Crossing the border with your CTC

[Mike S]

Anyone have experience crossing the US-Canadian border in a "home made" camper? I'm just wondering if a make-shift cargo trailer conversion would raise any suspicion of doing something wrong. I'm considering a weekend excursion into BC this spring. We'll see how it goes I guess.

[MtnDon]

Going from US to Canada and back? I would not think there would be any problems. We crossed once with a genuine cargo trailer and they didn't even want to check what was inside.

Leave the firearms at home. Some types are legal to bring in as a visitor when you have the correct paperwork and pay the fees.. At least half of ours are not legal in Canada at all and it is sometimes easy to forget about one you keep hidden. They usually ask about DWI'S, but I have no real idea if they refuse you for that or not.

I've had more actual inspections of the vehicle when returning to the USA. The US won't even let you reimport an orange even if it has a US grown label on it.

[hankaye]

MikeS. Howdy;

If you are taking a pet, ensure you have the rabies CERTIFICATE (not just the tag), available for inspection
by US Customs, or fido/fluffy may become a Canadian Citizen. Got to have the paperwork!
Listen to the questions they ask you, I was asked if I owned any firearms once not if I had any, just another
reason to do a search...
OH, don't forget YOUR passport, can not re-enter the good old U.S. of A without it. You can use one of the wallet
sized ones unless you are flying.

hank

[Mike S]

Thanks for the responses. I've crossed the border many times and know the standard routine. My question was about crossing with my cargo trailer conversion. I'm just wondering if having a home-built looking unit, which is reconstructed on the inside, would raise any eyebrows. Good to know yours went through without question MtnDon. I'll let everyone know how it goes

[BERT]

Hey Mike, I cross the border into WA multiple times in the summer to camp along the coast. The questions I usually get are, "why do you need a trailer like that for camping?", and "what's inside?". I simply explain that I converted it into an RV and that it has beds, cupboards, and camping supplies inside. I always leave it unlocked as we cross so that Border Security can have a look if they wish without me having to fumble for keys. I haven't had any problems.

[Rod S]

I don't think you would have any trouble with just the cargo/camper issue. They have specific areas of interest and firearms are high on the list. I have only had limited experience crossing the border but can't say it was much fun. I went up on a archery bear hunt. Going up I declared I had a bow but they figured there had to be a sidearm with a bow I guess so they looked through everything. On my way I go with no problem but it took awhile. Then on my way back I declared a bear I had taken and it was about the same deal again. Everything checked OK but it took even longer this time going through game permits. I didn't have my cargo/camper when I took that hunt but I wouldn't think anything about pulling it up there today for camping. Even if I must look guilty to them.

[41willys]

Hi there, we have cross the boarder multiple times (Canadian going south) most of the time it has been no problem. I agree that be very alert of what they ask, sometimes they ask questions that have no bearing on anything !

As for firearms you would best to leave them at home, as any Canadian boarder guard would love to find an undeclared weapon. Our firearms Act is very restrictive and the RCMP love to make an example of any violations.

Our trailer has been searched a few times mostly just a time inconvenience which I'm ok with, you are entering a foreign country. But once our trailer looked like it had been literally turned upside down! Luckily we pulled over in Blane to get fuel and check the trailer, we spent a good 40 min replacing the food and stuff including the 1 lb propane bottles that we're rolling around the floor. But that was just one time in probably 30 trips.

The Boarder guards mostly check the floor thickness I'm guessing to see if it has a false floor. I use my trailer for hunting and have always wanted to insulate under the floor, but the fact they look there so often I'm reluctant to have it spray foamed

It would do good to review the Canadian and American restrictions regarding food, pets and plants prior to leaving.
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/inform ... 9648516990

Otherwise come up and enjoy our cheap buck!

[Gonefishin]

I've only crossed once, and the guard going into Canada wanted to look inside. Upon opening the door and going in, he said, "That's pretty cool for camping, eh!" He did a 20 second look around, pulled back the covers on the bed, opened the cooler, unzipped one of the cupboards, and asked the usual questions about guns, ammo, tobacco, etc. "That's a lot of fishin' poles, eh!"

Coming back into my own country for which my father, friends, and relatives have fought for, the customs agents are their usual @sshole selves. I've never met a US customs agent who could smile, crack a joke, laugh, or act like he's even human--on land or by air. Just pisses me off. And really pisses me off when I think I pay their salaries and benefits.

[Mike S]

Thanks for the responses all. Sounds like I don't have much to worry about.

[hankaye]

Gonefishin, Howdy;

I've only crossed once, and the guard going into Canada wanted to look inside. Upon opening the door and going in, he said, "That's pretty cool for camping, eh!" He did a 20 second look around, pulled back the covers on the bed, opened the cooler, unzipped one of the cupboards, and asked the usual questions about guns, ammo, tobacco, etc. "That's a lot of fishin' poles, eh!"

Coming back into my own country for which my father, friends, and relatives have fought for, the customs agents are their usual @sshole selves. I've never met a US customs agent who could smile, crack a joke, laugh, or act like he's even human--on land or by air. Just pisses me off. And really pisses me off when I think I pay their salaries and benefits.

Imagine having to Pay for that privilege ??? Yup, as a commercial driver we had to pay $5.00 (back at the turn of the Century), to get
back into the States. In addition to having all the proper paperwork, and a notarized birth certificate (just in case, pre 911).

hank