New camper transportation state to state

[bundyfamily]

My fellow swaggers,
I need some advise as to the safest and cheapest way to transport a new camper trailer from Adelaide to Brisbane, I basically need to camper picked up in Adelaide put on to a truck and then offloaded in Brisbane or even better Bundaberg, My biggest worry is that the camper may get damaged in transist or when getting lifted off or on a truck, On initial investigation a lot of c/t builders offer some sort of transport but the prices seem bit far fetched. Is there a better way apart from driving down there and picking it up myself?
Your thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[ausiwaz]

No the best way is to go and get it!

[crackacoldie]

Where in Adelaide are you needing it picked up from?

I would have to agree that picking it up yourself is the best option, could try and find a company that needs a backload to Brissie (often cheaper).

If you let me know a few details, I will chat to some of the companies we use to see if they have a spare space to Brissie that they could do any cheaper.

  Cracka

[Bird]

Drive down, and pick it up. Make sure your getting what you think your getting.

[4runnernomore]

Hi Bundy family,

After going through this process myself on a couple of occasions now due to work and an insurance claim my advice is if you can get the time off pick it up yourself.

Your camper will arrive if transported, filthy and it will likely have some sort of minor damage to go with it.

My camper has been transported a total of three times now.

Sydney to Darwin through Brisbane.  WE believe this is where the camper recieved its water damage either been store in a yard in Brisbane when the flood waters came through or whilst on the road to Darwin it was driven through flood waters damaging the internal parts of the camper.

Darwin to Sydney through Brisbane( insurance claim) Handbrake cable broken Camper covered in diesel residue.

Sydney to Darwin through Adelaide( insurance claim) Camper is filthy, covered in bugs on the rear camper transported backwards) coated in red dust inside and out.  Handbrake  Protector damaged not allowing /handbrake to be reased or placed on without considerable assistance.

If you do transport your camper go right over it with a fine tooth comb before accepting it.

Like I said this has been my experience and if possible I will not be transporting my camper ever again if I can help it.

Perhaps Swag Mail might be able to assist you. 

Best of luck with your decision.

Cheers, Chris

[KieranR]

I had this same dilemma a few weeks ago when I bought my camprite in Perth, I'm up in Karratha, I got quotes from plenty of companies and asked lots of questions as to how they put it on the trailer and tie down and so on,  In the end i just didn't feel comfortable with it so i decided to load the family into the hilux and drive to perth and pick it up myself.

Not only were the quotes for transport range from what i thought was reasonable to unrealistic, but some of thier methods of picking up, loading, tie down and removeal from thier trailer, i thought there was some pretty average ways of looking after my 25K purchase.

I was glad i drove down and got it, as i got a good run through from the previous owner, showed me how everything worked, and little tricks with certain aspects of set up & pack up ect...  plus i got to spend some good times with my girls on a road trip for a few days, and we used the CT on the way home.

So take a few days off load the family up and have a road trip to pick up your new pride and joy.

Have fun

[MDS69]

Maybe consider putting what the transport cost is towards a local purchase. If you are buying a $10k camper and spending $1k to get it home buy a local one for $11k then not have hassles come warranty time if it arises.

[bundyfamily]

Thanks for the advise swaggers,
Are there any transport companies that specialize in moving camper trailers state to state? It would probably work out cheaper to go and pick it up myself but work might not allow the time off, they quoted me 600 bucks just to transport it from Adelaide to Melbourne. Would the normal insurance cover the trailer on a truck or would I have to look at insurance to just to transport it to Brisbane?
Thanks
Bundyfamily

[singo-26]

I can't see enough of a market to specialize in camper or even trailer transport. Your trailer would have to go on as general freight, they are not difficult to secure onto a flatdeck, I do it fairly regurlarly with a bigger trailer that I crane on and secure it for travel. As an example for me to pick it up and deliver would cost between $3 and $3.50 per klm depending on the truck I used (between 9 and 14 tonne gvm), they are our standard rates for transport, If I were to load 2or 3 onto the deck it would be cheaper per trailer.

Edit: I'm not hunting for work, but I just worked it out: Adelaide to bundaberg at $3.00 per klm would be about $7k.

[Nomad]

7k...........

That would make for a pretty good CT holiday spending money driving from Adelaide back to Bundy.

I'd drive.

Cheers
Nomad.
 

[dav]

I had mine transported from Dandenong  in Vic to Sydney  no trouble at all not a mark on it. The driver wouldn't drive down my street in case trees scratched the caravan he on the back he off loaded the camper at bunnnings. The transport company name is G&K Pace Logistics. 07 54295622

[singo-26]

7k...........

That would make for a pretty good CT holiday spending money driving from Adelaide back to Bundy.

I'd drive.

Cheers
Nomad.
 

I only used that as an example at our standard rates. Just for example fuel at 25lph, minimum 4 nights accom (away from home),4-5 days straight in a truck and time away from wife and kids. Personally I'd start there and negatiate down to get the job if I wanted it, over longer distances it is higher but under 1000klm you sometimes don't break even. 

As I'm typing this i've just paid an $1800 bill for 2 tyres replaced on the side of the road during a $1000 job after a blow out of a less than half worn tyre.

[Nomad]

Not saying its over the top at all Singo.

I can appreciate the cost of running a business. There's go to be a dollar there to do it, even though that's getting harder to find on any job.

I just reckon for the $7k for transport, say even $5k. Its more than enough to have a bit of a holiday say 10 or 12 days and give the trailer a shake down and enjoy a big round trip.

Cheers
Nomad.
 

[dav]

Mine was $600 from Vic to syd. It would cost me more then that to drive there and back.

[Nomad]

Say your fuel costs $1500 to get there and back that leaves nearly $300 a day for food and accom for a twelve day trip. Based on a $5k spend.

I'd buy <sp>  local and get more trailer I think

Nomad.
 

[Bird]

Are there any transport companies that specialize in moving camper trailers state to state?

Yes, they are the ones that damaged mine before I got it..
As said, I'd look closer to home for another trailer if you cant take the road trip.

[bundyfamily]

Thanks for the contact number Dav,
I will give them a call and get a price, I will post up the quoted price as this information maybe useful to others in the future looking to do the same as me

[4runnernomore]

Bundy Family,

Here are a few reasons why you should not use a transporter unless you absolutely have to.

1.  Suspected flood damage to camper during transport to Darwin 10 /11  to initiate insurance claim to have camper repaired ( unable to substantiate however CUB did see tide marks in the camper when they pulled it apart). Damage not found till 4 months later at Easter 11 when it stopped raining and allowed camper to be opened. See thread http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=2185.50

2. Damage sustained on way down. 1 Broken handbrake cable ( repaired by CUB nil cost great service).

Found today after fully inspecting camper and cleaning the crud, bugs, diesel, mud and red dirt  off the camper from the trip to Sydney and back by 2 different transport companies, one through Brisbane the other through Adelaide.

3. Bent rear quarter panels caused by forklift tines.




4. Handbrake protector bent interfering with handbrake.  (CUB are very kindly sending a new one agian fantastic cutomer service)

What it should look like
 

5. Broken handbrake guide on drawbar snapped off.


6. Worn off paint from drawbar ( driver side) perfect size for forkilft tynes or dunnage from transport. ( see previous phot for passenge side)


7. Forklift tyne damage to water tank protection shield and straps. This has pushed the protector hard up against the water tank. Unknown if there is a rupture on tank yet.  Straps that are welded to chassis are now suspect and appear to be cracked.



This is my experience ( contact insurance again today) I personally will not use a transport company again after this unless I absolutely have no other choice.

NOT HAPPY

I would tow it.

[dav]

Which company transported it for you? It wrong when people have no care with others hard earned gear.

[sablesoft]

Here are a few reasons why you should not use a transporter unless you absolutely have to.
Damage sustained on way down.

 1 Broken handbrake cable ( repaired by CUB nil cost great service).

6. Worn off paint from drawbar ( driver side) perfect size for forklifts tynes or dunnage from transport.

7. Forklift tyne damage to water tank protection shield and straps. This has pushed the protector hard up against the water tank.

Hi 4runnernomore,

Sounds like the same trucker that shipped my BRAND NEW Cub Escape from Cub Sydney to Cub Brisbane.

- Handbrake cable broken and put back together with a U clamp
- Slight dint and paint scraped on water tank
- Brake adjuster linking Handbrake handle to cable bent and damaged (I did not have a handbrake protector fitted until later)
- paint scraped off drawbar

Cub Brisbane NEVER even checked it, I found the damage when I got the trailer home.

Lesson: ALWAYS check the underneath of a transported trailer !!!

I would not ship my Cub Escape on a truck again if I had any say in it !!!

Ray

[Dion]

As others have said, I would buy locally, fetch it yourself or if you have to get it transported, arrange specific insurance cover because something will be damaged.

[BigJules]

Anyone going to the cape would come close to Brissie, surely there is a myswag member who'd be glad to tow it for you and cover their fuel for that part of the trip.

Definitely worth going yourself mate.

[Bird]

Anyone going to the cape would come close to Brissie, surely there is a myswag member who'd be glad to tow it for you and cover their fuel for that part of the trip.

yea, I thought about that, but if anything happened to it while on the way up....
Road trip, the only way

[bundyfamily]

It near makes you cry  when you see your hard earned camper treated like that, I understand that o forklift may be required when lifting a camper on and off, but what's wrong with putting some timbers on the tunes or a bit of old carpet to stop the metal on metal scratching up the underneath, individuals who do this sort of damage are either lazy or don't give a Shit... Maybe a bit of both. 
I am slowly swaying towards biting the bullet and doing a flying run down to Adelaide and back to pick it up, ignore the cost and the boss and just do it!