Freight Container?

[speedick]

Quick question / Long story

Does anyone keep / have experience of putting a Mclaren (12c) in a freight container ?.

For instance, I don't think I will be able to drive it in and still get out through the doors (or window ?!) ?. Is it possible to steer through an open window as it goes in ?. Can you stop the handbrake operating electronically and making it difficult to get out again ?.

[speedick]

Bispal said:

Only way to park with handbrake off is to turn off the engine with the door open and the handbrake button pushed down. Then leave car and lock it. It doesn't help much as the pads are so close to the disc that any moisture will probably create a rusty bond, even with the handbrake off, within 2 weeks, happened to me all the time. Very difficult to drag a car out of a shipping container with the wheels locked! Sole reason why next time I buy a McL it will be with CCB's.

Thanks - I'd not yet figured the "handbrake" trick.

I may yet just remove the handbrake pads to solve both problems at once .........

[speedick]

Bispal said:

Same problem with the regular pads on the discs, You can't leave these cars 'damp' for over a few weeks or the brakes will more or likely stick and I don't mean stick that you can power out of I mean stick that needs dragging on the ground by a tow truck for 50M to unlock if copious amounts of boiling water doesn't work.

I've (thankfully) yet to experience this ..... But my plan is now to put some 0.5mm Mylar sheet that I've just bought between the brake pads & disks when it's time to stand the car through the winter.

[speedick]

indapendentlee said:

Where are you loading it? If you put the car on a pallet most freight handlers can put it in using a forklift. Ontime can definitely do it.

It's a long story - short version

I'm a serial light aircraft builder and my car's hogging the available garage space which I now need to rivet parts together.

Planning to re home it in a freight container at the side of the garage for the winter and then "flip" aircraft parts & car back across during the summer months (less building, more driving !).

I've already started making some 4 meter long "low angle" loading ramps.

Container wont be level (uphill to get in) so the plan is to use a pulley in the back and a long rope from car to pulley and then underneath back to lawn tractor to pull it in

[speedick]

Davel said:

The only issue with containers is that, unless you have good ventilation, they tend to sweat in different weathers which, in turn, causes rust.

If you do use one, fit some good air vents to the walls.

I'm half expecting this problem.

"Plan A" will be ventilation ... but I'm also considering adding some cedar cladding to the outside of the container to make it less of an eyesore and (hopefully) reduce the condensation risk.

[speedick]

Just out of interest

My initial thought was to build (or rather have built) another garage - 24' x 24' free standing brick / tile roof / 2 x Hormann doors = £65k. Planning Permission needed and blocks the view from the front of my house.

20' "one trip" Freight container, delivered and teleportered into a tricky spot = £2400. No Planning Permission required and hidden at the side of the house.

= £62.5k to spend on fuel & tyres according to my Man maths

Edited by speedick on Wednesday 9th October 16:28

[speedick]

RBT0 said:

Explain again the issue of leaving the handbrake on....is it because freezing at low temp?

The handbrake is electric and auto applies when you open the car door to get out. The problem is that once its in a container you cant open the door to get back in (!) and you're stuck with the handbrake on.

I've actually had this problem when I pushed the car into a narrow doorway - brake on, can't open doors in the gap

Fortunately there was a 2" gap at the top of the slightly open drivers window. I threw the key in through the gap, applied the foot brakes with a broom handle and pushed the start button with another .... then once the car was running got the brake off with yet another broom push .... phew !.

Edited by speedick on Thursday 10th October 09:41

[speedick]

Gunso said:

Awesome. What have you built?

Zenair CH601 U/L, Pitts S1-S (Re build), Vans RV-6 ..... Vans RV-7 currently in progress. Plus various repairs, restorations and part projects for other people.

[speedick]

MAC 720S said:

I've been considering having a container as a garage / workshop. Check-out these 10' wide purpose built container garages.

https://www.shippingcontainersuk.com/brands/10ft-w...

Looks good - wish I'd seen these before I bought mine.

Another thing I like about them ..... If you decide to move house, just take them with you.

(..... getting carried away now) Or, If you fancied an exotic driving holiday - why not stick the car in the container and ship it !

[speedick]

Gunso said:

Ace - nice selection. I used to own G-KLAW a Christen Eagle that I watched be built.

Considering this at the moment.

https://afors.com/aircraftView/47580

I know 'KLAW (via Rich G) and 'OSIT well - Its at Lambley at the 'mo, Gary is flying it regularly and everyone is blaming me for the racket he's making with it around Nottingham.

[speedick]

Big step up in performance from an Eagle.

Expensive to run & maintain (C of A) - but still probably the cheapest way to be competitive at Advanced (assuming you want to own your A/c)

Gary & Clive know what they are doing when getting it into shape (It stood for a long time at Perth).

I'd take a close look at the fabric and get full oil analysis on some 10+ hour old oil samples - assuming that was all good (& its what you wanted), Yes

Edited by speedick on Saturday 12th October 19:29

[speedick]

Well, It's arrived and in place as planned

.... Amazing fact

It weighs 2.2 metric tons

The placard on the side says its rated to have up to 198 tons stacked on top of it (!!!)

Everyday object, amazing performance.