Mercedes 814DA 4x4 overland motorhome U.K.

[dzzz]

Mentioned in another thread, could be a good deal.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercedes-814DA-4x4-overland-motorhome-four-wheel-drive-/250643725326?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item3a5b87bc0e

 

[Lynn]

Mentioned in another thread, could be a good deal.

Not for us 'Mercans

manufactured in 1992

 

[dzzz]

Buying across the pond might be the most cost effective way for an americano to travel the world in a nice vehicle. South africa is probably a good place to buy too.
It would take some research, but it always does. No matter where one starts.

 

[Lynn]

Buying across the pond might be the most cost effective way for an americano to travel the world in a nice vehicle. South africa is probably a good place to buy too.
It would take some research, but it always does. No matter where one starts.

True.

Admittedly, I don't have first-hand experience with vehicle-dependent foreign travel, but I can't imagine trying to cross a border (one where they do more than just wave you through) with a vehicle title/registration that doesn't match the driver's passport. The only experience I have was driving my CJ-7 from Spain, through France, to Germany, but I had my US and international Drivers licenses, US title, US military license plates, and military travel orders. The only thing they didn't like was the 15 gallons of gas I was carrying in the back seat... "What, you think we don't have gas in France??"

I would like very much to understand how I could travel the world with a US passport, in a vehicle that does not have US registration/title/license plates.

Granted, you could (probably) title it in the UK on your tourist visa, but that registration (probably) expires when your visa expires or once you leave the UK, right?

 

[Christian P.]

True.

Admittedly, I don't have first-hand experience with vehicle-dependent foreign travel, but I can't imagine trying to cross a border (one where they do more than just wave you through) with a vehicle title that doesn't match the driver's passport. The only experience I have was driving my CJ-7 from Spain, through France, to Germany, but I had my US and international Drivers licenses, US title, US military license plates, and military travel orders. The only thing they didn't like was the 15 gallons of gas I was carrying in the back seat... "What, you think we don't have gas in France??"

I would like very much to understand how I could travel the world with a US passport, in a vehicle that does not have US registration/title/license plates.

Granted, you could (probably) title it in the UK on your tourist visa, but that registration (probably) expires when your visa expires or once you leave the UK, right?

Absolutely no problem. I bought my TroopCarrier in Australia and travel through 23 countries with it.

I had:

Title/Registration from Australia
Passport from Canada
Driver license from California
Insurance from Europe (or locally bought at the border)
Carnet de Passage from Canada

I met numerous travelers who bought in UK and register their vehicles there.
I even met people who were driving someone's else car. All they needed was a letter (notarized) to show that they were authorized to drive it.

 

[LC4Dakar]

What 2aroundtheworld said. All you need is a friend in the UK who will let you use their address. Have the seller fill out the V5 with your name and their address. We had no problems in Bulgaria, Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, or Mongolia with the US passport and the UK title.

 

[Lynn]

Absolutely no problem. I bought my TroopCarrier in Australia and travel through 23 countries with it.

I had:

Title/Registration from Australia
Passport from Canada
Driver license from California
Insurance from Europe (or locally bought at the border)
Carnet de Passage from Canada

I met numerous travelers who bought in UK and register their vehicles there.
I even met people who were driving someone's else car. All they needed was a letter (notarized) to show that they were authorized to drive it.

I stand corrected. That sounds really encouraging.

What 2aroundtheworld said. All you need is a friend in the UK who will let you use their address. Have the seller fill out the V5 with your name and their address. We had no problems in Bulgaria, Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, or Mongolia with the US passport and the UK title.

However, I have to say that using someone else's address doesn't really instill confidence in me.

 

[Christian P.]

However, I have to say that using someone else's address doesn't really instill confidence in me.

I don't want to sound like a smart a**, but if you are going to drive an Overland vehicle across the world, you are going to have to do a lot of things that don't really instill confidence...

 

[a.mus.ed]

Three boats, one truck. The math works, I don't know what you're worried about.

 

[a.mus.ed]

I do what I can.:elkgrin:

 

[Lynn]

I don't want to sound like a smart a**, but if you are going to drive an Overland vehicle across the world, you are going to have to do a lot of things that don't really instill confidence...

Getting wet, injured, or even dead doesn't worry me as much as getting thrown in a foreign jail until you can straighten out something of questionable legality.

One example is that rent-a-captain that spent several years in a Turkish prison, until he could prove he hadn't stolen the yacht he was hired to captain.

It's just the way I am, but I think keeping things straightforward and as far inside the legal boundaries as possible is the way to go. Falsifying an address isn't for me.

 

[LC4Dakar]

Then about your only choice is to spend the $2K (each way) to ship your US vehicle over and back.

 

[Martyn]

Getting wet, injured, or even dead doesn't worry me as much as getting thrown in a foreign jail until you can straighten out something of questionable legality.

One example is that rent-a-captain that spent several years in a Turkish prison, until he could prove he hadn't stolen the yacht he was hired to captain.

It's just the way I am, but I think keeping things straightforward and as far inside the legal boundaries as possible is the way to go. Falsifying an address isn't for me.

I've always found that jail time is a great way to learn the local language and customs. I've met some of the nicest people behind bars.