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11-27-2014, 03:38 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2005 16' International CCD
2015 Interstate Coach
Bandon
, Oregon
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 103
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Sprinter avoid chicken tax
In case you didn't know:
Sprinters are built in Dusseldorf, Germany completely assembled and tested. They are then disassembled with workers stripping out drivetrains and fuel systems. Vehicle bodies are shipped on one ship, the other parts are shipped on a second ship. Once they arrive in Charleston they are trucked to Ladson, S.C. where they are reassembled with the drivetrains and fuel systems installed in the van they were originally taken from. Bolts and other hardware that should only be torqued once are replaced with new German parts. Each van is fully tested before being sent to a dealer or up fitter (such as Airstream). Total time to reassemble the van is about three to four hours.
Why? To avoid a 25 percent chicken tax.
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11-27-2014, 04:11 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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Interesting info - but what does "Chicken" tax mean?
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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11-27-2014, 04:25 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2013 Interstate Coach
Townsend
, Tennessee
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 749
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The "chicken tax" is basically the import tariff that would be imposed if the unit came fully assembled to the US. The reassembly in the US guarantees a percentage of"US" fabrication. Frankly, I view this as pure BS......but it's the way the law works.
One source indicated that not all Sprinters are disassembled...it depends upon the percentage of US work (cost) in the final product...apparently (or so the source said) the Airstream up-fitting cost is sufficient to allow the Sprinter to be shipped directly to Airstream without disassembly.....but this sounds like even more BS.....I guess I am getting more cynical as I get older......
__________________
FMCA # 436814
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11-27-2014, 04:51 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Before almost all Japanese vehicles were built in North America Japanese manufactures used to do this primarily with their pick up trucks to avoid high import duties.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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11-27-2014, 06:30 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2011 Interstate Coach
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,798
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Just another example of too much gov't.
__________________
Glass half full or half empty to an engineer is the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
2011 Interstate SOLD! Upfitted 2017 Transit 350. SOLD!
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11-27-2014, 06:37 PM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
2005 16' International CCD
2015 Interstate Coach
Bandon
, Oregon
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toskeysam
The "chicken tax" is basically the import tariff that would be imposed if the unit came fully assembled to the US. The reassembly in the US guarantees a percentage of"US" fabrication. Frankly, I view this as pure BS......but it's the way the law works.
One source indicated that not all Sprinters are disassembled...it depends upon the percentage of US work (cost) in the final product...apparently (or so the source said) the Airstream up-fitting cost is sufficient to allow the Sprinter to be shipped directly to Airstream without disassembly.....but this sounds like even more BS.....I guess I am getting more cynical as I get older......
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Actually the only u.s. supplied component in the sprinter van is the battery (batteries). As for shipping in cab and chassis vehicles for conversion into motor homes, not sure. But, the imputed value for a sprinter is about $35000 so a 25 percent tax would add more than 8 grand to the total.
Art
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11-27-2014, 06:46 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2011 Interstate Coach
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,798
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The dis-assembly and reassembly adds cost. If the tax was more reasonable, then the Sprinter would cost less and the gov't would get some dough out of the deal. The cost to the consumer could be the same as that's who pays all taxes anyway.
__________________
Glass half full or half empty to an engineer is the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
2011 Interstate SOLD! Upfitted 2017 Transit 350. SOLD!
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11-27-2014, 06:57 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Yup. For years Toyota pickup trucks were shipped without the bed and tailgate. Those parts were made in the USA and assembled in Fremont, CA. The color of those parts was not quite identical to the rest of the truck.
Now most Toyotas are actually assembled from parts in the US. My Camry was fully built in Tennessee.
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
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Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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11-27-2014, 07:10 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
2005 22' Interstate
Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 177
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The rest of the story:
The reason it is called "chicken tax" is that it was passed in retaliation for a tax that the Germans imposed in the early '60s on the import of American chickens, as a result of alleged dumping.
__________________
Formerly: 2005 Airstream Interstate (2500 T1N)
Now: 2014 Great West Vans Legend SE (3500 NCV3)
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11-27-2014, 08:18 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmkrum
Yup. For years Toyota pickup trucks were shipped without the bed and tailgate. Those parts were made in the USA and assembled in Fremont, CA. The color of those parts was not quite identical to the rest of the truck.
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
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Those boxes were rusting as they were installed.
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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11-27-2014, 09:08 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 73shark
Just another example of too much gov't.
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Or perhaps not enough of the right kind, looking out for the right people.
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11-27-2014, 09:40 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,883
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Sprinter avoid chicken tax
Airstream's Sprinters are not disassembled. They come in complete through Baltimore. Same for the Sprinter vans converted by Winnebago into ERAs. I got this info from a Mercedes executive at a Sprinter test event last year. I also understand Roadtrek also gets complete vans, but then they are in Canada. All three of these major B-van converters get vans with window cutouts, but no glass installed on the sides. They are shipped from Germany with a white shrink wrap material covering the side window openings.
__________________
- - Mike
--------------------------
2024 Airstream Interstate 19e AWD
Previous: 2013 Airstream Interstate 3500 Ext Lounge
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11-28-2014, 11:02 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
Mission Viejo
, California
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 90
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ag&au
or perhaps not enough of the right kind, looking out for the right people.
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+1 /\
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11-28-2014, 11:10 AM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
2005 16' International CCD
2015 Interstate Coach
Bandon
, Oregon
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxster1971
Airstream's Sprinters are not disassembled. They come in complete through Baltimore. Same for the Sprinter vans converted by Winnebago into ERAs. I got this info from a Mercedes executive at a Sprinter test event last year. I also understand Roadtrek also gets complete vans, but then they are in Canada. All three of these major B-van converters get vans with window cutouts, but no glass installed on the sides. They are shipped from Germany with a white shrink wrap material covering the side window openings.
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Thanks for the additional info. RU on the auto beat? FYI, I've spent decades as an auto writer, mag editor and analyst so you comment about the Mercedes exec got my attention.
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11-28-2014, 11:12 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Or perhaps not enough of the left kind, looking out for the left people.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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11-28-2014, 12:02 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,883
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rapa Nui
Thanks for the additional info. RU on the auto beat? FYI, I've spent decades as an auto writer, mag editor and analyst so you comment about the Mercedes exec got my attention.
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The auto beat is now my hobby as a retired engineer. The Sprinter Test Drive event was at the Redskins FedEx field in Maryland where I got a fun ride doing this.
__________________
- - Mike
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2024 Airstream Interstate 19e AWD
Previous: 2013 Airstream Interstate 3500 Ext Lounge
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11-28-2014, 03:26 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,883
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Here is a photo of the Sprinters sitting in Roadtrek's lot waiting to be converted. Notice the white covering over the side window openings.
Enjoy,
- - Mike
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11-28-2014, 03:37 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Is there anyone here who has done a comparison of Roadtrek and Interstate and would like to share their thoughts?
Ken
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11-28-2014, 09:23 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2011 Interstate Coach
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,798
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Bikerbill got an ETrek this summer. Said he'd report back.
__________________
Glass half full or half empty to an engineer is the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
2011 Interstate SOLD! Upfitted 2017 Transit 350. SOLD!
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11-29-2014, 08:04 AM
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#20
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1 Rivet Member
1994 19' "B" Van Airstream 190
Waynesfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 11
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Ford alternative to Sprinter
Has anyone heard if the new Ford Transit is going to be used as a cheaper alternative to the Sprinter? I see where Dodge has replaced Sprinter with some motorhome manufactures.
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