Re: Re: Midwest DML BBQ Convoy

From: Jason Bleazard (dml@bleazard.net)
Date: Tue Jun 01 2004 - 13:22:13 EDT


Josh Battles said:
>
> You might want to shoot off an email to both US and Canada customs
> department to find out what's entailed with bringing a trailer across
> country lines.

We've done this a couple of times, and it's usually no big deal. The
bridge tolls will be higher, as with any toll road. You'll want to make
sure you have it licensed, insured (check with your insurance company to
make sure you're covered for liability if towing a trailer through
Ontario), all the safety chains hooked up, and everything like that.
Chances are, they WILL take at least a quick look at it, so I wouldn't
recommend having anything there that might attract undue attention. As
long as they see an upstanding law-abiding citizen when they look at you,
you'll be fine.

In my experience, there are three main things they're usually concerned
about at border crossings:

1. Customs (taxes, registration, etc.) Make sure all this stuff is up to
date, and have the paperwork to prove it. Both the trailer and the
vehicle sitting on it.

2. Immigration. As long as you're not transporting a trailer full of
illegal immigrants you're fine... I actually had one of them ask me this
very question last year.

3. Road safety. It probably wouldn't hurt to check out the trailer towing
regulations for Ontario as well as any states you'll be going through.
Sometimes the laws about things like trailer brakes or weight distribution
equipment aren't the same from state to state. Most of the time they
won't notice, but while you're sitting at the border crossing it gives
them time to check out your rig and make sure they like what they see. I
believe these guys have the power to impound vehicles on the spot if they
think they present a safety hazard. Even if I'm wrong on that point, they
DO have the power to totally disassemble your vehicle without probable
cause just because they feel like it. So, I wouldn't recommend having
loose parts hanging off the vehicle in tow that could fall off during
transport or anything like that. Not to imply that you would ever have
anything in that condition... :-)

I have lots of RV sites bookmarked at home. I seem to remember seeing
something somewhere about the trailer towing laws through various states
and provinces. I'll take a look and see if I can dig anything up for you.

-- 
Jason Bleazard  http://www.bleazard.net  Burlington, Ontario
his:  '95 Dakota Sport 4x4, 3.9 V6, 5spd, Reg. Cab, white
hers: '01 Dakota Sport 4x4, 4.7 V8, Auto, Quad Cab, black



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