Author Topic: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.  (Read 774 times)

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Offline Richard48Y

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Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« on: Saturday,October 24, 2020, 09:21:26 PM »
Getting my 71TS ex-Hillclimb Europa home.

I think I have a new plan. 
Do not want to rush getting my own truck back together.

So, fly to Helena and rent a 15' box truck one-way.
Only a little more expensive than driving my own truck but a faster trip by at least one day as I only have to drive back.
Key is finding a cheap flight. Easier if I delay the trip but I'm about out of patience  :holdurbreath: and getting concerned about the weather.

I did find one really cheap ticket, but an eleven hour layover in Denver is a deal killer! Turns into a two day flight. I could literally drive up as quickly.

A Europa is pretty narrow so I hope it will fit between the wheel wells.
I know the weight is fine.

I may have to UPS some tie-down straps and chains to the seller as I doubt the airline would be happy about them.

Anyone else moved a complete Europa this way?

Offline Grumblebuns

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #1 on: Sunday,October 25, 2020, 06:07:41 AM »
How do you plan on getting the Europa on and out of the box section. If my idea of a box truck is correct, the box section is pretty high.

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #2 on: Sunday,October 25, 2020, 10:17:10 AM »
U-Haul have fairly low beds, much lower than my flat-bed.
May just go to a local lumber store and buy a couple of planks to use as ramps.
Probably load backward as the body overhang will be less.
Enclosed box so no issue and easier to unload.

To ease loading I plan to send a snatch block, cable, and tie-downs I have to the seller.
I've used this system before and it makes loading very easy.

Offline SilverBeast

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #3 on: Sunday,October 25, 2020, 10:33:26 AM »
Make sure you strap the engine cover down if towing backwards. The are plenty of owners who have had three catch release,  cover flip open and wrap itself over the roof,  breaking cover,  windscreen and damaging the roof.. It has been postulated that it may be worse with S1/S2 because of the rear grille allowing more of a ram air effect and pressurising the engine compartment (a bit more).

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #4 on: Sunday,October 25, 2020, 11:24:12 AM »
Box truck, fully enclosed.

It's at least a two day drive back so I may also just sleep in the box myself.
Somewhat expensive trip so motels are optional.

Offline Clifton

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #5 on: Monday,October 26, 2020, 03:08:43 AM »
If you don't know, U-haul rents car trailers. I would rent the smallest truck and car trailer. Load straight if  you can get the tongue weight. If not and you you have to load tail first, it would be less stress at least for me to remove the rear lid and put it the truck bed.

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #6 on: Monday,October 26, 2020, 03:44:48 AM »
I just towed a Europa on a UHaul auto transport two days ago. We put it on the trailer forwards and it towed fine with a UHaul pick up truck....it was a little over 4 hours home.
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline Sandyman

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #7 on: Monday,October 26, 2020, 07:45:44 AM »
Great to hear. Please let us know how it looks.

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #8 on: Monday,October 26, 2020, 09:45:33 AM »
Original plan was to use my own '81 C30 one-ton flat-bed.
The side racks double as wide ramps and I have carried light cars many times.
Kind of why I keep a large gas guzzling truck.
I also have my own light but double axle trailer complete with new tires.
Problem is that I am in the middle of rebuilding the engine and updating to an overdrive transmission.
Not certain how much longer this will take to complete.

Snow will be coming too soon!
So a one-way flight and drive back makes sense for me. U-Ship quotes were too high.
15' box truck is plenty big enough to carry the Europa and much less hassle than dragging a trailer for nine hundred miles.
With a box truck I will not have to worry at all about anything blowing/falling off.

Now, if I can just get a decent airfare.
The "Bargain" outfits are a joke, really cheap but they will not reveal the itinerary until AFTER you buy a non-refundable ticket!
I already know this could get me an eleven hour layover in Denver.
That would make it a two day flight, I could literally drive it as quickly.
But at $560.00 each way I cannot rent a truck both ways.

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #9 on: Tuesday,October 27, 2020, 01:42:33 PM »
OK, impatience overrules thrift!
Booked my flight and a 15' box truck.
No cheap flight as I could not get any details on the "Bargain" which might have entailed up to FOUR connections and seventeen hours!

Paying more let me know exactly when I will arrive and only one connection.

I had BETTER be able to fit in this car and drive the wheels off as I've more into it than probably makes sense today.
If I am reading trends right and gasoline/fracking is not banned after the election I will be glad to have gotten it. In ten years I should marvel at the bargain I got.
If the election goes bad, ah well, not my first mistake.   :o

Offline Clifton

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #10 on: Wednesday,October 28, 2020, 03:25:01 PM »

15' box truck is plenty big enough to carry the Europa and much less hassle than dragging a trailer for nine hundred miles.
With a box truck I will not have to worry at all about anything blowing/falling off.


Please video the loading and exit. ;D

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Get it home, '71TS, Helena MT to Reno NV area.
« Reply #11 on: Friday,October 30, 2020, 08:46:10 PM »
Pics at the Push Pull thread.