I just shipped 200 pounds of gear from Indiana to Alaska FedEx, business to business( cheapest way) for about $350 second day air. If you ship it USPS, it could likely go for about $100 in two boxes. That is the cheapest way I have found.
I am very familiar with the hardshell as I have a grand raid XXL on my conqueor conquest trailer. I have also had several more traditional RTTs. How much advantage do the gas strutts provide to the Vision?
The advantage of the struts is the ladder is not used to open the tent like on most RTTs so the struts open the tent half way for you where the ladder can't