Vehicle transport, and belated introduction...

[Kraehe]

Hello all,

I've been lurking for a few months now, mostly just reading and trying to learn. I haven't done an introduction post because, well, I haven't got a vehicle of my own and I don't really have anything useful to say.

I still haven't got anything usefull to say, I guess, but I have been getting enthusiastic about the idea of getting an ACCO, and I figure it would be rude to start asking questions of the forum in general without first saying hello. So, hello. I'm 60 year old, rapidly falling apart, and live in northern NSW. I am not ex-military, which perhaps puts me at a disadvantage here, but I am keen.

The biggest initial problem I see in acquiring a truck is transport.  Most that appear available and affordable seem a long way from running condition.  How do you transport them home?  I obtained a quote from a transport company for moving a Mk 3 from southern NSW to northern NSW and it came out as nearly $5000 without GST.  This is simply beyond my reach.  It is also likely more than the cost of the vehicle.  Am I missing something?

Thank you.

Darren.

[Carzee]

Welcome Darren. Spot on with the obstacle that is high retrieval costs. After getting the treasure home... for some enthusiasts the follow up cost is a place to store the project for the duration. All this before a single rusty bolt is restored. Obviously it is really advantagous to be in a established local club or group.

[Kraehe]

Hello Carzee,

Thank you for your reply.  Yes, I would have the second problem you mention as well, at least initially.  Is there a list of relevant clubs or of potentially helpful people in northern NSW that I may access please?

Regards,

Darren.

[Carzee]

Where I work there are about 100 magazines like "Just 4x4" and similar with a club listing section up the back. Maybe a library near you?
I also saw an adv for the Walcha Swap coming up in 4 weeks - https://walchaswapmeet.com which could be good. I don't know where you are but those events are good for meeting other enthusiasts and asking questions.

Trivia time while I am here. The In Laws were on a trip in their Ford Galaxy when they spotted an 1937 or 1939 Pontiac at the Tennant Creek tip. They wanted it so they towed it home to Canberra using a straight arm. True. 1980. They still have it. They had a few late '30s GM sedans and a bedford truck in their collection and most of it was at a local Car Club "yard". (I don't know what the proper name was so I called it a yard). It was in the 1980s and 1990s as I recall - when I was living in the Hunter area. The yard was a freebie from Telstra who closed/retrenched a section. Telstra had a sort of motor pool and maintenance sheds. Somehow with the right connections and permissions, local clubs set up in that yard and club volunteers maintained it (mowing/gardens/fencing etc). It was a good little arrangement. Room to store your collections of parts cars and do work. I was not there, so I don't know about electric and water access but anyhow... it was all good until it stopped - not sure on the details but I assume the close came with the changes in liability suits (changed everything). Thats when the old cars came home here and had to fit in front yards, backyards and spare sheds.

Hindsight makes everything appear better back then. However..

[Kraehe]

Hello Carzee,

Thanks for the tips. The Walcha swap meet is reachable - I'm about a two hour drive north.  I've marked it in my calendar...

The straight arm tow behind the galaxy sounds exciting.  Imagine how exciting it would be to tow an ACCO behind my Magna    (Joking, of course).

Thanks again. Regards,

[Mick_Marsh]

"Imagine how exciting it would be to tow an ACCO behind my Magna"

I'd like to see photo's of that.

Isn't the NSW Military vehicle club AMVCS? You might also consider joining a truck club such as HCVCA. You might become friends with someone with a low loader.

It seems people are finding these vehicles all over the place. Here's someone's new treasure I saw in my travels It's a Mk4.

[Kraehe]

Hello Mick_Marsh,

It would certainly be an "adventure".

I'll look into the clubs you mentioned; thank you.

I don't mind the idea of paying to have a vehicle transported.  I just did not expect the cost of transport to be so, err.., huge.  At the rate I was quoted (plus a reasonable vehicle purchase price) I would almost be able to buy a registerable vehicle and then drive it home.  Add a few thousand more and purchase of a fully restored vehicle may even be possible. 

So, along those lines, does anyone want to save me a lot of bother and restoration work and sell me a fully restored mk3, mk4 or F1, preferably one with an Abbey type crane?  It doesn't need to be absolutely correct - eg, one with a diesel fitted would be great.  What would you consider a reasonable price for such a vehicle?

Regards,

[john.k]

Transport costs are excessive for sure,when scrappies buy a similar truck and bring it to Sydney for scrap ,a maximum payout of $1500 including rubber disposal deduction.....In years gone ,we used to buy lots of army trucks at the auctions in Melbourne ,Bandianna ,Sydney ,and drive them back to Qld.....there is no truck cant be made driveable,and for NSW you need a limited safety inspection ,which is mainly lights,tyres ,brakes ,simple stuff.....If the truck is allegedly roadworthy ,then have the seller provide the limited roadworthy ,and get a permit to move .In ,Qld ,a permit is about $120,and can be for up to 7 days.

[Kraehe]

Hello john.k,

Thank you for your reply.  That is very valuable information.  I had no idea that limited safety inspections and permits to move were possible.  They won't help me get the one I had my eye on, as it is at a commercial auction and will be expected to be cleared immediately, but they may well help in future if I buy from a private seller.  I will look into current requirements for NSW, Qld., & Victoria, I think, and post some info back here in case anyone is interested.

Regards,

[john.k]

In Qld ,you can get a permit to move for up to 7 days online,and need only make a declaration its safe to drive /tow etc,which basically means the lights work/indicatrs work /tyres are safe /brakes work/steering works.  Last for me was $120.

[wfc1]

Hello Darren. I have just read your post about the transport costs. That sounds like whoever gave you the quote didn't really want the job, and if they did get it they would clean up at that price. To give you an idea I paid to have a prime mover shipped from S/E Qld to Wagga and it cost me 3300 incl. gst. That was 8 tonne and had to go on a float or dropdeck trailer because of height. I have small trucks as well as a semi and know for a fact that an ex army acco is fine on the back of my little crane truck as I have moved them around for years. It would depend on how far you have to move it but you could knock at least 2k off that price, maybe more. In NSW you can purchase a permit to move an unregistered vehicle from RMS. A pink slip/roadworthy and go to RMS and do the paperwork, pay money, I can't remember the figure but not much, and away you go. Unless the vehicle has had recent rego and been maintained you run a lot of risk driving it home. Just remember if it breaks on the way home you can then add recovery costs on as well, or you will have to fix it on the side of the road. Think of your time, plus fuel, plus a whole heap of worry and having it transported by a professional starts to look a lot better, as long as it is a decent price. Regards, Bruce.

[john.k]

Lotta transporters add in the price of getting the truck picked up by tilt tray, then a non going truck moved onto a semi deck ,and maybe the same at your end.......if you find someone carting steel plate ,they can put the truck on the plates......maybe.

[Kraehe]

Sorry for the late replies - life got in the way...

Thank you john.k, I will look into the permits to move, etc. Yes, I guess transfering the load would add to the costs.  The quote I received was, however, I think for transport on the tilt tray the entire way. At least, no transhipping was mentioned.  I selected the company for the quote from some pictures in a post on this forum. They were shown transporting and delivering one the ACCO 4x4s on their tilt tray.

Thank you for your reply, wfc1. Yes, I expected transport to be expensive, but nearly $5000 without GST from southern NSW to northern NSW shocked me. I take your points about potential problems in driving a vehicle home.  It could all get very problematic and very expensive, very quickly. Fuel would be a significant cost. At 1.1 km/L (3 mile/gallon) and $1.20 to $1.45 per litre, a 1000 km trip would be $1250 to $1500 in fuel alone.

Regards,

[john.k]

You would get much better fuel mileage ---or should.....a 6x6  should get around 8mpg,a 4x4 around 10-12 mpg.......Basically ,you would need another vehicle with you,say a 4x4 ute,and a driver who could tow ,and stay clear of any major roads,especially clearways......if you stick to roads where you can pull over and park,then you will avoid having the cops make you get a tow truck if you break down.......All this conditional of you being a good old time truck mechanic........I recall one time ,I drove a Mk2 ACCO from Tottenham ,Melbourne,went without a hitch ,as I was turning into my gateway in Brisbane,the motor cut out,and wouldnt start..........the oil pump drive shaft had sheared , the distributor had disintegrated inside,and jammed up the drive.

[Chazza]

...as I was turning into my gateway in Brisbane,the motor cut out,and wouldnt start..........the oil pump drive shaft had sheared , the distributor had disintegrated inside,and jammed up the drive.

An example of perfect ignition timing