What is the best way to transport a cobra kit that has barely been started??

[Jespinosa]

I am in the process of purchasing a kit from someone that has already started a factory five mk4 cobra kit but has only added some of the front and rear suspension parts. The rear suspension has the wheel hubs and most of the IRS components installed, and the front suspension only has the shocks and the control arms, but the wheel hubs are not currently installed. The frame itself is on a custom-made dolly cart and can be wheeled around and the width between the wheels on the cart are about 32"-36".

I am trying to figure out the most efficient way to transport the kit without having to make multiple trips. I was looking to rent an enclosed car transport, but I am having a real hard time finding anything in my area. My next idea was renting a 26-foot U-Haul truck, but the ramp on the truck is too narrow for the custom-made dolly cart to roll up and I am sure the weight of the frame will not easily go up the ramp even if I figured a way to wheel the frame up the ramp. I also looked into renting a box truck with the tuck under liftgate but again I don't know how I am going to put the frame with the dolly on the liftgate.

Maybe I am overthinking this, but I figured I would ask the forum members, as I am sure I am not the only one that has been in this predicament.

Let me know what you recommend as any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[cc2Arider]

I've never done this (going up a ramp)...so take it for what it's worth...:p

I have been able to lift either end of my chassis (similarly built) off of my garage dolly. I'd imagine if you had a "helper", you could do this without mechanical tools going up the ramp into the trailer, but it would be sketchy.

Another alternative is to buy/make some simple ramps your self, just for this job, then repurpose the lumber for something else needed later?

Craig C

P.S.: it's a challenge doing the manual-labor jobs by yourself...ya gotta get creative!

[42Bfast]

I’m with CC, 2 or 3 friends would make it MUCH easier.

Another option, if you’re stuck with the truck, fasten a couple of landscaping timbers, 4x4, or 2x6, or perhaps a sheet of plywood, etc to the bottom of the chassis frame and drag it up the ramp using a come along or block and tackle, assuming you have something to hook up to inside the truck. This is kinda risky as keeping all of it balanced on the ramp will be a challenge. If you used the plywood you could use 2” schedule 40 pvc pipe as rollers.
This isn’t ideal and has some serious safety concerns but it “might” work.

[kirby]

I did something similar recently although the chassis was at least rolling. I ended up buying a trailer to transport it home and then selling the trailer once I was done.

When I was looking around I found most places that sold trailers would rent them also. Keep in mind there will be tons of boxes etc to get home too. I did it in a single trip in an 18' trailer but it was really full.

I was told during my search they would fit in a 7'x14' trailer but I can not confirm

[Al_C]

Assuming your chassis dolly has casters, why not move them inboard so they are within the width of the ramp?

[mrmustang]

I am in the process of purchasing a kit from someone that has already started a factory five mk4 cobra kit but has only added some of the front and rear suspension parts. The rear suspension has the wheel hubs and most of the IRS components installed, and the front suspension only has the shocks and the control arms, but the wheel hubs are not currently installed. The frame itself is on a custom-made dolly cart and can be wheeled around and the width between the wheels on the cart are about 32"-36".

I am trying to figure out the most efficient way to transport the kit without having to make multiple trips. I was looking to rent an enclosed car transport, but I am having a real hard time finding anything in my area. My next idea was renting a 26-foot U-Haul truck, but the ramp on the truck is too narrow for the custom-made dolly cart to roll up and I am sure the weight of the frame will not easily go up the ramp even if I figured a way to wheel the frame up the ramp. I also looked into renting a box truck with the tuck under liftgate but again I don't know how I am going to put the frame with the dolly on the liftgate.

Maybe I am overthinking this, but I figured I would ask the forum members, as I am sure I am not the only one that has been in this predicament.

Let me know what you recommend as any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ditch the current dolly for the move, get yourself two furniture dollys that fits on the ramp, put the chassis on the dollys (2X10's suggested to make the frame fit on the dolly), then place the body on the chassis, already on the dollys. Roll in to Uhaul truck with the help of two friends (2 can do it, 3 or 4 are better). Strap down frame to all four corners of truck, load additional boxes, and away you go. On the other end, reverse the process.

Have used this approach several times with friends, or friends of friends, and not just FFR's

Bill S.

[tnt_motorsports]

FWIW I think the easiest way to do it would be with an enclosed trailer. Is there a race track near by? Can you offer someone some cash to help you out with race hauler? That would be my first choice, but I live in the Midwest with racetracks a plenty...

[Jespinosa]

Assuming your chassis dolly has casters, why not move them inboard so they are within the width of the ramp?

I just checked my photos of the chassis on the dolly and zoomed in on the chassis dolly and noticed that the wheels are welded on. I honestly would have never thought of moving the wheels. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Jespinosa]

Ditch the current dolly for the move, get yourself two furniture dollys that fits on the ramp, put the chassis on the dollys (2X10's suggested to make the frame fit on the dolly), then place the body on the chassis, already on the dollys. Roll in to Uhaul truck with the help of two friends (2 can do it, 3 or 4 are better). Strap down frame to all four corners of truck, load additional boxes, and away you go. On the other end, reverse the process.

Have used this approach several times with friends, or friends of friends, and not just FFR's

Bill S.

The more I look at the chassis dolly in the photos, I think your suggestion might work. If I use some furniture dollies and 2x10's and strap/attach them to the existing chassis dolly, thereby fixing the issue of the wheels being too wide on the dolly, I should be able to roll up the chassis up the ramp.

Thanks for the great suggestion.

[Jespinosa]

FWIW I think the easiest way to do it would be with an enclosed trailer. Is there a race track near by? Can you offer someone some cash to help you out with race hauler? That would be my first choice, but I live in the Midwest with racetracks a plenty...

There really isn't many racetrack's nearby and I could get a friend to lend me a trailer but it is open and I would much rather an enclosed trailer. I might call a few companies that sell the trailers like Kirby suggested to see if they would rent one of their trailers for a few hours. Thankfully the kit is not very far from where I live.

[mrmustang]

The more I look at the chassis dolly in the photos, I think your suggestion might work. If I use some furniture dollies and 2x10's and strap/attach them to the existing chassis dolly, thereby fixing the issue of the wheels being too wide on the dolly, I should be able to roll up the chassis up the ramp.

Thanks for the great suggestion.

I suggest some wood deck screws, and a battery powered drill/screw gun. You only need three or four screws through the 2x10's to hold them in place on the dollies. It's not permanent, and easy enough to set up and tear down afterwards. Plus, you can cut the 2x10's to size before hand, so that you can haul everything easily, then set them up, use them, then tear them back down. 5 minutes each time. For me, it was just a simple, yet elegant solution for when I needed to move unbuilt kits I purchased back in the day.

Of course I was using a enclosed trailer, but the process is just the same.

Bill S.

[1965daytona]

Hi Jespinosa,
Welcome! I live in Miami and can assist you with your project. Call or text me at your convenience. 305 505 0463.
Herb

[gbranham]

Don't know where the kit is coming from, but you might even ask Stewart Transport if they could pick it up and bring it to you on one of their runs. They could hoist it right into their truck, and back on the ground at your driveway. Might not be that much more expensive than renting a truck, buying extra wood, dollies, etc, and sure would be easier.