Transporting a hardtop

[ant]

Might be getting a hardtop soon but I need to collect it.

I don't want to use the Stag as I've got limited mileage insurance and I'll use up 400 of them on the round trip.

Does anyone know if it will fit in the back of a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso? I've got my doubts so I'm planning on putting it on the roof. I guess I'll need lots of padding and rope to secure it. I've seen a few photos on here of other members transporting hardtops on roof racks. Is the best way upside down? With my luck it will pour down with rain too, so I'll need to cover it in plastic of some sort.

Any advice or ideas would be welcome.

I've got a Land Rover and trailer, but it's got a serious oil leak which I need to sort out before I drive any distance.

I guess the other way is courier, but then it will probably arrive damaged.

Thanks.

ANT

[SGN]

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Ask your insurance how much to increase mileage on you policy,it might not be too much.
A courier would probably cost a fortune,with the size and weight.
If you use the stag,go soon before they start salting the roads.
Cheers
Steve

[nib]

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Hi Ant

I would be inclined to hire a van,stag hard tops are so awkward to move about the last thing you want if its a tidy hard top is to bescrapeing it or worse still denting it.

A transit with lots ofcushions and a rope or straps to secure it.

Mark

[jleyton]

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Hi Ant,

A hardtop definitely won't go into a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso (Good choice of car Btw) - it wouldn't even fit in the back of my Citroen C8, even though I felt sure that it would.

You may have seen my pic when I took mine on top of my car butthat was when it was rough and on the way in to the bodyshop for rebuilding so scratches etc didn't matter.

I can't remember who did it but one of the guys took one from down south to one of the Scottish islands on a Mondeo and that looked pretty good to me.

Good luck anyway.

Cheers

Julian


Ps, It's bound to rain - you're taking it to Wales (I worked in Swansea and Cardiff for 4 years - those were the days )

[ant]

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Thanks for the good advice guys. Van hire might be the best solution.... never thought of it.

Julian, you're right it will definitely rain. :shock:

The hardtop is in really good condition and is the same colour as my Stag, so I wouldn't want to scratch it, (even though I may respray it).

Transit hire it is then.

Thanks

ANT

[Bob Heritage]

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I would increase the mileage on the Stag ins, or disconnect the speedo if you are that worried about it.

[AlanD]

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i have collected 2, like Julian has said top of the car, but also i borrowed a van from work, for the last one as the paint was in good condition,that was so much eaiser and less time consuming too. plenty of blankets lol. i took the old quilt SWMBO had in the loft to wrap it in.they are heavy too and it will take 2 to handle it about.

[Phil]

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Here is my Hard Top in the back of Company Merc Vito. Even then there wasn't that much room .

Phil

[stagstr]

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As others have said, surely it's cheapest and safest to put it on the Stag. You only need to make a decision about extending the mileage limit when you approach that limit - you never know, you may never reach that figure so it will be a free trip (petrol excluded).

The other benefit is you'll be assured that it fits on your Stag before handing over your cash.

Ray

[ant]

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Thanks again for the replies and photos. It does look a bit of a squeeze, even in the back of the Vito! :shock:

Maybe a better fit and less stress on the top if it's loaded in the van with the rear screen across the floor and the front rail resting on the side of the van.

Yes, the most sensible thing would be to collect it with the Stag, to try out the fit etc. but I've only got 1000miles/yr on the insurance at the moment. I probably will need to extend it when it comes up for renewal. The wipers are currently not the most reliable - intermittent wipe seems to be the norm and fast wipe is non existent. It's bound to rain so I don't want the hassle just now. I vowed not to use it in the winter, so a van hire it is.

Thanks again for your suggestions. :dude:

I won the ebay auction, so I'm on to collect it on Nov 29th (currently I'm in Canada).

ANT

[stagstr]

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I understand your concerns about the wipers etc andI'm sure that under the circumstances, van hire might be the best option, butsomething to note for the future:

You can add miles at any stage of the insurance year and pay the increase at that time. You don't have to do it at year start. Mypolicy has a normal limit of 3000 miles annually, but when I've gone on a long European trip I've upped it to 5000 once I've calculated that the trip would put me over the 3000 limit. It actually doesn't cost that much extra - peanuts compared to the cost of van hire.

Ray

[sjm]

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Where is the hardtop located, I am sure we could organise a relay to get the top to you

Steve

[coldstreamer]

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i picked a hard top up from polly in essex ,and it went into my vw transporter comfortably ,



andy

[DJT]

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sjm wrote:

Where is the hardtop located, I am sure we could organise a relay to get the top to you

Steve

If it is this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRIUMPH-STAG-H...item3a60720ebb

then there must be some members along the M4 corridor who can help.

You have done well to find a good one in the correct colour.

Dave

[ace]

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Why don't you get a quote fromsome couriers ? It doesn't cost anything to ask & you might be pleasently surprised ! (mine laid right way up in a Vivaro van)