Where is the FMVSS or DOT sticker/placard located?

[traveller]

Baja faded FMSS label.docx

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Hey thank you. I have one of these on my door and it is completely faded down to illegibility and since it was such a poor label I didn't think it was the FMSS label, which on other manufacturer's vehicles is more robust. So the mystery is solved! But not the problem as I can't import it back into the US without that sticker being legible.

Apparently I can import the vehicle if I have the original Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. I don't have it so I'll ask the dealer in Barrington Illinois if he has it or if the previous owner has it.

Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated.

[Blue~Go]

I'm not with my Chinook at the moment - so that's why I was only able to look at previous photographs I had taken. Really wish I could take a look now though!

The FMVSS stickers I had photographs of from other-brand RV's I looked at were nicely robust. On the other hand, my previous camper van (not Chinook) had one that was basically about as good as an Avery paper label, and the typing wasn't even very legible because the spacing between lines was about "3/4 space" (so the lines of text overlapped). A recent version of the sticker was still the same, with the same type alignment problem (gee, could you fix your printer once every decade or so?). It was nothing like the quality of the Ford sticker, or the other brand placards I've seen.

I do have those paint code stickers on my Chinook (also done on what look like Avery labels) and they were still legible, but fading. I took photos of them for future reference.

Anyway, Traveller, what a bummer about the FMVSS sticker issue! When both the buyer and you want to buy/sell. I mean, we all basically know the Chinooks were built to standard (they certainly had plenty of years of practice), and maybe yours was even sold to a US owner originally (?), but bureaucracy can be hard to get past (even when it's for all the right reasons).

I've never bought a new RV, so not sure if they have MCO or not (Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin, IIRC). That might have been from Ford though on the incomplete vehicle. (A friend bought a new car a couple of years ago - bought in one state but to title in another state, and the "another state" needed the MCO, which came from the car manufacturer).

I'll have to see if I have one of the FMVSS on my rig, and if it's legible...

[bolerama]

Traveller,

What was the result? Did the Baja get through customs? I think I saw your ad on "usedvictoria" the week I started my search, and then it was sold within that week! It is the most gorgeous Chinook I've seen so far in my search. Too bad I missed out on that one.

Take care,

Lisa

[traveller]

It turns out you don't need the sticker to get through US customs as long as the vehicle was previously registered in the USA. That's a good thing as the relevant sticker is on the door and it was totally weathered down to illegibility. All we needed was the US bill of sale, which was provided to me by the RV lot near Chicago I bought it from. And yes the Baja was sold and got through customs easily, though we had to use Pacific Customs Brokers because they knew exactly how to get it through customs. I had a second buyer lined up and I probably would have had more but I found it difficult to advertise in the USA. We had it for about five years and somewhere along the line I discovered that many Bajas had been sold into BC (where I live) though I have never seen another one here. When I put mine up for sale I did notice some Bajas for sale online in the southern US, though over the years I've noticed that people do not take their ads down once they have sold and there are even some pranksters out there. Mine was unusual, yes, in that it was on the 450 chassis and had the Premier paint job.

[bolerama]

Thanks for the update, traveller! Did you actually drive it back from Chicago, or did you hire a transport company? The Canadian dollar is so bad right now, that I'm trying to limit my search to Canada, but there aren't many here. I'd prefer a post-2002 one with dual pane windows (spring comes late and fall comes early in SK), but I can only find those in the States. Sigh. My search continues . . .

Keep me in mind if you see a good one in your travels!

I hope you have another camping unit. Your part of the country has amazing places to camp.

Lisa

[traveller]

Sure we drove it back from Chicago. It was a great trip! - we did it in four days. It is extremely easy to drive on the highway. The space in the dual pane windows is very tiny and I wonder how effective the dual pane arrangement is. The Baja is not heavily insulated. If you want more info on the Baja let's find a way to communicate offline. I do have a lot to say. I'm not sure how to do that as I don't want to put my email address into a public forum like this.

[bolerama]

Traveller, I sent you a "Private Message" with my email address and phone number. I hope to hear from you about your experience with the Baja.

Lisa