E350 Econoline RV Project
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 69
From: New Zealand
I was really worried that I might have to convert it to RHD, and I did not want to do this, as the conversions I have seen are quite bad, and not helped by the fact that the entire drivetrain is offset to the right on the E series, meaning very little room for pedals on the RH side! Anyway, turns out I didn't have to, so crisis averted.
The reason I ask is that my wife & I intend going to the US soon, buying a camper for accommodation & transport while there, then shipping it back to NZ & selling it to offset the cost of the trip.
Was your camper GVM under 3500kg? Or is there an exemption for camper vans?
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2015
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I have not finished it yet! Cabinet maker took 8 months to do all of the cabinetry, and I have all of that stored in my garage now, as I am in the process of selling my house. So hope to get back into it later this year.
As far as registering it in NZ goes, that was completed some time ago, so it is WOF'd and registered now, and I have been driving it around a little bit, it makes a great tow vehicle with that big 460 V8! . Because the GVM was under 3500 kgs (just!) I could keep it as LHD. If it is over 3500, and pretty much anything you find will be, then you MUST convert it to RHD. And the E250/350/450 is not an easy vehicle to convert. The engine is offset to the right, so it leaves very little room for the pedals. It was never produced in RHD, so the dash must be custom built. I have seen several conversions ranging from average to very bad. And you will get charged a lot from a conversion outfit to do this. The other thing to consider is that it will be wired 110 volt, so that will need to be changed too. And the gas system will need work, as I think it will be propane, compared to our LPG.......
So you will need to spend $30-50K on it once it arrives back in NZ before you can register it here. Certainly the American campers are expensive here in comparison to the US, but some of this pricing takes into account the cost to get it made legal here.
As far as registering it in NZ goes, that was completed some time ago, so it is WOF'd and registered now, and I have been driving it around a little bit, it makes a great tow vehicle with that big 460 V8! . Because the GVM was under 3500 kgs (just!) I could keep it as LHD. If it is over 3500, and pretty much anything you find will be, then you MUST convert it to RHD. And the E250/350/450 is not an easy vehicle to convert. The engine is offset to the right, so it leaves very little room for the pedals. It was never produced in RHD, so the dash must be custom built. I have seen several conversions ranging from average to very bad. And you will get charged a lot from a conversion outfit to do this. The other thing to consider is that it will be wired 110 volt, so that will need to be changed too. And the gas system will need work, as I think it will be propane, compared to our LPG.......
So you will need to spend $30-50K on it once it arrives back in NZ before you can register it here. Certainly the American campers are expensive here in comparison to the US, but some of this pricing takes into account the cost to get it made legal here.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 69
From: New Zealand
Thanks for all the info & experiences, conrod; & my apologies for the delay in replying.
I've imported two pickups previously, but I didn't know for sure if the 3500 kg GVM rule applied to campers as well..........so that's good to have nailed down. We're prepared for the 110v/240v conversion cost.
Thanks again & good luck with your camper.
I've imported two pickups previously, but I didn't know for sure if the 3500 kg GVM rule applied to campers as well..........so that's good to have nailed down. We're prepared for the 110v/240v conversion cost.
Thanks again & good luck with your camper.
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