6 Steps for Shipping

Expedition Vehicles Overseas

Fellow Traveler,

Welcome to the first part of Global Expedition Vehicles “6 Steps for Shipping Expedition Vehicles Overseas” guide.  Do you have an awesome Expedition Vehicle, but you have only driven it on local off-road trails and on domestic expedition trips because you are unsure how to take your 4×4 Expedition Vehicle to a foreign country?  Shipping your Expedition Vehicles overseas should not be overwhelming and time consuming when you have the right planning.  Based information from other Overlanders and our international shipping experiences and research, we have put together a “6 Steps for Shipping Expedition Vehicles Overseas” guide.

Please feel free to ask questions and add some comments about this topic. We want to know your experiences!

The 1st Step for Shipping Overseas – Choosing a Shipping Method

There are several methods for shipping an Expedition Vehicle. The three main methods are Container, Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO), and Flat Rack shipping. Container shipping requires that your vehicle fit in a container, i.e. Land Rover, Land Cruiser or smaller pickup-up with a camper.  Roll-on/Roll-off is the most secure method of shipping larger Expedition Vehicles. With RORO, your Expedition Vehicle is driven on and off the transport vessel via ramps, secured to the car decks and protected from the wind and sea water. (Sometimes you may be allowed to drive your own vehicle on or off – just ask nicely!)  Technically, you are not allowed to ship personal items in your expedition vehicle, but spare tire and factory fitted accessories are allowed.  Some people do ship personal goods but at their own risk, since it is not covered under ship insurance.

Another method is by Flat Rack. Your Expedition vehicle is placed on a rack that can hold up to 88,000 pounds and then loaded onto the transport vessel.  This method allows the ship to carry many more items by stacking the racks.

The shipping option that we prefer most is RORO because the chances of getting your 4×4 Expedition Vehicle damaged are lower.  Using the RORO shipping method your vehicle is placed inside the car deck, secured by a series of straps and kept safe, clean and dry.

When using Flat Rack shipping, there is a possibility that your Expedition Vehicle can get scratched and dented by the cables used to lift the rack. Sometimes the shipping company will grab the Off-Road vehicle without using the rack, causing damage to the vehicle. There is also a high chance that they can drop the vehicle from a height, instead of placing it properly on the vessel’s dock or even placing it out on the deck.  Your vehicle will also be exposed to the wind and salt water while at sea.

Finding a Carrier company is easy; simply Google “shipping overseas carrier” and you are going to find thousands of results.

But how can you choose the most reliable and professional one that will better serve your needs?  The next part of our guide is all about selecting the right Carrier and identifying which one provides the best and most reliable services.  Once you chose the shipping method, one of the biggest factors in having success on your overseas shipping is hiring the most reliable carrier company.

The next part of our guide is all about selecting the right Carrier and identifying which one provides the best and most reliable services.

Until next time,

The GXV Team