Author Topic: Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?  (Read 1155 times)

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Offline Dave240

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Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?
« on: Saturday,June 21, 2014, 01:14:48 PM »
I'm picking up a bare Europa body - just the fiberglass body and nothing else - and if it's like my Elan body it maybe only weighs 300 pounds or so. I need to drive back several hours with it to bring it home. The only trailers that I can rent are car haulers that weigh 2000 lbs. I'd really rather spend money on a one-way trailer rental, plus haul a 2000 lb trailer around for 300 lb body.

With that being said, is there any way that I could safely transport it on the bed of a truck? I have two trucks at my disposal, a brand new F250 and a 2003 Nissan Frontier. Obviously the body wouldn't fit in the box, but maybe I could rig something up with wood to put it on top of the box? Anyone ever done it? Any ideas?

The body itself is in poor shape. I am buying it to learn the ins and outs of fiberglass body work, so that I know what I am doing when I start doing the body work on my Elan.
1969 Lotus Elan +2 - Body-off restoration underway

Offline BDA

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Re: Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?
« Reply #1 on: Saturday,June 21, 2014, 01:41:48 PM »
I think the body will be more than 300 lbs, but it should be light enough for you and two buddies to heft into/onto the truck (though three buddies would be better). Attach 2x4s across the top of the bed somehow. Then you can attach bolt a ring on each body attachment point and use it to tie the body to the 2x4s. I think the front attachments are more solid than the rear so take that into account. Obviously, you don't want the body to move once it's attached to your truck.

Another thing you might consider is building something that attach to the truck bed and go into the section of the body where the 'T' section of the frame goes and bolt the body to that.  It should be about 12" high. If you bring some wood, hammer, nails, saw, etc. You could make something similar for the rear. The attachment points seem to be a little less than 12" from the bottom of the body. The distance between the front and rear attachment points is about 8' (give or take up to 6").

Of course a flat bed of some kind would probably be easier. Are you sure you don't know anybody who races? They might lend/rent you a trailer that makes more sense.

Good luck!

Offline Grumblebuns

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Re: Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?
« Reply #2 on: Saturday,June 21, 2014, 04:03:48 PM »
The Europa body shell must be at least 13' long, possibly even 14'. On even a full size short bed PU truck there is going to be a lot of overhang off the back. As BDA suggests, build a wood platform that Is firmly attached to the bed of the truck and rest the body of the Europa on the platform. Most of the underbody flat section is under the cabin section, that's where all of the weight will be. Use as many tie downs as you can borrow or buy and hope there are tie down points on the truck. The key I believe is having a solid platform firmly bolted to the bed of the truck.

I have a spare body shell resting on a shipping platform that I can take measurements from if you need any.   

Offline Nitwit

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Re: Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday,June 25, 2014, 07:16:31 AM »
I can fir a Europa into a pickup bed or dumpster, cut up into pieces.  Time to build or buy a trailer, with a Lotus it's one of my required tools, right Joji?

Whit
Vista, CA

Offline RoddyMac

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Re: Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday,June 25, 2014, 07:34:10 AM »
I brought the first Europa I bought home on the back of a pick-up truck.  From what I  recall it sat on top of the sides of the bed, and only required strapping down.  The last one was hauled in the back of a U-haul truck, which was much safer.

Out of curiosity, where did you find the body tub?

Rod

Offline Grumblebuns

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Re: Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday,June 25, 2014, 07:43:20 AM »
I can fir a Europa into a pickup bed or dumpster, cut up into pieces.  Time to build or buy a trailer, with a Lotus it's one of my required tools, right Joji?

Whit
Vista, CA

Brought home many Europas and spare bodies with my small single axle Featherlite trailer. You've made good use of your trailer too Whit, from what I recall.

Offline 3929R

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Re: Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday,July 01, 2014, 07:34:31 AM »
That is a GREAT photo! :coolpic:
Mark
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Offline jjbunn

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Re: Any way to fit a Europa body on a pickup?
« Reply #7 on: Thursday,July 03, 2014, 11:53:29 PM »
That is a true laugh-out-loud photo!  :beerchug: