Shipping Modified Cars and Trucks

Yes, shipping modified cars could cause a few problems when transporting them on board a carrier truck or roll-on, roll-of (RORO) vessel. Some cars, after being modified or pimped up, have become too tall or too wide for the regular car shipping method.

There are different ways and reasons why car owners modify their vehicles, without thinking about probable hassles whenever they would need to have them transported someday. The two most common reasons are power and aesthetics.
The most common car modification involves car tuning. Regular engines are pumped up to increase engine power and make it more reliable. Simply put, car owners want their car faster and easier to handle.

Another way to upgrade engine is to inject nitrous oxide or NOS. NOS gives a quick and easy performance boost or kick to your car. Nitrous injection is one of the cheapest forms of modification and easiest to install.

Other modifications that involve the engine and internal car systems do not affect car shipping, since they do not transform a car’s outward appearance or specifications. Other simple modifications to this effect are tinting the windows, installing Lambo doors, splitting the hood, pimping the car paint and installing spoilers.

An example of vehicle modification that could cause a problem during car transportation is a lowered suspension. Lowering your car makes it look faster and cooler, and also improves road handling. However, the problem, of course, is driving over speed bumps, uneven roads, and other elevations on the pavement. This is especially tricky when driving on to a ramp to board the top of the carrier truck. The easiest way to do is to approach the ramp or board at an angle.

If you plan to lower your suspensions, don’t go more than 1,5 inch down or else you would really have problems on the road.
Another shipping problem that involves the height of a vehicle is a lifted car. Lifted cars, also sometimes called as hi-risers, donks or boxes, tend to also have larger diameter wheels with low-profile tires. Most motorists do this to pimp old sedans or trucks.  Some monster trucks are 15-feet tall or over. Most car transporters can only accommodate a vehicle below 14 feet.

Another problem with lifted vehicles that do not directly relate to car shipping is that its center of gravity rises to a point that puts it in danger of tipping over. Also, its brake system should have first been modified as well so that it can put the huge wheels to a halt. A high center of gravity and unreliable brake system can cause the lifted truck to lose traction or lose a wheel entirely.

When it comes to shipping a car that has been modified to alter its original height or width is to pay for enclosed shipping. Since enclosed shipping is exclusive in nature, meaning your car is alone inside a closed and locked rail or cargo container, your car shipping company can and will cater to your specific needs. Cargo containers are many feet taller than monster trucks, in the first place.

Although it is a challenge to fit a modified car that is unusually tall and wide into a rail or narrow cargo container, car shipping companies will most probably accommodate such shipments.