I get these questions all the time and thought it might help some you guys when you spy that deal on E-Bay and you have no idea how to get it across the country. I've never dealt with the big companies so I'll let you know how it seems to be going for myself and some of the other Hambers that haul. 1st, When you ask for a quote you should have both destinations nailed down. I get a TON of "Hurry, I need a price from Texas to So-Cal". Well, So-Cal is a big place and Texas is even bigger. It makes the difference between $1000 dollar qoute and a $400 qoute. This is why it helps if you fill in your HAMB profile if your selling in the cl***ifieds as well. A person can look you up and have a better idea on whether or not he/she can afford your car and the shipping without sending a dozen pm's. 2nd, Know the type of car that you want moved and any details that might be pertinent to a hauler like (Does it at least have tires that hold air? Is there a motor/trans in the car? Is there 1,000 lbs. of bricks in the bed of the F-100 you just bought that you forgot too mention? Is it a '63 chrysler that sits 3 inches off the ground? Does it have brakes, and if not, do you happen to live on a mountainside in the Swiss Alps?) Ya know, things like that. 3rd, If you're expecting a delivery or a pick up, try to be ready or at least have the car/parts where a person can get to them. I don't mind helping a bit, hell I've spent hours moving cars into position after they've come off the trailer. But, I've also shown up at midnight with hrs. left of driving to do and had to help drag the hoist out from under the mound of parts in the back corner of the garage to unload. This, after I spoke to the customer 6 times that evening before I got there. Just common sense folks. 4th, If you buy a car across the country expect to pay at least $1500. Just because your buddy found someone that hauled his MG from FLA. to Cal. for $900 5 yrs. ago doesn't mean your '48 Chrysler 4dr. should be the same. Also keep in mind that your $100 car/bike/engine still takes up the same amount of space and weighs just as much as if it was painted,plated, and trimmed. Last but not least, Sign your name to all correspondence and even if your response is "piss on you", it helps the shipper to know whether or not to be "On Call" for your load. 9 times out of 10 I'm waiting on 3 guys to confirm on a haul before I can tell the 1st guy that I can do it. Again, just common courtesy. Partial Loads and Parts, I don't mind at all to do frames, bikes, wheels, etc. if it's remotely along my desired path. In fact I usually have several partials in my garage at any given time just waiting for the destination to line up. And No I usually don't require a storage fee. I'm even sometimes able to do off the wall jobs. I not only hauled a load of kitchen cabinets once, but I totally dissasembled the entire kitchen they came out of. Hey, a job is a job right? I can only speak for a few of us on here but we're not big operations by any means. Just fellas with pickups and trailers trying to make a living. This job has it's moments for sure but for the most part it's drive like hell from 5am til midnite and try and not to break anything. Anyway, I hope some of this helps you have a good experience with your shipper whether it's me or anyone else. Thanks guys for your business and your friendship. I've met a ton of great people over the last few years doing this and I hope to meet the rest of you sooner or later. Thanks, BenD
Are you going to the Salt this year? Jen was asking the other day. Chris & Jen Nelson Kansas Oh yea, 5 stars to ya'. I have seen the same thing for relays, I try to get everything ready when someone shows up. Even though I have sent a few tie down straps down the road with a promise that I will send you some gas money. Oh well, I guess they owe me a beer or two when I see them.
That would be '64 and I didn't know it was that low honest Good info Ben. I can't count the cars that I've gone out to help a guy haul over the years that were just full of parts and pieces when I got there. It makes a 3800 lb car into a 4800 lb car and that make a lot of difference.
Good info and this is technical content as far as i am concerned. Remember that the hauler is being contracted to haul the car, not to spend hours getting it ready and loaded on the trailer. Ben, hope to see you in Bonneville!
And if it happens to be an orange 55 chev......you might end up hauling it back and forth three or four times from the seller to the buyer. Or did ya want to remember that one brother? Good read Ben, See ya later man. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- opossum benders central missouri chapter
Great post and might I add one more hint. Please have everything packed up, ready for "shipment", and labled with the new owners name, address and phone number. Duck tape with everything written on it works great if the stuff doesn't fit in a box that you can write on.
Let me see if I understand the question. Yes Paul, I can be bribed. Yeah Sod, I am planning on being in Bonneville. Hope to see all of the regulars there. ******, these are supposed to hypothetical sicheations.
I've made a "DEAL"..on a Hemi powered Chrysler airport Limo with three Hemis in the interior...its in the Swiss Alps....can I get a deal on haulin it?Pleeeeeeze?
#6 if you know theres a dead battery put a spare in the car....if it has a slow leak put a spare in the car....if the tank leaks take it out..its a hasmat spill that we all dont need.......been there done that
Good thing I just went out and measured and its actuallu 5.5" under the rockers, of course there are lower points than that on the body. Really most of it is one of two things common sense or common courtesy. Its a big service to not have to deal with the hauling or a shipping ccompany. And I don't have to worry about it being stripped while its being shipped.
Well mine has no wheels,ch***is,engine, or much of anything ...looks like I broke most of the rules!! LOL!! BTW Ben your not going to show up at my house at midnight.....are you?!?!
Looking forward to it, Ben. I'll buy you a beer. Just doooooon't piss me off (Insert wink here). Wayno
yes, it is a '63 Chrysler that sits 3 inches off of the ground but you didn't haul it for me...lol Great Tech!
Another thing, if you're having something hauled check Mapquest and make sure directions to your house are right. Mine are not, right Ben Luckily, Ben ended up at our main station and although I was out on a run he left my parts there for me. I can't speak for our other HAMB haulers but Ben is a cl*** act. I'm sure the others are too.
BenD forget one: make DAMN sure the hauler can get TO you!! The guy that brought my car was using a HotShot rig that just couldn't manage that turn-onna-dime thing...he and I communicated and I made sure the way was clear. And 'clear' doesn't mean that your kid onna ten-speed can get through...'clear' means from curb to curb, no overhanging low trees, in short, room for a 53' semi-trailer with a triple sleeper, or damn close. I also went, met him, and led him to my door; had help waiting, and tried like hell to get him on his way quickly. Cosmo
As good of a deal as you cut for HAMBr's this stuff is some "at least" information...... Hey, didn't I make you wait for an extra couple hours in El Paso? Hope to see you again.........****! That means I would have to spend big jack on something.......never mind!
It's always nice to have an extra pair of hands or two. Most of the cars I do are project rollers and brakes are usually absent so help is always good. I run a 3/4 flatbed truck and an 18' flatbed trailer. Big enough to handle it but small enough I can thread needles with. I've only had trouble once getting into a driveway and it was midnite in the rain and I ended up unhooking the trailer and towing the car into position. BTW, I don't usually drop stuff off into the wee hrs. but occasionally it does happen. Usually because I've got a window of time that I have to hit or I'm trying to get in/out of the city to beat rush hour.
Great post Ben. I've always rejected buying anything far enough away that I'd have to hire someone to haul it home mostly because I don't know much about the process. After reading your tech I'd say its much more likely I'll buy something I'd need to hire you to haul! Thanks!
Here's a couple more. Make sure there's a full battery and enough gas to get the car to the transporter. If the car is going to a cold climate from a warm one in the Winter...check the antifreeze! Note the odometer reading when it's picked up. A reputable company will do a thorough inspection of the car when it's loaded. Check your truckers insurance carefully before you hand over your car. Get references from other people that your trucker has hauled for. Avoid Brokers and people who require a deposit upfront. Not all the independents are reliable and honest like Ben. Do your homework.
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