Topic: Auto transport advice, please

[TwoTired]

So, one of the toys I want to take with me in my move from ca to az, is my 37 Chevy coupe/ hot rod.  I haven't had the room to work on it in the last 30 years.  So, it doesn't run anymore and it has no brakes.  It does roll if the tires are aired up, I think.  But, there are lots of parts hanging in place with one finger tight bolt.

I do have a 16 foot enclosed trailer, I'm pretty sure it will just fit inside.  That was my initial plan for transport.  But, as the move drags on, having someone else transport the car is sounding mighty attractive.  But, I've never shipped a non-running car before.  Don't know if it is cost prohibitive.  Or any other limitations involved in the venture.

I figure some here has done this or has knowledge to share.  So, let loose the advice, or recommendations, please.  Help me make a good decision/choice.

Thanks!

[scottly]

When I moved here from CA, I built a flatbed trailer, and hauled a '65 Corvair, '61 VW bus, and a "finger tight" Cobra replica kit-car on it, one at a time, of course. If your toy will fit in the enclosed trailer, that's how I would do it. At least any parts that fall off will be contained.
Are there strong enough anchor points in the trailer to keep the car from shifting around as it bounces down the road? If the trailer has a wood floor, you might consider screwing blocks down behind, in front, and to the side of the tires for extra security.

[Terry in Australia]

Have you considered U Ship Lloyd? Cheers, Terry. https://www.uship.com/ship/vehicles

[Lostboy Steve]

Have you considered U Ship Lloyd? Cheers, Terry. https://www.uship.com/ship/vehicles

I've had really good experiences with that in the states.


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[Stev-o]

Have you considered U Ship Lloyd? Cheers, Terry. https://www.uship.com/ship/vehicles

I've had really good experiences with that in the states.

+1...I've shipped bikes and cars through them.   Last Oct, I helped my buddy purchase and ship a '68 Cutlass and '70 Corvette from CA to TX. Both came in a 40' enclosed trailer.

[TwoTired]

Have you considered U Ship Lloyd? Cheers, Terry. https://www.uship.com/ship/vehicles

No, I hadn't Terry.  Thanks for the link.  The pricing looks attractive.  About what it costs me in gas for round trip towing with the Excursion.  I wonder how they can make any money?

I think I'll get some bids.

Cheers,

[TwoTired]

Are there strong enough anchor points in the trailer to keep the car from shifting around as it bounces down the road? If the trailer has a wood floor, you might consider screwing blocks down behind, in front, and to the side of the tires for extra security.

My trailer is a 7000 gvwr with a 4890 load capacity.  It's a utility trailer class.
I installed e-track rails on the floor for tie downs.  Not certain of the load rating for that.  And, I don't know how to tie down the left front wheel, as dimensionally, the car 'just' fits in the trailer and my arms won't reach over there from the right side door.
I do like your idea of the wood blocks on the floor to coral the wheels.  That's a must do, I think.

Thanks,

[Lostboy Steve]

Have you considered U Ship Lloyd? Cheers, Terry. https://www.uship.com/ship/vehicles

No, I hadn't Terry.  Thanks for the link.  The pricing looks attractive.  About what it costs me in gas for round trip towing with the Excursion.  I wonder how they can make any money?

I think I'll get some bids.

Cheers,

With bids and lining up shipments all along the same route.


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[TwoTired]

Your enclosed trailer should be a tandem axle to load a car onto, TT.

It is a tandem axle trailer, and I installed a winch in it for pulling in motorcycles, loaded carts, the car etc. up the door ramp.

I also have access to an open trailer i could borrow.  I just am having issues about the now boring superslab route and losing two days for the activity.  All other considered routes add hours to the minimum 13 hr trip.  Which is now about 2 hrs more than I ought to be driving.

I am using the trailer to move myself from my home of 45 years.  I've made 6 trips already, and likely have 2 or 3 more and the car will add another.

Trying to trim some time and boredom from the move.  And the trips back ca are getting really dreadful.

Cheers Cal,

[scottly]

What route are you taking from home to Barstow?

[TwoTired]

What route are you taking from home to Barstow?

89 and I40

[scottly]

I mean from Milpitas to Barstow?

[grcamna2]

subscribed 

[GTBullitt68]

I've used U-Ship and shipped my 68 fastback using fedex. Both went smoothly.

[chewbacca5000]

Unless everything is really tight I would ship it yourself.  If you tighten thing up look at shipping it via rail or you ship.  In my area amtrack ships bikes and cars.  It is a lot easier imo than worrying about breaking your truck or the long slow drive from hauling a car.

My dad cooked his transmission on a long haul when we went caribou hunting 1,400 miles on an ice road hauling a large trailer and a bunch of caribou.

[carnivorous chicken]

Another voice for U-ship. I just shipped my '64 Plymouth for $350 from El Centro to Phoenix. If I had more time I could have let the auction drag out a little more and probably gotten an even better deal -- the longer it goes, the lower the bids, usually. U-ship prices are about half of standard shipping/towing and in this case about 2/3 of renting a Uhaul and trailer and doing it myself (and it obviously saved me 6-8 hours of driving and loading).

[TwoTired]

I mean from Milpitas to Barstow?

Oh, oops.  I'm already thinking Home is in AZ.

From Milpitas...
I 680 to US 101 to CA 152 to I 5 to CA 58 Wave at Barstow on the way to I 40.

I'm too scared to brave LA traffic in the daylight.  And that route adds another hour to the travel time.... at least, IF I Pick non peak traffic periods (which mostly excludes daylight)...

[scottly]

Instead of getting directly on 58 from I-5 and dealing with Bakersfield traffic, you might consider continuing south on I-5 to 223, through Arvin, to 58. After Arvin, it's a bit twisty up into the foothills, but there generally isn't much traffic, unless you get caught behind some old fart pulling a trailer.

[TwoTired]

That's funny.  I suggested that route to my navigator wife.  However, we also needed a tank fill up.  So, we steered into Bakersfield for the cheapest place to fill the 44 gallon tank.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[scottly]

I usually fill up at the Love's near the bottom of the Tehachapi grade on the Mojave side. Next pit-stop is the Love's where AZ 95 meets I-40. Never get gas in Needles, as it is much cheaper in AZ 20 miles away.

[TwoTired]

I hear you about Needles.  Barstow isn't much better for gas pricing, if at all.  If I get caught, I only get enough gas in those places to reach a better station.

Needles charges about a dollar more per gallon than the average.

Wife has an app on the phone that's been pretty accurate finding gas prices.

[scottly]

FWIW, it's 250 miles from the Love's near Tehachapi to the Love's @ 95.

[TwoTired]

FWIW, it's 250 miles from the Love's near Tehachapi to the Love's @ 95.

I used the two Loves stations you pointed out.  That worked out quite nicely.  Couldn't quite make it all the way back to Milpitas, though.  Had to fill up again in Gilroy.  The trip computer said I only had 2 miles margin to make it to last stop. 

Leads me to question if I can make it to Tehachapi when fully loaded.   Clearly the Ford uses more gas going up hills and with load.  Probably would use less gas if I limited to 55 mph.
But, 70 and 75 cuts down so much on travel time over 711 miles.  And still, more cars and trucks pass me more than I pass them, including the police.

Cheers,

[grcamna2]

I had 'No Problem'  keeping it under 60  when I drove my Volvo 240(2.3L 5 spd. standard) fully loaded pulling an overloaded 5x8' Uhaul trailer plus a tall rooftop carrier on the car up those mountains on Rte. 80W. through Wyoming in late April w/ those storms/winds blowing while I was heading West from Pittsburgh,PA. out here to Winters,CA. That little 4 cyl. engine is durable even if it does have only about 100 hp.  I think going 60mph w/ a large engine 'Heavy' vehicle will save you some fuel Lloyd 

[TwoTired]

The Ford Excursion gets about 10 - 11 mpg normally, not towing anything.
Towing, it gets around 8 mpg.  I haven't been patient enough to endure 55mph for long enough to establish a slower speed mpg.  But, I must admit admit to being skeptical regarding potential benefits.  The beast is built on a 3/4 ton truck chassis and has a V10 motor. 

I felt I needed it's 310 hp @ 4000 rpm to climb the grades from sea level to 5700 ft  twice during the 711 mile trip.

Towing with the old 72 Ford truck (360 big block V8), some of the grades had to be made at 35 mph.  The excursion hasn't dipped below 50 on any of those same hills.  It's a pretty good tow vehicle.