1994 Mercedes-Benz 814D/3700
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mhiscox
Expedition Leader
That was very modest post for what is maybe one of the most famous overlanders in the world.
This truck is either:
A) John Speed's Mercedes, the construction of which is the essence of the book Travel Vans, or
B) Another truck which someone is selling using with pictures all taken from Travel Vans.
Option A seems most likely. And I want to buy this truck, since Travel Vans was, and is, THE single most important resource in designing all of my campers. It's pretty much the ideal size, shape and platform, to my mind. Sadly, though, I don't see how that'll work, since it's a 1994, which suggests that it'll be 2019 before the truck is 25 years old and can be permanently in the U.S.
Canadians . . . I commend this to your attention.
That was very modest post for what is maybe one of the most famous overlanders in the world.
This truck is either:
A) John Speed's Mercedes, the construction of which is the essence of the book Travel Vans, or
B) Another truck which someone is selling using with pictures all taken from Travel Vans.
Option A seems most likely. And I want to buy this truck, since Travel Vans was, and is, THE single most important resource in designing all of my campers. It's pretty much the ideal size, shape and platform, to my mind. Sadly, though, I don't see how that'll work, since it's a 1994, which suggests that it'll be 2019 before the truck is 25 years old and can be permanently in the U.S.
Canadians . . . I commend this to your attention.
Awesome van, but totally bizarre.... Today I was just reading your post on a similar Mercedes project van for sale and you offered a copy of the book about this actual van! Lol. Wish I could buy it.... Too soon for me but would be perfect to start in US and head to Europe, etc. just a year too soon.
pattersonimages
Adventurer
wow. WANT...
Rovertrader
Supporting Sponsor
Depending on the state and their statutes, it may qualify as an RV title/registration- worth a shot?!
docmaas
Adventurer
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
The principal issue is not with the state titling and registration, it's with the federal government, in the form of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcing regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. With rather few exceptions, most all of them temporary, a vehicle that was not approved for importation by the manufacturer cannot be imported until it is 25 years old. (In Canada, the time limit is 15 years.)
There can be subsequent issues (including addition regulations from the California Air Resources Board), but the first thing most DMVs will want to see before they issue the vehicle's first U.S.-state title document is the clearance from Customs and Border Protection. And even if the vehicle were to somehow manage to get licensed, if CBP finds a vehicle in the country that it did not clear, they can, and will, require it to be exported or destroyed. (And that's happened.)
There are exemptions for non-residents, tourists, military and diplomatic personnel and so on, and there are special procedures for getting a Canadian vehicle that is substantially similar to the U.S. version into the country. In general, though, when you see a cool foreign-registered European, Asian, Australian, etc. vehicle running around the U.S., it's visiting and will have to be out of the country within a year.
Which, since I would have liked to buy this particular truck, makes me sad. But the rules pretty much boil down to this: 25 years old or older = relatively easy; less than 25 years old = nearly impossible.
FWIW: The necessary information is all over the web, including here: http://www.epa.gov/oms/imports/
modernbeat
Jason McDaniel
While I agree with Mike, I think the rules we all know and play by are focused on cars and light trucks. Medium duty trucks MAY have a different set of requirements for importation.
Let's find out more.
Since the truck is listed here in Reno, I'll contact the owner and go look at it. I am interested to see if it was registered in Nevada or if not what are the restrictions currently imposed on the vehicle. I have owned grey market vehicles and taken them thru the DOT/EPA certification process but I can only imagine what I would have to do within that realm.
Tad
Since the truck is listed here in Reno, I'll contact the owner and go look at it. I am interested to see if it was registered in Nevada or if not what are the restrictions currently imposed on the vehicle. I have owned grey market vehicles and taken them thru the DOT/EPA certification process but I can only imagine what I would have to do within that realm.
Tad
mhiscox
Expedition Leader
Thanks very much, Tad. I appreciate it a lot, and I'm sure others will, too. This is one of the most famous overlanders ever, and it'll be great to have a report. :clapsmile
Just an FYI in discussion with several registered importers in California they say the vehicle will have to wait 6 more years. Now that was based strictly on verbal 3-5 minute discussions and no effort to research DOT records regarding medium duty trucks etc. I suspect though, the pros know the regs and if it were possible they would have been soliciting me for their assistance. As it were, they dropped the call quickly saying "too bad".
Tad
Tad