Making Unimog meet American DOT/EPA emissions regulations?

[Martyn]

Simon

Here is the NHTSA ruling on vehicles older than 25 years

8. Importing a vehicle that is at least 25 years old.

A motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old can be lawfully imported into the U.S. without regard to whether it complies with all applicable FMVSS. Such a vehicle would be entered under Box 1 on the HS-7 Declaration form to be given to Customs at the time of importation. If you wish to see that form, you may download a copy from our website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import. You should note that the 25 year period runs from the date of the vehicle's manufacture. If the date of manufacture is not identified on a label permanently affixed to the vehicle by its original manufacturer, to establish the age of the vehicle, you should have documentation available such as an invoice showing the date the vehicle was first sold or a registration document showing that the vehicle was registered at least 25 years ago. Absent such information, a statement from a recognized vehicle historical society identifying the age of the vehicle could be used. From http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/FAQ%20Site/pages/page2.html#Anchor-28852

That being the case all you have to deal with is State regulations on emissions as this is just a Federal waiver.

 

[Martyn]

Here are the EPA regulations:

1. Vehicles 21 Years Old Or Older

If the vehicle is at least 21 years old, there are no EPA compliance requirements upon importation. The age of the vehicle is determined by subtracting the calendar year of manufacture from the calendar year of importation. If the calendar year of manufacture is unavailable, the importer may substitute the model year or year of first registration. For instance, to qualify in 2001, the vehicle must have been manufactured in 1980 or earlier. The vehicle must be in its original unmodified configuration. Vehicles at least 21 years old with replacement engines are not eligible for this exemption unless they contain equivalent or newer EPA certified engines.

No approval or Customs bond is required by EPA. The importer must also prove to Customs, as required, that the vehicle or engine was manufactured prior to EPA regulation. Documents such as a title, or letter from the original manufacturer may be used for this purpose.The importer must file with Customs, upon entry, an EPA Form 3520-1 and declare code "E" on that form.

From http://www.epa.gov/oms/imports/quiktext.htm

 

[simon.winchester56]

Thanks for all the advice, sorry if I have confused anyone along the way, I clarify:

1) Ideally I would like a new Euro-spec U5000 in North America, but given the cost and hassel of a conversion, it is ruled out.

2) Importing an older model Unimog from Europe is a possibility, but it seems each individual state has emmissions regulations, so this is possibly the same problem as no 1?

3) 2nd hand U500 bought in the US. I have generally preferred U5000 to U500 for many reasons (let's not go into the 'why'), but as it would seem, the availability in the US is good, at good prices. Can anyone confirm the availability and costs?

Dzzz, thanks, yes I have seen both the U500 and U5000 here in the UK, there are huge I know!

Cheers,
SW

 

[dzzz]

I haven't seen a U500 sell in the last few months, but $70K to 80$ is a good price. $90-100K a dealer price. Many of the U500 in the U.S. (technically the modification is a U500NA) are highly optioned. Mine has just about everything, including vario-pilot, the automatic transmission, and all gears, 33,000 GVWR, espar heater, electric windshield, full lockers, and more. I've stretched mine 3' and it holds 200 gallons of diesel between the axles.
Almost all U.S. version are "high speed". I forget if that's 65mph or 70. I would rather take a U5000 on a trail ride. I would rather build a camper and live in/with a U500.
There's also the simple reality that even with U5000 no one is willing to take a $200,000 + truck camper where one would go with a $20,000 mog. Traditional "mogests" are big talkers about the U5000 but its not based on experience or the reality of a expensive vehicle.

 

[charlieaarons]

Simon, actually possibility #2 is "easy". The "bad" states are easy to identify: California, wisconsin and the 6-8 states in the northeast that follow California emissions. The rest of the states are OK.
dzzz, perfectly said. It irritates me no end to see people on Mog sites rambling on about they'd give a body part to own a U5000; but when a 4 year window of opportunity opened to buy a new U500 (and they are very impressive when you look at them in reality), these people were nowhere to be seen. If they had sold more, they might still be being sold.

Charlie

 

[dzzz]

I assume Canada has uniform DOT regulation? It seems to me that Canadians have more straight forward answers to regulation questions , but perhaps I view it as simple because it doesn't affect me.
If Canada relax import rules on 15 year old vehicles, those are basically older versions of modern vehicles. There are still plenty of 10-20 year old mogs touring the world. 25 years plus in the U.S. import rules is getting solidly into the antique class. I drive a 14 year old Ford expedition in the winter simply because I've never had a problem with it and have no reason to replace it. But there's is little chance that a high level of reliability will last to 25 years. It could be restored of course, but at that point it will no longer be a old version of newer vehicles. Repair parts will become less common.

A second question for choosing a vehicle to tour North America has to be "why a mog?". A camper on a full size american pickup has a long list of advantages. Related to this point is that a mog is a two person expedition camper. All kinds of ideas can be considered to make it a family camper. But in the end two people and a 15-19' camper is what can be done well on a U500. Less on other newer mogs. Someone with wife and two kids planning to buy a vehicle for touring North America should probably get a Sprinter-based camper and go have fun.

There are a lot of reasons there are maybe 100 fully outfitted unimog based campers in North America. Consider there are probably more than 100 pickup truck campers based in Jasper Wyoming.

 

[simon.winchester56]

Thanks dzzz,
I understand people may take the view there is little need for a unimog camper in North America, but my reasons are simply:
1. Greater off road capabilities,
2. Greater load capacity
With greater load capacity, you can take more supples and one can spend more time in the wild. For me, that is what I prefer - expended periods of time at a remote, difficult to reach camp.

Also, I don't plan to use it solely in North America, but central and SOuth America, as well as Africa and Asia. I only make the enquiry as I will be moving to North America, and it would not make sense still having a UK registered vehicle when I am living in a different country full time.

I know people have their opinions on Unimogs and whether they are needed in N.America, but for me, I'd like one.

I shall need to investigate the maximum sized body that can be put on a U500 without needing a chassis stretch (which is not at all preferable), and I would only need capacity for 2 people.

Thanks again.
SW

 

[haven]

Here's how to bring in your U5000.

Nonresidents visiting USA may import a vehicle that does not comply with our safety and emissions rules for a period of one year. The vehicle has to be registered in the country of origin while it's in USA. The vehicle has to be exported before the end of that year, or risk being seized and destroyed.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_trade/importing_car.xml#Exceptions

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/FAQ Site/pages/page2.html#Anchor-15-15421

http://www.epa.gov/oms/imports/quiktext.htm#temporary

 

[simon.winchester56]

Thanks,
I will trawl through these sites with a fine eye, though I plan to import permanently.

SW

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Simon, another wrinkle in the importation of a non NAS vehicle is that it needs to be on an approved list for importation. If the vehicle you want to bring in is not on the list then you need to get it added. More hoops and more money.

If I were trying to bring a Unimog that was fewer than 25 YO into the US, I'd attempt it with a U500 of the same years that MB brought them into the US. For the RI it is pretty cut and dry as to what needs to be changed for compliance purposes and it is clear to the Customs officer who is reviewing the request.

My $0.02

Jim

 

[dzzz]

Or he could just burn $40-50K in the fireplace before leaving home and buy a U500 in North America.
(I know you were just using the U500 as an example.)

 

[simon.winchester56]

:xxrotflma
I'm looking into U500s, and it is probably a wise idea, but sooner or later they will become more and more limited in the USA?

 

[dzzz]

The last U500 I saw sold was on eBay in June for $86000. Sometimes there seem to be several on the market, sometimes none. Since the economy improved this year there have been fewer available. The last quarter of last year there were several on the market and prices were somewhat depressed. There's a seasonal trend to availability and price that I expect to continue

A few have been re-exported to Europe, but I'm not sure how common that practice is. I believe 188 were sold here total. A few have been destroyed, some unknown number have been re-exported, and some are out traveling the world. (I believe Charlie is in OZ and pickup up his Unicat in the last day or two. His cabin is Unicat Europe but his truck is U500NA)

The numbers here are few but the U500 is a current truck supported by Mercedes, and the MB903 engine is made by Detroit Diesel. There are many certified mechanics in the U.S. for MB 900 series engines.

"Limited" is tough to define. The engine is common and a "million mile" design. The U500 is still in production so parts worldwide will be available for many years. In the future if the Unimog North America guys are no longer around the Unimog Germany guys are very helpful: In my dealing with Germany I received immediate detail responses in perfect written English. (Which is embarrassing as the questions were not in perfect english)

I'm not concerned with U500 support for the next ten years. Trying to set expectations beyond ten years would not be meaningful. If you get to the point of shopping for a U500 here I can give you some resources. Many of the U500s are know, and the few with problems can usually be identified. There's even one I was offered that I'm pretty sure was essentially stolen out of the Wall Street meltdown from a few years ago.

Most of the U500NA's are low mileage and highly optioned compared to the trucks in the U.K. and Europe. If your considering a unicat type build Michael at GVX is the obvious choice. There was another guy building at that level on Fuso, but he is no longer in the expo camper business. Earthroamer is definitely in that league quality wise, with the business caveats already mentioned.

There aren't many high-end choices in the U.S. But the few available are good.

 

[Hafwit]

If you ever wanted to live in California and register such a vehicle here, the additional requirement would be a need to pass smog testing on any vehicle newer than 1975. Diesels have been exempted, but I believe they are trying to put some limits on them as well. Furthermore you need to have a commercial drivers' license if the weight is above a certain limit and/or it has air brakes. If it is registered as a motor home, some of those requirements might be different. If it was a fire truck in Europe, you may also be able to bypass some importation regulations.

Cheers,
Greg

 

[burquedoka]

Simon, FYI, Michael Carradine (the moderator of the UNIMOG Exchange is selling a very nice U500 as we speak. #114 on the list.
http://www.unimog.net/exchange/