Shipping Jeep Tub From USA to Australia - Advice Needed

greg.p · #1 05-05-13, 13:50

I know this is not CMP related, but I need to ship a Willys jeep body tub from the USA to Australia (Melbourne).
For those who have done this sort of thing in the past, are there any recommend firms to use and conversely, any businesses to avoid?
Kind regards
greg.p

maple_leaf_eh · #2 05-05-13, 20:27

Good luck! The phrase that comes to mind is "less than load" to describe your shipment. If you can find a freight consolidator or freight forwarder, you might be able to get your load fitted into a 40' container headed to the land down under.

r.morrison · #3 05-05-13, 21:55

Greg: Is this a new jeep body or a used jeep body? "Packaging" of this unit will be particular to customs. If it's used, it will have to be thoroughly....and I mean thoroughly power washed so that there are no contaminants. The packaging lumber has to be approved or certified that it free of contaminants. The lumber has to be stamped also.
Terry's right about the shipping and consolidation. There are firms here in British Columbia that are constantly shipping down to your neck of the woods. I recently helped ship 2 containers down to New Zealand. Where is the jeep body currently located and is it going to Tasmania? I don't know anyone state side, but I could make some inquiries here, if you don't hear anything from the US members. Hope this helps and let me know......Robert

motto · #4 06-05-13, 03:09

Hi Greg.

I've been buying bits and pieces out of the US for years and every time it's slightly different depending on what it is,where it is, who you are dealing with and whether or not you know someone thats shipping stuff back at about the same time.

One shipper lost over $2,500 worth of my stuff with the barest apology and he had been recommended by a workmate who had been dealing with him successfully for years.

My best outcomes have been achieved with Cheetah Imports who are based in Lilydale at this end. They ship out of Indianapolis, Indiana. The owner of the company lives there and his daughter looks after things here. They are importing vehicles and parts all the time. All you have to do is arrange for it to be delivered to their address in Indianapolis and it will eventually turn up in Melbourne. Talk to them first of course. They have a web site.

If you are shipping out of Los Angeles I don't know who to talk to. Maybe Cheetah could recommend someone. I've been very lucky and have a friend with contacts in the hotrod world that ship out of there fairly often.

Hope this is of some use to you

David

jack neville · #5 06-05-13, 03:22

Greg,

Brocks Autos in Lilydale is the best I have used. I had a bad experience with Cheetah as have others I know. (Stuff took almost a year to get to Australia.) Brocks bring in about three 40 foot containers a week. Call Danny at Brocks 0417310092. He is very helpful. Just tell him what it is and where it is and he will explain the rest.

Little Jo · #6 06-05-13, 03:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg.p

I know this is not CMP related, but I need to ship a Willys jeep body tub from the USA to Australia (Melbourne).
For those who have done this sort of thing in the past, are there any recommend firms to use and conversely, any businesses to avoid?
Kind regards
greg.p

Hi Greg

From one Jeep restorer to another. You don't have to buy new or second hand overseas, you can buy it all here in Australia. I know that you can buy all you need to restore a WW2 Jeep, MB or GPW from Neil at "Marathon Spare Parts Company" on 02 6762 8666. Ask Neil to email you a copy of his complete product price list.

You will save yourself a lot of head aches and hassles with government red tape by buying in Australia. Neil is also the agent in Australia for MD Juan Enterprises who manufacture all the new panels you may need.

Good Luck, Cheers

Tony

motto · #7 06-05-13, 04:48

If you are not committed to the Jeep body in the US Greg there are alternatives as Tony suggested.

I don't own a Jeep but best way to go in my opinion (and others who have actually gone down this track) is that if you have an existing body that is beyond your ability to resurrect, get Simon Allen to rebuild it for you. All he needs really is the scuttle portion and he will build the rest using as much of the original as is recoverable.

Simon refers to this process as "re-skinning" and the main point is that the vehicle maintains more of its identity instead of being another Filipino replica.

Another feature is that Simon's work is more accurate than the imported replicas which many who have purchased them complain about.

David

greg.p · #8 06-05-13, 13:36

Thanks to Tony, Jack, David, Robert and Terry for your responses, they are greatly appreciated.
The tub is an original, good condition 1943 NOM 12 Radio Jeep body constructed especially for the USMC, of which only a few were made (as compared to the total production of jeeps produced during WW2).
If it proves too difficult to ship down under, I might transfer this thread to the "for sale" section!
Cheers Everyone and thanks again for your advice.
Kind regards
Greg