Car Carriers

[JMK]

Just think, all those hitch hikers that need a ride. Imagine what one would think if some guy pulled up in a Delica or LC and said, "hey buddy, take this vehicle and drop it off in Banff, here's $300.00 for gas and meals, have fun!". Humm... for that matter I guess I could just leave it parked on any street in Surrey for 30 minutes and hope the guy that steals it is going East and he'd probably do less damage than the car carriers! Get the police to stop him at the Banff exit ramp with a spike belt and there's your answer to what you do with non-DOT compliant tires.

[turf'd]

Yeah I really didn't know what would be the best option. Obviously I wanted to drive the Delica from Vancouver to Calgary as it would be a hell of a rip in the new ride. Thing is I'd have to pay PST out there in BC, and the shipping cost worked out to less than the PST so in the end I'm getting it delivered for less than I'd have paid to pick it up. Of course, this is hoping that the poor thing isn't more than a little destroyed by the transportation process. I don't trust valet service (having worked as one) let alone some random dude shunting my pride and joy from place to place. I'll see how it all goes when the Delica arrives, and keep you updated on the whole 'ship the Deli to the prairies' process. Based on how much of a pain in the ass it seems to be to get a vehicle out east I'm not too surprised there's fewer of them out here on the grasslands. One more thing to be jealous of about BC!

Cheers

[Green1]

costs for me to pick up the delica:
- taxi to airport $20
- airfare 1 way to vancouver: $120
- fuel home: $100 (approx)
total: $240 ish

if you need a place to stay and meals you can add:
- motel: $80
- 3 meals: $40
- taxi to get to vehicle: $50 (or take transit for $3 if you have time)
total is about $410... seems cheaper than shipping to me...

[turf'd]

It would certainly be faster than waiting for it to be shipped! Plus you get a trip to Vancouver out of the deal. Maybe that's what I'll do with my next one...

[JMK]

Hi turf'd . I was told by my broker you did not have to pay PST unless you registered the vehicle in BC.

Hi Green, Even with seats sales now the era of the total cost of a flight to YVR @ $120.00 seem to be a bygone era. Even with the current Westjet sale at $109.00, all the extra fees they charge now brings it to around $180.00. I've noticed that there are tons of "hidden costs" that tend to mount up on these trips that we don't anticipate.

I got a call yesterday from MCL Carriers and they sound like they will be shy of the $400.00 mark. As they are on Annacis Island there won't be as much to and fro'ing of the vehicle. I don't like the idea of Sea Rail putting it on and off a train, and then again on a truck as much as just one truck ride start to end.

For me the only downside about making the trip would be no having my tools and toys. I'd prefer to be prepared to work on the vehicle if required, and I can't imagine coming back through Rogers Pass and not making a ski run. As, like most, I only have so much free time, I'd rather use it with my feet on a pair of skis than on a gas pedal, even if it is for a new ride.

[Green1]

from Air Canada's website... 10 seconds of looking around, (and don't bother with Westjet from Calgary to Vancouver, Air Canada is ALWAYS cheaper (even when the fares are the same... weird...))

Flight 1 - Departing airfare (Tango) 94.00
discount No Aeroplan Miles -3.00
discount No Checked Baggage -3.00
discount No changes, no cancellation -5.00
Navcan and Surcharges NAV 18.00
Taxes, Fees and Charges
Canada Airport Improvement Fee SQ 20.00
Canada Security Charge CA 4.67
Canada Goods and Services Tax (GST/HST #10009-2287) XG 7.54
Total airfare and taxes before options (per passenger) 133.21
Number Of Passengers 1
Grand Total - Canadian Dollars $133.21

ok, it's not 120, it's 133... but I didn't spend any time to try hard either (and from experience, that includes all the "hidden" fees)

[turf'd]

Well, the Delica arrived no problem. SeaRail did a good job of it I guess. Shipped by train from Vancouver to Edmonton, then loaded onto a car-carrying semi. Stopped by when it was still on the back of the truck and my first view of the van was amazing! When I picked it up there were no problems. I think the receptionist could have at least acknowledged my presence in the first 7 minutes I was standing at the window while she was on the phone, but after months on end of waiting for my van I just didn't care.

[JMK]

Thanks for the follow up. Pretty much had a good experience with MCL carriers as well. The total cost was $500.00 which included valet service to pick the Land Cruiser up at the container terminal and store it until the truck left. They would have also allowed John Hamilton from Rocky Mountain Imports to put my parts in if he had made it, but he got busy and didn't make it in time. The driver, Malcom, called me from his cell phone three or four times to report his progress across B.C. As he approached Banff, we changed the dropoff location to the parking lot where I work and he had no problem with that. When I met him, we took him a hot lunch and cafe latte for his troubles as he was trying to get to Calgary before it was too late. He seemed to appreciate being served more by my cute girlfriend then by the latte, don't think he was a milk man! There were 3 other JDM vehicles onboard for Calgary. He had taken the rear floor mat off the back and placed it over the driver's seat with the pins sticking him in the ass so that when he drove it onto the truck the seats wouldn't get it dirty. My vehicle, being on the bottom rear end, was pretty much unrecognizable for being covered in mud. When he opened the driver's door to get in, he pinched his glove between the door and the trailer so he wouldn't scratch the paint. Later when I checked, the often missing in action $500.00 replacement cost winch cable was still there, as well as the hydraulic jack and Toyota tool kit. After a good wash, and test drive on the highway, found the vehicle was also in perfect condition, only fault I can find so far is a front dif oil leak. My next vehicle, the Delica got cleared on Friday so I expect to be getting that in the New Year, as well as Christmas suprise: a BMW that a scammer did not pay for, so they have asked me to take it rather than send it back to Japan. So my tip for anyone having a vehicle dropped at their location rather than going to pick it up at the lot where things can go missing if it sits there too long, is 1) take the driver a hot meal, 2) have a cute girl serve it to him. My afternoon today in fact is going to be spent finishing off the installation of the E Code headlight pods and DRL module.