Shipping container fit

[icarus]

^That actuly is a pretty good idea. Use a sting ratchet strap (if you can find an anchor point, draw up the axle gently, and I bet you could gain a couple of inches without over stressing the vehicle. The trick is finding an anchor point for the straps. Your only trying to gain a couple of inches after all.

Once in a while, we had dual trailer hubs fail, and with a chain and binder, we would chain up the axle to the trailer frame so we could keep rolling until we could fix the hub (off road of course!)

Icarus

[Type2Teach]

What about a small trailer tire, like this:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/high-speed-...376y1979g2u0j1

That you had drilled for the 5x130 bolt pattern? Shoot, you could even drill it at home, with a drill press, if you were careful enough. Drive to the shipping yard on the regular wheels and swap them for these wheels, drive the last 100 ft or so on the trailer wheels up into the container.
Just a thought.

[mendonsy]

Maybe a combination of the two?? Goodyear makes a 185/55/15 that is 3" smaller OD than the stock tires. That along with a bit of spring compression might do it.

[Boater]

My tyres are pretty high profile, can you get enough using lower profile tyres?
I know BMW are fitting run flat tyres these days, they probably need a specific rim and maybe a sensor system, but might be a possibility if you can get a set of wheels with the right stud arrangement.

[Graphite Dave]

OK How about 4 round pieces of 1" thick plywood drilled to the bolt pattern. Smaller diameter than stock tires/wheels. Drive in with plywood wheels. Easy to store for the return trip. Store on exterior tire rack? Not recommended for the 50 mph trip to the dock!

[Type2Teach]

Originally Posted by Graphite Dave

OK How about 4 round pieces of 1" thick plywood drilled to the bolt pattern. Smaller diameter than stock tires/wheels. Drive in with plywood wheels. Easy to store for the return trip. Store on exterior tire rack? Not recommended for the 50 mph trip to the dock!

I would cut 8 of them and counter sink one set of 4 at 1/2", then screw them together to get a 2" wide wheel. But you would have ZERO traction. Don't try to drive up any kind of ramp or even turn the wheels, they would break. How about securing the van? When they strap it down to the inside of the container, it could put too much strain on the wheels and "SNAP". But I really DO like the idea. I think we are on the right track. What else could he make wheels out of for cheap?
By the way, to cut the center hole, you need a 3 and 3/8" (86mm) hole saw. 3 and 1/2 (89mm) is easy to find at a hardware store in the US, and it will give you a little wiggle room, but for a tight fit, 3 and 3/8" is the way to go.
Wait, just had a thought about tying it down- what if you put blocks of wood under the front and rear axles so the weight was on THEM, and not the wheels. You could use jack stands, too.

[Graphite Dave]

The blocks are a better idea than jack stands. Maybe glue the two 1" pieces of plywood wheels together? I suspect they would work. If it was me, I would test the "wheels" at home on concrete before I tried the container. That way you would know it would work. I suspect that it would steer. I would not turn the steering wheel without the van moving. Certainly have limited traction. Again you could test at home to see if it could get up into container. Find out what the front edge of the container looks like. Simulate the edge using a concrete steet curb and blocks to determine what it will do.

[boomerbaird]

How about you just go on your bike? why do you need to ship a vehicle around the world.... Talk about first world problems... malaysia is awesome on a bicycle, along with cambodia, indonesia, japan,thailand!

[autostaretx]

Here is a site by someone who has been driving his Sprinter-based RV all over the world.
http://www.peterontheroad.com/index...._id=49&clang=0

(yes, it's in German... but you can access the page through Google Translate, and it's quite readable):
http://translate.google.com/translat...49%26clang%3D0

...you could contact him and find out how he handles shipment...

--dick

[Type2Teach]

Originally Posted by boomerbaird

How about you just go on your bike? why do you need to ship a vehicle around the world....

No cupholders on a bike. (cup, not bottle)