bring truck or buy one there?

Kenny, We decided to ship a truck though our decision was based on getting a truck to fit our specific requirements. Also, we undercoated, overcoated, brush guard....everything we could do to protect from harsh elements....prior to shipping.
And, they will not allow you to fill back end or cab with anything.....stuff must be "affixed" to the truck. That's the "rule". I gotta say that we did hide some stainless steel screws behind the crew seat and we also sorta "affixed" a bed extender inside the truck bed but if they went by the "rules", we would have had to leave those things behind.

thanks barrier was just wanting to bring down my work truck filled with scaffloding and other stuff to prepare for building a new house i am planning on laying stone mixed with common brick on the exterior if all goes well i see you were having troubles with sliding doors is it the salt or another problem i see you also lived in fla. how does water island compare if everything works out we will be starting house in feb or march it will be between villa olga and hook line and sinker facing the water so i know the salt will tear up everything it possibly can so thanks for the imfo kenny

Kenny, absolutely you can ship the scaffolding and other stuff but it will be considered a "separate" shipment and charged accordingly.

Sliding glass doors have become a constant annoyance. Though, in defense of the sliders, the salty air, sand, dust, rust....elements...

RE: Comparison between barrier island in FL and Water Island - there is a world of differences between the two, though the barrier island did help get us ready for WI.
The harshness of the environment is similar. Salt sea air, sand, dust, sand spurs/cactus, arid, heat, humidity, potential and reality of significant weather events (hurricane, tropical storm, no-name events). Then, there's the inconvenience (you either learn to plan well or do without) of being "disconnected" from the mainland conveniences (grocery, gas). And, in FL as in USVI - good help is hard to find and even harder to get them to show up!
But, the most challenging difference: The USVI is NOT the US in so many ways. Just a few: Goods are more expensive. Some things you need for repair or replacement are unavailable locally. Roadblocks (human and material) are everywhere that impede progress and screw up job/project time frame. ah.....many more.