Thread: Taking your Defender overseas

Originally Posted by danialan

Hi John

We went through Interport directly this time. Last time we went through EDI and unloaded at the same Interport facility. It initially looked like we would save a few hundred dollars this time by cutting out the middleman, which we assumed was the brokers cut. But they had omitted the $545 Port charge so it ended up being almost the same price anyway.

Interport said I wouldn't be allowed unpack, but could attend and guide. Same as in 2010 - but that time I ended up unstraping it, hooking up the battery, unloading etc everything. This time the boss and several teams of AQUIS guys were parading around, so the guys on the floor were reluctant to let me too close initially. Not a nice feeling having a grubby sweaty bloke sitting in my flash Recaro, driving my 130 around the depot, with me in hot pursuit.

After it was out of the container, they said they couldn't inspect my vehicle straight away, and it might even be the day after!!! They wanted to unload everything onto pallets. No way! So I insisted they leave everything packed in the LR. I took the keys and locked it. After clogging up their office, being the squeaky wheel, getting in the way, and making it clear to the manager I wasn't going anywhere without my LR, how it was a quick straight forward job, and how with his skills and talents, that I was sure he could find a solution , he finally convinced the AQUIS guy to fit in my inspection. Initially without me, but they couldn't get the bonnet open, so called me in and I was staying there after that.

As another option Tom from EDI mentioned that "we are packing consolidated containers ex UK, ... it does represent a significant saving if you can get the car to London. The freight cost is GBP890, and the local charges are AUD$1250.00+gst and AUD$250.00." I assume the saving is by sharing a 40 foot container where most costs are halved. He also sent me this great photo of this Defender "Colonel Mustard" in Nepal I believe.

The whole process is unpleasant, as it is your property, but control is totally out of your hands.

Hahaha - mine went through Interport too Alan - though not directly. The disconnect caused by the shipping agent intermediary certainly didn't help but it sounds like you were more effective at being a "bad smell" out there than I was.

I went out there for about 3 days and still couldn't alter the pace or outcome!

Originally Posted by weeds

I am at the stage of deciding whether to fit a diesel space heater.......I have a spot allocated and figured a European drive would warrant it.....but it takes up space and costs a few $$$'s

We must catch up and have a chat

The heaters do cost a lot. I got my Webasto Air Top 2000 off eBay UK. It was about a $1k AUD including pipe work and postage.

If you are going anywhere cold and/or rainy for an extended period then I think it is worth it. Not just for heating, but we used it a lot for drying clothes, towels etc in extended rainy weather (eg 5 weeks straight on our Albanian trip). Its just like a big hairdryer, and towels and kids wet clothes dry very quickly. We haven't had much use for it in Qld yet! Friends did use theirs in the Simpson desert to take the chill off the 0C mornings.

I think I already sent you my number a while ago, so give me a call sometime. We'll be camped up at Cooloola on the weekend if you feel like a drive.

Alan

I have been through this thread and others through searching the forum, and thanks to everyone's wisdom!
We are making the one-way move from Brisbane to Geneva and taking the rig with us.....couldn't part with her.

I am a novice at shipping a vehicle, so any suggestions would be helpful.

My main questions:
1) Which companies would you recommend to work with? I saw a great endorsement for BTI-Logistics. I have gathered that some are more difficult to work with than others (Ex. batter removal, etc.....)
2) What pro's & con's are there to shipping methods? container, roll-on, etc...
3) Anything else?