For SanNic44

[purestone2004]

Sorry to hear about your happy truck. We had a similar incident our last trip but luckily it was a rental and no fault of ours and no one was hurt. Two questions:

1. how did you get the truck there (i know by boat, you know what i mean) and how much did it cost if you don't mind me asking. We have an older jeep and have thought about moving it to our Aruba home instead of getting rid of it here.

2. will you be in Aruba doing any book signings between December 20-February 7, 2009? i am going to buy your book as soon as we get to Aruba and would love to have it signed.

Thanks, good luck with the truck repairs.

[SanNic44]

Purestone,

I shipped my truck via a freight company in Miami. I drove the truck there, left it with them, they put it in a container and then it arrives in Aruba. In Aruba, the company's local people bring it out of the port. Then you pay the duties and all to them, register it with the government and buy your insurance and you're on the road legally.

To ship my truck cost about $2,200.00 plus the duties which were 40% of the value of the truck. It was 40% because it is a 4 door vehicle. This was an absolute ton of money, but I have/had a lot of work for the truck and couldn't buy one like it here without paying even more. This one I owned outright, no payments, etc. so in the end it was cheaper. Plus, I knew the truck, as I was the one and only owner.

A jeep may be cheaper to ship because it is smaller, but I don't know for sure.

Hope this helps.

44

PS: Book signings will be happening in January-March, but only a few because of my next book which is coming out in May. And remember, the book is cheaper on Amazon and BN.com than here in Aruba because of import tax and shipping.

[purestone2004]

thanks that really helps give me an idea for shipping the truck. Like you said having a vehicle that you know the history and has been paid for helps. Of course on the other hand Calgary to Miami is a really long drive and the jeep would probably die on the way knowing our luck Thanks also on the advise for buying the book.

[danadog56]

SanNic, Sorry to hear about your truck...I have a Silverado myself and can feel your pain....
BTY, thanks for letting us know when your next book is coming out...May ??? May have to get it, read it and then bring it for a signing again !!!

[SanNic44]

Danadog,

Yeah, the truck is in sorry shape. Going tomorrow to the garage to see if it can be put back together again. Thing is, parts for that truck here are difficult. It's going to need an entire rear axel assembly, transfer case, and such which will fill a crate. So that has to come on a ship etc. Pain in the... and if the damage goes up through the transmission, they might as well consider it totaled because to fix it would be silly.

We'll see.

But if I can be fixed, we'll get it fixed.

44

[danadog56]

SanNic,
Oh man, I hope it all works out for you....especially after paying all that money to just get it to the island....
Just had a thought...We were at the Seaport Casino during our stay and never really paid any attention before ...because we always rent a Jeep or Tracker and since they are so small they are easy to manuver. I watched a guy trying to back a Escalade out of one of the parking spaces in front of the cinemas...had to back up 3x before he could squeeze out......How hard is it to manuver around town with the truck as big as it is ???? Especially with the way the locals drive????

[SanNic44]

Danadog,

Yeah, the truck was a little tricky around town, but I kept it on the wider roads. Took it directly through the port area, or back around Paradera and into the north end that way.

It'll work out. Just take some persuasion and sweat.

44