| Author | Message | ||
     Jamie (Rover_puppy) Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 198 Registered: 05-2003 |
I ventured down a rabbit hole today. Maybe someone on Dweb will appreciate the useless info I acquired. Contacts + curiousity got the best of me, so I made the call to inquire about air transport. I gave them rover dimensions with stuffed and overflowing gear scenario (Length from front to rear with full joey pack 195.5 ", Width with mirrors closed 80"x Height with roof rack and cargo cases up top 86". I gave them weigh specs as 6000#, but to add 2000# more because that seemed too light. Here's the deal: at any moment, you can pick up the phone, and immediately (as in same day) get your rover from Tampa, FL to Moab, UT in 4 hours. Humans + Dogs travel in same cargo plane as rover. As soon as call comes in, they scramble pilots, determine which plane is needed, get it in the air and on it's way to pick you up. All is point to point. Grand Total for this service: $10,000 I told the guy that if I did that (NOT!), they'd have to find an inconspicuos airport to drop me and cargo off at because that would be very embarrasing. He started laughing and agreed that would be pretty bad!! At least he had a good sense of humor... ...and, oh yeh... just in case you have any, they fly and deliver whales and zebras too. | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 234 Registered: 11-2002 |
Oh man, that is great. BTW, would be a lot easier than driving out there. But getting there is half the fun! Max T. I need air support for my 109!!! | ||
| Greg Hirst (Gregh) Senior Member Username: Gregh Post Number: 288 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hmmmm... Note to self: Get VIN and plates off old US-market 109, buy diesel 110 in Europe, air cargo it to desolate airport, transfer VIN and plates...  | ||
| Joshua (Joshua) Senior Member Username: Joshua Post Number: 368 Registered: 10-2002 |
Yeh Jamie getting there is for sure half the fun.. Just ask brian jackson, LOL | ||
| Wes Legaspi (Wes) Member Username: Wes Post Number: 163 Registered: 02-2002 |
Jamie, If you don't want anyone to see you get dropped by the plane at the airport, you can do what Lara Croft did in the 1st Tomb Raider, parachute out of the plane!  | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 733 Registered: 03-2002 |
Think they would offer a volume discount if you had three or more rigs leaving from the same location? | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Member Username: Newman Post Number: 136 Registered: 04-2003 |
Get a Series Lightweight, and parachute the whole damn thing onto the trail. Talk about making an entrance! | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Senior Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 322 Registered: 08-2002 |
Jamie, did you look into one of those passenger/auto trains? It might take just as long or longer than driving but you could relax for the trip and save some where and tear on the vehicle. I looked into it for a trip from D.C. to the Okeechobee area once. Of course that is a much shorter route but it was only about $125 for the vehicle's "ticket". | ||
| Jesse Lessard (Jlessard) Member Username: Jlessard Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2002 |
I dont know how far D.C. to Okeechobee? is but, $125 seams pretty reasonable price. Who dose this? | ||
| Christopher Boese (Christopher) Member Username: Christopher Post Number: 147 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hope I'm not stealing your fire, Steve, but I had to look myself: http://www.amtrak.com/savings/autotrain.html. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 211 Registered: 05-2003 |
I checked Auto train as possibility several months ago. From what I was told, they do not go west, only to Washington DC. Besides that, my rover exceeded their height limitations - and, worst of all -- no dogs allowed. NO WAY on that one and they aren't traveling in a bloomin' cage either. We operate as a pack, and live by the creed that we NEVER leave anyone behind. One of my aviation contacts in the midwest has been working on other possible transport options for me, including finding a trucking company that will drive truck and us out all at the same time. It may take him a few days to see what he can do. Of course, I'd still somehow have to get my rover done by departure. Forgive me for taking this opportunity to vent, but I AM NOT a happy camper. I have been working my tail off prepping rover and scheduled to arrive Moab Sept 6 and had planned on leaving by now. I have tried every which way I can to get rover ready and to find some way for dealership to help me out -- even tried to get permission to hire tech on the side for work they have been unable to schedule or do. While waiting, I have gladly worn myself to exhaustion attempting to do what I can myself. Thank GOD for my moments of being a dumb bunny at doing things myself -- at least that has provided me with much needed laughter in the process. Forget the tiny stuff that is undone or in process, my bloomin' skid plates have been sitting up there for 2 months waiting to be installed. I can't find anyone willing to take responsibility, take the bull by the horns, and say "we'll get this done". Empty promises and no follow thru ANYWHERE!! To think that I negotiated lower bulk labor rate for installs by being willing to be patient and wait for slower periods for my mods to be done. I have full schedule today until mid-afternoon. I am considering driving up to the dealership after that. This is my question I'm going to ask: Why in the world is it impossible to get a D2 ready in 4 months to cross terrain that they are made for?? Why has it been impossible to obtain even "out of the ordinary" help to do so from a dealership that also sells 200K Rolls Royce automobiles, and carts them around the country for customers in fancy semi's? I'll say one thing for sure: if you want to off road, an individual must have the exact same temperment as the land rovers we all seem to be so crazy about. Thanks for allowing me to vent. I'll let you know if I go to the dealership. I told them last week that I might as well be banging my head against a wall. I also told them I was thinking of selling my land rover. Got lots of promises to get stuff going, but still no follow thru... I have not even heard from them this week. | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 737 Registered: 02-2002 |
Jamie, are you going to the National Rally in Moab? Where are you driving from? Glenn | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 738 Registered: 02-2002 |
oopss... nevermind, I just looked at your profile and you're coming from Florida. Be on the lookout for other rover folks that may be driving out west from your area. I know the Solihull National Rally attracts people from all over the country. Convoying with other rover nuts might ease the drive a bit. Plus, think of all the other mods you can do with that $10K price tag to fly your rovers (creatures and machine) to Moab. Glenn | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 595 Registered: 08-2002 |
Personally I thought your rover was ready for the trip when you originally posted in the trails section I believe regarding Hole in the Rock. My opinion... get on the road and start having some fun! Take the skid plates with you and install them in the evening. | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 237 Registered: 11-2002 |
Man, that rover-by-train would be sweet if it would go anywhere other than Washington, DC to Florida. If it would go out west then that would be the way I would take my 109 out there. For a little under 1k you can have you're truck put on a car transporter and hauled out there. Max T. Just discovering other alternatives to "the adventure to the destination" | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 732 Registered: 09-2002 |
That train thing is an awesome idea! Never even thought of it. But only good I guess if the train goes where you need it to go. Jamie, I agree with Brian. Just pack the skid plates up and some tools you may need and do it once you're out there. I'm sure there's more than enough people willing to help you put it on. | ||
| Greg (Gparrish) Senior Member Username: Gparrish Post Number: 1364 Registered: 04-2002 |
Sounds like the height is an issue for a D2 with roof rack though. Checked and the price is about $715 round trip. Would be a good way for me to get to MAR though. Strange that the car only cost $150, but the person costs about $565.............. seems kinda backwards. | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 735 Registered: 09-2002 |
What if you don't get out of the vehicle? | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 237 Registered: 05-2003 |
Brian, I appreciate your input, I guess you'd have to see all the projects I had "started" in my rover to understand. While waiting for my dealer to call me and tell me I could come in to get rover worked on, I was just coming up with all kinds of "bright ideas" of things I could do myself to my rover. I don't think I have ever done anything as nutty as this before -- but, when I would get "stuck" on each "project" and couldn't figure out what to do next -- I just started a new one... My last ditch effort came as a result of my deciding to just complete what was REALLY necessary -- which was making CB work, and well....that didn't go too well. Today is day 3 of my rover being at dealer -- they are supposed to work on it thru the entire weekend, might be done Wednesday. I'm thinking there is a pretty equal chance that it is being worked on or else it has just been sitting there since Thursday. I'm too afraid to find out which one it is. Glenn, I have been planning of going out during National Rally - but, just because it coincides with timing of driving lessons with Bill Burke. As for spending 10K to fly out rover, no way I could or would afford that! | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 638 Registered: 08-2002 |
I understand and hope that the dealer comes through. Again... I did hole in the rock with a completely stock disco, minus the front air damn + a front diff guard. That is it, other than the cooler and gear, which at the time was gloves and tow strap. You can deal without any of the serious stuff since you're with Bill, it is not like he is going to leave you stuck or not allow you to use his gear. In fact he tends to use his gear since he would prefer not to damage yours. But, it all depends on the situation. However, now that you have done all of this you cna be prepared to do an expedition solo or with others that are not as well prepared. |
