Steel plates for wheels?

Hi guys,
We have an ex ambulance 130 which is almost 2.5m high. (No roof rack, just a thin solar panel.)
Just looking at options of shipping it back after driving it down to South Africa.

Looking at dimensions we could probably fit in a standard height container if we replaced the wheels with steel plates just over the size of the rear drums. This is how a lot of unimogs have done it previously.

Question is: What thickness plate would be required to do this? i.e. that it won't buckle suddenly under the weight.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Richard

What about a set of thin 15" wheels without tyres?

Id say something around 15mm to be on the same side, but I wouldnt drag them all the way down there with you. Just get something made when you get there. They will be able to flame cut out some discs for you there and then.

You would want something with "teeth" on the outer edge to allow it to crawl up some planks or something into the container. Alternatively winch yourself into the container if you have one.

vilguy said:

Id say something around 15mm to be on the same side, but I wouldnt drag them all the way down there with you. Just get something made when you get there. They will be able to flame cut out some discs for you there and then.

You would want something with "teeth" on the outer edge to allow it to crawl up some planks or something into the container. Alternatively winch yourself into the container if you have one.

Click to expand...

15 mm? It's a Land rover not a chieftain tank.

wammers said:

15 mm? It's a Land rover not a chieftain tank.

Click to expand...

Im thinking of the poor shipping container as well

Imagine getting in the container to find it'd "sunk" into the floor on its skinny plates.... thats be hilarious!

what about just putting a bit of steel plate down from the ground to the container so theres no lip and winching / pushing with forklift etc it in on the drums / discs. Bit of a bodge... but if i

Be allright... (ish).... if done carefully!
If it all goes to cack, just have a set of drums / discs waiting at the port and fit them there and then.

Without all the dicking about making things.

Going to be a tight squeeze what ever he does.

How about removing the springs and running it on the bump stops? Just a thought.

I like the 15" wheels suggestion but I would leave the tyres on. Flatten them just before loading and pump them up just after offloading.

Bandit127 said:

I like the 15" wheels suggestion but I would leave the tyres on. Flatten them just before loading and pump them up just after offloading.

Click to expand...

Think you had better look up how tall 2.5 metres is and what is the maximum height internally of a container.

wammers said:

Think you had better look up how tall 2.5 metres is and what is the maximum height internally of a container.

Click to expand...

2.39m is internal standard height. 11cm too low or a tad under 4 1/2 inches in old money.

That's a pretty flat tyre but possible

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Measuring it, even with completely flat tyres it would still be too tall for the door size.

I'm thinking I'll make up a template of what I want and then ask a couple of workshops down here how much they'll charge. Just wanted an idea of thickness to ask for. I was thinking 7mm?
As a container door is slightly smaller than the internal height, it would be possible to put an extra but of plate between the disc and container floor.

However looking at shipping prices, it appears that it may work out cheaper to just find somebody else to do with and put both in a 40ft container high cube and split the costs. Would prefer not to, but it would save mucking about with discs etc.

Friend of mine just shipped a camper 130 from South Africa to UK using a 40 ft container and had a couple of motor bikes using the other half

ovalandrover said:

Friend of mine just shipped a camper 130 from South Africa to UK using a 40 ft container and had a couple of motor bikes using the other half

Click to expand...

Any idea how much he paid for it ?

I believe it was under 2000 pounds

That's about right as a quote depending on the rand.

Would have preferred to ship on own in a 20ft container to help with onward shipping but the price and hassle is going to make it not worthwhile.

Therefore it's going to be shared in a 40ft high cube.