Hmmm. Looking for a different perspective, eh? Well, not my own experience, but that of our 1982 Westfalia's beloved Previous Owner... She shipped our van to Europe and back 4 times (actually, she bought it in Luxembourg, so there's one more time). Anyway, she never used an intermodal/cargo container, and always loaded the van with all her gear/luggage for a lengthy stay. I have no explanation as to why things didn't get stolen or molested, but she talked at length about how to go about it (encouraging us to do the same), and never mentioned anything of the sort. She said it was about $800 each way, and I think she typically went RoRo. The last time she went was the only time that some one (on one end of the trip) used a forklift or similar thing to place the van on the boat. Our fuel tank is about 2 gallons shy because of the resulting dent; mild-mannered, even she was pissed. She was a mother of 8, and a Red Cross super-volunteer. Sometimes she was taking a few of her kids to see Europe, other times she was helping in a troubled Eastern/Balkan area. The van has been in 31 countries, according to her records. Anyway, there is your "other perspective". Developing business and guiding change since 1996, G. Matthew Bulley Bulley-Hewlett Corporate Communications Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com Alliance: www.ntara.com Phone: +1.919.658.1278 -----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Robert Steven Fish Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 1:51 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Suggestions for shipping a van from Germany to Halifax NS snipped ----- a Vancouver-area shipper tells me that if we pack our belongings in unmarked boxes (no recycled liquor boxes, electronics boxes, etc.) and keep it all covered with tarps or blankets, it will be fine... end snipped ----- There are apparently two DIFFERENT ways to get a vehicle across the Atlantic... One being the Ro/Ro method (Roll On / Roll Off) which is what I did, and which is generally very cheap, quick, and easy. The other method would be getting your goods moved by packing them in a container, which could be the size of a small 18-wheeler trailer, or something. This container has a lock on it... a big one.... like 2 inch thick steel bar, etc. The container carrier will guarantee that your goods arrive safely (other than damage by shifting, which is not to be taken lightly... on high seas, there are weather conditions which make the cars, trucks, and containers all jump around, and often if poorly secured, things get completely trashed)... Anyway, if all is safely inside a locked container you will receive at least the shaken up goods, and if not (for example the container falls off the ship) you will receive insurance reimbursment. The catch is that to have your own container is already out of the price range for what I was referring to... the container would most likely cost between 5-10 grand, and all contants are weighed to get the final price. I had all my "goods" shipped by NorthAmerican, and they took care of placing everything in a "shared container" for me, and delivered it to my door in Salzburg Austria... cost around 10 grand, including insurance etc. The Vanagon went Ro/Ro and cost under 800 bucks if I remember correctly. If you do Ro/Ro and you pack anything in the car, it will be gone when you pick it up... that's just the way it is. On a ship where there are like 2000 cars, and months of boring sea time, and bored crew members, who may or may not be well paid, and may or may not be honest.... the probability of you ever seeing something like a nice bike, or any other toy, is pretty much 0%. It is possible that other list members have a different opinion... if so I would be glad to hear any additional and/or contarary information. Good Luck!! RSF <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ Robert S. Fish Salzburg, Austria 1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender 1987 Golf Cabriolet 1991 Golf |
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