Prado Transport: Sydney to Darwin (loaded)

[Ozboundx3 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ozboundx3]

Can anyone please recommend a vehicle transport company who will take our prado loaded, from Sydney to Darwin? Most companies I have spoken to, want the car empty. Our 150 series gxl also has an open ended tradesman rack and arb bull bar, so it's no longer "standard."

I have found 1 or 2 companies who will do it but for $2500+ and can take 3 weeks!

We want to start our Western Australia adventure from Darwin, but don't want to drive from Sydney with the 6 month old.

Would love to hear from you if you've used a good vehicle transport company.

[ursos Member Find all posts View Profile Close ursos]

Can anyone please recommend a vehicle transport company who will take our prado loaded, from Sydney to Darwin? Most companies I have spoken to, want the car empty. Our 150 series gxl also has an open ended tradesman rack and arb bull bar, so it's no longer "standard."

I have found 1 or 2 companies who will do it but for $2500+ and can take 3 weeks!

We want to start our Western Australia adventure from Darwin, but don't want to drive from Sydney with the 6 month old.

Would love to hear from you if you've used a good vehicle transport company.

Have you considered driving to Adelaide and taking The Ghan train? I think they still take vehicles.

[Guest Close Guest]

No transport company will take your car with 'items' in it. One of the reasons I was told when moving from Sydney to Adelaide was that the keys are left in the cars in case it needs to be offloaded from the truck quickly. This means that there is no security and therefore, they won't take responsibility for anything that goes missing.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I have found 1 or 2 companies who will do it but for $2500+ and can take 3 weeks!

I would be surprised if you got much better then that!

Do you have a trusted mate who likes a road trip? Get him/her to drive it to Darwin, then only one airfare to fly them back to Sydney! Or can one of you leave early and go solo and pick up the partner and child at Darwin?

Have you checked out putting it in a container and going by sea?

Just a few thoughts.

Cheers Andrew

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I'll drive it to Darwin for you for a small fee and fuel costs

[Pete t pops Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pete t pops]

I drove to Alice in 3 1/2 days and the missus & 7 month old flew into there. Just a thought will save ya heaps o cash

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

A mate got a vehicle shipped up on the train from Melb to Darwin cheaper than the transport companies.

[blkd4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close blkd4d]

I'll drive it to Darwin for you for a small fee and fuel costs

I would do the same .
Drive yourself mate and fly the family up .

[travis.luke Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close travis.luke]

I went through this process a few months ago, had similar problems with prado being loaded both in and out its height was a problem also and they suggested i remove anything that could be removed by the honest ones.
I had concerns of damage and other little issues so rang a few shipping container companies. This way i can pack it full, strap it down loaded, lock it so only i have access to it and also leave stuff in it sorta like having a base in darwin for our kimberley trip.
Price was around the same but i could load it on a train or truck fully secured...

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

It takes me three days to drive from Sydney to Darwin on average. Or four if I stretch it out.
I agree with the fly the family and do a drive yourself. I have seen lots of vehicles shipped to Darwin arrive with damages and gear missing.
Would not recommend it unless you know the driver or have really good insurance.

SOL.

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

I could offer to also drive it there for you, for no fee except maybe a contribution to fuel costs. When are you planning on the trip starting.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Having driven around the country heaps of times with small kids, the 6 month old will be the least of your troubles- much less trouble than a 6 year old!. Neil

[Ozboundx3 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ozboundx3]

Looking to be in Darwin the first week of August, so if its getting transported by a car carrier, we need to book it by mid next week... Decisions decisions.
"Compare Quotes" advertises on this website, so I was hoping someone had used them, so we could get some positive feedback.
Roof basket needs to be empty during transit, so packing EVERYTHNG inside is also proving challenging... Especially with the oztent rv5, mattress, chairs, water, cooking gear, etc etc etc!

[Guest Close Guest]

I wouldn't want to risk some stranger getting into my car with all that stuff in it and then finding it missing when you start your holiday. Especially the value of the Oztent.

[peril Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peril]

Well, if you really get stuck I'm on 7 months Long Service Leave, PM me if you would like my help and we can meet up for a chat.

Steve