Moving a gaggle of Series Ones

[dchsw]

Later this year I need to get my three 80" Series Ones from the port of Vancouver to Greg Sutfins place in Duncan - what would you say my transportation options for getting them to the island are?

Here's a few pointers to get you thinking...

(1) Only one of the vehicles will be a runner. One of the others may be, the last one will definitely not be (no prop shafts!)

(2) Non of the vehicles will have passed a BC safety inspection.

(3) My 110 Station Wagon may be arriving in the same shipment, but as the Series Ones are in one container and the 110 in another, I can't gaurantee they'll all arrive at the same time.

Sooo... my thoughts on options are running along these lines:

(a) Contract an auto shipping company to get the vehicles to the island. Anyone have a contact at such a company?

(b) Get the 110 safety inspected in double quick time and rent a large vehicle trailer for a couple of days and bring them over one-at-a-time myself. I can legaly get two of them on one trailer behind my TD5 110 here in the uk, but I don't know about Canada.

(c) Rent a self-drive recovery truck and do multiple trips (or one, if it's a big truck) to get the cars to the island. Does anyone rent out recovery trucks in Vancouver?

What do you think?

Cheers,

David

[John]

If any are runners you don't need a safety inpection to get a temporary permit.

[96whitedisco]

Get some of your friends together like the ones on this forum and rent trailers as you only need two more landys with tow hitches and you are set for a little trek

Cheers
Andrew

My 96 is Disco has a hitch and is set up for towing!

[Rob]

Hi There

Something to think about is that the ferries are very expensive. You are looking at about $150 per round trip (a tow vehicle one way, tow vehicle and flatbed trailer on return ride). UHaul rents autohauling trailers but figure at least $100 per trip. Not considering fuel, food, overnight stays and all the hassle you're looking at over $750 if you plan on making multiple trips for the series one collection. Might be cheaper to have the trucks "landed" in Vancouver but then keep them in the container and have them trucked over in the container by commercial carrier.

[PaulC]

Hi David,

I had to get my no-running Discovery :shock: from Nanaimo (Vancouver Island…not to far from your destination) back to the mainland. I found a relatively inexpensive option, shipping the Disco on a barge. I had the tow truck drop on the Nanaimo side & another tow truck pick-up on the Vancouver (Delta) side. The barge cost me about $60. However you can’t accompany the vehicle. I don’t have the barge company's name on hand, but I’ll try to come up with the company name today…it was one of the larger barge Co. & it was a daily shedualed barge trip.

[nakedbarra]

I have a car trailer that 2 series 1's could fit on that I could do a trip from the main land if you like .
Its just an option, let me know what you decide
Andrew

[ssortnarg]

THE BARGE SERVICE IS SEASPAN COASTAL INTERMODAL

FROM DELTA TO NANAIMO - WITH FUEL SURCHARGE PROBABLY ABOUT
$85 TODAY

SEASPAN NUMBER IS 604 940 7232
FAX 604 940 7236

ASK FOR ROBBIE ROBINSON (IF HE HASN'T RETIRED)

The Delta end is at 7700 Hopcott Rd

just off River Road in Delta - at the Tilbury Industrial park
a hop skip and jump from the Tswassen ferry terminal
get the two non drivers on in Delta - run for the ferry and drive up to Nanaimo to meet them on the other side

[PaulC]

Yup..that’s it Seaspan. Saved a pile of money compared to towing…by the time you pay for about 6 to 8 hours of travel time you could easily be paying out $500.-$800. bucks for a transport company.

Good Luck.

[ANDYD]

Hi David,

How about renting a 26ft Uhaul that you could drive or roll aboard 3 series 1 Landy's!

I believe that a Series 1 is approx 8ft long so that leaves room for 3 in a 26ft Uhaul.

They spec maximum load weight at 7400lbs, not sure what 3 series 1's would weigh in at? Plus you would need a second ramp.(they only provide one ramp)

http://www.uhaul.com/guide/?equipment=truck26

Just a thought :idea:

Andy

[nakedbarra]

With a little thought I could even fit 3 on my car trailer? the front sideways middle as normal and the rear sideways? just the weight to concider?
I will do some measuring this weekend as I have an 80 " to measure from.

[dchsw]

Thanks for the fantastic responses guys - nothing like a little local knowledge is there? Many thanks to you all.

Ok, top suggestion (especially reading Rob's advice on Ferry prices) has to be the one from PaulC and ssortnarg about the Seaspan Global barge service to Nanaimo. I'll give them a call during the week to check it out.

Assuming that hangs together, I'm going to need to get the vehicles to the embarkation point in Delta, is this a job for your trailer, nakedbarra? With a temporary permit on the 110 (thanks John for the information on that) would it be allowed to pull a trailer?

BTW - I just looked up Seaspan's location on Google Maps - anyone know where the main international container port in relation to this? I'm guessing it can't be far.

Now, how about the other end? Longer term I want to get myself a decent car trailer, but I don't want to be rushed into getting one in time for this job and end up regretting it at my leisure. Anyone on the island got something I could use or know where I should rent one?

On dimensions, I just measured one of the 80" and it's 11 feet long by 5 and a half (let's say 6) feet wide. I make it that we could fit two in the U-Haul truck you mentioned, AndyD - but I have my doubts on the legality of that solution!

Ok, I'll keep you updated on how/when things get sorted out and many thanks to you all again.

David

[StuartL]

Hi David,

I am heading to the UK next week to pick up two landies and ship them to Vancouver. Sent me an email and I will call you when I am there.

Just a word about Temp Permits. Unless your vehicles have been registered, they will not issue a permit. I tried last summer with a truck I had rebuilt and just couldn't get anything to work until I had it inspected. But I did get one for a RR I brought in from the US with Oregon Plates.

If the Series trucks were registered in the UK you may have a chance. Also don't forget the short timeline for getting the inspections.

Best to check before they hit here.

Good Luck....

[Greg S]

Shipping something to the Island from overseas? Let me think on this a bit! I seem to remember that I work at a deep sea port. There must be something that can be done, I'll ask the shipping guys but I remember seeing the intermodal container carrier heading off-site a while ago. How heavy is an intermodal container with three series ones aboard?

Greg S

[DaveB]

David, just call up the Captain/Pilot of the container ship, slip him a hundred bucks and get him to drop by Greg's work on the way into Vancouver! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Dave

[Bill E.]

Hi David,
Sounds like you have a lot of great suggestions for moving the Series ones. Just for your info, I live in Delta very close to all the shipping locations you will be going through. I have a TDI 90 that will happily pull a vehicle trailer with a couple of 80" Landrovers on it. I'd be happy to volunteer my time as driver with my truck to help out a man with such an advanced Landrover sickness as yours. Even if you end up just needing a push or pull to help load trailers I can be there with a winch and/or tirfor. I don't mind running over to help on the island side with or without my truck if you need it. You just say the word buddy and we'll be there :D :D :D
Bill

[Greg S]

Shipping something to the Island from overseas? Let me think on this a bit! I seem to remember that I work at a deep sea port.

Seems that it doesn't help that we have a deep sea port. Something to do with the type of goods and customs or something. Best I can do is is get good recommendation of a trucking company to move the intermodal containers to the Island. They will drop them where ever they are asked, will pick them up when you get them empty and take them away again.

[dchsw]

Ok, just back in the UK from my trip to Canada to become a permanent resident, so let me respond to posts that have been added whilst I was away...

Greg, I'll look into getting the containers moved to the island with the vehicles still in them, but as you say they will still need to clear customs in Vancouver. If I can find anyone to do that I'll be able to contrast with the barge prices.

Bill E, many thanks for the offer of help, which I will certainly take you up on. One way or the other there will probably be some pushing and shoving to do at both ends. Derek N from the island has also kindly volunteered his time/muscle so it looks like we'll have a gang of us to sort things out. I'll drop you an email.

One last thing - I'm hatching a plan to get the two containers shipped at different times. If it works, the one with the 110 will arrive first and the one with the Series Ones a couple of weeks later. Would this give me sufficient time to get the 110 inspected and registered so I can use it to haul a trailer?

Thanks again,

David

[ssortnarg]

if the 110 is in good mechanical condition - and has seat belts for all installed seats - the trick will be to locate a shop that is comfortable with doing the certification on a rover
I can suggest George at Minute Muffler in Duncan 250 748 9222
I'm sure there are others - if all is in order and ICBC can be made to cooperate it should be possible to get it done and licensed in three or four days

[JD]

I just went through the process with my 110. With all my documentation it took nearly 3 hours at the insurance agent's office and a VERY willing and helpful ICBC operative working with us. I had to get a temp permit to drive the truck to the insurance agent's business so they could visually inspect the VIN. Wouldn't take the inspector or the previous documentation as proof of the VIN. I can give you the name of the mobile inspector who did mine in the Victoria area. He was good, not baffled by oddities and use a good dose of uncommon sense through the whole process. And he didn't nitpick. I failed the first go around on back brake pads. That was it. Just make sure you have ALL documentation and the physical specs of the truck with you when you get to the ICBC agen.. including the customs stuff.

If available I too will assist in the shoving and pushing required at the Island end.

Rgds
JD
Vic BC

[Rob]

I had a fellow on Saltspring do the inspection on my 83 series 3 import from Switzerland - went very well and the insuance agent at the island trust savings company was very helpful with the insurance.

Rob
83 88
88 RRC

[dchsw]

Ok, things have moved on a little... my 80" collection is now down from three to one!

Common sense (and an inability to explain to my wife why I was transporting 3 identical Land Rovers half way around the world) prevailed and the two '51's have found good new homes in the land of their birth. Both are already being stripped down in preparation for re-builds and will have their new owner’s undivided attention, instead of competing with my '50 for time/money/affection.

However, the '51's departures left me feeling a tad light in the old Land Rover department, but that was soon remedied by picking up Ray Wood's 300 TDi Discovery after a I hit lucky and checked LRX 30 seconds after he posted it for sale. Nice.

So, the plan for moving Landies from the port of Vancouver to the Island can now be simplified, but I still need some advice and possibly help. The plan now is:

(1) Hire/borrow a car trailer and a box trailer on the Island, put the box trailer on the car trailer, hook it up to the Disco and come over to the mainland on the ferry.

(2) Get 110, 80 and assorted household/workshop goods out of the container. 80 goes on the car trailer and it gets hooked up to the 110. Goods go in the box trailer and it gets hooked up to the Disco.

(3) Head back to the Island on the ferry.

Erm, that's it.

Obviously, I'm in need of assistance to drive the Disco back for me and it would make sense if I could find a volunteer from the Island, so I'm working on that.

Did I forget anything else? Some questions I still have are:

Where can I hire a vehicle trailer on the Island?

How/when/where do I get the temp permit for the 110?

Can I pull a trailer with the 110 when it's on a temp permit?

BTW - The container is scheduled to arrive at the port of Vancouver on May 22 - the day before Victoria Day. Does that suggest the earliest I'll be able to pick up my stuff will be the 24th, or do the docks work 365?

FYI - I'm still in the UK, will hit Canadian shores for good May 3rd.

Many thanks, David

[JD]

David,

Was at Ray's today. Your new truck is safe and sound, looking good parked outside his shop. Often have to go to West Van and may well be available to help drive something back from Vancouver to the Island. Suspect that it will take a few days for the container to clear after arrival in port. Might it not be easier to temp permit all of the trucks and drive them up to Duncan?

JD
jdbaillie a shaw dot ca

[dchsw]

JD,

Thanks for the news and the potential offer of help, much appreciated.

The 80 is not quite a runner yet, it's almost completely restored, but I didn't want to rush it at the last minute so there are a number of things to do yet.

Cheers,

David