On Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 9:37:25 PM UTC-8, JS wrote:
On Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 12:32:04 PM UTC-8, Renny wrote:
I know there are folks that have shipped a glider and trailer in a 40 foot container and I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good company that ships containers from the West Coast (LA area) to Australia. Does anyone have any company recommendations?
Thanks, in advance - Renny

Hank Marlowe (contest # 11W) has been out of the business for decades.
13 years ago I used Primary Freight in Rancho Domingues. They're now in Buena Park.
http://www.primaryfreight.com/
If you're flexible with the schedule it's possible to shop for price on shipping. Some ships/routes are booked more heavily than others.
I'd heard that if you book a high cube container it will be loaded in the center of the ship, less likely to take on water in a storm.
Loading the container is easy, just back the trailer in, the loadmaster will chock it and you can help strap it in.
If your trailer has the tail hard points, use three heavy duty ratchet straps: One for the tail, one over the axle and one on the tongue to the hard points at the bottom of the container wall.
I'd recommend building a pyramid-shaped stand for the tongue with a tow ball on top, to stabilise the trailer and keep weight off the jockey wheel. Chock/nail that in too.
Things must be clean. Australian quarantine (AQIS) can be trouble if you leave any dirt on the trailer, or if there is bark on any wood you chock with or have in the trailer.
Find out from the person you're shipping to which connector is on their vehicle and either make an adapter for the trailer or they can make one so the trailer can be driven away from the docks.
American 4-wire trailer wiring is illegal in Australia.
Red tail lights, amber turn signals, red brake lights, plus the usual side markers. But they'll probably overlook that at the dock.
If you're selling the trailer it's the buyers responsibility, but if it's for you to fly... It takes more effort to clear the trailer into Australia than the glider.
Jim

I don't know about your container, but mine showed up on a semi. The floor of the trailer was about 5 ft off the ground. If you have access to a loading dock - and a way to drive the trailer on to the dock - then you can just back the trailer into the container. Otherwise you will have to figure out a way to elevate the trailer. I used fork lifts, but you may not have that.. One person used a flat bed car hauler; the bed tilts and they winch the trailer onto the bed. The driver then levels the bed with the end of the trailer sticking way past the bed, and backs the trailer into the container. I have also seen a long ramp constructed to load/unload the trailer to/from the container. Just be sure the ramp can take the weight of the trailer.

Tom