Mobile Home Transport Charges

[Stewpot]

I'm guessing some people on here are living in a mobile home on site during their build, and it's an option I'm looking into. Suitable caravans are frequently available in the small ads at prices which would make sense, but so far I've been unable to find out how much it may cost to transport one.

I assume transport charges would be a combination of an hourly rate and a mileage rate, subject to a minimum charge, but transport companies themselves seem very coy about their charges, and only want to quote for a specific job - at this stage I just want numbers I can approximate a budget with. I've tried a couple of sites like DeliveryQuoteCompare.com to get some examples, but they produce absolutely no results.

Could anybody give me some examples, citing mileage, time and overall costs?

[ProDave]

The 2 times I bought one, I just bought from the caravan dealers that have their own transport wagons and delivery was included in the price.

 

The one time i sold one, the buyer had trouble finding anyone to transport it.  the 2 local companies would only deliver vans they had sold, he ended up getting a company from 100 miles away to transport it.

 

Just phone your local dealers with a ficticious 'van and ask for a quote to deliver it from 50 miles away to your plot.

 

Also check what "delivery" means.  When mine was delivered, they unloaded it onto the road and said "there you go mate"......

[Bitpipe]

I paid £500 back in 2015 to get our 40' x 12' van on site by a specialist mover who had a low loader and landy as a scout car and for final positioning.

 

It did not come far (about 5 miles) but the cost is really at either end getting it on and off the loader, to final position and secure on blocks, balanced etc.

 

Same guy took it away for cash at the end (it was pretty tired, we had little resell interest) and they took it to a farmer on south coast who used it to house seasonal workers.

 

Could give you his number if you want to pick his brain, I think he goes all over to be honest.

[Stewpot]

2 minutes ago, ProDave said:

The 2 times I bought one, I just bought from the caravan dealers that have their own transport wagons and delivery was included in the price.

 

Yes, I've seen them. There is, of course a premium on the ticket price because of this, and if it's traveling a long way, this may make sense. But you can often find 'vans very cheaply, and maybe not so far from the site, so it would be interesting to know how much I should allow for transport costs, so I can compare the overall outlay.

 

2 minutes ago, ProDave said:

The one time i sold one, the buyer had trouble finding anyone to transport it.  the 2 local companies would only deliver vans they had sold, he ended up getting a company from 100 miles away to transport it.

 

That may be another problem to consider. Any idea what he was charged?

 

2 minutes ago, ProDave said:

Also check what "delivery" means.  When mine was delivered, they unloaded it onto the road and said "there you go mate"......

 

I anticipate this - it may not, at this stage, be possible to get the truck onto the site, but I think the local farmer and his tractor my be good for helping with that.

[Bitpipe]

3 minutes ago, Stewpot said:

 

Yes, I've seen them. There is, of course a premium on the ticket price because of this, and if it's traveling a long way, this may make sense. But you can often find 'vans very cheaply, and maybe not so far from the site, so it would be interesting to know how much I should allow for transport costs, so I can compare the overall outlay.

 

 

That may be another problem to consider. Any idea what he was charged?

 

 

I anticipate this - it may not, at this stage, be possible to get the truck onto the site, but I think the local farmer and his tractor my be good for helping with that.

 

You need to be careful, large vans are not particularly robust and easily damaged  - a lot of the value of these experienced movers is their ability to get them though tight spots (like the small gap we left after building the house )

 

 

[Stewpot]

4 minutes ago, Bitpipe said:

I paid £500 back in 2015 to get our 40' x 12' van on site by a specialist mover who had a low loader and landy as a scout car and for final positioning.

 

It did not come far (about 5 miles) but the cost is really at either end getting it on and off the loader, to final position and secure on blocks, balanced etc.

 

Same guy took it away for cash at the end (it was pretty tired, we had little resell interest) and they took it to a farmer on south coast who used it to house seasonal workers.

 

Could give you his number if you want to pick his brain, I think he goes all over to be honest.

 

Thanks for that. This'll be Scottish Borders area, so I doubt your man would be the one to go to. I anticipate that I'll have to position the 'van myself, so I'm really just after a basic pick up and drop off.