what you want to see, as that will determine where you start. The country is slightly larger than Australia but fairly evenly populated so there is a hell of a lot to see.

If on a visitor (tourist) visa you are limited to 90 days visit which may indicate rental as the least worry free option. Just be aware that insurance costs on a rental vehicle will push the posted rental rate way up. Also that 90 days is going to limit you to how much you will see by road - if you want to be leisurely about it.

You can get longer visas but with some difficulty.

However if you have family or friends living in the USA then purchase could well be the best option with the USA based family etc selling the unit after you have left.

Either way, it is a great country with a lot to see. I lived there for 18 months and was fortunate to drive across the country twice. You will not regret a trip - even a 90 day one - if you decide to go.

Cheers

Rex A

bill12 · Guru

90 days seem enough. I have been to California, Nevada,but would like to see the NW, and perhaps the east coast.Renting can be expensive, but you do get a newer vehicle.Thanks for your help. Bill

-- Edited by bill12 on Saturday 22nd of March 2014 04:56:03 PM

rollingstone · Veteran Member

www.campertravelusa.com is the website I went on to

HuskyInAuz · Member

I am returning to the USA the first week of April for several months if you need help as we are located in Oregon, right off the I-5 ( a west coast motorway Mexico to Canada). There is certainly room to free camp on the vineyard/farm if your traveling through. Oregon does not have sales tax, neither does Montana or Nevada. I will return in the northern autumn for two months also. Originally from the Seattle area we still have a lot of family and connections and know the Pacific NW pretty well, it has changed a lot in the Seattle area and we couldn't get out of there fast enough when given the chance but a lot to see and do in the PNW.

One way to possibly (I haven't checked lately on the reg's given we have dual citizenship) extend your visit if you are doing a tour/nomad adventure and own the vehicle is you can go 'north of the border' for a couple days/weeks and come back, like many do here with relatives, fly across to NZ. British Columbia is quite spectacular if you can hit the appropriate weather window for you. (Winter for great skiing, summer north of Vancouver or on Vancouver Island will be change in scenery from here).

Let me know if I can be of assistance and enjoy your trip!

GaryKelly · Guru

Here's a paste of what TX Greg wrote in response to my mention of your US trip:

Now Gary think about it, what have you been saying all these years about paying rent there on that house?

You didn't say how long Bill planed on touring here. I take it he is planning on a few months at least if not longer in which case it would be better to purchase a older used RV. Then he still would have something to sell instead of flushing all that rent down the loo, right?

bill12 · Guru

That similar to what I want to do. I have had a look at the rv sale sites in the pacific NW,and there are some amazing stuff for amazingly small prices. A 90s f250, auto with a slide on, toilet and shower, $5500 canadian!I paid more than that for my courier. When I do sell the house and boat, I will probably go to Vancouver, and after buying a used rv, will go down to the states, where you get 90days as a terrorist,woop, tourist.Sounds like a great adventure.Will post when I am there. Bill

SnowT · Guru

In 2011, I spent 3 month's touring around..

I Hired a small b class MH called an Escape camper.. IT was ok for what I was doing but given the chance and the time to go Back I would buy a MH.

On the Visa issue.. As long as you spend at least 2-3week's out of the USofA you can get access back thru.. [ could Not find the Relavent info] - Only use the site I linked as it is the only genuine site to get a ESTA Visa..

RV Trader For a list of RV for sale..

I would do it again.. I had a Ball..

- One issue is to make sure that you always carry your relevant documentation with you..

- If you are on medication.. make sure you Carry enough and have the Relevant documentation for that medication..

Don't do anything stupid..

ie Park near a "M" drive thru with the motor running and the light's on while you are in the back, Linking into their Free wifi talking to family back home at 1:00am us time.. Yes I got surrounded by 3 local cop car's because They thought I was going to rob the store.. I should of gone to the window and told them what I was doing.. [ Oh yeah most "M" in the USA have older people working the night shift]..

In America they don't call it free camping they call it Boondocking.. Walmart Allow you to boon-dock in their car-park over night.. in fact don't be surprised if you park at say 7pm and in the morning there happen to be another 4 or 5 RV's near you..

their is an etiquette of Boondocking.. so it worth while reading.. or this one..

There are plenty of Link's for free camping USA..

As I said, if Given the chance I would Go back there asap..

- 1 thing.. if you do decide to go re $AUD make sure you have plenty of $US available.. ie Convert while you get a great price.. it does not need to be hard cash But as long as it's $USD you will do OK..

When I was there the $AUD > $USD so I was not worried about it..

But due to it being the reverse exchange when you have a great price..

Juergen