Buying trailer in the USA??

[STYKO]

Anyone ever buy a cargo trailer, uility trailer, etc... in the states? The prices sure look good....not sure if its worth it by the time you factor in gas and perhaps duty fees....

You can get a 6x12 cargo trailer for $1800, thats not fare...., 6x12 in Alberta is probably over $3300, WTF....

http://www.trailersplus.com/

 

[imdoo'n]

you'll pay gst, riv charge (maybe) turn it into a holiday, then gas and travel make sense. or rake your local dealer over the coals.
i say go for it although idaho falls is a bit of a drive.

 

[Oldtrick]

Have bought our last Cargo down, travel trailer and now 5th Wheel.
Easy dealing and the saving is incredible - over $25K on the 5th Wheel.
Don't hesitate

 

[STYKO]

Have bought our last Cargo down, travel trailer and now 5th Wheel.
Easy dealing and the saving is incredible - over $25K on the 5th Wheel.
Don't hesitate

How do you get the trailers across the border (paper work) etc.....also, if you go down to buy one, and your not sure which it is your going to buy until you get here, do you just throw on your trailer plate until you get back home, then register it??

Thanks

 

[eclipse1966]

How do you get the trailers across the border (paper work) etc.....also, if you go down to buy one, and your not sure which it is your going to buy until you get here, do you just throw on your trailer plate until you get back home, then register it??

Thanks

I have bought several things from the US including our recent 32 ft travel trailer a couple months ago. As a rule of thumb, you need to give the US border authorities 72 hrs notice prior to crossing by sending them a copy of the Certificate of Title by fax with a simple cover letter. Sometimes if they are in a good mood they will allow you to cross without this advance notice but you are taking a chance. Once you clear the US side then you move onto the Canadian border and declare your purchase with the paper from the US border, Title, Bill of Sale and they will give you a long form to fill out (Form 1). You will also pay the GST at the border. Once you get home you need to send Form 1 and payment of $195.00 plus GST (can be done on line/fax) to RIV Canada and they will send you back a confirmation letter stating you have been granted permission to import the trailer. This can take a few days. Once you get that letter from RIV you need to take that and your new trailer to Canadian Tire for inspection (no cost as RIV payment covers it). Canadian Tire will give you more papers and then you can go and register your trailer and insure it. Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[STYKO]

I have bought several things from the US including our recent 32 ft travel trailer a couple months ago. As a rule of thumb, you need to give the US border authorities 72 hrs notice prior to crossing by sending them a copy of the Certificate of Title by fax with a simple cover letter. Sometimes if they are in a good mood they will allow you to cross without this advance notice but you are taking a chance. Once you clear the US side then you move onto the Canadian border and declare your purchase with the paper from the US border, Title, Bill of Sale and they will give you a long form to fill out (Form 1). You will also pay the GST at the border. Once you get home you need to send Form 1 and payment of $195.00 plus GST (can be done on line/fax) to RIV Canada and they will send you back a confirmation letter stating you have been granted permission to import the trailer. This can take a few days. Once you get that letter from RIV you need to take that and your new trailer to Canadian Tire for inspection (no cost as RIV payment covers it). Canadian Tire will give you more papers and then you can go and register your trailer and insure it. Hope this helps and good luck!

thanks, thats a lot of work...yikes...but i guess is the savings in big why not.

 

[eclipse1966]

thanks, thats a lot of work...yikes...but i guess is the savings in big why not.

it is a bit of work but all in all it will take you about 2 hrs worth of work (aside from travel/looking for the right trailer) but you can save thousands. Where else do you get paid thousands for 2 hr worth of work? So well worth it IMO. 2 years ago I bought a bow rider boat and the same boat here was selling for $15,000 more than I bought it in the US.

 

[JaySimon]

it is a bit of work but all in all it will take you about 2 hrs worth of work (aside from travel/looking for the right trailer) but you can save thousands. Where else do you get paid thousands for 2 hr worth of work? So well worth it IMO. 2 years ago I bought a bow rider boat and the same boat here was selling for $15,000 more than I bought it in the US.

Is that 15k savings after all of the getting across the border costs and taxes?

 

[eclipse1966]

Is that 15k savings after all of the getting across the border costs and taxes?

yes. almost too good to be true. I also bought approx couple years ago a 2006 F350 with 6 inch lift, 20 inch tires and all the bells and whistles that comes with the Lariat and 76,000 km. After all the costs, transportation, taxes etc it came to $28,000. My friend bought at the same time a 2005 F350 stock and 165,000 km for $36,000 here in BC. He was looking for months and thought this was a great deal. Anyway, if you are patient there can be significant savings buying south of the border.

 

[JaySimon]

yes. almost too good to be true. I also bought approx couple years ago a 2006 F350 with 6 inch lift, 20 inch tires and all the bells and whistles that comes with the Lariat and 76,000 km. After all the costs, transportation, taxes etc it came to $28,000. My friend bought at the same time a 2005 F350 stock and 165,000 km for $36,000 here in BC. He was looking for months and thought this was a great deal. Anyway, if you are patient there can be significant savings buying south of the border.

Dang. 15k sure makes it hard to shop local.

 

[eclipse1966]

Dang. 15k sure makes it hard to shop local.

tell me about it! If the margin of savings would have been less then I would have bought here just because I like shopping locally but it is pretty hard to ignore the fact that 15 grand looks better in my bank than someone else.

 

[STYKO]

this is the same for lots of things, like beer and magazines, cars, why are they so much more here in Canada then USA, they use to say because of the low Canadian dollar, well fawk the dollar here is better or the same most days, i'll tell you why the prices are more, because the Canadian market can bare it, simple.......guess I answered my own question.....imo

 

[KawisakiRider]

I just bought a 35' travel trailer this spring and it super easy, the 72hr boarded thing only applies to motorized vehicals. Everything else eclipse said applies. I personally saved 18K over the cheapest one I could find in Canada of the same make and model. When I crossed the broader they never even looked at the trailer, I just had to fill out Form 1 and pay GST and I was on my way in 30min.
You can get insurance and a transportation permit good for thirty days, just need the form 2 to get it registered as a canadian trailer.

If you wait until the dollar goes above 1.05 than its like not paying GST, that's when I bought, just a little more savings.

 

[mach123]

Thats right 72 hrs is for motorized stuff not trailers. I am going down in september to get alum 28ft enclosed for 5grand less then here. So if anyone has anything for me to bring back,sleds,atv's and so on let me know for a small fee. They won't let you cross with a lift kit, it must be stock unless they did not notice. I bought a 2006 f350 4 door f350 lariat short box 83,000 miles in florida for $20,300 in june 08. Like they say there are great deals in us, you just need to be ready to buy when you find it. Good luck. IT is really easy to cross no pain in the azzzzz

 

[eclipse1966]

Thats right 72 hrs is for motorized stuff not trailers. I am going down in september to get alum 28ft enclosed for 5grand less then here. So if anyone has anything for me to bring back,sleds,atv's and so on let me know for a small fee. They won't let you cross with a lift kit, it must be stock unless they did not notice. I bought a 2006 f350 4 door f350 lariat short box 83,000 miles in florida for $20,300 in june 08. Like they say there are great deals in us, you just need to be ready to buy when you find it. Good luck. IT is really easy to cross no pain in the azzzzz

I took a chance and bought my F350 with 6 inch lift and 20 inch wheels and not a question was asked about it. I have heard of nightmares though with lift kits. I guess I was lucky.

 

[mach123]

Yes you were.