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Any van lifers here who have shipped their van across the ocean?
e.g. Europe to Eastern seaboard US or Canada or even South America?
(1) How would i go about costing the shipping and can you travel on the ship or do you need to travel independently?
(2) How would I find about paperwork/bureaucracy involved?
(3) Is it possible to get insurance for long periods out of your home country? (That's the actual van insurance, not for whilst it's in transit)
(4) Actually, another thing, is it possible to get long term travel insurance ie not typical annual insurance where you're only expected to take multiple short breaks (less than a month)?
(BTW: I don't even have a Van, but I'm watching too many You Tube videos of epic trips! So if no one knows the answer, just point me to some more YT to watch!)
It would make more sense to buy a van there,cheaper and way less hassle
cheaper and way less hassle
and with spares availability abd the steering wheel in the right place
If the Vanlifers/Youtubers Travel Beans are anything to go by, buy one there!
Think there are hassles around non-US citizens buying and registering vans over there though.
In the states all you need is an address, doesn't have to be yours, but you do have to have approval from whoever lives there. PO box isn't good enough. So make some friends!
As a former Landrover Overlander but of Europe/N Africa my brain dump is;
1. A 20ft container is (was) £1500 each way + port charges. Ship the vehicle on its own and fly to meet it.
2. Carnet charges (the bond to make sure you'll bring the vehicle back rather than sell it) increase with the book value of the vehicle hence why older Defenders etc are popular rather than a new 4x4 Sprinter.
3. Take a vehicle thats supported in the country you're visiting.
4. Vehicle insurance is arranged by country by country basis.
HUBB is the STW equivalent for Overlanders.
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/
A 20ft container is
Depends on your van - My van is longer and plenty of vans would be taller than the internal dims of a container
Depends on your van – My van is longer and plenty of vans would be taller than the internal dims of a container
Hence why Defender/70 series/Pinzguers with etc rooftents are popular overlanding vehicles. They can be strapped into a container so at least they don't get as bashed/are more secure than travelling RO-RO.
HUBB is the STW equivalent for Overlanders.
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb//blockquote >
Thanks @RustyNissanPrairie
I can see myself getting lost in there for a long time...
Good info here for people who have done it
If you don't have a van already its got to be easier (and more fun/less paperwork) to just buy one over there. With enough planning you might be able to arrange to buy one from someone who is just ending their epic road trip and needs to get rid.
Forgot to add, read the books by Graeme Bell and travels with his family and Land Rover.
Expedition Portal is also a good read https://expeditionportal.com/forum/
We bought a van in us, travelled in it and got our money back after 6 months.
We had to do a driving test, p.ss easy, I drove up a road, turned round, and then back. I asked if I passed the examiner just laughed, of course u have. Theory too but just read books.
I think we did test as we were there more than 90 days so insurance requirement.
We got extended visas from embassy in London, just showed we had means to live work free for 6 months.
Loved it, some real adventures
After years of not really being very content with life in Munich I convinced the GF that we should leave, just didn't/don't know where to.
Has a VW T5 that I (as a carpenter) had self converted, other than the Hilo pop top. Was awesome, but too small for longer periods away and I never really liked having the bikes hanging off the tailgate.
Sold the VW and bought a brand new Ducato (highest and longest available).
Spent around 8 months converting it from scratch in the workshop after work and on weekends. Four bikes on a slide out tray (2 MTB, 2 Gravel) plus hose to wash the bikes/me. Tools, again on a slide out tray. 124 litres of water running off two systems. Fixed bed across the back (190x148... Fortunately I'm only 5'7",gives me a few inches to stretch). Diesel heater. No gas on board, instead we have a Wallas diesel cooker that doubles up as a heater. False floor with storage beneath. Cork floors (very 80s). Fixed seating with swivel table. Trockentrenntoilette... (No idea what it's called in English... Split dry toilet? Essentially two canisters, one for piss the other (bin lined) for poo, means there's no chemicals to deal with).
At some point I'll get round to adding some photos to the "Things you have made" thread, but I've been too busy.
After years of not really being very content with life in Munich I convinced the GF that we should leave, just didn't/don't know where to.
Has a VW T5 that I (as a carpenter) had self converted, other than the Hilo pop top. Was awesome, but too small for longer periods away and I never really liked having the bikes hanging off the tailgate.
Sold the VW and bought a brand new Ducato (highest and longest available).
Spent around 8 months converting it from scratch in the workshop after work and on weekends. Four bikes on a slide out tray (2 MTB, 2 Gravel) plus hose to wash the bikes/me. Tools, again on a slide out tray. 124 litres of water running off two systems. Fixed bed across the back (190x148... Fortunately I'm only 5'7",gives me a few inches to stretch). Diesel heater. No gas on board, instead we have a Wallas diesel cooker that doubles up as a heater. False floor with storage beneath. Cork floors (very 80s). Fixed seating with swivel table. Trockentrenntoilette... (No idea what it's called in English... Split dry toilet? Essentially two canisters, one for piss the other (bin lined) for poo, means there's no chemicals to deal with).
At some point I'll get round to adding some photos to the "Things you have made" thread, but I've been too busy.
Few photos of the van and our travels so far in insta....
Flat.Earth.Research.Project
....if you're at all interested.
Currently parked up next to the Loir River in France. It's quite nice, although if I had to complain I would say that the 4g is a bit patchy.
As for the OP's question.... I've no intention as yet to ship the van anywhere. Europe is massive, most of it I haven't yet seen and I have an EU passport that I intend to make the most of.
Mate of mine shipped his (German). Landcruiser over to Canada and drove the length of the Americas. It was an ex UN vehicle that was deployed to Africa. It ran on any old crappy diesel, had most of the electronics bypassed/removed and had extra fuel tanks in the front fenders.
He brought it back to Germany after leaving it sitting with a friend in Mexico for a few years. He said the most stressful part was bringing it back past the German customs.
Find the most popular van model in countries heading to and get that one, easier to fix locally. Lived worked and travelled out of a T4 Transporter but I don't mind being a dirt bagger dude!
I shipped a 4x4 from Aus to S Africa and spent 2 years driving to the UK a few years ago. Awesome experience and would recommend to anyone.
As said all the info you need is on the HUBB and plenty of knowledgeable people who will answer questions.
One advantage of buying in your home country is that you can take time to set the vehicle up how you want and find and sort any issues that come up over time doing some shorter trips. Also learn how to work on the vehicle and be able to do your own maintenance. Plenty of people buy overseas and have a great trip so there isn’t really one right answer.
Have fun dreaming!
Reasons I'm asking about shipping is you can't drive thru Central America (I keep hearing about the Darian Gap thru which no roads exist so vehicles have to be shipped anyway).
Also, I'm not a mechanic (or particularly mechanically inclined) so not sure how comfortable I'd be venturing off to remote parts in a newly bought (new or new-to-me) vehicle.
I'm 6'4" and getting on for 60 and this is something for my retirement so need a decent sized vehicle for sleeping. If I was shorter, younger and didn't have a bad back, I'd consider a Defender with roof tent but, realistically, such a set up would kill me...
Also, Defenders or similar aren't gonna be able to store an XL sized bike securely (i.e. inside)
Defender are great - we had a Howling Moon rooftent and awning on ours and I always slept really well. Just a bit slow and noisy on the tarmac bits.
We followed that with an ex Network Rail Transit welfare van that was better for motorway based journeys, we used it to cook and wash in but had a big tent that we used as a base.
Currently rebuilding a Volvo XC90 for a trip to Norway, Sweden and Finland. Removing all the rear seats, slide out fridge&cooker, sump/bashguards, HD suspension, Eberspacher, water tank, big roof rack and side awning. Either rooftent or rear sleep inside not sure yet.
This popped up today on my usual mail from Overland Journal.
Otto
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2014/newsspec_8703/index.html