| Author | Message | ||
     Sylvain Glückmann (Sylvain) New Member Username: Sylvain Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2004 |
Hello to you all, from Belgium... A friend of mine has specialized in Defender conversion, campers included (www.geoland.be). The other day, he got an email from the US, asking for info about importing one of these camper conversions. As this friend of mine doesn't speak english, I'm trying to find out wether there is a way of making a Defender based vehicle compliant for US road use, or not. Land Rover offices in Brussels is telling me they can't think of a way to do that, but then, they also admit they never put much reseach into that issue anyway. So please, if you have any info about this (regulation being different regarding campers?), let me know. PS: I hope inserting the URL for the website is not against posting rules. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 3066 Registered: 02-2002 |
Sylvain, Many folks here in the US would love to bring in a Defender. However, it's not legal, except for a few certain exceptions. If the Defender he built a conversion on happened to be a 1993 D110, then someone in the US could have it sent to a federal Registered Importer, who could legally document that they have modified it to meet EPA-DOT specs. However, newer D110s, or older ones, are not approved. 1994 through 1997 D90s would be eligible, though not yet petitioned. Older or newer D90s wouldn't work, either. D130s are specifically voided from being importable. Cost is prohibitive. The fee alone is ~$8k USD, plus parts and labor, on top of the vehicle purchase price. So, it's just much more economical to purchase a Rover that's already in the US. FWIW.... -L | ||
| John Cinquegrana (Johnc) Senior Member Username: Johnc Post Number: 603 Registered: 07-2002 |
Leslie, is it true that the D90s made for France meet US EPA-DOT specs? Just curious... | ||
| Sylvain Glückmann (Sylvain) New Member Username: Sylvain Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2004 |
Thank you for tour input. I've been doing some research since last night, and things look pretty grim... Next time you come to the old continent, you definitely should have e test drive in a MKII 110 with the Td5 engine, the new brakes, etc... It's just incredible. But hurry, for the european Commission is going to ban them (in their classic form) in a few years, I'm afraid. Thank you again for your posts. | ||
| Peter Carey (Peterca) Member Username: Peterca Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2003 |
On a side note, does anyone know the US regulations about short term us of a truck in the US? Looking at the NorthbyRover.com website, he met up with two couples with D110s and neither had the US spec roll cage or, as far as I can see, were licensed from any state. http://www.northbyrover.com/day_49_-_55__july_18_-_24.htm Under day4 Does anyone know how long you can have a truck here if you are a foreigner. Those campers look nice Sylvain. Kinda like what ECR does over here. But if you brought one in, to get it to spec as Leslie noted, you'd have to put some kind of roll cage on it....even if it got removed later. pwc | ||
| Nathan Hindman (Nathanh) Member Username: Nathanh Post Number: 141 Registered: 07-2002 |
Peter, IIRC, if you are a foreign national, you can bring in a non compliant vehicle which is legally registered in your home country on a one year exemption. However, at the end of that year, the vehicle must be exported and is not eligible for re-importation for another 6 months. More info can be found here: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/TempInfo.html Thanks, Nathan Hindman http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com | ||
| Alan Stuart (Alan_stuart) New Member Username: Alan_stuart Post Number: 14 Registered: 12-2003 |
" Looking at the NorthbyRover.com website, he met up with two couples with D110s and neither had the US spec roll cage or, as far as I can see, were licensed from any state" Both those 110s were registered in Switzerland and diven by Swiss Nationals who were both driving around the world. They did not know each other incidentally. Nice rigs though. Alan Stuart www.northbyrover.com | ||
| Peter Carey (Peterca) Member Username: Peterca Post Number: 57 Registered: 10-2003 |
Alan, That was my point and why I asked about regulations for foreigners and their trucks. I knew you could bring them in but didn't know for how long until Nathan pointed it out. It's funny that you met them both way the heck up in Alaska. Your trip and website have been a great tool for bringing my wife around to the idea of taking a similar trip up the Dempster Hwy or into Alaska next summer. I've been slowly gathering a list of question I'd like to throw by you about logistics when the time is a little closer. pwc | ||
| John Kruger (Johnnyk) Senior Member Username: Johnnyk Post Number: 306 Registered: 02-2002 |
You could always ship it to me as parts  John Kruger www.teampb.com | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 748 Registered: 07-2002 |
There is someone in Portland with a 2000-2002 110 2-door solid top with the Td5, nice truck, but people say the Td5 is no more powerful than the 300, but with more nasty electronics. | ||
| Nathan Hindman (Nathanh) Member Username: Nathanh Post Number: 143 Registered: 07-2002 |
Alan, Actually, I ran into Ester and Petr in Moab in September.... small world, eh. Those two have a serious auxilliary fuel tank on that rig... Nathan http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com | ||
| Alan Stuart (Alan_stuart) New Member Username: Alan_stuart Post Number: 15 Registered: 12-2003 |
Peter, Feel free to ask--anytime. I'm no expert, but I'll tell what worked and what didn't. Nathan, They said they spoke to you as well. They are now in Belize on their way to Guatemala www.estherundpetr.ch . In Alaska, we ran into all sorts of exotic expediton vehicles--mostly from Europe--that we can't get here. I think those who are taking a tour of North and South America inevitably drive through Alaska at some point on their journey. Regards, Alan |
