So, I've occasionally read about people using 'shipping wheels', small steel wheels that are bolted on instead of the regular ones to drop vehicle height by quite a bit, allowing the vehicle to fit into a shipping container where it otherwise couldn't. I think there might be a picture somewhere on this forum as well but couldn't immediately find it. Anyone around who has experience with this? Would like more info/thoughts on it. I imagine just showing up somewhere, having the wheels cut, matching bolt patterns drilled, puting them on and that's it. Anything special to be aware of? Bit apprehensive about the alternative which is RORO shipping, without cab separation, but with all of our stuff inside, because of the seemingly frequent theft stories.
Using 'shipping wheels' to fit van into container instead of RORO
- Thread starter nomi
- Start date
luthj
Engineer In Residence
I have done this. I can't find a photo right off, but I just had some 1/2" steel plate plasma cut into a manhole cover like thing. They had almost no traction, so getting up a ramp into the container required a pull through. They did stack pretty compact, though they were heavy.
Another option is just some bare wheels without tires. They will get bent up, but they don't need to look good to work. You could get some diamond plate tread welded on.
RORO comes with risks. The more your vehicle looks like a common/generic unit which would arrive at that port, the less attention it will grab. Travelin Tortuga has RORO numerous times. They have had some minor theft, but nothing crazy. Some ports are worse than others of course. Some African and South American ports have had issues which theft. To the point where mirrors and bolted accessories disappear off trucks.
We did RORO from Aus to NZ once (it was a fair bit cheaper). No issues with theft. We secured our more valuable gear in a rear storage area which was locked, and left instructions to contact our freight forwarder for a combination (customs). Many shippers will tell you that its "required" to remove all your personal stuff. This is basically a lie to protect them from liability. You can put whatever your want in your vehicle, you just need to handle customs clearance of these items yourself.
Another option is just some bare wheels without tires. They will get bent up, but they don't need to look good to work. You could get some diamond plate tread welded on.
RORO comes with risks. The more your vehicle looks like a common/generic unit which would arrive at that port, the less attention it will grab. Travelin Tortuga has RORO numerous times. They have had some minor theft, but nothing crazy. Some ports are worse than others of course. Some African and South American ports have had issues which theft. To the point where mirrors and bolted accessories disappear off trucks.
We did RORO from Aus to NZ once (it was a fair bit cheaper). No issues with theft. We secured our more valuable gear in a rear storage area which was locked, and left instructions to contact our freight forwarder for a combination (customs). Many shippers will tell you that its "required" to remove all your personal stuff. This is basically a lie to protect them from liability. You can put whatever your want in your vehicle, you just need to handle customs clearance of these items yourself.
Choff
Adventurer
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Kmrtnsn
Explorer
I've done this loading helicopters into airplanes, removing the normal tire/wheel assemblies and replacing them with smaller sets. In doing this for a vehicle make sure the steel wheel is larger enough to fit over the brakes. Generally, off road vehicles have taller, larger diameter tires and wheel assemblies than their road-only brethren. Mounting a lower profile tire on a narrower wheel and a smaller diameter wheel may open up a category of smaller diameter sizes. Check what wheel tire size combinations are available for your vehicle and start there, once you have a wheel size, start looking for the smallest diameter tire that you can fit. Remember, on overall diameter you only get half the difference in height change, for instance an axle mounted with 40” diameter tires is only five inches higher off the ground when mounted than a 30” tire, not ten inches.
jkam
nomadic man
Unicat made a Bucher Duro that could be put into a shipping container.
They mention it on the build, but I don't see a picture of the wheels used to do it.
www.unicat.net
They mention it on the build, but I don't see a picture of the wheels used to do it.
UNICAT® › Expedition Vehicles › Individual › BS 6-KD
UNICAT GmbH, Germany - Expedition vehicles, Individual - BS 6-KD
- Container loading gear with spring compression tools and special wheels
- (Vehicle can be loaded into a 20" container without external help)
geoffff
Observer
Great info, thanks!
My concern about doing the manhole-style temporary wheels is that they may be so thin that with the concentrated weight of the truck the disc wheels would carve deep grooves into (or splinter) the wood bottom of the shipping container - and so I might be responsible for paying to repair this.
But it sounds like it worked just fine for you...?
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
I'd probably use the smallest diameter rims that will fit and then wrap then in the lowest profile tires I could find. That way you could drive up a ramp with no issues and they should weigh less than a solid steal disc.
I’ve never tried this, but the first thing that comes to my mind thinking outside the box would be a set of skis or skies depending on your preferred term, bolted to the axles or frame. Slide the rig into the box with a forklift and pull it back out. You can lose whatever height you have in ground clearance, maybe plus or minus a bit if you don’t want to remove the knuckles too.
luthj
Engineer In Residence
I don't see a whole lot of improvement over shipping wheels with skids. When I had mine cut, I only had 2" of clearance from the lowest suspension component to the ground. In some cases this will be the brake rotor, or the front low balljoint.
Regardless there may be an additional loading fee if the vehicle doesn't roll, but that depends totally on the company you are working with.
If you need even more than the wheels can give, the next step is to compress the suspension with straps or spring compressors. That can gain a few more inches.
Regardless there may be an additional loading fee if the vehicle doesn't roll, but that depends totally on the company you are working with.
If you need even more than the wheels can give, the next step is to compress the suspension with straps or spring compressors. That can gain a few more inches.
Hey, you've posted a whole bunch of good info in this thread, thank you. Did you yourself do this with the Sprinter (noted from your sig)? Did just changing the wheels provide plenty space? Asking because I'm thinking of doing it with the same model you have, but it's factory 4x4 which gives it about 4" additional height over the stock 2wd, and I had been thinking of modding the suspension which would give it another 1-2" lift.
Also, are there any risks / other things to consider when doing this, also re compressing suspension?
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
Agreed. It's also important to remember one generally doesn't roll out from the shipping container and directly into the Kalahari. Stuff like roof racks and roof-mount solar panels could be removed/replaced for the duration of the shipping evolution. Four bolts moves my roof basket inside the van and I gain 3" clearance. Four more bolts and the solar panel goes with it, and I pick up another 3".
luthj
Engineer In Residence
Yeah, the same sprinter. Though the suspension has changed since we did the shipping.
My van has a roof vent, which is the highest spot. It weighs near the gross weight limit, and it was lifted 2" from north american stock.
T1N sprinter 4x4s are 3" taller than north american T1Ns factory. They are 4" taller than 2WD T1Ns in europe. So your 4x4 is about 1" taller than mine in ride height, assuming its a high roof model. I believe you should be able to fit in a high cube container with shipping wheels, but a lot depends on what you have on the roof.
If you lift your van further, all bets are off. You need to accurately measure the height of your van loaded. Then subtract the maximum amount you can lower it with shipping wheels. Remember you need about 1" clearance to the door opening to account for slight ramp angle.
quickfarms
Adventurer
There are a lot of options for wheels. You could see if a forklift tire manufacturer could mold rubber onto a rim. You could talk to a tire retreaded to see if they can bond a tread to a flat rim. A lot of wide rims are actually flat in the middle, you could cut off the edges. They make bolt on rubber blocks for the steel wheel antique tractors
Air suspensions can easily be lowered to reduce the height
Air suspensions can easily be lowered to reduce the height
JaSAn
Grumpy Old Man
I got the smallest diameter wheels that will fit, mounted the smallest junk p-metric tires that will fit, and run them flat to get my '51 Power Wagon into a 7' garage door. If you need more traction (tires spin on the rim) put screws through the bead like drag racers do. I loose 8" with the small flat tires, another inch going from 17" to 15" rims.