shipping options, who did you use?

[nkw8181]

Just wanted to see who everyone used to ship there kit. Stuart is the direction I'm leaning but partially because I do not know of other good options. Oh and I live in Dallas texas so it is a ways to ship.

[68GT500MAN]

I have always used Stewart due to their relationship with FFR. When I looked up freight rates 12 years ago for the first roadster build, everyone I check with was 3 to 4 times the price and their service has always been first class.
Doug

[flynntuna]

An option can be, but only if the timing is right. Last year a friend of mine had his MK4 delivered by the F5 truck the day after the Huntington Beach event. Don't know if they'll pass near you on the way but it might be worth exploring.

[wleehendrick]

I used Stewart... they don't communicate very proactively, but if you call, they're nice and will give you an update. There are a few complaints on here about them, but I had no issues. My kit was delivered two weeks after production; the only problem was neighborhood access with their large 18-wheeler, so we had to unload in a parking lot and bring it the last mile on a flatbed. From my experience, I'd recommend them.

[tomtruitt85]

I tried to use Stewart but I got a call a day before they were scheduled to pickup my kit at FFR letting me know their truck was broken down 580 miles from the pickup location - they didint know when the truck would get to a repair shop or when the part they needed to fix would arrive once the diagnosis was compleated. Things happens. My point is, you never know when your kit will arrive.

I cancelled my order with Stewart rented a trailer and picked it up myself. 48 hrs and 2100 miles later my kit was in the garage plus I got to meet the FFR staff and take a tour of thier facility which was well worth the trip. Dallas is quite a bit further but pickups are always an option.

[Xusia]

I used Stewart... they don't communicate very proactively, but if you call, they're nice and will give you an update. There are a few complaints on here about them, but I had no issues. My kit was delivered two weeks after production; the only problem was neighborhood access with their large 18-wheeler, so we had to unload in a parking lot and bring it the last mile on a flatbed. From my experience, I'd recommend them.

This sums up my experience very well. I would add that in my case there were numerous delays. Probably unavoidable, to not blaming them. Just pointing them out to properly set expectations. Communication could be better indeed.

[Jaime]

I live 500 miles from FFR and I plan on renting a U-Haul and picking it up myself. Should cost about the same as Stewart and I'll get a chance to see the showroom and meet the people. I'll probably get it a few days earlier too.

I know a guy who picked up his roadster a few years back that is willing to keep me company for the ride.

[donshapansky]

I used Stewart to Granbury, TX they called when the driver was leaving with my car at the front. He thought he would be at Granbury on a Saturday by noon nut called 2 days out that he would be in Sunday 12:00 - 1:00 he was at my place at 12:30 it took about 30 minutes to unload. The van had a rolling crane that brought the chassis and body out and dropped it straight onto my flat deck trailer. He gave a sheet to with box numbers and checked them off as they came out of the trailer. The count was correct and the transaction was very professional. The trip was dealing with the aftermath of a major snow storm that delayed pick-up about 3 days at FFR.

[Brando]

I had nearly the exact same experience wleehendrick & Donshapansky just wrote using Stewart. I was shipping to CA. It took a month after my build was complete to receive it, however there was severe weather and it was during the xmas new year holiday so I can sort of understand the lag. It arrived in perfect shape and the driver was very personable and helpful.

[Goldwing]

I used Stewart as well. There was a delay around the New Year due to one of the trucks breaking down. I work with the airlines, I get the logistical aspects of the breakdown. Yours may be put on a train first, and driven the last bit. Dallas could go either way between direct driving or a combination of rail travel. The train stop is Arizona/New Mexico area I think.

[Bill Waters]

My experience is in line with that of Doug, Donshapansky, and Brando. For 818R chassis #114 and my Mk 3.1 Roadster, Stewart was flawless. Professional. Drivers go out of their way to update you as they are en route. Highly recommend.

Bill

[nkw8181]

Thanks everyone! I have considered renting a trailer and driving but that is a drive and might cost the same once you figure gas and lodging. The plus there is I could meet the team which I want to do! Hmmm time to give it more though. Still got a few weeks before I need to make a decision.

[tomtruitt85]

I highly reccomend making the trip if you can and if it makes sense - Ill never forget that trip with my Old man (makes a much better story when you look back)

[ktm]

+1 on using Stewart. their price came out to be about the same as me picking it up. I've been to the factory, it's was neat, but not really worth driving 2 days to get to, then 2 days back home.

Stewart is good, they have issues as all shipping companies do, but they call when they pick up, call a day before it's delivered. Be flexible- the car will be delivered within 48 hours of their initial estimate.

[JEMAN]

I have a kit waiting to be picked up still from F5. When you call the service is very friendly if they pick up. They are not very proactive in letting you know the status of when they will actually be picking it up though. I called and had mine scheduled to be picked up a few weeks ago and am still waiting for them to pick it up. I am just saying this so you know that the back log is a little long bc they said the weather is bad up there with all the snow they have been having.

[nomansland]

For a guy picking up his own kit, what size trailer would you need? I'm thinking enclosed as I would likely have to spend the night somewhere.
Unless I had a road dog to help me drive straight through which might be an option.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

26229
For a guy picking up his own kit, what size trailer would you need? I'm thinking enclosed as I would likely have to spend the night somewhere.
Unless I had a road dog to help me drive straight through which might be an option.
I got 2 of them on a 18ft x 6ft flat bed with 2 set of boxes in the van. The body's hung over front and back by 18" each.
Bobhttp://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=26229&d=1392417576

[jrichards]

I used Stewart as well. There was a delay around the New Year due to one of the trucks breaking down. I work with the airlines, I get the logistical aspects of the breakdown. Yours may be put on a train first, and driven the last bit. Dallas could go either way between direct driving or a combination of rail travel. The train stop is Arizona/New Mexico area I think.

Their trucks breaking down seems to be a recurring theme and my situation is the same. My couple was supposed to be here today. Truck is apparently in the shop and the car is still in Arizona. They never called to let me know there would be a delay. They were supposed to call me again today and give me a status update on when the truck would be fixed and my car on the road again but never heard from them. They have had my car now for two weeks. I'm not real happy with them right now. A phone call would have been nice. On a brighter note my Wilwoods breaks arrived today.

[Goldwing]

I know it's frustrating now, but by the end of the build, it likely won't even be part of the story. I admit it was easy to wait a little since the holidays were in full swing in my case. I might not feel that way mid winter with spring approaching, lol.

[K3LAG]

For a guy picking up his own kit, what size trailer would you need? I'm thinking enclosed as I would likely have to spend the night somewhere.
Unless I had a road dog to help me drive straight through which might be an option.

I used a 16 foot Penske truck. It worked well and had plenty of space. We flew to Providence and rented the truck there. Was cheaper, and faster, than driving both ways. Southwest flights to Providence can be very cheap depending on where you are coming from. We only paid $67 each for the flight.

Larry

[nkw8181]

That sounds promising. I've got a couple options brewing
I used a 16 foot Penske truck. It worked well and had plenty of space. We flew to Providence and rented the truck there. Was cheaper, and faster, than driving both ways. Southwest flights to Providence can be very cheap depending on where you are coming from. We only paid $67 each for the flight.

Larry

[carlewms]

My experience with Stewart was perfect. The driver was professional and helped me get the kit down about 100 yards of country road and another 1/4 mile down the driveway (at night).

Carl

[Goldwing]

Carl reminds me a of good point. The destination site service is very good with Stewart. Maybe others are better proactive communicators, but once Stewart is there, they take very good care of you. Many companies will drop stuff at the end of your driveway, leaving any issues entirely up to you. The Stewart guy brought everything into my garage, and had the potential issues already solved. Other stories show even more willingness to help with unique circumstances. This is NOT my typical experience with freight companies once you're shipping something bigger than a typical UPS box.

[Xusia]

This is NOT my typical experience with freight companies once you're shipping something bigger than a typical UPS box.

Good point and +1. With the exception of Stewart, all shipping companies I've dealt with view their "job" as no more than to show up at the address and unload your crap from their truck (you do have a dock, right?). After that it's your problem.

[Doowop]

for people that have looked at other carriers, is the issue the unloading? I know Stewart has a lift in the back of the truck. Stewart seems a bit high to me and a couple local guys had very bad experience with them. I'm trying to find another solution besides driving. I'm in Colorado....

[Joseph]

The shipping companies I have used all consider "delivery" as meaning they stop at my house and drop the crate in the middle of my driveway. The last two guys did not even pretend to pull into my driveway but rather just left the crates there next to the road. I am thankful that my neighbor runs a land clearing business on the side, so he has a big tractor that he used to pick up the crates and he put them in my garage for me. It would be nice to have a business where they have a loading dock. The delivery process is a big problem when you order anything that is too big to go UPS.

[K3LAG]

Wayne shipped my crate donor via Con-Way. The Con-Way driver was excellent and willing to take the crate as far as he could get it on a pallet jack. He parked on the street at end of driveway and the driver and two of us pulled/pushed the pallet jack up the driveway 150 feet to the garage.Tried to tip him for it, but he wouldn't take it. Said they weren't allowed to.

Larry

[wleehendrick]

Tried to tip him for it, but he wouldn't take it. Said they weren't allowed to.

I should add that I gave Stewart's driver a nice tip. He was professional and patient as we dealt with access issues and did everything he could to help. He let us borrow his dolly. Definitely not the drop it on the curb attitude.

Before moving recently, we lived in an upstairs condo in San Diego. I always appreciated, and tipped well, delivery guys willing to bust their back.

[Slatt]

Just a little off topic here. My JDM EJ207 V8 motor will arrive tomorrow. What kind of shipping damage should I be on alert for / inspect before signing off with the shipper? I'm already aware the oil fill tube is a classic damage item. I reckon it could take awhile to get a good look at the oil pan so that inspection may or may not happen while the shipper is still there. I can't think of any other hot items, myself. Thoughts???

[jrichards]

My kit finally arrived from Stewart and as Goldwing suggested in a prior post, after delivery the long wait and delays are water under the bridge. The driver was great, the unload was perfect and all very professional in the end. The kit itself and the boxes were in good condition without damage. Aside from keeping my car for a month due to truck problems and a couple of days of weather Stewart was good.

[longislandwrx]

Just a little off topic here. My JDM EJ207 V8 motor will arrive tomorrow. What kind of shipping damage should I be on alert for / inspect before signing off with the shipper? I'm already aware the oil fill tube is a classic damage item. I reckon it could take awhile to get a good look at the oil pan so that inspection may or may not happen while the shipper is still there. I can't think of any other hot items, myself. Thoughts???

Oil pan, make sure it wasn't dropped on the pan. make sure none of the harness you need was cut on accident. inspect the connectors. look for broken off bolts

it may be shrink wrapped so you may not be able to see anything.

how much did you pay for yours?

[Slatt]

$3750, as complete as I've seen offered yet. Oil pan crushed enough to leak. :( But I was pretty much planning on getting a Killer-B anyway. Some torn hoses, I guess that's to be expected. Cracked cam sprocket cover. :mad: And now that I have it in front of me I realize those cracks were in the seller's photos all along, it just didn't sink into my eyeballs. I'm a bit scared about the sprocket cover, we'll see...

[FFRSpec72]

I used Stewart as I have in the past, but this time very little communications, I have to keep calling to get status, the car was picked up almost 2 weeks ago and still no word on it as it seems they shipped on a rail carrier to Phoenix and then a delivery truck from Phoenix to my house in Seattle.

[FFRSpec72]

how much did you pay for yours?

Mine will be delivered 3/11 and I paid $4000 shipped with a 5sp trans (EJ207v7 Engine + 5sp), mileage was 75,000km, it is being delivered via DayRoss Canadian shipping company

[Jaime]

How accurate has everyone's delivery date been. I'm considering flying to Boston and renting a truck to get mine home. If I have a date two months out, what are the odds of it being pushed?

[wleehendrick]

How accurate has everyone's delivery date been. I'm considering flying to Boston and renting a truck to get mine home. If I have a date two months out, what are the odds of it being pushed?

My kit was ready at FFR the day they said (I actually got 'hot-listed' two weeks earlier than my original date). It took Stewart a week to pick it up, and another week to get out to CA.

[FFRSpec72]

My kit was ready at FFR the day they said (I actually got 'hot-listed' two weeks earlier than my original date). It took Stewart a week to pick it up, and another week to get out to CA.

My kit was done on 2/22 and I'm just getting a delivery today, so almost a month

[Goldwing]

Delivery date by truck has been more of an estimate. It's been a rough winter I think any of us in any place but Hawaii could agree, lol. FFR's kit completion date has been pretty reliable by all accounts I've heard. If you're picking up, a quick call the week before you leave would be a good idea just to double check. Any items that aren't ready will be shipped to you on FFR's dime.

[K3LAG]

We flew to Providence, rented a truck and picked up and drove back. FFR's date for pick-up availability was on the money. You might check flight prices into Providence as well as Boston. Often Providence is cheaper, it's only an hour from FFR and there is a good bit less traffic.

Larry

[phillig]

I used Stewart and could not have been happier.

My kit was done on time but Stewart wasn't able to pick it up for a couple of weeks later because of backlog from weather. I initiated all calls prior to pick up and if I left a message with them, they always called back promptly. Once it was in the drivers hands, we got frequent updates from the driver down to a call when he was an hour out.

Since I was away on travel, I had to switch delivery to my sons house nearby which was handled without a hitch. My wife and son took the delivery and had nothing but good things to say about the delivery and Stewart driver.

I am one happy Stewart customer.

[FFRSpec72]

While the end result was fine, getting there was painful. Stewart dropped off my 818 R tonight, the lift in the trailer was not working, it took over 2 hours to unload the car, the driver was on the ladder rewiring the lift and trying to make this thing work. So the car was complete on 2/22 and now its 3/17 and I'm just getting the car.

27011

[Doowop]

ok, so it looks like everybody used Stewart. I'm still looking to see who used somebody else. Anybody?