[RabidRat]

Does anyone have any experience with Hansens? I heard good things about them in a previous thread on RS but I wanted to get some more opinions.

Anyone know if they'll drop the vehicle off at a pickup location, or if it has to be at your place? Anyone know if you have to be there to sign for the vehicle?

[GabAlmighty]

I used searail to send my 245 to Montreal. I have a feeling a company is going to charge you exponentially more to pick up and deliver your car.

And you probably have to be there to sign for the car... Wouldn't make sense if you didn't.

[97ITR]

I used Hansens to ship from BC to Ontario. They have drop-off and pick-up locations in various cities across the country so you can choose to pick it up from their storage centre. That's assuming there's terminal close to where you are. It's also actually cheaper if they don't have to pick up and/or drop off your car at a specific location. You should e-mail them to see if there's a storage centre near your ultimate destination.

Oh, make sure you car has at least 4 inches of clearance. They won't ship it if it's lower. Also note that no personal items can be shipped with the vehicle.

FYI, I'm not sure about signing upon receipt but I can tell you that I wasn't there to sign when they picked up my car. My sister signed the inspection form when they picked up my car. I assume as long as you authorize someone to sign for your vehicle at the destination, it would be ok. However, you should be there since you would have a better idea of what damage was pre-existing and what's new.

[jstn86]

don't use searail

i used searail to ship my car from vancouver to toronto in april.
there some delays (although it may be CN's fault) but regardless, it was later that the suggested arrival date.

also, they managed to do this to my bumper:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c8/jstn86/Photo0081.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c8/jstn86/Photo0080.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c8/jstn86/Photo0079.jpg

all vehicles shipped through searail are covered under their insurance.

BUT there's a 300 deductible so i didn't bother with going through their insurance. it was a 20 minute fix but still a pain in the ass

my car was covered with dust and dirt (from sitting in the lot and dust from the train in the rail cars)

i was thinking of choosing hansen but searail was BIT cheaper.
i've heard nothing but good things about hansen so i would choose hansen.

just don't use searail.

[GabAlmighty]

^^^Car looks lowered. My car also had the front spoiler pulled a bit, but due to the superior design of my vehicle it was mended within moments. And dust and dirt? Is the world really over?

As for the delay, that sucks. Mine arrived on time and perfect, shitty for you.

[jstn86]

^^^Car looks lowered. My car also had the front spoiler pulled a bit, but due to the superior design of my vehicle it was mended within moments. And dust and dirt? Is the world really over?

As for the delay, that sucks. Mine arrived on time and perfect, shitty for you.

nope. car was not lowered at all.

haha yeah you are right. dust and dirt is not the end of the world now that i think about it .

but i guess i was bit upset due to my bumper being all fuxored. :(

i'm sure if you saw your car with a fucked up bumper and all dirty, it won't feel TOO nice.

[GabAlmighty]

It was fine when I sent it off, the guy who got it was the one who got the pulled spoiler. Not my problem after I dropped it off haha.

[RabidRat]

I used Hansens to ship from BC to Ontario. They have drop-off and pick-up locations in various cities across the country so you can choose to pick it up from their storage centre. That's assuming there's terminal close to where you are. It's also actually cheaper if they don't have to pick up and/or drop off your car at a specific location. You should e-mail them to see if there's a storage centre near your ultimate destination.

Oh, make sure you car has at least 4 inches of clearance. They won't ship it if it's lower. Also note that no personal items can be shipped with the vehicle.

FYI, I'm not sure about signing upon receipt but I can tell you that I wasn't there to sign when they picked up my car. My sister signed the inspection form when they picked up my car. I assume as long as you authorize someone to sign for your vehicle at the destination, it would be ok. However, you should be there since you would have a better idea of what damage was pre-existing and what's new.

So if they shipped to the storage centre then u could go claim it anyday afterwards right? You don't have to arrive there on the same day?

[RabidRat]

Shit justn86 that sucks to hear. I definitely won't try Searail then lol. Maybe if my car was built like a beast like Gab's it'd be fine though =p.

[G-spec]

I shipped a few coupes using Searail back and forth between Vancouver and Toronto over last few years.. A few months ago I needed to ship my coupe back from Toronto again and Hansens was a few hundred cheaper, total cost me $1260. Searail wanted $1670, and not to mention would NOT guarantee safety of any items inside the car also givin me a very hard time because I have only about 4 inches of ground clearance. I won't ever be using Searail again, they cost too much and complicate shit way overboard. Hansens was simple upfront and cheaper as well, keep in mind that's terminal to terminal, meaning I had someone drive it to hansens terminal in Toronto and I picked it up from their terminal at Annacis island myself when it got here, much safer that way IMO because you see the person load your car onto the train at the terminal with your own eyes, and once it's loaded it doesn't move.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[GabAlmighty]

They told me I could put whatever I wanted in the car, but that it wouldn't make it to the other side haha. So I hid the laptop under the seat and the lady told me "good luck". Made it fine.

So if they shipped to the storage centre then u could go claim it anyday afterwards right? You don't have to arrive there on the same day?

Storage fees if it's there for a while?

[RabidRat]

I shipped a few coupes using Searail back and forth between Vancouver and Toronto over last few years.. A few months ago I needed to ship my coupe back from Toronto again and Hansens was a few hundred cheaper, total cost me $1260. Searail wanted $1670, and not to mention would NOT guarantee safety of any items inside the car also givin me a very hard time because I have only about 4 inches of ground clearance. I won't ever be using Searail again, they cost too much and complicate shit way overboard. Hansens was simple upfront and cheaper as well, keep in mind that's terminal to terminal, meaning I had someone drive it to hansens terminal in Toronto and I picked it up from their terminal at Annacis island myself when it got here, much safer that way IMO because you see the person load your car onto the train at the terminal with your own eyes, and once it's loaded it doesn't move.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

Do you happen to recall where it was in Toronto that their terminal is? Anywhere near the airport?

[jstn86]

the searail location is really inconvenient without a car

it's not near the airport at all

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=YYz&daddr=551+Creditstone+Road,+South+Gate+Concord,,+O ntario+L4K+1L8+(Searail)&hl=en&geocode=Fb-HmgIdbzdB-yn7t85IzT4riDGihZWK64koyw%3BFahbnAIdnapC-yHLxU7FlY7hzQ&mra=ls&sll=43.805297,-79.573288&sspn=0.147178,0.362892&ie=UTF8&ll=43.738112,-79.565048&spn=0.153545,0.362892&z=12

easy to get there by car but hard by taking transit

good luck

[97ITR]

So if they shipped to the storage centre then u could go claim it anyday afterwards right? You don't have to arrive there on the same day?

Yes, within reason. A storage fee would probably apply. Is there a specific reason why you can't time it so that you'll be in Toronto when your vehicle arrives? BTW... It took over two weeks door to door and the train leaves from Vancouver every Tuesday.

[RabidRat]

Yes, within reason. A storage fee would probably apply. Is there a specific reason why you can't time it so that you'll be in Toronto when your vehicle arrives? BTW... It took over two weeks door to door and the train leaves from Vancouver every Tuesday.

Yeah my flight's already booked for Jan 2, but almost every quote I've gotten from various vendors has said "shipping time ranges from 2-3 weeks for vancouver to toronto". I can't change my flight last minute to fly there the day they call me to say my car has arrived, it isn't an option. So all I can do is ship 3 weeks in advance right?
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[Marco911]

I shipped my Porsche from Vancouver to Toronto using TFX International. Their terminal is located right by Pearson airport. Great service. They are the authorized movers for Ferrari and use NASCAR style lifts and air suspension so it won't put any undue stress on your car's suspension. I've shipped my car cross country with them 3 times and their service is impeccable. They will allow you to keep personal items that fit in the trunk of your car. They are a little pricey, but if you have a nice car, well worth it.

[Marco911]

^^I would never ship a car by rail. Many import cars are not designed to be shipped by rail and stuff like engine mounts can break during routine freight transport by rail.

[RabidRat]

So I just booked transportation with Hansen's. They were about $130 more than everyone else but they said this included $0 deductible for any insurance claims, and they threw in pickup and dropoff service after I haggled with them a little. And anyway I didn't really want to chance it with Searail or any of the nonamers after the horror stories you guys have told haha. Well, that and the lady on the phone was jizzing her pants over my car so you know she'd take care of it =D.

edit: useful notes:
-pickup at the Vancouver terminal is weekly (Tuesdays), so the closest they could get me to Jan2 was Dec24-28
-storage at the terminal with Hansen's is free for up to two weeks, so it doesn't matter when you get there to pick it up really

Marco: That's good to know, thanks. In the future if I'm shipping a nicer vehicle I'll definitely go that route.

Anyway I'll let you guys know how Hansen's turns out - thanks for the help!

[GabAlmighty]

^^I would never ship a car by rail. Many import cars are not designed to be shipped by rail and stuff like engine mounts can break during routine freight transport by rail.

Huh? How?

[RabidRat]

Just FYI for everyone in case you were curious.

Vancouver to Toronto

Searail: $1096.96 (terminal to terminal service; no items in vehicle; shipped by train for this price, though by truck is an extra cost option)
Hansen's: $1230.73 (door to door service was negotiated as part of price; no items in vehicle; shipped by train for this price, though by truck is an extra cost option)
TFX International: $1764.00 (door to door service included; CAN store items in the vehicle, up to 200lbs; shipped by truck on air suspension)

[Marco911]

Huh? How?

When they hook the box cars up to the train there can be quite a significant impact. Engine mounts are designed to break under a certain g-load for crash safety.

[Marco911]

You know Hansen's will just outsource it to Searail, right?

[RabidRat]

You know Hansen's will just outsource it to Searail, right?

Have you heard of this happening?

[GabAlmighty]

When they hook the box cars up to the train there can be quite a significant impact. Engine mounts are designed to break under a certain g-load for crash safety.

Just upon initial hookup? I highly doubt the "bang" is going to reach the point of engine mounts breaking. I don't see it being any different then everyday driving where you hit a pothole, brake hard, slide a corner and gain traction in a rouch manner. Do you have any proof of this happening?:S

[jlenko]

^^I would never ship a car by rail. Many import cars are not designed to be shipped by rail and stuff like engine mounts can break during routine freight transport by rail.

Yeah... neither would the manufacturers...

Oh wait! They're ALL sent by rail! :rolleyes: In fact... a whole lot of imports come into Vancouver, get loaded onto rail cars, then get shipped all over North America.

And every single one has a bunch of broken shit on it... :rofl:

[Marco911]

Have you heard of this happening?

Hansen's does not own a railway or rail car. They will use the same train that searail uses to go across the country.

[Marco911]

Yeah... neither would the manufacturers...

Oh wait! They're ALL sent by rail! :rolleyes: In fact... a whole lot of imports come into Vancouver, get loaded onto rail cars, then get shipped all over North America.

And every single one has a bunch of broken shit on it... :rofl:

Some cars are designed for it, and some aren't. There are imports that aren't.

[Marco911]

Just upon initial hookup? I highly doubt the "bang" is going to reach the point of engine mounts breaking. I don't see it being any different then everyday driving where you hit a pothole, brake hard, slide a corner and gain traction in a rouch manner. Do you have any proof of this happening?:S

Really? You don't see a difference between g forces that are on a horizontal plane vs. vertical or lateral?

Incidentally, braking hard is nowhere close to the g-force of an impact from hitting something

[GabAlmighty]

Really? You don't see a difference between g forces that are on a horizontal plane vs. vertical or lateral?

Incidentally, braking hard is nowhere close to the g-force of an impact from hitting something

Although i'm no physics guy. I truly do not follow you here. Cars will experience load forces from every direction..

And what in the hell is a train going to hit? A mountain?

[jlenko]

Some cars are designed for it, and some aren't. There are imports that aren't.

Really? Tell me which imports then.. and I'll just prove you wrong.

[GabAlmighty]

I think they were made of glass^^^

[Jayhall]

if your car has 4 wheels it is designed for travel by rail. I used to load cars and trucks onto rail cars. They will ship all private vehicles on a bi-level rail car. They use chalk blocks that lock into the grate on the floor, one for every wheel 2 in front 2 in the back. Dont leave anything in the car! Some people will steal anything. You cant leave items locked in the trunk incase the spare tire is needed, it happens.

Damage can occur when the trains hook up to a string of cars. There are notices on every rail car that states "do not bump over 4 km/h" As for a train hitting a mountain, not exactly. Mountains how ever can hit trains, and Ive seen that devistation on a bi-level before. (land slides) 10 dually GMC and Chevy trucks just tossed like tonka toys. Space is money so the cars are always packed as tight as they can get, but the rule is no closer than 10" which sometimes gets ignored, but more often than not is followed.

Dust happens. Even when BMW and mercedes ships their cars across the country dust happens. It is not from sitting in the yard. Cars dont sit around long enough to collect dust in a big paved parking lot.

As for who to use I dont have a lot of experiance in that end of things. We dealt mainly with searail and I know they had a good quality control system in place. Anything else I might be able to shed some light on I'd be happy to

[GabAlmighty]

Dont leave anything in the car! Some people will steal anything. You cant leave items locked in the trunk incase the spare tire is needed, it happens.

Hahah ya, the lady at Searail told me I could leave anything in the car... But it wouldn't make it to the other side:P

[RabidRat]

if your car has 4 wheels it is designed for travel by rail. I used to load cars and trucks onto rail cars. They will ship all private vehicles on a bi-level rail car. They use chalk blocks that lock into the grate on the floor, one for every wheel 2 in front 2 in the back. Dont leave anything in the car! Some people will steal anything. You cant leave items locked in the trunk incase the spare tire is needed, it happens.

Damage can occur when the trains hook up to a string of cars. There are notices on every rail car that states "do not bump over 4 km/h" As for a train hitting a mountain, not exactly. Mountains how ever can hit trains, and Ive seen that devistation on a bi-level before. (land slides) 10 dually GMC and Chevy trucks just tossed like tonka toys. Space is money so the cars are always packed as tight as they can get, but the rule is no closer than 10" which sometimes gets ignored, but more often than not is followed.

Dust happens. Even when BMW and mercedes ships their cars across the country dust happens. It is not from sitting in the yard. Cars dont sit around long enough to collect dust in a big paved parking lot.

As for who to use I dont have a lot of experiance in that end of things. We dealt mainly with searail and I know they had a good quality control system in place. Anything else I might be able to shed some light on I'd be happy to

Are the vehicles driven onto the train, or are they loaded without turning the vehicle on? Do people ever screw around with the cars?

Thanks!

[Jayhall]

All vehicles are driven onto the rail cars yes. Most of the time private vehicles will be loaded by more experianced rail workers. Either way they are all professionals, usually loading 50-60 cars a day.

As for do people screw around in them, the anwser isnt the one you want to hear. It happens, most people are pretty good with not being children in the cars, some others are not and will screw around. The good thing about that is usually it is very tough to screw around due to the bosses being around and keeping a close eye on things. Chances are way very very good that your car wont get used and abused, but it has happened in the past.

This was never MY personal policy, but "through the grape vine" I heard it might not be a bad idea to leave a few bucks in change in the ash tray, expect it to be gone but if someone gets in your car to load or off-load and gets a couple bucks for themselves (i know its so silly) they will be happy and less likely to rag on the car

[RabidRat]

All vehicles are driven onto the rail cars yes. Most of the time private vehicles will be loaded by more experianced rail workers. Either way they are all professionals, usually loading 50-60 cars a day.

As for do people screw around in them, the anwser isnt the one you want to hear. It happens, most people are pretty good with not being children in the cars, some others are not and will screw around. The good thing about that is usually it is very tough to screw around due to the bosses being around and keeping a close eye on things. Chances are way very very good that your car wont get used and abused, but it has happened in the past.

This was never MY personal policy, but "through the grape vine" I heard it might not be a bad idea to leave a few bucks in change in the ash tray, expect it to be gone but if someone gets in your car to load or off-load and gets a couple bucks for themselves (i know its so silly) they will be happy and less likely to rag on the car

Thanks, I think I'll do that actually. I'd rather give them a couple bucks than spend thousands replacing my clutch and diff :(.

[1exotic]

Anyone ever use ABR Shipping? http://www.abrshipping.com. Quoted me $1,100 via train... OR $1255 by transporte truck. From here to Waterloo Ontario.

also contacted http://www.autorail.com/ and cost $1500 just by train.

[Marco911]

Really? Tell me which imports then.. and I'll just prove you wrong.

Fact of the matter is that a manufacturer shipping by train can take precautions that an individual owner cannot. Just like shipping on a RO-RO vessel where the vehicle's paint is protected by film, a car shipped by rail may have spacers and braces placed at strategic parts to prevent damage when the rail cars collide. I have heard far too many horror stories to ever consider shipping any of my vehicles by rail - and I've shipped my car across the country 3 times. I used a service that was expensive, but they took great care of my car.

[DasHooch]

Just hire Dana Carvey to drive your Saab across country.

[GabAlmighty]

Fact of the matter is that a manufacturer shipping by train can take precautions that an individual owner cannot. Just like shipping on a RO-RO vessel where the vehicle's paint is protected by film, a car shipped by rail may have spacers and braces placed at strategic parts to prevent damage when the rail cars collide. I have heard far too many horror stories to ever consider shipping any of my vehicles by rail - and I've shipped my car across the country 3 times. I used a service that was expensive, but they took great care of my car.

You've never experienced a "bump"/"jolt"/"jeer" while driving? Me impresso.

[Jayhall]

a car shipped by rail may have spacers and braces placed at strategic parts to prevent damage when the rail cars collide

no, they do not have spacers or braces anywhere. All vehicles shipped by rail are shipped the exact same. Your 89 honda civic will be shipped the exact same as a brand new top of the line benz

[jlenko]

Fact of the matter is that a manufacturer shipping by train can take precautions that an individual owner cannot. Just like shipping on a RO-RO vessel where the vehicle's paint is protected by film, a car shipped by rail may have spacers and braces placed at strategic parts to prevent damage when the rail cars collide. I have heard far too many horror stories to ever consider shipping any of my vehicles by rail - and I've shipped my car across the country 3 times. I used a service that was expensive, but they took great care of my car.

So, you don't have any real information on import manufacturers then that DON'T ship by rail... to back up your previous claim (yeah, I'm shocked..). You obviously don't have a clue about rail transport.

Unless they derail or crash... which, contrary to popular belief, happens very rarely... Rail cars don't "collide" any worse than you drive a car on the street. In fact, I'd say you're probably going to do much worse damage driving your car every day with crummy roads than the forces a car in a rail car experience.

Excessive buff and slack forces are taken up by the coupler and drawbar. And car carriers (autoracks, FYI!) are gentler by design. Your TV, computer, and all the shit you own probably came by rail somewhere along the way... and the containers they got transported in get treated way worse than the autoracks do.

So STFU when you clearly don't have a clue. :thumbsup:

[RabidRat]

Anyone ever use ABR Shipping? http://www.abrshipping.com. Quoted me $1,100 via train... OR $1255 by transporte truck. From here to Waterloo Ontario.

also contacted http://www.autorail.com/ and cost $1500 just by train.

FUCK!!

Why didn't you say something earlier, my car just got picked up yesterday morning to go on the train :cry:

AND I have to drive it to Waterloo myself from Toronto =(. AND I have to have a separate taxi bring my luggage from Toronto because my car won't fit jack shit in the trunk.
PS. You got PM ;)

[goo3]

LOL you guys going to RIM?

[97ITR]

Anyone ever use ABR Shipping? http://www.abrshipping.com. Quoted me $1,100 via train... OR $1255 by transporte truck. From here to Waterloo Ontario.

also contacted http://www.autorail.com/ and cost $1500 just by train.

http://www.transportreviews.com/review/00067059.asp

[RabidRat]

http://www.transportreviews.com/review/00067059.asp

Holy fuck good to know.