factory 818 pick up?

[Lumpyguy]

I will be heading down to FF to get my car in a few months and I am planning to trailer the car home without the shipping crate.

My question is what size trailer will be needed to put the car on the way it ships? 8' trailer? 10' trailer?

Thanks

[fact5racer]

All depends on what your towing it with. There's a lot of boxes too.

[wallace18]

It all will fit in a 12x6 enclosed trailer.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

With a 6x 22ft flat bed (hanging over each end) and a full size van packed to the gills, You can get 2.
Bob
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[matteo92065]

I put all boxes and car on a 16' open trailer. It would be tight with anything shorter.

[STiPWRD]

Fits inside a Uhaul 12' x 6' open trailer. The boxes should fit inside your truck or SUV.34072

[AZPete]

As StiPWRD said, the 818 will fit in a U-Haul 12 x 6 open trailer but the tail gate opening is too narrow to roll or drag it out. I think that FFR can lower it into the trailer but you will have to remove most of the body panels before it will fit through the rear opening of the trailer. Don't ask how I discovered this.


http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb180/AZPeteCobra/ramptoonarrow.jpg (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/AZPeteCobra/media/ramptoonarrow.jpg.html)

[Lumpyguy]

Ok so I went to put the depost on a rental trailer and I got a 6 x 12 enclosed trailer but the back door opening is 5' and the inside is 6 feet! will I have to take off the rear bumper and side body panel to make it fit? I think I will?!?

[AZPete]

With an enclosed 6x12 trailer you'll have to remove body panels to roll it in on a dolly, but then figure out where you are going to put the panels. The biggest are the two side panels (pods). The open 6x12 may be better because you can keep the body panels in place, assuming FFR can lower in from above, and then remove the body panels at home. Weather won't hurt the chassis & body.

Or, better yet, rent a bigger trailer. I wish I had.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

My go kart fits in a 6x12 u-haul open trailer.
On the trailer I get, the rear gate is full width at 6'.
I do not have the nose steel installed.(ffr standard delivery configuration)
There is about 1.5" clearance on each side. I do not know if the car would fit with rear fenders install (ffr standard delivery configuration)
FFR would drop in in from the top, you should have some wood block for the chassis to sit on so the fiberglas doesn't rest on the floor. You should also have some straps to keep it from sliding around.
It will be difficult, but not impossible for you to remove from the trailer.
You also need a pick up size bed for all the boxes.
Bob
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[suttonb3]

Thanks for the info, guys. I'll be picking my kit up shortly and was wondering what supplies I should take. I'll be towing on a 16' flatbed, but it's only 5'2" wide. I know that's on the narrow side but since it's a flatbed I figure I can just let it hang over the edges. What does the frame actually sit on during transport? I noticed in Bob_n_Cincy's pic with 2 kits that there are blocks of wood underneath. Is that something I should plan on bringing with me? I could take some 4x4's or pallets if I needed to. Here's my list of things to make this a successful transport, please add/remove/critique as you see fit:

ratchet straps
mover's blankets
garbage bags/ stretch wrap for the boxes I can't fit in the truck
Blocks to prop up the frame?
sawzall/circular saw
drill with lots of screws

This is in addition to the normal items in my truck like tools and compressor.

[xxguitarist]

We took a 2" thick sheet of rigid insulation foam to set the frame on. Soft, supportive, cheap. Perfect.

At least 4 ratchet straps, and several more ratchet or cinch straps for boxes. May want some microfiber cloths too depending on how you tie down.

We used a 16' box truck.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Thanks for the info, guys. I'll be picking my kit up shortly and was wondering what supplies I should take. I'll be towing on a 16' flatbed, but it's only 5'2" wide. I know that's on the narrow side but since it's a flatbed I figure I can just let it hang over the edges. What does the frame actually sit on during transport? I noticed in Bob_n_Cincy's pic with 2 kits that there are blocks of wood underneath. Is that something I should plan on bringing with me? I could take some 4x4's or pallets if I needed to. Here's my list of things to make this a successful transport, please add/remove/critique as you see fit:

ratchet straps
mover's blankets
garbage bags/ stretch wrap for the boxes I can't fit in the truck
Blocks to prop up the frame?
sawzall/circular saw
drill with lots of screws

This is in addition to the normal items in my truck like tools and compressor.

The fiberglass side of the car attach to the bottom of the frame. So a pallet, 4x4 or even 2x4 is needed for the frame to rest on.
FFR will help you out if you don't have exactly what you need.
Bob

[AZPete]

Remember to post pictures so we can all share the fun experience!

[Zach34]

Thanks for the info, guys. I'll be picking my kit up shortly and was wondering what supplies I should take. I'll be towing on a 16' flatbed, but it's only 5'2" wide. I know that's on the narrow side but since it's a flatbed I figure I can just let it hang over the edges. What does the frame actually sit on during transport? I noticed in Bob_n_Cincy's pic with 2 kits that there are blocks of wood underneath. Is that something I should plan on bringing with me? I could take some 4x4's or pallets if I needed to. Here's my list of things to make this a successful transport, please add/remove/critique as you see fit:

ratchet straps
mover's blankets
garbage bags/ stretch wrap for the boxes I can't fit in the truck
Blocks to prop up the frame?
sawzall/circular saw
drill with lots of screws

This is in addition to the normal items in my truck like tools and compressor.

I just picked mine up this week. I can't describe how motivating it was to see the blue car in person. Just like everybody else has said, the pictures really don't do it justice. But enough pontificating.

Thanks to this thread, I also did the uhaul 6x12 open utility trailer. For anyone else going this route, browsing on the uhaul website will show you two 6x12 open trailers. One has a tall ramp gate, the other has a short gate. AZPete had the tall gate and for some reason they built the opening in the rear to be narrower than the opening on the short gate. You will probably need 4 people to lift the frame over the side walls of the tall gate trailer, whereas it will slide out the back of the short gate trailer. The one big negative to this trailer is that uhaul does not allow 1-way rentals like they do with their car hauler trailer. I found that out two days prior to my trip, so unfortunately I had to drag the trailer all the way up there from Norfolk. The trailer is about as small as you can manage. I had just over an inch of clearance on either side of the rear fenders to the inside of the trailer, and less than a foot on each end.

FFR provided two pallets to set it on in the trailer without me even asking. The pallets are definitely the best way to go. I would just call and confirm they can provide a couple. They also have cardboard to go between the pallets and frame so you don't scratch up your powdercoat (if you got that option) on the wood.

We loaded the car in backwards, as you can see. The thought was, since the front of the car is open and the rear panels are temp-mounted, the wind might catch inside the rear bumper and pull on it. You're probably fine either way.

FFR's forklift contraption is eyebrow-raising, but effective.

I used 6 ratchet straps on the frame and it stayed pretty secure. Those things stretch and the trailer's suspension is very tough and bouncy. Anticipate it moving around an inch or so, probably no matter how many straps you use. The uhaul trailer has plenty of tie-down points inside.

I was very worried about the frame jumping side to side over bumps and having the rear fender panels rubbing on the inside of the trailer. We stopped at the Lowes across from FFR and bought a 4x8 sheet of inch-thick styrofoam insulation for $12. We stuffed/taped it to the insides of the trailer where the panels could potentially rub and that gave me peace-of-mind.

I have an extended cab F150 with a short bed (5.5 feet). If you have a smaller truck you will need to put some more things in the trailer. We barely got all 10 boxes in the bed and we were able to get the windshield (I got a street windshield for occasional use on the road even though it's an R), front fenders, and front splitter in the cab.

FFR helped me secure the panels to the frame a little more with some 4" duct tape they generously provided. The guys were really helpful with suggestions on how to load it and strap it down, and they offered to provide some extra foam and packing materials to ensure everything was safe and secure. Very nice.

We bungee-corded and taped the hood inside the car for extra security.

Here's what I used:

1 roll of quality 3-4" wide duct tape
6+ quality ratchet straps
4+ bungee cords, 3-4 feet each
1 sheet of thick styrofoam insulation
1 tire puncture repair kit (for the trailer.....yep, that happened)

The drive from Norfolk to Wareham was just over 12 hours with all the stops and traffic we encountered. I paid over $80 in tolls. I did the whole trip in 2 days, sharing the driving time with my dad. I might take 3 days if I were to do it again, but the total cost was under $600 for gas/food/lodging, much cheaper than the $1100-$1200 it would cost to get it shipped - worth it.

[suttonb3]

Thanks for the ideas and pictures! I'm leaving Florida tomorrow with the wife and kids (ages 3 and 5. Yes, we are a little bit crazy) and we'll pick up the kit on Wednesday. We're going to spend a day or two in New York City doing the touristy stuff, and then on to the good stuff! I can't believe it's time, I've been dreaming about this for years!

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Not to bad of weather. Take some warm clothes for this weekend. Have Fun
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[wallace18]

Best of luck on your trip!

[Lumpyguy]

I to am about to embark on myu adventure to pick up my kit as well, I am leaving Fri morning and pick it up Sat morning.