On Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 7:30:18 AM UTC-5, Jim Crawford wrote:
Allan, your post strikes a chord with a cunning plan I'm
developing for 2017 or 2018. Can you give me an idea of the
likely cost of buying a small camper van - I'm considering
shipping mine from the UK and, apart from the cost, I'm
uncertain as yet about the requirements regarding the
temporary importation of a foreign registered vehicle (emissions
and the like). Buying and selling may be an easier alternative. I
assume that shipping the glider to Oz was in a trailer and RORO
ferry? Any advice and costings for that would be appreciated.

Jim

At 00:34 27 December 2015, Allan J Barnes wrote:
I spent 6 months in 2013 touring the USA across spring,
summer and autumn.
=
My itinerary worked pretty well, although I bought the glider
and RV over
t=
here (FL) and shipped the glider back to Australia at the end of
the trip
(=
from CA).

The RV meant that my partner and I could combine the gliding
holiday with
a=
more ' normal' holiday, visit loads of National Parks and other
attraction=
s, as well as spending time at the best flying sites and timing it
with
com=
ps as well.

I started in April in FL, flying Seminole, then moved on up the
Appalachian=
s, flying Knoxville City TN and Mid Atlantic Soaring PA before
attending
th=
e first comp at Mifflin PA. Great ridge soaring. Then it was up
to Ionia
Mi=
chigan (in hindsight, the weather in this part of the US is too
unreliable
=
and I would happily exclude from a future itinerary). After that,
across
to=
Ephrata WA (would have been great to fly in Montana but time
did not
allow=
). Ephrata is a fabulous spot. Then down to Montague CA
(another fabulous
s=
ite, with Mt Shasta giving me my Diamond Height), and across
to Lake
Tahoe=
and Air Sailing NV. After that we headed east again to Ely NV
and Parowan
=
UT (both brilliant) before heading across to Uvalde TX for the
end of the
W=
orlds. Then west again to fly at Marfa (highly recommended)
before
finishin=
g off at Warner Springs gliderport prior to shipping the glider
home and
se=
lling the RV in September.

Overall a fabulous trip with a good mix of flying and
sightseeing. I would
=
focus on the west and mountains - the flying in the east is
much more
Europ=
ean and patchy. It would be a tough trip to do without support
- I don't
th=
ink I would be brave enough to attempt even with a
motorglider.

flOn Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 9:37:47 AM UTC+11,
Casey Cox wrote:
Yes most clubs only operate on the weekends. There are
many commercial
o=
perations that operated most days of the week. I think EU has
more clubs
a=
nd less commercial operations if that is correct? I also think
that
commer=
cial operations have more camping opportunities and/or a
room to rent.
=20
The SSA website has most all clubs and commercial
operations listed on
th=
is google map:
http://www.ssa.org/WhereToFlyMap.asp
=20
I have not been, but Carolina Soaring Association is a club in
Spartanbur=
g, SC and has a great winch I hear. I think some clubs in PA
have winches
=
as well. Many commercial sites have tow planes.
=20
The climate is varied in the US and soaring is better in
different parts
=
of the country at different times of the year. Well, some may
be good
almo=
st all the time, but I have not been all over neither. Florida is
good in
=
winter and early spring. Really hot during the rest of the year.
Seminole=
Lake Gliderport in Fl, is a commercial site and has some
accommodations,
p=
ool, and camping hook ups. You may consider renting an RV
which will give
=
you more options and a semi permanent residence.=20
=20
I live in Eastern NC where soaring is limited but I have a
spare room if
=
you would like to get out of the RV for a couple days, or you
are just
pass=
ing by on the way south.
=20
Anyway, I think I would start North around mid summer,
drive south to
Flo=
rida for mid winter, then head to west coast via south route
stopping in
TX=
, AZ, NV, CA by end of winter to early spring. Then head to
Washington
sta=
te for early summer, then head across the northern US
stopping in PA and
th=
en back to port of entry to ship glider back. That is just saying
1 yr
but=
you could stay longer is some places but the key would be to
miss the mid
=
summer in some places and mid winter in others.



In US motorhomes are very popular, much more popular than in Europe. A new "View" would cost about $100k but if you are willing to buy a 10 year old RV in excellent shape depending on size it would be between $20-40k. The 24 foot RV would be about $20-$25k and a 30 foot RV about 40k.

If you have time to shop you can come across an excellent deal. My best guess is that bringing a 25 foot motorhome on the RORO to US would cost around $2.5k one way, probably cheaper if you shop around, especially these days.

I do not think you will have a problem with EPA (emissions) but you will likely be required to post a bond. It is not uncommon to see European RVs on US campsites in Rocky Mountains so it is doable, but it requires careful consideration. You would be wise to contact a customs broker in US who could help you with paper work.

You also need to consider the fuel available in US. The octane rating is generally lower than in EU, the highest is 93. Our gasoline contains 10% of ethanol so you need to consider that as well. If you bring a diesel powered vehicle then you would be fine, but you need to avoid bio diesel, e.g. in Florida.

Finally, while you could find excellent motorhome deals you might also buy a problem. I only rented an RV once in my life and I found mold in the RV. I returned that RV next day and the following year I bought a brand new vehicle.

If I were you I would try to bring your own vehicle if the cost is reasonable. Nothing like sleeping in your own bed

Good luck. Andrzej