Transporting D4 on Car Carrier?

[RoverLander]

We are about to get our D4 transported from Darwin to Sydney. Nothing is wrong with the car. Its for medical reasons. It will go onto a car carrier. I won't be there when it is loaded.

i have discovered Valet mode to secure the cargo area. This is very usefull!

I cant find any detailed instructions that tell you that anything special needs to be done. There is a note to say put the air suspension in access height to avoid damage to the suspension system. Is that needed? I could lock in access mode but that will automatically unlock if the car is driven anywhere. Im also worried that in access mode it may catch as they drive it on and off the transporter truck.

Anyone been through this? Any advise please?

[DeanoH]

Leave nothing in the vehicle or it will be gone by the time you get it back. Good transport companys often make this a requirement for transport as they know the risks entailed. Basically theft is rife in the industry (unless it's changed dramatically in the last couple of years) so as little Johnny Howard's fridge magnet said "Be Aware Not Alarmed" :)

Deano :)

[Eric SDV6SE]

When my D4 popped it's throttle body o ring the second time, it went on a car carrier to LR for them to redo under warranty. The RAC guy tried to skull drag it onto the carrier by chaining around the LCA's, as apparently this is RAC SOP for 4wd's. I stopped him and made him use the front recovery point. Once on, I locked it in access mode, this (in my view) protects the EAS. He then tied the car off as per normal with ratchet straps over the tyres.

For a long trip such as Darwin-Sydney I would definitely lock it in access height. It will not catch if driven up in access height, so no worries there. You could also leave a note that details how to put it back into normal height for unloading, as it only raises if you go over 30kmh.

[Ean Austral]

I have transported our D3 several times , I have just left it in normal mode , what's the difference between the car being driven or transported, I wouldn't drive Darwin Sydney in access mode so why transport it over the same bumpy roads in access mode. What part of the suspension are you trying to save ?

its also a good indication if you have any air leaks when it gets to the other end . Each for there own but that's what I have done .

Cheers Ean

[ATH]

Leave nothing in the vehicle or it will be gone by the time you get it back. Good transport companys often make this a requirement for transport as they know the risks entailed. Basically theft is rife in the industry (unless it's changed dramatically in the last couple of years) so as little Johnny Howard's fridge magnet said "Be Aware Not Alarmed" :)

Deano :) We had our Td5 Defender trucked back from Newman back in 2007 (from fading memory) by Austrans and their fat little yard boy abused us for leaving the Engel and other stuff in it. "It'll get chucked out if you try that next time" he said!!!!
I'd locked it in with lockable cable things and we could see where someone had tried to remove it.....but hadn't managed to untangle the the stuff I'd tied it with. :)
I reported their attitude to RACWA and LR Assist but who knows if they did anything about it. Trust no one.
AlanH.

[RoverLander]

I'm asking the question because of the following text in the online manual for the D4 under transporting your vehicle:

CAUTION
If the vehicle's electronics are operational, set the electronic air suspension system to access height, before securing the vehicle to a recovery vehicle or trailer. Failure to do so can result in damage to the vehicle.

I can only assume that it depends on how they secure the car. If by the wheels then no problem as pointed out by EAN.

If by hooks to the body then I can imagine the air suspension trying to reach normal height the whole trip.

I think in Australia vehicles are normally secured by the wheels so should be ok?

[Graeme]

Lowering the suspension for transport allows it to be restrained by the tie-down hooks without fear of the suspension dropping if air is lost. Transport mode drops the vehicle to the bump-stops when the ignition is switched off and the vehicle will raise when started. However transport mode is not user selectable, only by using an appropriate diagnostic tool.

[scarry]

Just imagine leaving the vehicle with instructions for some yard boy to put it in access mode.

That is definitely asking for trouble.

I would rather do as Ean has said,than risk an issue,particularly if the owner is not present when the vehicle is loaded.

[PerthDisco]

My D3 was bought in Melbourne and delivered to Perth by CEVA without a thought and without problems.

[twr7cx]

I recommend Prixcar. Used them to transport our D4 from South Dandenong, Victoria, to Hobart, Tasmania when I purchased it - very happy with the price and delivery time line. It was a requirement for the vehicle to be empty and I wasn't there when it was loaded etc. You will likely need to provide them access to the cargo area as with ours they inspected the emergency tools and noted on the Condition Report what was there so that we could ensure it was there on delivery too.

[RoverLander]

Just to close this out. The car has arrived safely with no damage and nothing missing from inside the car. I did put the car in valet mode so nobody could get into the cargo area. This helped by the cargo barrier.

It was 8 days from dropping it at the depot in Darwin to it being delivered to my front door in Southern Sydney.

Interestingly I got to talk to the truck driver in Darwin. A really good guy who took an interest in looking after the car. He asked about dropping the air suspension down so he could make sure he didn't exceed the maximum height that a truck is allowed to be.

I used SMB transport and the cost was $1400 which I think is very reasonable given the distance.

[gavinwibrow]

We are about to get our D4 transported from Darwin to Sydney. Nothing is wrong with the car. Its for medical reasons. It will go onto a car carrier. I won't be there when it is loaded.

i have discovered Valet mode to secure the cargo area. This is very usefull!

I cant find any detailed instructions that tell you that anything special needs to be done. There is a note to say put the air suspension in access height to avoid damage to the suspension system. Is that needed? I could lock in access mode but that will automatically unlock if the car is driven anywhere. Im also worried that in access mode it may catch as they drive it on and off the transporter truck.

Anyone been through this? Any advise please?

Bit late - Can't help with the suspension, but re valet mode, most carriers wont allow you to put anything like personal effects/luggage in the car

[RoverLander]

Bit late - Can't help with the suspension, but re valet mode, most carriers wont allow you to put anything like personal effects/luggage in the car

Correct, most carriers wil only take an empty car....that makes things difficult when you are on holidays with a car full of stuff!

SMB will allow up to 80kg of stuff as long as its below window height. There can be nothing on the roof. As the guy at the the depot said "ive never figured out how i would work out if your stuff weighs 80kg". They take no responsibility for loss of any contents hence i was happy that i could secure things with valet mode.

[ATH]

We got a mouthful from a little fat yard boy at Austrans years ago when our Defender had a glitch in Newman. Most stuff was well locked and hidden in the camper trailer but we couldn't jam the Engel under the bed..... "It get's chucked out next time" he said.
LR Assistance and RACWA were somewhat concerned as what the hell are people supposed to do when they loaded up for a few weeks away?
Of course the transport people have no doubt been the subject of many false claims by the dark side for "goods lost in transit".......
AlanH.

[weeds]

No issues when my defer had to be transported from Jervis Bay to Brisbane fully loaded.......

RACQ asked that I take pictures and not everything inside. Had $6k worth of MTB sitting inside.

[Bigbjorn]

No issues when my defer had to be transported from Jervis Bay to Brisbane fully loaded.......

RACQ asked that I take pictures and not everything inside. Had $6k worth of MTB sitting inside.

Long time ago I sometimes used car carriers when I was buying used cars at auction in Sydney for resale in Brisbane. I preferred them to be driven up so anything that was going to break or fall off did so before sale. When I had too many cars and not enough drivers I used car carriers. The industry rule seemed to be nothing in the car other than the basic manufacturers tool kit and a spare tyre which had to be secured not floating around loose.

[scarry]

most carriers wont allow you to put anything like personal effects/luggage in the car

Many will,mustn't restrict rear vision,and you pay a heap more.........

If it restricts rear vision,add even more $$.

Same as anything on roof,no worries,but it will cost a lot more.

[gavinwibrow]

Many will,mustn't restrict rear vision,and you pay a heap more.........

If it restricts rear vision,add even more $$.

Same as anything on roof,no worries,but it will cost a lot more.


You obviously know much nicer people than most of us who have come in contact with that group.

[Ean Austral]

Many will,mustn't restrict rear vision,and you pay a heap more.........

If it restricts rear vision,add even more $$.

Same as anything on roof,no worries,but it will cost a lot more.

How does something in car sitting on a trailer restrict your rear vision in a truck ??

Roof I can understand in a car carrier due to clearance with the top deck.

Cheers Ean

[scarry]

How does something in car sitting on a trailer restrict your rear vision in a truck ??

Roof I can understand in a car carrier due to clearance with the top deck.

Cheers Ean

I asked and the reply was something like,its very hard to back a vehicle onto a transporter if you can't see out the rear window.

I couldn't be bothered to argue.

[RoverLander]

How does something in car sitting on a trailer restrict your rear vision in a truck ??

Roof I can understand in a car carrier due to clearance with the top deck.

Cheers Ean

They told me that they were more worried about windows being broken due to the movement of goods inside the car. They said that cars on the top level can move around a lot.

[JL89]

My D3 was bought in Melbourne and delivered to Perth by CEVA without a thought and without problems.

Hi PerthDisco apologies digging up thios old thread. Saw your post about getting your rig transported from Melbourne to Perth. Can I ask if CEVA had insurance for the transport, covering it for door to door? Am also wondering, did you also take out normal RAC type insurance and they covered it from the moment the dealer "sold" it to you or when they drove it off to the transport depot? Anything else you recall to take note of?

[PerthDisco]

Hi PerthDisco apologies digging up thios old thread. Saw your post about getting your rig transported from Melbourne to Perth. Can I ask if CEVA had insurance for the transport, covering it for door to door? Am also wondering, did you also take out normal RAC type insurance and they covered it from the moment the dealer "sold" it to you or when they drove it off to the transport depot? Anything else you recall to take note of?

I just took their insurance and when they collect the car they do an audit of all the dings and scratches and supply a marked up sheet. I’d never seen the car other than photos.

When the car arrived I checked it against the sheet and there was a paint - dent scratch defect near the rear upper door. Could have been there the whole time as far as I was aware but they paid out to have it fixed.

That was 14 years ago I don’t know how things work now.

Yes it was also registered and privately insured in my name from time of purchase