I'd like to send my dual cab ute from Perth to Sydney, Adelaide or somewhere in between in late June/early July. I know there's a ton of services advertised on the web for this kind of thing, but all the ones I've looked at seem to require the car to be empty other than the jack, spare wheel and standard tools that come with the car. And they don't seem to like roof racks. That won't work for me, I want to send it loaded up with tools etc and I have one of those big, ally "tradie's racks".
Does anyone know of a car transport service/alternative that would work in this scenario (other than the obvious "drive it" 
)?
Thanks.
I've just sent my Kia to NSW for wheelchair conversion through Prixcar. They put it on the Indian Pacific. I don't know what the train requirements are but could be worth checking it out. a friend sent her car to WA on the train and i'm pretty sure (i could be wrong) it was loaded with her gear.
point it in the direction of sydney , Rope the steering wheel and shove a brick on the go fast pedal = Win ?
Year before last I used a company in Maddington (I will look for the name shortly).
I sent a Hilux with racks and the car busting at the seams full of camping gear for a 5 week trek to Cape York (drove back). IIRC they didn't allow cargo actually on the racks except for fitted items such as work lights, awnings, jerry can holder that sort of stuff.
It was approx. $1200 to Brisbane. They put it into a container then onto the truck.
Whats it worth to you? I really need a break, 4000km and some camping might just do it!
Just be careful, as the truck drivers will have your keys to load/unload your car, things can easily go "missing"
Hence one of the reasons they recommend/require to empty the car.
True true. But if you require to transport a loaded car, then you have no choice than to just trust a little 
Thanks everyone.
Toph - the name of that would be good, thanks. I agree, I'm going to have to give some trust.
Cal - thaks for the offer! I was tempted to advertise it and to pay for someone's fuel. But think it'll be cheaper and more peace of mind to send it on a truck or train.
I recently got a stack of quotes to transport a caravan Darwin to Perth and G&V Roberts came up the cheapest. Otherwise you could place an advert on www.truckit.net
This is a website where you list what you want moved and various suppliers quote you sight unseen. The site vets the offerers via a feedback system
Select to expand quotedirtyharry said..
Toph - the name of that would be good, thanks. I agree, I'm going to have to give some trust.
dirtyharry The company I used was Corden Transport (call 9493 2693). Having a look at their website again, it looks like they only transport between Perth and Brisbane, so I suppose it would depend on where about on the east coast you are looking at (they may do in between stops).
But I found them very easy to get along with. I even went down to the depot to put something else in the car, but the truck had left an hour earlier. No problem, put it on the next ruck leaving that afternoon free of charge. Hope they can sort you out.
Edit: I just saw that you need to go to Sydney 
The ghan/ Indian pacific used to do some good specials , but you had to be on the train
I sent our car from Perth to Brissy for 1200 fully packed with rods, reels, skateboards, surfboards, kiteboards, kites, wetsuits, sandboard, clothing, tools, ironing board, iron, posters, a small stool, photo frames, stamp collection, inflatable bed, sheets, books, boots, cds, dvds, dvd player.
This was a 2 door echo too!
I packed it like Tetris.
First time I sent my ute across the country on a train they must have packed it onto a transporter like tetris and had the two-way aerial bent down for the whole trip. When I got it back at the other end the spring at the base was all de-sprung.
The next time I did it I unscrewed the aerial and taped it to the bullbar. When I got it back at the other end someone had untaped it, cut the cable and taken off with it. No more aerial. 
A mate's ex recently sent her car to Qld from WA in a container. She put a mattress down one side. The other side got trashed in transit.
Beware.
I'm gonna state the obvious...
Just drive it !
It's quicker and cheaper and a bit of an adventure
Put it on Macro's train.
$100 bucks and within the hour a robot will be at your door to pick it up.
(Don't worry, the robot will pack it sideways)
Select to expand quotedaggy said..
I'm gonna state the obvious...
Just drive it !
It's quicker and cheaper and a bit of an adventure
I looked at driving and would love to. But I just don't have time and the cost is probably more to drive if you take into account running costs other than fuel.
I looked into Macro's train but... maybe for the trip back.
New plan is to get a canopy, make the windows non see through, then load it up and lock it.
So, does anyone want to swap a full length ally "tradies rack" for a decent canopy to suit current (i.e. last ~7 years, not latest) hilux with tub tray? 
Select to expand quotedirtyharry said..
New plan is to get a canopy, make the windows non see through, then load it up and lock it.
So, does anyone want to swap a full length ally "tradies rack" for a decent canopy to suit current (i.e. last ~7 years, not latest) hilux with tub tray?
You could go for the redneck el-cheapo version,
Tek screw 18mm thick form-ply panels onto your current tray and tradies rack, using security type screws.
Then its easy enough for you to take the panels off when it arrives 'totherside and it is back to normal.
stephen
