Bike shipping box

[Jovan]

I have a soft luggage type bag I use for shipping my bike for occasional trips from JHB to CT. I have experienced damage before so now spend an inordinate amount of time bubble wrapping the bike and then putting it in the soft bag.

 

I want to look at alternatives but can't justify R4000 on a hard box for only very occasional use.

 

On my last trip I saw some guys shipping their bikes in cardboard boxes that seemed to hold up quite well.

 

Does anyone know where to get these?

 

Any other suggestions would be welcome.

[Pikey]

Your local lbs should just give an empty bike box. But there is a place threat hires out hard plastic boxes . I think about R100 p/day. Just search through the hub classifieds .

[Hackster]

Ditto on getting a cardboard box from your LBS.

 

I would suggest you reinforce it with that brown packing tape - on the places that are likely to tear or scuff: lids, handle cut-outs, corners etc.

[Cycle4Life - Paarl]

We are situated in Gardens and have hard case boxes to rent, cost is R100 per day

[da rosa]

Can recommend Danie and Cycle4life.Best customer care and advice in the business.A pleasure to deal with him.

[Jovan]

Awesome thanks for the advice!

[Martin PJ]

I travelled 3 times to USA with a bike, I would recommend taking a cardboard box. If the package is too heavy the baggage handlers would deliberately wreck it by throwing it around. When using a box I wrap everything in newspaper and tape it up with parcel tape. Works as well as bubble wrap and is quicker. Leave the back wheel on the bike. Anything that could rub a hole in the box must be covered, for example the sides of the wheel skewers. I cut out plastic circles from an ice cream container and tape these on the skewer knobs.

[Baracuda]

I have been to France and Italy a few times using a cardboard box for a bike. Just a normal one from a LBS.

 

The only snag is loosing it on the other side. At Paris and Geneva airport you buy one for the return journey, but not at all airports. Just make sure you can. (all assuming you not going to keep the same box with you).

 

On the way out, I get it wrapped with plastic. On the return trip, they don't always have wrapping facilities. For this I take big roll of packaging tape and wrap around the box in bands about 30cm apart. This may seem like overkill but on one trip back from France, the box was badly torn on the corners. I therefore wrap the ends in packaging tape. If you getting the box for free, it is worth spending ZAR 100 on a few rolls of packaging tape.

 

When packing:

- take the skewers out of wheels as they pop through the box when it is compressed. 

- one can put your helmet and other bits in the box but clip it or tie it together. If a small hole is made, the loose bits will flow out of it.

- Bubble plastic or camping matt between bike and wheels.

 

If you are going overseas, research the airlines. Bikes on emirates are free if within your weight allowance. Air France and co. charge like a wounded buffalo.

[kader01]

How much have you paid for your soft bag if I may ask?

Im traveling to two or three different places so I doubt a box will work for me. So designed and Getting a bag made but maybe buying would be cheaper.

[Jovan]

I kind of inherited it from someone who emigrated so cant tell you what they are worth.

 

PM me if you're interested. I'll send some pictures and dimensions so you can decide about getting one made up or buying.

[Long Wheel Base]

For my tandem I always struggled to get a decent box big enough from the LBS and I eventually found a big enough box at a PG glass. That box has lasted me years, Its a lot thicker and heavier than the LBS box. For a single bike you wouldn't need as big a box(although you would probably then be able to just put the bike in as is) but the windscreen boxes are definitely a lot stronger and there where smaller ones. Mine had lexus branding all over it.

[Stefalbertyn]

Save on bubble wrapping by cutting thermal insulation to the right size and then along the length, so you can just pop it around the frame, fork & stays. Ron Thompson sent my bike to me like that and it worked very well