Loading…
26
The 2 inch clearance rule nobody at the dealership mentioned when I shipped my car
I shipped my Civic from Phoenix to Portland back in March and the dispatcher kept asking if I had lowered it. I didn't think it mattered until the driver showed up and measured 2 inches of clearance under my front bumper, which is apparently the bare minimum for his ramp angle. If your car sits lower than that, they either charge you extra for a flatbed or you're stuck waiting on a different truck. Does anyone know if the clearance number changes with the length of the ramp, or is 2 inches just the standard?
1 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In1 Comment
noahcampbell12d ago
Ha, of course the dispatcher asked about your ride height and then the driver showed up acting like he's landing a plane on an aircraft carrier. Two inches of clearance is basically the car shipping boot camp, and half the trucks out there treat it like gospel even though every ramp is a different length and angle. In my experience the number is less about the ramp length and more about the breakover angle when they drive it up, so a longer ramp can help a low car, but if the truck only has one ramp you're at their mercy. Your Civic probably sits fine but the next guy with a lowered Miata is getting the flatbed surcharge whether he likes it or not. Take this with a grain of salt, but I'd measure it yourself before the next shipment instead of trusting the guy with the clipboard.
9