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Is it hard to cross border in an old HMMWV from USA to Canada and back?

TOBASH

Father, Surgeon, Cantankerous Grouch
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1987 Slantback.

I read elsewhere that driving out of country can be an issue.

Anyone drive to and from Ontario or Quebec from New York in a HMMWV? How's about with pulling a M1102 trailer? Any issues?

I would like to use my rig as a truck to drag me from ski slope to slope.
 

eaw46

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If the truck is licenced to you and legal to drive on the road in NY then no trouble driving it in Canada. I think you will attract attention and more than likely get a fairly through customs exam. Make sure you declare everything. There can be some issues if the unit is armored or has a military radio in it as some of that is classified as restricted. Good luck and have fun.
I am a retired LEO and worked for Canadian Customs for 3 yrs after retired.
 

rtk

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Can you say secondary inspection !!!! as a FYI , custom people have NO sense of humor !!!! LOL also go online and check for prohibited items BEFORE you cross ! Also don't forget to check the wait times at your crossing , it could be long , sitting on the bridge for an hour is no fun . On a positive note , bring money and stop at the casino and leave some American dollars , brush up on the Loonies and Toonies !!!! And most of all check the weather , you will be in the land of 7 Ft. snowfalls , enjoy , stay safe , bob k
 

TOBASH

Father, Surgeon, Cantankerous Grouch
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I have a slantback with functioning turret, but will not be carrying any firearms or contraband!

I lived and worked as an American on work visa in Canada for well over a decade so customs and such is never an issue.

I don't smoke Maryjane so that should also not be an issue.

Me thinks I will get letters from Immigration and Customs Canada AND American Border Services ahead of time, and carry those letters while I travel.

Thanks guys!

T
 

doghead

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If you get jammed up at the Thousand Islands crossing, get ahold of me and I'll gladly let you use my car for a few days if I can use your Humvee.:naner:
 

m1010plowboy

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I have a slantback with functioning turret, but will not be carrying any firearms or contraband!

I lived and worked as an American on work visa in Canada for well over a decade so customs and such is never an issue.

I don't smoke Maryjane so that should also not be an issue.

Me thinks I will get letters from Immigration and Customs Canada AND American Border Services ahead of time, and carry those letters while I travel.

Thanks guys!

T
Make sure you update us on your experience and take names if you have anything but a great time crossing. Bring some of your favorite cab freshener because you could go home smelling like majahouchka. Scent masking is covered in CBSA training I'm sure https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html but since it's 'legal' up here across the entire country, you'll smell it just walking the dog. lol.

Radiation detectors picked up something from one of the M135's one time so they just search the truck to make sure there is nothing in it. I know of crossings with M135, M931, M923 and a ton of boys in LSVW's, Iltis, M1010, lots of green iron heading down to MVPA conventions and up for runs like the ALCAN highway run of 2012. I think DB, General Boots brought about 50 units up for the ALCAN run. One of the coolest guys I've ever met so we're happy the border team let him in, then out, then in and out one more time.

It's a new day and age so let us know how it goes. EAW46 and I carry a lot of weight up here. Been a while since I saw him last but I'd say about 500lbs between the two of us. Cool part is he's about 3 feet taller than I am so he can see the border first. Best of luck.
 

Karl kostman

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It was said earlier that Customs/Border crossing folks have NO sense of humor, I would say that is true for the most part! Get online and read up on this CROSSING make sure that all you paperwork is 100% ON and when all this is done I would call somebody with the border service and step through your crossing with them and write their name down in case you need to tell the border folks you talked with this individual to clarify your crossing prior to you being there! This is going to sound really odd but I am an American citizen and I think I get more grief coming back into my country than leaving it? Whats with that?
Good luck in theory you should be fine?
Karl
 

CMPPhil

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Sometimes crossing the boarder is just for fun

Hi -

My military vehicles are all Canadian built during WWII so a couple of years ago (2014) decided to cross the boarder just for the fun of it. Returning my 1942 3ton Radio truck to Canada after 72 years. No questions or hassle, drove out of the US to the Canadian Station, they checked all my documents passed me through. CMP enter Canada.png

Drove 100 feet and made a U turn and recrossed to the US side, where they in turn checked all my documents and passed me back into the US.
CMP Boarder.pngBoarder crossing.png

This was during one of our club convoy trips the original intent was to have driven the entire convoy across the boarder into Canada then to the next boarder crossing and return. But at that time you don't want to do that without a Pass Port, no problems entering Canada with just a drivers license, insurance, and registration the problem was returning to the US without a Pass Port. So only the people in the group with Pass Ports made the crossing. Bye the way we cross at the very norther tip of New Hampshire.

Cheer Phil
 

TOBASH

Father, Surgeon, Cantankerous Grouch
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Hi -

My military vehicles are all Canadian built during WWII so a couple of years ago (2014) decided to cross the boarder just for the fun of it. Returning my 1942 3ton Radio truck to Canada after 72 years. No questions or hassle, drove out of the US to the Canadian Station, they checked all my documents passed me through. View attachment 749134

Drove 100 feet and made a U turn and recrossed to the US side, where they in turn checked all my documents and passed me back into the US.
View attachment 749135View attachment 749133

This was during one of our club convoy trips the original intent was to have driven the entire convoy across the boarder into Canada then to the next boarder crossing and return. But at that time you don't want to do that without a Pass Port, no problems entering Canada with just a drivers license, insurance, and registration the problem was returning to the US without a Pass Port. So only the people in the group with Pass Ports made the crossing. Bye the way we cross at the very norther tip of New Hampshire.

Cheer Phil
Thanks, and beautiful pics of your old girl. Great condition!

Problem with HMMWV is it is still considered active service. Not sure if that changes things.
 

CMPPhil

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Temple, NH
Then it was more about the peoples documents

Hi Tobash

Yes I thought that our vehicle's are different when I posted, but part of my point not well made is that it seems to be that having all your documents in order before you cross over the boarder is important. The other truck that cross was loaded with military radio gear, my truck is a radio truck they, neither boarder station even looked inside. Part of this was pre-trip calling the boarder stations on both sides and told them what I wanted to do and asking them if they saw any problems. Then before I left the US I stopped and asked again if the was any problem taking military trucks across the line. Again they were concerned only about my documents.

Hope this help.

Cheers Phil
 

cattlerepairman

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I would really like to take my Deuce to an event in the US but I am very, very reluctant to take it out of my jurisdiction. It is not only crossing the border, it is also silly things such as IFTA yes/no and commercial vs. personal registration that may work ok in my area but can raise a very ugly side if made an issue somewhere far from home. Last thing I need is having my truck taken out of service by an eager beaver official, leaving me stranded.
 

Superdave

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I have been across the Border out here in the west with many different of my Military vehicles and many different crossings without any issues at all even Alaska. The only few times someone has been pulled into secondary in our group was for the older vehicles with the Radium in the gauges of the vehicle, radio or a compass and was just a quick check by the agents and then on the way. Vehicle Insured and Registered and you have a Valid passport no problem. A few years back we went down to the MVPA event in Portland Washington and the one member had a Volvo antitank vehicle with a Replica 90MM antitank gun on it and all the US customs officers said was COOL and every time we would go down to an event through the same crossing they would always as where that cool vehicle was with the gun on it :) Just my 2 Cents worth.
 
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