Engine Shot...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mike_ie

it's all of my belongings, camping gear, cooking gear, recovery gear, and maybe $6000 worth of mountaineering gear, plus a rooftent on top - not exactly stuff I can ditch or write off unfortunately.

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By sorting the load out, all of that should fit on a good sized box trailer.
If you by taking down the roof top tent, can you get under the height restrictions and then put the trailer as well onto the rail car?
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Quote:

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Originally Posted by rover-56

Another possibility, there is going to be fuel cost anyway:

Someone with a suitable vehicle able to tow 2.5 tonnes (almost any County or Defender)
with trailer brake actuator, hire a trailer in Vic, drive to Alice and bring Mikes Def back.

Alternatively, Same tow vehicle, take solid tow gear, fit a pintle to a strengthened bumper on Mikes Defender, bring it back to Vic.

I don't have the vehicle, but I have the time and tow gear, anyone want to loan/hire their Defender for a couple of weeks?

Terry

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that was a thought with mikes donor vehicle, but is it worth it with the cost of fuel to Alice and back, and hire of a trailer. I'd be guessing you'd be spending over $1k

Unless you can get on a back load with an owner driver that will let you ride in the cab and doesn't care about vehicle height or contents in the vehicle, I can't see it coming out at less than $1k no matter which way you slice it.

I'd go and leave a note at all the truck stops that you can get to, once it gets on the grapevine I am sure that something will come up. You need to get to Adelaide if that Aulro truck driver that does regular Melb-Adelaide is still able to give you a ride.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vern

that was a thought with mikes donor vehicle, but is it worth it with the cost of fuel to Alice and back, and hire of a trailer. I'd be guessing you'd be spending over $1k

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Thats true, I guess the cheapest and simplest would be solid tow. Mikes stuff could stay in the vehicle. He would be paying for fuel Alice to your place anyway.

Terry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vern

Mike, can the tent be put in the car to reduce height. Also can you get some old springs and cut them so it nearly sits on the bump stops?

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For the train, the height restrictions won't even allow a stock defender onboard, so that's out of the question. I'm going to call around the trucking companies again in the morning and see if there is some compromise to be found.

Regarding the cost, at this stage I can't see this coming in cheap no matter what way I go, so it's a matter of figuring out the best of a bad lot. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that, I should have probably just done that from the beginning - repairs plus delays have already cost us a chunk of our savings, plus a month of our visas.

aye, I think that the tow and trailer idea is going to be cheapest as even if it drove, you'd have the cost of fuel one way....

H

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mike_ie

Regarding the cost, at this stage I can't see this coming in cheap no matter what way I go, so it's a matter of figuring out the best of a bad lot. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that, I should have probably just done that from the beginning - repairs plus delays have already cost us a chunk of our savings, plus a month of our visas.

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Whatever you decide, I have the time (sort of).

03 5155 0263

Terry

you might have some joy if you flat pack the top of the landy, palletise your gear and send it as general freight, unbolt the roof and the top panels put the panels doortops and windshield in the tray space and lash the roof down.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mike_ie

For the train, the height restrictions won't even allow a stock defender onboard, so that's out of the question. I'm going to call around the trucking companies again in the morning and see if there is some compromise to be found.

Regarding the cost, at this stage I can't see this coming in cheap no matter what way I go, so it's a matter of figuring out the best of a bad lot. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that, I should have probably just done that from the beginning - repairs plus delays have already cost us a chunk of our savings, plus a month of our visas.

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Hi Mike

So the others can see what you are up against with the Defender.

Great Southern Rail :: Taking Your Car
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