2 years visiting the states should buy new or used?

[Malain]

Micheline and l are french and planning a 2 years full RV life journey to visit the States, Canada and Mexico. We are lost ! So many RV companies... We don't know what is the best for us. We need room for 4 to 5 sleepers. But most of the time we will be traveling only Micheline *and I.

We think: a used class A diesel pusher could be the convenient *RV for us with a maximum cost of 250000$ or less!!!

As an example we are looking for that kind of floorplan;*Floor Plans | Tuscany Luxury Diesel Motorhomes.

On the other hand when we land in the States beginning next year, we don't want more than a few weeks to take our final purchasing decision.

Where to find a very GOOD used 40'-42' Winnebago with less than 15.000miles?

thanks for your help.
Alain

[homeless]

Try Crags List

[jondrew]

Will you have a home base? Where will you be entering the U.S.? Do you have friends here? You should have no trouble buying an RV in a week or two but you might need to go through a dealer. Craigslist and retrader.com are good sources but you need to beware of getting scammed.

you should be able to find what you're looking for at the price you've stated. Look on Craigslist and RV Trader frequently.

[Tony Lee]

Be aware that not all states allow us aliens to register and insure vehicles just the same as is the case in most EU countries.

We use a Montana LLC to own two RVs and Montana has other advantages as well such as zero sales tax and no annual inspections. Everything can be done on-line. We bought vehicles more than ten years old and got permanent license plate tags so that reduced annual hassles to close to zero.

Have you looked into requirements for visas. We have a 10-year B1/B2 visa and that allows us to spend periods of 6 months at a time in the US, but note that crossing into Canada or Mexico DOES NOT necessarily reset the counter. You have to travel to a non-contiguous country to do that.

If you buy brand new you WILL take a big hit because of huge depreciation when you sell it and you MAY end up having your expensive new toy sitting in the dealers workshop for more time than you have it on the road.

You could spend $50,000 on a perfectly good older RV with low mileage and save the rest of the $250,000 for something else. We paid $40,000 for ours and 6 years later after more than two years on the road, the only significant problem we had was a leaking water pump which we fixed on the side of the road in Mexico.

[Malain]

Thank you will follow you!

[Malain]

Originally Posted by jondrew

Will you have a home base? Where will you be entering the U.S.? Do you have friends here? You should have no trouble buying an RV in a week or two but you might need to go through a dealer. Craigslist and retrader.com are good sources but you need to beware of getting scammed.

you should be able to find what you're looking for at the price you've stated. Look on Craigslist and RV Trader frequently.

Thanks for your message, my sister is leaving in Washington DC this will be our permanent address

[Malain]

Originally Posted by Tony Lee

Be aware that not all states allow us aliens to register and insure vehicles just the same as is the case in most EU countries.

We use a Montana LLC to own two RVs and Montana has other advantages as well such as zero sales tax and no annual inspections. Everything can be done on-line. We bought vehicles more than ten years old and got permanent license plate tags so that reduced annual hassles to close to zero.

Have you looked into requirements for visas. We have a 10-year B1/B2 visa and that allows us to spend periods of 6 months at a time in the US, but note that crossing into Canada or Mexico DOES NOT necessarily reset the counter. You have to travel to a non-contiguous country to do that.

If you buy brand new you WILL take a big hit because of huge depreciation when you sell it and you MAY end up having your expensive new toy sitting in the dealers workshop for more time than you have it on the road.

You could spend $50,000 on a perfectly good older RV with low mileage and save the rest of the $250,000 for something else. We paid $40,000 for ours and 6 years later after more than two years on the road, the only significant problem we had was a leaking water pump which we fixed on the side of the road in Mexico.

Thank you very much for all your advices
Will have a permanent address in Washington DC where leave my sister. will try to get a B2 6 months visa renewable once anyway we need to fly back to France 2 times per year. I am afraid about the huge quantity of class A MH on sale in the States? Is so difficult to sale such a vehicule? What is a MONTANA LLC?

[Sue46]

Why can't you just fly to Bermuda instead of France to renew?

I would go through a reliable dealer. Many dealers have been mentioned here. If you are flying into DC we have been very happy with Cheasapeake RV Solutions in Cheasapeake, VA. About 3 hours from DC. Check his website out. He takes consignments but is fussy which ones he takes.

[Sue46]

In looking for an Rv try this site, Escapees.com and RVforums.com These are individuals selling their rigs. Most are very experieced rvers and have maintained their rigs.

[Malain]

Originally Posted by Sue46

Why can't you just fly to Bermuda instead of France to renew?

I would go through a reliable dealer. Many dealers have been mentioned here. If you are flying into DC we have been very happy with Cheasapeake RV Solutions in Cheasapeake, VA. About 3 hours from DC. Check his website out. He takes consignments but is fussy which ones he takes.

Thanks for your advice, we have to fly to France to see our family! Will check Cheasapeake RV Solutions.

[Malain]

Originally Posted by Sue46

In looking for an Rv try this site, Escapees.com and RVforums.com These are individuals selling their rigs. Most are very experieced rvers and have maintained their rigs.

Thanks will try Escapees.com and RVForums. Com

[HHIDan]

If you came to Canada first, you could buy thru a dealer in Quebec. Daniel Emond is the owner of Vr Emond Plus (Véhicules récréatifs) and where I bought my coach, he now only does consignment which would work for you.

[450Donn]

Met a German couple three years ago doing just that. They bought and paid for a truck and fifth wheel in South Dakota, flew in picked it up and took off. They had prearranged with the dealer to sell it for them when they were done.

[Timon]

Shouldn't be a problem with licensing and insurance if you have the right Visas for the time you'll be here. Once you have that you can register in any state but the easiest are TX, FL and SD. You can have a foreign license and a U.S. License at the same time. Just pack your foreign license away once you get your U.S. one since you won't need it.

[jacmat]

Originally Posted by Malain

What is a MONTANA LLC?

LLC stands for Limited Liability Corporation.

In Montana you can have an LLC which will be the owner of the MH, and you will be the owner of the LLC. By doing so you will save a bundle on sales tax which could be quite expensive on a $250,000 mh.

If you do a search on internet, asking for: Montana LLC you will find several companies, lawyers or accountants that offer services to form a Montana LLC. Costs to do so are let say between $500 to a couple of thousand.
Once you have your LLC you can register your newly acquired mh in Montana and avoid paying taxes. Registration fees are inexpensive in Montana. You can also use the company that formed the LLC to complete the yearly report that has to be filed for a small fee.

[Malain]

Originally Posted by HHIDan

If you came to Canada first, you could buy thru a dealer in Quebec. Daniel Emond is the owner of Vr Emond Plus (Véhicules récréatifs) and where I bought my coach, he now only does consignment which would work for you.

Thanks but we should land in Washington DC where my sister is living !

[Malain]

Originally Posted by Timon

Shouldn't be a problem with licensing and insurance if you have the right Visas for the time you'll be here. Once you have that you can register in any state but the easiest are TX, FL and SD. You can have a foreign license and a U.S. License at the same time. Just pack your foreign license away once you get your U.S. one since you won't need it.

Thanks for your advice we have an international driver licence may we drive a Class A 40' diesel pusher?

[Malain]

Originally Posted by jacmat

LLC stands for Limited Liability Corporation.

In Montana you can have an LLC which will be the owner of the MH, and you will be the owner of the LLC. By doing so you will save a bundle on sales tax which could be quite expensive on a $250,000 mh.

If you do a search on internet, asking for: Montana LLC you will find several companies, lawyers or accountants that offer services to form a Montana LLC. Costs to do so are let say between $500 to a couple of thousand.
Once you have your LLC you can register your newly acquired mh in Montana and avoid paying taxes. Registration fees are inexpensive in Montana. You can also use the company that formed the LLC to complete the yearly report that has to be filed for a small fee.

I see...Thank you for this valuable information

[Timon]

Originally Posted by Malain

Thanks for your advice we have an international driver licence may we drive a Class A 40' diesel pusher?

If you're allowed to drive one at home then you should be allowed here.

[Tony Lee]

Originally Posted by Malain

Thank you very much for all your advices
Will have a permanent address in Washington DC where leave my sister. will try to get a B2 6 months visa renewable once anyway we need to fly back to France 2 times per year. I am afraid about the huge quantity of class A MH on sale in the States? Is so difficult to sale such a vehicule? What is a MONTANA LLC?

B1/B2 visa is usually given for 5 or 10 years. If you fly back home, then that would reset the counter and you should be able to return for another 6 months. That visa is only granted after personal interview in your home country.