Buying Advice Buying from Europe

[WalkerKorby]

Hello all, new here, desperately trying to get a hold of a Goldoni Transcar, and it seems like the only ones I can find are all in Italy or the Netherlands. Has anyone had any experience with buying equipment from overseas? Is it a royal pain, or is it just intimidating? Is it going to add a couple thousand onto the whole project, or more? Any suggestion of carriers to look into?
Thank you,

Walker

 

[searcyfarms]

the only thing i have purchased are electronic components from japan from ebay..........no extra charges, i bought a german black forest cuckoo clock and i had to pay duty charges on it of around 20 bucks, the clock cost about 400 so that is about 5% - not sure what they charge on goldoni's

 

[3Ts]

That looks like a very interesting and useful vehicle. However, I have to ask how and where are you getting parts for maintenance?

As for importing it, there are import companies that can help you out. I know of one in Houston that I've used before for import, but I'm sure all the major ports have an importer.

 

[WalkerKorby]

That looks like a very interesting and useful vehicle. However, I have to ask how and where are you getting parts for maintenance?

As for importing it, there are import companies that can help you out. I know of one in Houston that I've used before for import, but I'm sure all the major ports have an importer.

Yes, amazingly useful for what I've been doing. I mostly do repair for OHV trails, which involves hauling lots of stone and gravel a good distance up some gnarly trails that only enduro bikes go on. Or else I'm building wheelchair accessible hiking trails that are 4-6 ft wide, 1/2" dense graded base surface, usually 50-60 tons of material in a half mile or more. This thing can haul 2.5-3 tons of stone at a time, and it's rare that I've found terrain I can't get over. The company I rent it from used to sell them, so they've got some connections and know all about them. Super fortunate, because they might have been the only dealer in the states for a while. They aren't tier 4 diesel, so they couldn't import them anymore, and won't let me buy the one I rent! I could have bought at least one by now...

 

[3Ts]

They aren't tier 4 diesel, so they couldn't import them anymore,

Yeah, that will be a problem. I was at the US Customs office registering some things I was taking with me on an overseas trip when a couple came in and wanted to get their vehicle (imported from Mexico) approved for use in the US. The customs agent required proof that it met all the current emission requirements in the US.

You may be able to buy/import the chassis without the engine and put on an engine that does meet the emissions, after it's in your possession. I think there's a thread where someone did that with a small excavator. It seemed to be a fair amount of work adapting things, but if that's the only way, then it'd be worthwhile.