Thought I'd check here to see if anybody here has any connections with aircraft shippers, or just people you know who do that kind of thing on the side.

I bought a Highlander kit project from a guy in Florida and need to get it here to CA...obviously the sooner the better

The plane is on wheels, tail feathers are installled, wings are of the quickbuild type so they are basically a skeleton with the same dimensions. Most other parts will be packaged inside the fuselage structure for easier moving. No engine, so the weight of the airplane would probably be in the neighborhood of 300 lbs.

The gentleman I bought it from is an older guy, and won't be able to do much in the way of lifting, although there shouldn't be a need for much of that...mostly getting the wings down off the wall (he just had hernia surgery). I might be able to talk him into removing the tail surfaces for a more compact footprint, which might allow room for other freight items.

I put an ad on UShip.com but not getting many hits. As you might imagine, I would prefer an enclosed trailer as I can't be on the other end to prepare things the way I like them for protection from the elements.

I know Sun 'n Fun is coming up in FL, and maybe there's people that are coming back empty or.....

Thanks for any help with this

Aaron
337-489-68 three four

Damn..... we just had two rigs leave Miami for SoCal yesterday. One was jam packed full. But the other had a bunch of room.

If my pickup truck was reliable, I'd go get it for you. But that would be some big bucks.

You can try asking moving company's like United Van Lines (they have a Special Commodities Div.). The drivers have plenty of blankets for padding and usually handle odd stuff like this, too.

There is a Kit plane transporter company in Bend OR.
http://www.vansairforce.net/graphics/pa ... kingco.htm

The few time I have checked with the local moving companies on odd ball stuff the estimate was cost prohibitive.....
But maybe your companies would be better....? When you get the estimate though, you might have someone with smelling salts close by.....

lc

Littlecub wrote:The few time I have checked with the local moving companies on odd ball stuff the estimate was cost prohibitive.....
But maybe your companies would be better....? When you get the estimate though, you might have someone with smelling salts close by.....

lc

I was just now thinking the same thing coming into work. I know over the years (at least back in 86-87 when I was with United), you can get stuff hauled out of FL cheap. Lot's of frieght going down, but not much coming back up. We stayed away from loads going to FL. Went to the northeast instead

My suggestion Look at Craigs list for cheap car /truck in area where your going to pick up project . Look for cheap trailer .If it's on wheels you might consider towing on wheels -with tail wheel or ?? attached to trailer hitch. Get plane ticket down to rust belt florida and drive your "new to you " airport limo" back to Kaliforina ! The adventure continues .

Just an off-the-wall suggestion, but I had a used car hauled door to door from Boston to Colorado for $550, which seemed like a real deal...might not hurt to ask. The trailer was completely enclosed, and he was only hauling three other cars on a trailer that holds 8. Who knows.

Just for reference, a 14 foot U-Haul truck will run about $1,250 one way, about $50.00 more for a 17 foot truck. Add about $800.00 for gas, plus a one-way grayhound bus ticket and a few dollars for motel 6 and McDonalds along the way. You might be able to drive it yourself for under $2,500.00.

.......one-way grayhound bus ticket.......

CA to FL? Let me introduce you to commercial passenger airline service......

lc

I called two of the shippers that advertise on Barnstormers about getting a Stinson 108-2 project from NJ to NV. Both said right at $4K. Penski has the best rates on trucks. A 26' box truck w/lift gate was $2500 I think? Plus gas + hotels= yup, $4K. It costs $4k unless you can locate a flatbed to buy near the project, then re-sell when you get home. I found an 88 chevy 24' flat bed on Craig's List near the project for $1800. It was perfect for the job, single rear axle with dual wheels and a gas V8. It's not easy. It's probably best to let the pro's do it.
Figure $4K

Oh, you can also check with the shippers about sharing a trailer with somebody else bringing one along a similar route. It may save a grand.

Littlecub wrote:

.......one-way grayhound bus ticket.......

CA to FL? Let me introduce you to commercial passenger airline service......

lc

Too damn funny. You and I think a like, LC.

Emory Bored wrote:I called two of the shippers that advertise on Barnstormers about getting a Stinson 108-2 project from NJ to NV. Both said right at $4K. Penski has the best rates on trucks. A 26' box truck w/lift gate was $2500 I think? Plus gas + hotels= yup, $4K. It costs $4k unless you can locate a flatbed to buy near the project, then re-sell when you get home. I found an 88 chevy 24' flat bed on Craig's List near the project for $1800. It was perfect for the job, single rear axle with dual wheels and a gas V8. It's not easy. It's probably best to let the pro's do it.
Figure $4K

Oh, you can also check with the shippers about sharing a trailer with somebody else bringing one along a similar route. It may save a grand.

I did a similar think when I (sorry azz "transplanted Californian") moved to Idaho. I bought a enclosed trailer in SoCal for about $2500.00. Sold it about a year after I moved to Idaho for about $2200.00. So it only cost me $300.00 plus fuel to move to Idaho

58Skylane wrote:

Emory Bored wrote: I found an 88 chevy 24' flat bed on Craig's List near the project for $1800. It was perfect for the job, single rear axle with dual wheels and a gas V8.

I did a similar think when I (sorry azz "transplanted Californian") moved to Idaho. I bought a enclosed trailer in SoCal for about $2500.00. Sold it about a year after I moved to Idaho for about $2200.00. So it only cost me $300.00 plus fuel to move to Idaho

That truck is still for sale. It's been a couple of months so I suspect it's got some problems but I think we ought to all chip in and buy the dang thing for member transport. The lift gate's worth $1K anyway.

http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/2859460179.html

Thanks for all the replies!! All good ideas, but I simply cannot pick this up myself due to my work schedule. I jumped on this project without really thinking through the whole shipping aspect, I realize how dumb that was now but it can cost up to $4K and I'd still be money and time ahead...time being the most important to me...within reason of course.

Thanks to your ideas, I started looking through craigslist in the same area as the project and found numerous deals on enclosed trailers. Thinking maybe I could buy a trailer, have it delivered to the project, have my seller load everything inside, and find a driveaway shipper to transport it. Haven't worked out all the details yet, but maybe this could work, then sell the trailer when I get it home...Hmmm, I wonder how much hassle the DMV would be...

bart wrote:Thanks for all the replies!! All good ideas, but I simply cannot pick this up myself due to my work schedule. I jumped on this project without really thinking through the whole shipping aspect, I realize how dumb that was now but it can cost up to $4K and I'd still be money and time ahead...time being the most important to me...within reason of course.

Thanks to your ideas, I started looking through craigslist in the same area as the project and found numerous deals on enclosed trailers. Thinking maybe I could buy a trailer, have it delivered to the project, have my seller load everything inside, and find a driveaway shipper to transport it. Haven't worked out all the details yet, but maybe this could work, then sell the trailer when I get it home...Hmmm, I wonder how much hassle the DMV would be...

Make sure you check your PM. My work is slow the next couple of weeks. I'd be more than happy to help you out.

You have to value your time a little.
Thats a long haul.
I'd call George at freight tech 888-233-7591.
Get a partial enclosed trailor semi load. You will have to work out the loading of it but when you figure time and gas......
Just a though doesnt cost anything for a quote.
im guessing 3k

What are the rules on hiring someone to finish it and then fly it home.

The rules to finish the plane are the same as any homebuilt. You provide 51% ( of the airframe and controls) to be the builder of record. If you do not, you cannot hold the repairman certificate. Other wise its flown the same as any homebuilt but you will have to have the annual condition inspection done by an qualified mechanic, or the original builder who holds the certificate which would be impossible in your case. Any other work on the plane you can do yourself.

Did you try this? http://www.freightcenter.com/quickquote.aspx


I know a guy who got a quote for 1800 miles at 1850 bucks but the quotes came in all the way to 3 grand. Crate it so it is protected and narrow enough to be not more than one pallet wide. Common freight enclosed van carriers. Weight is inconsequential to some. Full value insurance is available through the carrier if it is new.

Correction: Original quote was 1350 for 1800 miles but the width went over the standard pallet width and it cost an additional 500 for the extra making it 1850. Weight with crate was 1600 Lbs.