Shipping advice needed...

So I've got a vintage Commando cafe racer half-fairing and brackets on offer.
The overall length is about 32" and width is 24".
I've been checking with the usual shippers UPS and FedEx etc. and just a cardboard box is about $25. Shipping from the Midwest US to the East coast seems like a deal killer.
Any advice on how to ship a rather large 32x24x24 package, weight maybe 25 pounds?
I've ordered things like tires from internet based sellers and shipping cost was not an issue.
Any advise appreciated.

Although I have never used it myself , some recommend shipping by Greyhound Bus as being very economical.

Pay to have it PROPERLY packaged. That is, a box several inches bigger in each direction. And, the PROPER DENSITY packing material. I receive things every day, improperly packaged & damaged.

Don’t cheap out.
Forget the bus. (I’ve used it for car body parts)

I give the White truck the edge over brown.

concours said:

Forget the bus. (I’ve used it for car body parts)

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Why? Inquisitive minds want to know. Can you elaborate on the details a bit?

Bob Z. said:

So I've got a vintage Commando cafe racer half-fairing and brackets on offer.
The overall length is about 32" and width is 24".
I've been checking with the usual shippers UPS and FedEx etc. and just a cardboard box is about $25. Shipping from the Midwest US to the East coast seems like a deal killer.
Any advice on how to ship a rather large 32x24x24 package, weight maybe 25 pounds?
I've ordered things like tires from internet based sellers and shipping cost was not an issue.
Any advise appreciated.

Click to expand...

Bike parts companies (and ALL big volume shippers) get DEEP DISCOUNTS.
So, if YOU (a personal account) shipped a tire, it would be extra charge for not being boxed, plus more than double what BikeBandit charges. And, they absorb some of that with the normally free shipping of regular sized parts.
Having bought several touring bike aftermarket seats, (Russell Day Long) for example, is $75 per seat.
Clearview windshields for a big cruiser? Twice, $50.

Dances with Shrapnel said:

Why? Inquisitive minds want to know. Can you elaborate on the details a bit?

Click to expand...

Certainly.
Damage. The VW Jetta fender was damaged.
The ‘70 Mustang door was damaged.
Also, my Dad operated 4104’s, 4106’s and mostly Silver Eagles for 28 years. THOSE stories would take a case of beer around the campfire.
Freight is a small portion of their business, and their expertise does not lie in that area.
JMWO

Hi Bob,
I have found that U-Haul stores offer large boxes for much less than shipping companies. Check them out.
Can't recommend a shipping company.

Ed

Bob Z. said:

So I've got a vintage Commando cafe racer half-fairing and brackets on offer.
The overall length is about 32" and width is 24".
I've been checking with the usual shippers UPS and FedEx etc. and just a cardboard box is about $25. Shipping from the Midwest US to the East coast seems like a deal killer.
Any advice on how to ship a rather large 32x24x24 package, weight maybe 25 pounds?
I've ordered things like tires from internet based sellers and shipping cost was not an issue.
Any advise appreciated.

Click to expand...

Cardboard sucks. Get a Rubbermaid type plastic tote. Zip tie the lid on.

If you go with a single box it has to be stout and should have at least 4" of clearance on your fairing. I'd suggest you use the same packing material inside the fairing as outside. You may want to consider building a wooden frame inside the box dependimg on your level of paranoia.

A box within a box is the best bet. A box of the size for your fairing will ship for its' cubic volume rather than its weight, too bad you don't have a few pounds of warm weather, winter is getting old around here. If you do pack it make sure that each box face has the message "More Fragile Than Eggs".

Anyway, do price the USPS. I have shipped all over the world and found them to be considerable less expensive than their competition. For domestic shipping they will be faster than others ground option.

About 5 years ago I shipped the all the "tin" work for my R90S from MA to MD via UPS. The UPS store packed it and the bottom line was a tad over $350 (two boxes), my other brain wasn't getting much exercise so I probably used it, but I still got a pretty good screwing, Ah hem...

If you have the shipper pack it the insurance might actually be real, do ask. If you pack it, purchase insurance, and its damaged, and I'll speak from my UPS damage claim experience, the shipper will send one or two very attractive agents to tell you that the damage isn't covered. In my case UPS sent two and our PG-13 meeting took some of the sting out of 3 broken fins on my 750 cylinder.

Best.

Fastenal has shipping services for big stuff


https://www.fastenal.com/en/1/servi...ou69Y76X.38536438-9c19-3947-9017-bf77ad0514fd

"popcorn" seems to distribute stress more uniformly than bubble wrap, which is better than wadding up newspaper (getting rare these days) or the brown, re-cycled packing paper.

Adding to my post above: When the painter in Maryland finished my BMW parts I drove down and picked them up, the trip down and back, with a paint-the-town-red evening came out a few dollars less then a UPS shipping adventure getting them to the painter, discounting the 14 hour round trip, but I knew that if the parts got damaged I'd have bigger issues to deal with...

I use FedEx groud for larger packages (including engines in tubs), with an online account. I have used Greyhound Bus for frames.