Canadian Shipping?

[Pushboy]

Looking for advice and or experience from builder who have shipped a kit to Canada. Detailed explanation of the process - what types of trucks/companies were used... how did it go... overall process etc? Any help would be appreciated. I live in in Eastern/Central Canada and picking up the kit is not really feasible.

Thanks,

Dave.

[NoJacketRequired]

Having chatted with the OP I suspect there may be some additional info that would really benefit his quest to get this kit delivered to his hangar.

- How many shipping crates does the factory normally use for one complete kit? If they had to break the shipment down into smaller, more manageable chunks, how many crates would that be?
- What are the sizes and weights of each of the crates?

For those who have received their kit via shipping service rather than going to the factory to pick it up, your knowledge of how the factory packed the kit would be very helpful.

BTW the factory provided an answer that was roughly equivalent to "one huge crate that weighs several times the empty weight of the completed airplane". These numbers don't quite seem "right" so please share your real world experience.

Sorry, Dave, if I have stepped on your toes here - I thought it might be helpful to convert some of the questions from our conversation into questions here on the forum in hopes others might have gone down this path before you.


Mark.

[MikeFairbanks]

I just recently arranged the shipping for my SS7 to Alaska, complete kit with firewall forward... everything except the engine, prop, and tires. Heather told me the crate will be 4' W x 7' 2" H x 17' L and weigh 3200 lbs.

[Pushboy]

Thanks for the help from both Mark and Mike.

Heather at Kitfox has given me the same dimensions as were given to Mike.

I might have been better to title the original question "International Shipping" as it seems that's what shipping to Canada would be more similar to. However, Kitfox has been great to work with helping navigate the available options for shipping. It looks like the kit will ship to a warehouse close to the border and I will go down and pick it up and broker the import myself. I will report back when we have a final plan in place -- in case other Canadian buyers ever have the same questions.

Mark -- you aren't stepping on my toes ever... I appreciate all the help I can get!

Dave.

[NoJacketRequired]

It's the 3200lbs part that seems, well, perhaps not quite right. Let's say the finished airplane weighs 1000lbs empty. Take off a very conservative 100lbs for the engine - that leaves an extremely conservative 900lbs of "airplane". What else comes in that big box to pad its weight up to 3200lbs? I know the box won't be light, but I also have trouble seeing it weighing a ton or more.

[MikeFairbanks]

It's the box. When I spoke to Heather she said they build it like a house... I guess that's why the crate charge is $2000. It has to be built to hold up to some pretty rough conditions when shipping via ocean.

[patrick.hvac]

I used E-Shipper to broker Day and Ross as the shipper then cleared using Livingston.
I have also flown to the factory then drove a rental truck back and cleared it myself.
Both are a PITA.

[Pushboy]

Yes, Heather told me the same thing -- that the crate is like a tiny home. Given the prices of lumber lately it's no surprise the cost to crate alone... but I will find a way to re-purpose all that lumber.

The current plan is to ship to Syracuse NY, and I will go down and pick up the crate, that's still 6hrs round trip, but much shorter than going to Boise. I'm just trying to figure out if I need a truck with a lift gate, or if I can come up with some creative way to unload such a large crate. I have a hoist point in the ceiling of my hangar, I just need to figure out the best way to use it for this purpose. It's much cheaper to rent a truck without the lift gate... so any suggestions are welcome.

With a lift gate - this is my plan: Pull the crate out of the truck while suspended on the chain hoist. Once one end is on the chain hoist and one end is on the lift gate - lower simultaneously to caster dollies and move into position...

I actually find all this problem solving fun... and that's really a huge part of why I bought a kit. Getting it to my hangar is just the beginning of a long process of solving problems.

I'm really looking forward to this process.

d.

[Dave S]

I picked up my big box at the local Distribution center/warehouse and used a low bed double axel car trailer. The DC had equipment to get it on the trailer and at home I pulled the box apart and moved everything piecemeal into the garage - no individual parts are so heavy that two people can't carry it. If a person has a ceiling hoist and enough head room that should be a piece of cake.

[Eric Page]

Without a liftgate: Use your chain hoist to raise the aft end of the crate. Insert a metal pipe under the crate as a roller. Lower the crate onto the pipe and roll the crate aft. Repeat as necessary to get the forward end of the crate within a foot of the rear door. Use two engine cranes with a sturdy ratchet strap between them to raise the forward end of the crate from the lip of the truck floor, then drive the truck forward. Lower the crate to the ground. On smooth level ground, and with some helpers, you might even be able to roll it into your hangar a few inches off the ground.

Or, as Dave suggested, if you're not up against a deadline to return the truck, just disassemble the crate inside the truck and remove the pieces.

[Brandon Petersen]

I'm proud to say that in the 10 years since I designed and we've been building the crate... We've not have ONE SINGLE ITEM damaged shipping all over the world. We might get away with a different crate, but I like my track record. [emoji6]. Dock handlers, fork lift drivers and truckers pay no attention to the fact that the side of it is plastered with "fragile-Aircraft parts". The best those crates get treated is the moment we load it....


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[NoJacketRequired]

With the knowledge you have of the crate, what are its weaknesses, what are its strengths? For the OP, knowing where the crate can be lifted, where it needs to be supported, where one dare not try to lift it - these are all important considerations as he formulates his plan to move this beast. Please, if you have a few moments, would you mind elaborating?

Also, photos of the crate would be hugely helpful in visualizing the challenges which may be faced in moving the crate.

Of course, one last big ask... Are you able to confirm the all-up weight of the crated aircraft kit, please?

Like the OP, I'm excited by the prospect of seeing his project arrive in a big box.

[Pushboy]

Thanks for all the ideas being posted -- it's all really helpful.

I thought I had this solved - but then I realized the clearance for my hangar door is on only 12'-6". I don't have an exact height on the truck I'm renting, but I'm guessing it's over 13' - so the truck will not fit into the hangar. The hangar door is also a bi-fold, so it may not be possible to get within 7' of the door threshold. The ceiling hoist is also 10' inside the door. So my idea of using the ceiling hoist and the lift gate may not work.

I may use the double engine hoist/crane idea -- however I think simple might be better, and I'll employ some helpers and just dismantle the crate and unload by hand.

Dave.

[NoJacketRequired]

Dave - given the number of float change-overs done at our airport there's a chance that somebody has a gantry on wheels that could be used to lower the crate to the ground. Also I suspect there is a tracked skid-steer which may have forks available for it. I'm sure for the right inducement the appropriate equipment could be rounded up.

Oh, one more thought... two hangars down from you the owner has a large farm tractor with front-end loader and I'm reasonably certain he has forks for that loader.