Shipping a model T (or two) to Alaska

Reno Speedster · Post by **Reno Speedster** » Thu Dec 30, 2021 10:11 pm

So, a friend’s widow just offered me his two Ts, but I would need to get them from the lower 48 to Alaska. The Ts have not been run for 8 or 9 years but we’re in lovely shape when he passed and have been stored in a climate controlled garage. I don’t have any experience shipping a T and am not sure how easy it would be to get them up to Alaska. Any advice?

Post by **Steve Jelf** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:40 am

The land route from the lower 48 to anchorage is mighty long. I would investigate the cost of shipping by sea as well as land. Then there's the question of crossing the border into Canada then back into the USA. What are the current Covid rules on border crossings into both countries?

Post by **SurveyKing** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:47 am

I had an experience shipping a Model T from Texas to Spain a few years ago. You must go through a shipping company and it was like pulling teeth from an elephant to find one but finally settled on Schumacher Cargo. They specialize in shipping antique cars. This was about 7 years ago but it went very smooth. They handled everything including picking up the non running car from my house and delivering it to the port in Houston. The whole process took about two months, but arrived safely. I suspect Alaska would be cleaner and much quicker albeit the current shipping backlogs may interfere. Good Luck

Floydv · Post by **Floydv** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:55 am

You don't day where the T's are located but if you can get them running and to a port that is one option. We shipped the daughters vehicle from Anchorage to Seattle about 20 years ago, worked ok but I wouldn't ship them open deck!
It was about $400. But remember that was 20 years ago!
Another option is to get a car trailer that will hold 2 T's . It's a nice trip!
My vote would be for the car trailer with a suitable tow vehicle.
Good luck!

Post by **Humblej** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 8:33 am

I have done the over water auto transport before, shipped a model T to Hawaii. Car hauler ships are not really suited for an antique car, and your car needs to be drivable. Understand that even if it will start and drive, nobody in the shipping company will be able to start and drive it, so it will get manhandled and forced on board and off again. It will spend some time in storge before and after, outside in the elements, and anything not bolted down will be removed and taken. And it was expensive. Container is a good way to go for water transport, you buy or rent, you load your cars into it, you unload your cars out of it. You shore up the vehicles so they dont shift around by rough handling, it is secure and protected from the weather, It is however very expensive and overkill for a short trip to Alaska. I would not recommend transport by ship.

Post by **signsup** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 9:03 am

I think you will have to convince yourself that this will be a labor of love. The cost of shipping will possibly exceed the value of the cars. The fact that there are two of them halps reduce the per vehicle cost. Yes, we do not know what state they are in the U.S. Shipping to AK from CA is a different situation than shipping to AK from FL.
If it were me, I'd just spend the money it would take to hire a friend, associate, or relative and winch them on a enclosed trailer and drive them from where they are to where they need to go.
We have purchased many military vehicles from around the US and just hook up the trailer to the F250, go out and get them. It's part of the vehicles story to tell.
Wish there was a cookie cutter answer for you, but agree with previous post that even if they are running cars, no driver is going to know how to starte them, drive them and get them up ramps onto a trailer or into an intermodal shipping container.

Just thinking out loud here, but since there are two cars, perhaps the inducement of one of the cars might help locate someone to deliver the other car to you? A "win/win/win" for all three parties in the transaction?

Post by **TXGOAT2** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 9:42 am

I'd strongly consider employing one of the well-known antique car haulers service, if available, for such a job. An enclosed trailer and a person who is used to handling antique cars is the way to go. Selling one car to finance the shipping of both might be an attractive option. Waiting for Spring might be advisable also, if the option exists. There are at least two experienced custom haulers available who will personally do the job and not contract it out to who-knows-who.

Post by **FreighTer Jim** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 11:16 am

Morgan

Others who have posted have summed it up nicely.

Unless you met someone at a ferry dock in the states
with an enclosed trailer to take possession and took
one or both from there to Alaska - transport is cost prohibitive.

Container shipping by sea has increased over 400%
in the last several months.

I have taken the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes
to Orcas Island to deliver vehicles pulling my custom enclosed
car hauler trailer and towing several bumper pull trailers.

FJ

John Codman · Post by **John Codman** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 11:27 am

I agree with TXGOAT2. Also with freighter Jim. If you care about the cars, you need someone who is used to handling antique cars.

Reno Speedster · Post by **Reno Speedster** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:06 pm

The cars are in Nevada. I have a friend with a big sprinter van that can do some serious towing. He is planning a trip outside this summer. We are discussing options to see if bringing the two cars back is practical. One option would be to buy an enclosed trailer in the lower 48 then sell it here (you can usually break even or make money doing that). Lots to figure out to see if this is practical. Honestly, I only have room for one car, so trading one for the transportation would be reasonable.

Post by **George House** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:17 pm

Another possibility - albeit remote - is to coordinate with the best Model T mechanic, Ross Lilleker, who frequently pulls his enclosed trailer capable of hauling 2 model T s....all over the US. He has also driven Model T s from east Texas to Alaska twice. I’ll bet he could even get both running in short order. If nothing else he might deliver your T s to the port of Seattle for further ferry transport to Ketchikan. Personally I wouldn’t want to make that trip this time of year..... Happy New Year

to all!

Post by **FreighTer Jim** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 1:26 pm

Reno Speedster wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:06 pm
The cars are in Nevada. I have a friend with a big sprinter van that can do some serious towing. He is planning a trip outside this summer. We are discussing options to see if bringing the two cars back is practical. One option would be to buy an enclosed trailer in the lower 48 then sell it here (you can usually break even or make money doing that). Lots to figure out to see if this is practical. Honestly, I only have room for one car, so trading one for the transportation would be reasonable.

A Sprinter Van is not a tow vehicle

It is engineered - designed - marketed as a cargo vehicle.
The maximum tow capacity for a single rear wheel
Sprinter Van is 5000 pounds.

FJ

Norman Kling · Post by **Norman Kling** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 1:39 pm

You need to wait till summer. Depends on where you are going in Alaska. If near the coast, you can ship by sea, if inland, you might find it better to ship by land through Canada. Maybe by then the borders will again be open. Even if you ship by sea, if the location is inland, you will need to wait until the weather gets good enough to drive to the location.
Norm

Reno Speedster · Post by **Reno Speedster** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 2:43 pm

[/quote]

A Sprinter Van is not a tow vehicle

It is engineered - designed - marketed as a cargo vehicle.
The maximum tow capacity for a single rear wheel
Sprinter Van is 5000 pounds.

FJ
[/quote]

Good to know. Ts are pretty lite but we would want to stay within the towing specs. He has towed quite a bit of stuff with it. We might have to bring one up at a time or just bring one. I could store the other at my ranch in Nevada. I am in Anchorage.

Post by **Oldav8tor** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 3:30 pm

Whoa! A Sprinter is not a tow vehicle? I beg to differ. I have a 2006, 3500 diesel Sprinter (one ton, dually wheels) that I've towed with for years. True, I'm not pulling a load like freighter Jim frequently does but it handles my enclosed tandem trailer and 1917 Touring like it's hardly there. I still get 17-18 mpg and I have the camper van to sleep in if I wish. The combined weight of the trailer and touring is under 3600 pounds. Even lightly loaded the Sprinter is double the weight of the trailer and Model T so you have great control. If you are only bringing one car back I wouldn't rule it out as an option.

Post by **FreighTer Jim** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 4:21 pm

Oldav8tor wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 31, 2021 3:30 pm
Whoa! A Sprinter is not a tow vehicle? I beg to differ. I have a 2006, 3500 diesel Sprinter (one ton, dually wheels) that I've towed with for years. True, I'm not pulling a load like freighter Jim frequently does but it handles my enclosed tandem trailer and 1917 Touring like it's hardly there. I still get 17-18 mpg and I have the camper van to sleep in if I wish. The combined weight of the trailer and touring is under 3600 pounds. Even lightly loaded the Sprinter is double the weight of the trailer and Model T so you have great control. If you are only bringing one car back I wouldn't rule it out as an option.

IMG_0562.jpg

As I stated - the single wheel rear wheel Sprinter
maximum towing capacity is 5000 pounds.

A dual rear wheel Sprinter has a maximum towing
capacity of 7500 pounds.

The Sprinter design is for cargo carrying - not for towing.

Go argue that with the folks that designed them.

If someone wants to invest in a tow vehicle
based upon a one ton diesel dually platform …

The towing capacity of a truck offered
by Ford - GM - Chevy offers a minimum
towing capacity of 12,500 pounds.

FJ

Les Schubert · Post by **Les Schubert** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 5:47 pm

May is great month to drive the Alaska Highway through Canada. Potentially cross the border at Coutts/Sweetgrass. Take Highway 2 north through Calgary and Edmonton, then drift northwest to Ft St. John and get on the Alaska Highway. In May you will see lots of animals by the road and the snow is gone. The days aren’t ridiculously long yet (like the end of June), and the road isn’t plugged up with tourists!! I’ve driven it 3 times!

Edy · Post by **Edy** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 7:38 pm

Morgan call Scott Stouff at Alaska traffic 907-854-6596.... my wife has a lot of experience in the shipping industry and highly recommend's him

Post by **Oldav8tor** » Fri Dec 31, 2021 8:13 pm

I'm not trying to start an argument, but my Sprinter is the perfect tow vehicle for my purposes. It's converted to a camper van and on some tours I choose to camp in it either at the tour or while enroute if it's some distance away. If I were pulling a loads like Freighter Jim it wouldn't do the job but the turbo-diesel performs well for me, even in the high country. Truthfully, I have no use for a pickup truck. Expensive, costly to operate and of limited utility 99% of the time (for me.)

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