What pickup + camper to buy can you advise me for a travel through USA ( from France)

[bigbidule]

Hello.

I own a F250 trailer special 1977 with a camper shell Mountainer for travel ....in Europa.

I would like to visit usa in 2018 for few months. It's too expensive to import my vehicle by sea and a solution will be to buy an another one on the spot and back home with it at the end of the travel for import to France and resell it ( or not ) ....

But the laws in France force me to buy a year max 1988 ( 30 years in 2018) !!!

So, what combo ( Ford max 1988 + camper ) will be ok for this trip ( for 2 = it will be our first trip without children :wings: ) ??? And what about an average price ???

Thank you so much and sorry for my bad english:smilies27

 

[IdaSHO]

Honestly, if you are only going to be in the US for a few months to travel, I see no need to complicate things by purchasing anything at all.

There are many companies that rent RVs in various forms that I feel would suit your needs.

 

[red EOD veteran]

If you want to buy an older ford truck there are many available here in the US. Trucks from the southern states are usually in better condition (less rust). Price range for a well running truck will be from $1500-6000. They can be cheaper but will likely need repairs.

 

[UHAULER]

I would look into renting a small RV .
http://www.cruiseamerica.com/rent/our_vehicles/compact_rv.aspx

 

[Ghostyman]

Don't listen to the people who advise you to rent an RV.

Fly into California and buy there (or one of the other desert states). Don't take a chance on rust. You can get a decent truck for $2000-3000. Use Craigslist to find it.

 

[bigbidule]

I have a little problem with "normal" RV (cube)

I sold 2 months ago MY motorhome which was a Airtream Excella 280 / 454 !!!!

For 2 persons, I prefer a smaller vehicule ,4x4. And the gain in France can be attractive. A pickup + camper for 10000$ would be ok. Same in France ( for example a F150/250/350 eighties + camper Lance or Northstar 2011) is about 25/30000€ !

My F250/ 1977 is from california : rust free and here is my ex-airstream ( only 10 mohos in France )

 

[javajoe79]

I like your style! Personally I would look for a Chevy and a drop in camper. Or possibly a 4wd van that is set up to camp.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Don't listen to the people who advise you to rent an RV.

Fly into California and buy there (or one of the other desert states). Don't take a chance on rust. You can get a decent truck for $2000-3000. Use Craigslist to find it.

Substitute flying into Phoenix, Arizona, and I thought the exact same.

ETA: Heck, just 5 minutes narrowing search to Ford, 4WD, $4000 max price and I may just have to go down there. Sweet rig.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5853649551.html

 

[Ghostyman]

Also, in California, the market is great for buying 1976-88 trucks. Anything pre-1975 doesn't need a smog test so that jacks up the value. The general poor performance and gas mileage of the engines limits the prices of the late 70s and 80s trucks.

I'd get the truck and camper separately. If you use southern California as your market, you'll have tons of options within easy driving distance. That's the downside of buying in Arizona, NM, Utah, etc... very sparsely populated so you have to go long distances to look at vehicles.

As for price, I'd figure on spending 3-5k on the vehicle to get something nice. Another 1k for incidental repairs, maintenance, etc. Just a couple hundred bucks for a used camper. If you're trying to do it cheaply and weren't planning on shipping it back home at the end, you could probably make it happen with 3k total.

 

[bigbidule]

:clapsmile

 

[Mundo4x4Casa]

Bigbidule,
Focusing on your circumstances, I would ask about what part of the U.S. you are interested in visiting. My guess is the western half. If that is so, start looking on-line on Craigslist or other used vehicle sites and zero in on California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. Why those states? There are many, many used campers to chose from, and they have not lived in the Rust Belt. Some of those are both the truck and the truck camper as a unit. This is important because whatever you eventually purchase, a truck and camper as a unit requires no 'period of adjustment', assuming everything works. If you really want to return home with your 'find', I suggest getting a pop-up camper on a short bed, instead of a hard side. Pourquoi? It will deflate to a lower height and fit in a ocean going container more easily upon your return. At least that will be an option. It looks like you will be comfortable with 2 wheel drive, so it should be easier to find a match.
If you find a vehicle you really want, make arrangements to fly to that city (L.A.; Sacramento; Phoenix; Portland; Seattle) and go from there.
If you do come to California, be sure to stop by our Rancho on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada. You can stay overnight, hooked up and get the VIP tour of the area. Good luck with your search.
regards, jefe

 

[2025 deleted member]

Buying a older break down prone truck will just ruin the short time you have here to enjoy. Rent an RV like others have suggested.

 

[bigbidule]

Thanks to all of you for your advices... it is helping us for this project.