Picking up my kit

[Slord]

Hi all: Well the time has come. Got my Transport Canada paperwork and the kit is ready for pick up.
I was(am) hoping to rent a truck and go pick it up but when I phoned Budget they said they did not let their trucks leave the province. The Uhaul site made it sound like I will be paying 69cents/km for the 2000 km trip (yikes!)

So who do I rent from?

I was told a 16 ft truck was big enough. Any other size input?

[samadhi]

Rent a pickup or van and a trailer.

What is your daily driver? I'm not sure of the base kit weight but I'm thinking it's under 1000 lbs.

[Slord]

Originally Posted by samadhi

Rent a pickup or van and a trailer.

What is your daily driver? I'm not sure of the base kit weight but I'm thinking it's under 1000 lbs.

Well I could do that. My daily driver is a Magnum so that won't work. The only problem I have with the trailer concept is leaving it in a motel parking lot overnight.

[mydream]

At the time I had rented a pick up from Discount. (montreal). Not all of them have them tho. Then I had borrowed a car trailer.
You don't really need a a car trailer. A smaller utility trailer could work and put the boxes in the pick up. The chassis/body is not THAT heavy....

Why is a 16 foot truck not big enough? The body / chassis is 13 feet, that leaves you 3 feet of room for boxes and if you run out, there is room in the cockpit or on top of the car. I have a 14 foot open trailer and my car fits fine.

By the way, congratulation and have fun!!
T.

[samadhi]

What is the tow rating on a magnum? It should be able to tow a uhaul flat bed, guys use mini vans.

I left mine in a ny motel lot overnight, it was fine.

[mydream]

Originally Posted by samadhi

What is the tow rating on a magnum? It should be able to tow a uhaul flat bed, guys use mini vans.

I left mine in a ny motel lot overnight, it was fine.

I agree, what's wrong with a magnum... A quick search says a magnum has 2800-3800lbs of towing (depending the model you have...
My car finished weighs 2440 lbs. So i'm sure just the frame/body/cargo/small trailer you are under 3000lbs.

Picture taken from Joe, just to give you an idea...
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...83577265_n.jpg

[Slord]

I looked into getting a hitch on the Magnum when I bought so I could put my bike rack in it but it was very hard to find anybody who would install one. It must have something to with attachment points or something. Even then I could only find a small hitch so I didn't bother just bought a new rack.
Can't remember who asked but I heard that a 16ft truck WAS big enough just wondered if I could get away with smaller.
Beginning to sound like I might have to go the trailer route and borrow or rent a pick up.

[mydream]

Sorry, I misread the 16 foot truck.
If you have 14 feet interior space, you can get away with it, but you will to pile the boxes on the car.
good luck

[Grumpy's 65 Cobra]

Hi Steve;

You can easily tow the kit with a full size car, van or small truck. You need a flat area to sit the frame/chassis on and 13' of length to handle the body with some overhang.

You need room to store the pallet full of boxes with the rest of the pieces. They would all fit in the back of a van or truck box if you do not have space on the trailer. See attached photo's of one of the Ottawa builders picking up his kit with a van and very small trailer. No issues on the trip home. The other photo's are my kit pick-up with a truck and heavier trailer.

I hope this helps.

Tom

[smaly]

Hello Slord

Congrats on the purchase.
I think you need a truck and a trailer. I filled up the box and the back seat of the truck with parts and had no more room for anything else.

Steve

[Slord]

Yep. Looks that way. I was looking at a small moving truck to keep everything locked and covered but might be prohibitively expensive.
A coupe in our area. Cool.

Originally Posted by smaly

Hello Slord

Congrats on the purchase.
I think you need a truck and a trailer. I filled up the box and the back seat of the truck with parts and had no more room for anything else.

Steve

[PaulW]

Check Budget they had the best price for a 16' cube van. Just avoid the end and beginning of the month as the rates are much higher at moving time.

Originally Posted by Slord

Yep. Looks that way. I was looking at a small moving truck to keep everything locked and covered but might be prohibitively expensive.
A coupe in our area. Cool.

[Slord]

Originally Posted by PaulW

Check Budget they had the best price for a 16' cube van. Just avoid the end and beginning of the month as the rates are much higher at moving time.

Budget told me they don't allow their vehicles out of the country.

[Slord]

OK. I have a friend with an older Chevy Blazer who would drive if I can get a trailer. The question now is would all the boxes from the base kit fit in a Blazer?

[GT-Tom]

I picked up my base kit in March using a rented trailer and a large Jeep Cherokee Commander. We filled the Jeep with boxes and still had to use the trailer by stuffing boxes in the Roadster. I did not get wheels as I alreday had those so that is 4 boxes less. A closed van would have been better.

Here is a link to my thread when I picked up my kit.
# 7750 finds a home in NH!!!!
Tom

[GT-Tom]

Originally Posted by GT-Tom

I picked up my base kit in March using a rented trailer and a large Jeep Cherokee Commander. We filled the Jeep with boxes and still had to use the trailer by stuffing boxes in the Roadster. I did not get wheels as I alreday had those so that is 4 boxes less. A closed van would have been better.

Here is a link to my thread when I picked up my kit.
# 7750 finds a home in NH!!!!
Tom

Just noticed, If you scroll down to Post #19 on my thread you'll see Bob F. from Canada picking up his kit and he had a van that I thought he rented? I may be wrong but you see the name of the company on the van in the picture.
Tom

[wormie]

Hey SLord, I went through the same routine (and anxiety) for my pick up back in early April (Mk4). Didn't want to spend 500-600$ on car/trailer rentals plus the $$$ for gas/fuel of these cube vans.

I rented a 11' x 8' skidoo trailer (for 100$ for the Easter week-end) which we removed the front spoiler. Was a little short as the body is close to 13'.

I pulled it with my minivan (already had a hitch receiver never used! but bought the ball and hitch and lock). The back was not totally full with all the boxes (had removed all the seats except for the driver and co-pilot) so none went on the trailer.

Some rental companies won't allow you to go to the US, some that rent trucks or pick-ups forbid you to haul a trailer and they charge by the day (and some aren't opened on sunday) and mileage is extra. U-haul combinasion pick-up/trailer looked nice but was $$$. borrowing a truck or pickup from a friend isn't the easiest. Borrowing a trailer is less a problem if you can have one large yet light enough.

Have you figured how long a drive to Wareham from Guelph? Looks like about 2 hours more then my trip from Gatineau (suburb of Ottawa).

Because of my son's part time job we left at 8PM and drove until midnight. Stayed in a motel with the empty trailer locked to the van. Drove the balance to Wareham in the AM (that was good Friday) and arrived before lunch. Toured the factory, chatted with the FFR guys and Packed and left around 3 PM (don't drive back through Boston!!!!!!!!!!). Drove directly home after that and arrived just past midnight (border crossing was a joke!). So no overnight stay with all the goodies on the van and trailer.

If you can plan to arrive first thing in the AM at Wareham, you can do the trip back in one stretch and avoid an extra hotel night and the risks of all these boxes on the trailer if you don't have a closed van.

Get as light a trailer as possible if you car is not a good hauler (frame and body weights about 500 lbs) any mickey mouse trailer will work, no need for a double axle either.

You'll put some boxes in the magnum, it should cost you about 330$ to install a hitch and all the wiring and ball (check the u-haul website you can get a quote to buy and install on line, I just checked and they have it for the Magnum) then another 100$ for a trailer, bring some tarps to cover the boxes in the trailer, min 6 tie-downs and duct tape.

The hitch will be reusable: you'll need to haul the cobra to get it safetied or get the alignement.

It's a fun trip although a bit anxiogenic, but hauling back the body, frame and boxes was the easiest part of it in retrospect.

Good luck.

[PaulW]

I specifically told them where I was going and it was written up on the contract. Try another agent maybe.

Originally Posted by Slord

Budget told me they don't allow their vehicles out of the country.

[Angus]

Hey Slord, my car hauler, open 18' trailer tandem axle is available for use, it has 18in sides on it easily hold some boxes, no charge.

Drive there one day, tour and pick up and be home the next day at midnight...start building:-)

If your in an absolute bind pm me we'll figure something out, I can't imagine not being able to pick up your car

Angus

[Slord]

Wow! Once again that is an incedibly generous offer. The trailer sounds pretty huge.
OK so to update: After getting large numbers from the rental places (especially after I figure in kilometer charges) I worked out a deal with my local Chrysler dealership. It looks like it will actually be cheaper for me to trade in my Magnum for a brand new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited complete with tow package than rent a truck. I know, I found it hard to believe but I get to drive a brand new vehicle down there and save some money. Plus I have always wanted a Wrangler. This will be my third Jeep.
It comes with a class II towing package good for 3500lb towing capacity and payload 1103lb Max payload. Not sure if that is good for a dual axle trailer of that size.

Originally Posted by Angus

Hey Slord, my car hauler, open 18' trailer tandem axle is available for use, it has 18in sides on it easily hold some boxes, no charge.

Drive there one day, tour and pick up and be home the next day at midnight...start building:-)

If your in an absolute bind pm me we'll figure something out, I can't imagine not being able to pick up your car

Angus

[samadhi]

I bet I can get you that jeep even cheaper!!!!

[Slord]

Originally Posted by samadhi

I bet I can get you that jeep even cheaper!!!!

Really? Well my mother worked for Chrysler so I get all the incentives plus employee pricing. They have to cut me a cheque for $6700 just to get the financing to fit in their system.

[samadhi]

A friend of mine is a Chrysler big wig, 3 weeks ago he offered me a loaded jeep sahara unlimited.

All incentives and he paid the tax, Plus he was going to give me 7500 for my 2001 f150 with a seized engine!

The guy always gets me an enormous amount more than my trade is worth also...

[Slord]

Originally Posted by samadhi

A friend of mine is a Chrysler big wig, 3 weeks ago he offered me a loaded jeep sahara unlimited.

All incentives and he paid the tax, Plus he was going to give me 7500 for my 2001 f150 with a seized engine!

The guy always gets me an enormous amount more than my trade is worth also...

Well that's great! You should take it. They are pretty nice now. A big improvement even over last year's model. Anyway, I think we are getting a pretty good deal and have dealt with this sales guy for several vehicles. I wouldn't want to cut him out.
Thanks Anyway

[samadhi]

Sounds like you're getting a good deal yourself.

They are nice, I passed though. I need more seats that the jeep provides!
If I'm going to be short on seats it would have to be a Viper!

Cheers and enjoy the trip, its worth it.

[Slord]

Originally Posted by samadhi

Sounds like you're getting a good deal yourself.

They are nice, I passed though. I need more seats that the jeep provides!
If I'm going to be short on seats it would have to be a Viper!

Cheers and enjoy the trip, its worth it.

Viper! Now you're talking! I would have gone for one of those except for a couple of details.
1) they aren't in production yet
2) can't tow a trailer
3) no freakin' way can I afford one. LOL

Our dealership in Guelph sells more Vipers than any other in Ontario. My guy has already presold 2 of the new model.

[Angus]

The Trailer would be pushing the limits for the Jeep, also I think they don't recommend towing with a new vehical until a few Km's are on the engine, keep that in mind

The car is about 14', to stay in the limits of the Jeep a 12 foot open trailer will be the max, you could make it work with a little hang over.

if you went with a 14-16 foot trailer it will more than likely be a tandem axle, the trailer will also end up having brakes on it too. If your Jeep is rated for 3500lbs and installed with a class 2 a brake controller would not be installed.

Again if your banging your head trying to figure it out pm me I'll loan you my truck too, that means I'll just have to drive the cobra for the weekend

Am.

[Slord]

Wormie: Where did you rent your trailer? I can't find anybody but Uhaul who rents trailers around here. Their trailers are pretty heavy though.

[wormie]

Originally Posted by Slord

Wormie: Where did you rent your trailer? I can't find anybody but Uhaul who rents trailers around here. Their trailers are pretty heavy though.

Agreed, I was also concernd of the uhaul trailer weight. My ski doo trailer was rented from a local guy in town. Very light (500 lbs max) but not very pretty.

Knowing the distance I had to travel, they changed the bearings and got me a spare.

I'm sure you hqave independant trailer shops near where you live...

[wormie]

uploadfromtaptalk1340398824933.jpg

Like I said, not pretty but worked very well and cheap.

Total weight pulled, probably very close to 1000lbs. All boxes inside the van.