Preparing C6 for shipping
Thread Starter
Somba master
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Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Preparing C6 for shipping
I'm shipping my 'vette over to France for LeMans in June. Gonna need to make a checklist before putting the car in the container for about 3 weeks. I figure Stabil in gas, windows down, disconnect battery, bring along one of those battery jump starters. Anything else?
Also, what besides window indexing do I need to reset when I reconnect the battery at the other end?
GM
Also, what besides window indexing do I need to reset when I reconnect the battery at the other end?
GM
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,335
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From: Eagle River AK
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10,'14
I'm shipping my 'vette over to France for LeMans in June. Gonna need to make a checklist before putting the car in the container for about 3 weeks. I figure Stabil in gas, windows down, disconnect battery, bring along one of those battery jump starters. Anything else?
Also, what besides window indexing do I need to reset when I reconnect the battery at the other end?
GM
Also, what besides window indexing do I need to reset when I reconnect the battery at the other end?
GM
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I'd also check-on license requirements....would you need an International driver's license?
From my limited experience with a dead battery, all I had to do was re-index the windows. Also, why would you need to leave the windows down? Even if your battery is dead or disconnected, it should be easy enough to access the vehicle using the key above the rear license plate.
Thread Starter
Somba master
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Cruise-In 7, 9 & 12 Veteran
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Just planning to leave the windows down 1 inch so as not to have interference when opening door without power to index the window down.
I'm trying to find tie down instructions for inside the container too.
GM
I'm trying to find tie down instructions for inside the container too.
GM
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,430
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From: Whidbey Island WA
My suggestion would be don't ship it with the windows down, that's a bad thing waiting to happen. You can open the doors regardless, I have done it when I had DBS while I was in AK. Car sat for a few weeks after my wife was unable to start it before I got home and it was totally dead when I got here. I was told the door was designed to open with little force in this scenario and it proved true. You can try disconnecting the battery at home and checking this out yourself. On the other hand it doesn't however want to close easily with no power. Shouldn't be a problem though because you can pop your hood, reconnect your battery which should still be hot, light it off and then re-index the windows.
Thread Starter
Somba master
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Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
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Race Director
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From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
The windows are left down in the container with the battery diconnected. Make sure they disconnect the negative and not the positive.
Window is left down so customs can get into the car and the person that drives the car into the container has to climb out the window. there is NO way to open the door and get out. period.
No staybil in the gas tank. There is NO GAS allowed in the tank. The shipper will drain the gas to the reserve level by pumping out the gas or they will let your car idle for hours until the tank has only a few drops in it.
On the other end the shipper will have jump packs and a little gas if required. I've done this 6 times so far and it's really not a big deal.
Window is left down so customs can get into the car and the person that drives the car into the container has to climb out the window. there is NO way to open the door and get out. period.
No staybil in the gas tank. There is NO GAS allowed in the tank. The shipper will drain the gas to the reserve level by pumping out the gas or they will let your car idle for hours until the tank has only a few drops in it.
On the other end the shipper will have jump packs and a little gas if required. I've done this 6 times so far and it's really not a big deal.
Last edited by Bluewasp; Dec 24, 2006 at 09:55 PM.
Race Director
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From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Here are a few pictures of my cars being prepped and shipped.
unload:
load:
blocking the wheels
windows down with a car cover.
unload:
load:
blocking the wheels
windows down with a car cover.
Last edited by Bluewasp; Dec 24, 2006 at 09:49 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
My suggestion would be don't ship it with the windows down, that's a bad thing waiting to happen. You can open the doors regardless, I have done it when I had DBS while I was in AK. Car sat for a few weeks after my wife was unable to start it before I got home and it was totally dead when I got here. I was told the door was designed to open with little force in this scenario and it proved true. You can try disconnecting the battery at home and checking this out yourself. On the other hand it doesn't however want to close easily with no power. Shouldn't be a problem though because you can pop your hood, reconnect your battery which should still be hot, light it off and then re-index the windows.
Last edited by Bluewasp; Dec 24, 2006 at 09:39 PM.
Team Owner
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From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
...in that case Gary, if you need someone to run the gas out of your tank, drop me a note
Race Director
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From: Manassas VA
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St. Jude Donor '14
Excellent point!
I'd also check-on license requirements....would you need an International driver's license?
From my limited experience with a dead battery, all I had to do was re-index the windows. Also, why would you need to leave the windows down? Even if your battery is dead or disconnected, it should be easy enough to access the vehicle using the key above the rear license plate.
I'd also check-on license requirements....would you need an International driver's license?
From my limited experience with a dead battery, all I had to do was re-index the windows. Also, why would you need to leave the windows down? Even if your battery is dead or disconnected, it should be easy enough to access the vehicle using the key above the rear license plate.
For a US citizen to drive their car in Germany / most of europe you must have the following:
1. title. (not a photocopy)
2. Valid US registration
3. US plates
4. EURO insurance (double sided green card)
5. passport
Customs wants to see the title.
with those 5 things you can ship your car to europe and drive for 1 year in germany / most of europe.
Last edited by Bluewasp; Dec 24, 2006 at 10:18 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Whidbey Island WA
Its best to ship with the windows down. there is not enough room to open the door to reach in to pop the hood or do whatever is needed to look inside. would you want someone opening your door with only a few inches of room? you won't have paint left on the door as they slap it against the side of the container.
Race Director
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From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Gary, Have your passport, us license, and paperwork for the car an you will be fine.
I would advise reading up the rules of the road. The European Priority sign system is something you should be VERY familiary with BEFORE you leave the port...
Last edited by Bluewasp; Dec 25, 2006 at 07:53 AM.
Race Director
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From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Last edited by Bluewasp; Dec 25, 2006 at 08:01 AM.
Thread Starter
Somba master
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Cruise-In 7, 9 & 12 Veteran
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Yup, I had to memorize all the signs when I was stationed in Bitburg.
I'll have to refresh my memory, though.
GM
I'll have to refresh my memory, though.
GM
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Winter Springs FL
I'm shipping my 'vette over to France for LeMans in June. Gonna need to make a checklist before putting the car in the container for about 3 weeks. I figure Stabil in gas, windows down, disconnect battery, bring along one of those battery jump starters. Anything else?
Also, what besides window indexing do I need to reset when I reconnect the battery at the other end?
GM
Also, what besides window indexing do I need to reset when I reconnect the battery at the other end?
GM
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 580
Likes: 77
From: Northville MI
No, you do not have to drain any of the fluids. Actually, an empty tank produces more fumes. It's preferrable not to have a full tank of fuel in the vehicle. Unless there is a spill, fumes generally are not an issue in a steamship container - they are not airtight. The only time you need to drain the tank and run the vehicle until it's empty is if it's moving via airfreight