Any ideas why I am having shipping issues?

[martin300662]

Hi folks, I recently purchased (well back in May) a 20' Argosy from a seller in Florida. My original intention was to get it shipped to Hofarc, as it has already had a body off/new floor/mechanical rebuild, but is gutted inside. That plan had to change when the estimate for shipping was more than the purchase price, so instead I am having the Argosy shipped nearer home (Boston) and having the re-fitment done nearby, well I would be if I could make it happen.

I have tried uShip etc and have numerous 'quotes' from brokers, but they all seem to hit a road block when they post the job on the 'central dispatch' system....every driver is shying away over the height. According to the Owners manual the 20' is 10' high (incl A/C) but I can't be sure it has the original A/C fitted so added 4" to the shipping request but keep getting told above 10' is a problem. To me it is more of a problem if I say it is 10' and then ends up stuck under a bridge somewhere!

The seller shipped the Argosy from Pennsylvania to Florida last year without issue, so 10' hasn't been a problem in the past. Is anyone aware of some legislation that has changed? Although the Argosy is driveable, the tires have dry-rot, and I don't want to pour $600 plus into new tires so that I can drive up as I am thinking of changing the wheels (and maybe the wheel dia)....if it carries on like this, I may have to!

[richinny]

can you locate the shipper that took it south?

[AnnArborBob]

Airstreams are relatively short (low?) in the RV world (even at 10' 4") so I can't imagine that point has anything to do with your troubles.

[overlander63]

That trailer is only 8' 10" tall. Current models are only 9' 6" tall, counting the air conditioner.

[L&C Woogie]

remove the ac unit for shipping?????

[mopariac]

Since you don't care about the tires, flatten them for shipping and gain 5" of clearance.

[Stefrobrts]

I think it's time for a road trip...

[reinergirl]

There's a guy in Windham NH (45 minutes north of Boston) who flatbeds trailers, Airstreams in particular. I believe he offers coast to coast service. You might want to ask him for a quote. There's usually plenty of traffic from Florida to the east coast. If it were me, I'd feel better about using someone who knows Airstreams.

Wayne's Airstream Mobility Service.
https://www.facebook.com/WAMSNH/info

[J. Morgan]

A load over 13' 6" is over height in many states, som are 14'.

For sure MA is 13'6" and there are many roads around Boston where 13'6" is too tall.

Get a real measurement on the trailer, actual and exact.

Most flatbed trailers have a deck height of between 48 and 52" inches.

If you state your height too high you will take a lot of competitors out of the market.

There are drop deck trailers, but most are not.

[martin300662]

Thanks for all the comments. I have sent a message to Wayne's but also asked the seller to accurately measure the height. The A/C isn't currently connected (and will be replaced with a modern unit) so I have also asked him if it could be temporarily removed -fingers crossed one of these work.

[J. Morgan]

Just an FYI , I don't know for sure, the market can do funny things, but I expect that it will cost you between one and two dollars a mile to get the trailer moved.

[martin300662]

That's what I'm finding; all the quotes were around $1700 for the 1500'ish miles. But then maybe even that is lower than needed to get the job done.

The quotes I got for moving from FL to CA under my original plan were all closer to $2 a mile.

[mprokop87]

I tried to have mine loaded on a flatbed and moved to my house and the tow company refused due to height. Luckily for me I found my Argosy 8 miles from my house. I ended up calling AAA and telling them that I could not get my moho start and needed to towed from its storage spot to my house in order to get fixed. They sent out another reputable tow company with a chevy 3500 tow truck and towed it home on its rear wheels. It was quite the site! Wish I would have taken a picture.

[martin300662]

Well after.....following all the suggestions, investigating swapping the tires locally and driving (which the PO suggested wasn't a good idea - so I'm not sure what other issues are lurking when it arrives), a third uShip auction, approx 20 quotes (and as many cancellations), the removal of the A/C to lower the height, and giving the shippers the option to let air out the tires after loading, our Argosy is due to be collected on Thursday/Friday to start it's journey to New England.

Fingers crossed they don't cancel on me again!

[J. Morgan]

It isn't easy to get an Airstream on a trailer, and then there is the issue of getting it off....

Nor are these processes without risk.

This is probably causing a lot of haulers to cancel.

[HowieE]

If that does not work any low boy trailer can haul it as is and any large boat trailer can haul it. The problem there is those types of trailer may not have a return load and that will effect the price.

[martin300662]

I did try the boat hauler approach....I live by the Ocean and there are approx 6 boat haulers within walking distance of my house which is based next to a commercial shipyard and boat launch. It amazed me but all of them turned down the job because they didn't have the equipment to specifically haul the Argosy, whatever the cost. It's been like a version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears....one guy said too high, the next too heavy, another said to wide.

It's a real shame because the PO had also sourced a 28' Argosy to act as a donor for my 20' (and provide extra windows, the later cast grill, some missing panels etc), I had to tell him I don't want it, just because I couldn't get it moved. That Argosy is complete but a wreck and only fit for dismantling, but instead I am probably going to have to buy a complete, possibly restorable Argosy locally, simply to source the parts I want, that don't seem available.

Makes you wonder how many really useful sources of parts, are sitting corroding away just because they can't be moved.

[HowieE]

You have been a victim of our boom economy. Just too much easy work out there