RVing

The following is a written version of "thinking out loud," if you will, in considering the RV option.


Lisa's RV want list, in order of importance

Stay below 80-85% of tow vehicle's GVWR, or 75-80% of hitch rating, whichever is lower, for best performance (our case: about 2500 lbs)
Toilet with black tank
Indoor shower with gray tank
Sink and freshwater tank
Queen bed 60" wide (full is 53")
Stove
3-way refrigerator (12V, 120V, LP) w/freezer compartment
Furnace
No need to convert bed into dinette every day
A/C or something innovative like ThinkGeek Desktop A/C
(depending on climates we stay in)
Screen room


Research by manufacturer

Casita - Insulation rating? Completely enclosed floor, around 13000 with options. Rice, TX
Scamp - R15 insulation in walls, dry 1750 lbs, antifreeze water lines?, around $13000 with options. Backus, MN
Shadow Cruiser -
Sun Valley - Several small models, X-Treme Lite has R7 insulation
Taylor Coach - Lower cost, all the amenities but still the most lightweight we've seen, all wood inside no particle board (wow!), R7 insulation upgradable to R12. Millgrove, ON


Airstream - Too expensive
Bigfoot - Too heavy
Burro - No cold weather features?, no longer in production?
Escape - Insulated, looks well-built, but wet weight is 2600-2800 lbs, and pricey at CAN$19200 w/shower
Fleetwood - Too heavy
Gulf Stream - Too heavy
Jayco - Too heavy
Keystone - Too heavy
Nash (Northwood Mfg) - Too heavy
Palomino - Too heavy
R-Vision (Trail-Lite) - Too heavy
Sunline Coach - Too heavy
T@b (Thor Industries) - No bathroom,lots of insulation?, heater not for use in weather below 40 degrees (yes, you read that right)
Trillium - No bathroom


Fiberglass trailers - Casita Trillium Scamp Escape Burro

Good information gathered from Lightweight RV News
and RV Towing Tips

Spouse Outside Canada - Notarized statements, photos, medical exam

To do:

• Go with at least 2 friends/relatives to a notary public, to make a notarized statement that our relationship is genuine and continuing
• Hit up other friends/relatives with an unnotarized statement to fill out and send back

Do the following while waiting for letters:

• Call photographers
• Get photos done*
  
• Make doctor appointment and bring:
  
  • Passport and photocopy of passport bio-data page
    
  • Eyeglasses
  • Previous medical reports - any documentation including physician's reports, treatment, prescriptions
  • Five recent photos taken within 6 months of exam
    
  • Completed Appendix D
    
  
  
• Make final copies of all forms and supporting documents
• Mail everything by certified mail with receipt

* Note: the only photographer I found that really seems to know what I'm talking about and can do the right size is Passport Photos Photo Center, 7961 Beverly Bl., Los Angeles (323) 653-6689, M-F 9:30-6:00p, Sat 9:30-12:30p, for $28.95. Just bring in the specifications, he said. I found them in the yellow pages under "passport & visa services"

Spouse Outside Canada - FBI & Police Clearance

1/25/07 Received FBI clearance - fi-nal-ly! Sheesh.

California LiveScan was received a couple days after it was done, FBI took 4 months. Took so darn long to get, I'm left wondering if we'll be asked to do the California one again. Grr.

My advice to anyone reading this: Get fingerprinted and send for your FBI clearance first. Then after about 14 weeks or so, send for your state police clearance. Depending on your state, you'll probably get them both around the same time.


Updated timeline:

09/29/06 - Got FBI and California DOJ fingerprints done
09/30/06 - Mailed paperwork to FBI and DOJ
10/03/06 - FBI received fingerprints
10/04/06 - Received DOJ clearance letter
01/25/06 - Received FBI clearance letter


Next: Photos and medical exam.

Transpo planning - RVing

• Check Canadian rules for importing a trailer
  
• Get truck's full trailering specs from truck dealer
• Make a list of trailers within specs
  
• Do web research, request brochures
• Truck dealer questions
  • Wheel base sufficient?
  • Suspension sufficient?
  • Effects of long-term towing on transmission?
  • Winterizing, i.e. antifreeze, tire chains/snow tires
    
• RV dealer questions
  
  • Tongue weight 10-12% of trailer weight?
    
  • Functionality of water system and tanks in the cold?
  • Insulation rating of roof, floor, walls?
  • Location of tanks, i.e. will they increase tongue weight?
  • Withstand full-timing?
  • 3-way refrigerator? (12V, 120V, LP)
  • Weight rating of bed(s)?
    

Health Coverage

Canada's universal health coverage doesn't start immediately in most provinces, even if you are already a permanent resident or citizen - any supplemental insurance you purchase during the time you aren't covered must be bought within 5 days of arriving in Ontario, or the insurance companies will not provide coverage for you.

• Paying for health insurance prior to health coverage eligibility
• Private health insurance for new immigrants
• Applying for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan
• Canadian Health Centres (CHCs) - Some of these offer health services to people who do not yet have their health card (OHIP).
  

I'm still researching this, but one source shows roughly $167/month for coverage for Nickie, supposing 1 year coverage, and if we chose to cover me, about $126/month for 3 months. My dad, should he come with, would pay about $277/month for 3 months (assuming he is allowed to retain his PR status). Any pre-existing conditions in the preceding 3 months would not be covered, nor would any treatments that could be safely performed in the U.S. if we were to return there. This looks like basic emergency-related coverage, so that if you have a medical emergency and are too sick to travel back to the U.S. for treatment, you can at least get enough treatment to get stabilized.

This is only one insurer, so more research to follow. Obviously, some comparison shopping is in order.

Transpo planning - example: Albany, NY

Flying
Flights start around $200 for two (about $20 more for Toronto)
Transit time: 6.5 - 8.5 hours
Shipping cost for cars?
Shipping cost for belongings?
Advantages: Fast, start working and settling right away, no motel expense, no concern about snow/accidents/car trouble
Disadvantages: Cars and most other belongings must be shipped which will be expensive

Train
Tickets start around $277 for two
Transit time: 58 hours
Shipping cost for cars?
Shipping cost for any remaining belongings?
Advantages: No motel expenses, allows more checked baggage and less shipping, no concern about snow/accidents/car trouble
Disadvantages: Could be working instead of traveling, sleep not very restful, cars must be shipped, may still have to ship some belongings

RVing
Advantages: Less hectic pace, work as we travel, no motels, no separating from cars or belongings, no expense for shipping cars or belongings
Disadvantages: Must purchase either small RV or camper shell and small trailer, gas expenses for each vehicle, possible snow/accidents/car trouble

Driving
Roughly 3090 mile drive
Rough guesstimate of gas expense, per car: $570
Transit time (minimum): 46.5 hours
Potential hotel cost: $240
Rental cost for hauling trailer?
Advantages: Possibly less hectic, no separating from cars or belongings, no expense for shipping cars or belongings
Disadvantages: Could be working instead of traveling, possible snow/accidents/car trouble, expense for rental trailer

* ** *** ** * ** *** ** *
Related Research

Driving
U.S. current snow cover
Google maps
Mapquest



Given our non-existent experience driving in the snow, we'll want to route around snowy areas as much as possible. It looks like the best way to get around it is basically take freeways 10, 20, 30 out to Fort Worth, then swing north on one of several routes northeast.

Tornado season is roughly March-August, peaking in April and May, and predominantly occurring along Tornado Alley – a flat stretch of land from west Texas to North Dakota. Texas is the hardest hit.

Auto Transport/Shipping
Car shipping tips

Costs vary widely, but just as an example I got some prices for shipping our cars from Los Angeles, CA to Albany, NY. Some of them have somewhat higher prices for trucks than cars. Range for the truck: $799 - 1592. Car: $649 - 1392.

Cold weather living, and settlement

For those of us who have lived most of their life in a place like Southern California, a place where "cold weather extremes" consist of 28-32F degrees and an occasional light hailstorm, we really need a primer on living in a colder climate. Here is some good info I've found on this:

Checklist and tips for safe winter driving
Winter safety
Winterizing your car
Driving in snow and ice
Cold weather tips - geared towards camping but still good info
How to dress for Ontario winters
How to survive a cold winter


Car tips from dad:
Block heater
Plenty of antifreeze
Emergency supplies
Lighter weight oil for easier starting
Pump brakes to avoid losing traction

General settlement information
Immigrating and bringing your belongings
Your first days in Ontario
Finding short-term accommodation in Ontario
Help finding work in Ontario
Ontario Immigration
Going to Canada

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Immigrating or settling in Canada
Moving back to Canada

Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC)
A newcomer's Introduction to Canada