Hey folks,
My conversion is ready to hit the road and I'm just sorting out licence and insurance stuff. (YAY!) I'm planning a trip from Ottawa to Boston and I'm wondering if anyone has tips or advice for crossing the border in a conversion.
My 9 only has one tiny window next to the driver and I'm trying to imagine myself squeezing passports through there. Has anyone delt with this? Do the officers ever get you to step out of your coach to get better access to you? I would almost rather get out but not if I'm going to cause some kind of national uproar :P
Thanks!
Every time we have crossed in an RV, they look at the passports and then have us pull over to an inspection area to make sure we are not carrying
certain vegetables, meats, etc. They usually look in the fridge and ask a few questions and then off you go.
I am guessing you have the small "toll window". No problem you can pass your paperwork through that.
HTH...Tim
Main thing is to not make any inappropriate wisecracks or give any info that wasn't asked for, or not give info that was asked for. They will know more about you than you do. We've crossed quite a few borders including in and out of Mexico and never had more than a minute stopped while passports are processed. Have fun!
Agree on the point of just answer the questions, do not add anything, smile and be a nice dummy, it worked for us when entering Canada in the MC7 converted to a livable shell back about 1993 (am guessing) prior to the passport requirement.
For sure do not try the gun toting.
Frankly, I am happy to stay within the USA, no need for those adventures any longer.
BTDT
Dave M
Usually there is an RV lane marked so go for that. Use the toll window to chat, don't get out unless told to. You may get directed to the commercial bus lane and have to go in the office, but that only happened to me once.
Brian
Don t hide stuff in your tires because they will look and then open them. And then you will need new tires. Lol
Dave5Cs from Galaxy S III
What they said. "Yes sir" "No sir" Don't try to establish a rapport because they are always playing you. Every crossing is different. Fortunately most are benign but they can go bad in either direction. I always prefer returning to my own country because - no matter what crap they may throw my way - they 100% HAVE to let me come home.
One tip we have found useful is to have some cheap carpet protectors available to roll out before we get to the border. They always wear great big combat boots and they stomp around on pavement before they enter your rig. In the winter or on a hot summer day they can make a hell of a mess when they come in and they simply don't care. Marilyn always makes a list of all the fresh produce on board before we get to the window. When they ask "have you anything to declare" I just start reading. Usually they stop me when they figure out how long the list is and ask "do you have any .... ?" If you don't do it that way and happen to miss something that they just put on the prohibited list yesterday then your day can turn bad very quickly. Over the years we have figured out that going into the US potatoes, onions and oranges are a problem. Coming back into Canada apples are the only consistent red flag. Cut flowers can send them right off the deep end so make sure you mention them as well. And plants (in soil) are a huge no-no at some crossings.
Ultimately it all comes down to what kind of a day the officer you get is having. If his wife yelled at him and his cat crapped in his slippers before he left the house then you will likely have a bad day too.
Every time we have crossed I have all my documents ready for them.Passports,drivers license,insurance,docs. for pets.They are usually so impressed we pass with little or no questions.
Have a good trip.Don
I just have a tough time being nice to some of the idiots, Canada was easier for us to get into than coming home to my own country I don't carry a passport to come and go to Mexico what the hell like Bob are they not going to let me back into my own country sure it ticks the agents off it ticks me off too when they ask me are you a American citizen and can barely speak English
Don't wear sunglasses, to include passengers.
Have your pets already on a leash or in a crate, in case they ask you to exit the coach.
Have all passengers in a seat, not in bed sleeping/resting.