How does FR ship our trailers?

[rip]

Another question from a trailer-ordering newbie... freight.

I see freight included as an item in most trailer price quotes. That makes sense, it has to get from the factory to a dealer, but how.

How does Forest River ship its trailers and motor homes? Do they tow them or drive them? Are they loaded on rail cars or eighteen-wheelers?

A friend was pulling my chain... Hey, Ray, you dummy, they ship by air. That's right, you guys can kid me too, but I really don't have a clue.

I'm in a southern state, and I'm guessing it varies depending on how close a dealer is to the factory. I'm just curious, how will my new trailer most likely get all the way down here to Central Texas?

[comfun1]

I just thought they hooked it to a truck and towed it. I'm sure someone will provide us lots more detail.

[speedcat]

I think most all units are delivered by private contract haulers that are not employes of the factory or dealer. The units are bumper or fith wheel hitch towed like you or I would do. I live near the intersection of I-75 and I-64. Most units are manufactured in Notheren Indiana and in the spring I see an increase of units being delivered on the roads, I assume at least the ones coming South. Most are hauled by 3/4 or 1 ton trucks with a mangetic business sign slapped on the door. A guy who lives in my neighborhood is one of the conract haulers. When I bought my TV in Ohio two years ago I found out the previous owner used it in his business to deliver trailers. More than one dealer has told me during the high season a unit at the factory may sit on thier lot for weeks waiting for an available delivery driver.

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Yes, contract haulers by truck...mostly by 3/4 to 1 TN pickup trucks.

[joelek]

Visit website below, then click on services.
Foremost Transport

[B47]

Originally Posted by rip

Another question from a trailer-ordering newbie... freight.

I see freight included as an item in most trailer price quotes. That makes sense, it has to get from the factory to a dealer, but how.

How does Forest River ship its trailers and motor homes? Do they tow them or drive them? Are they loaded on rail cars or eighteen-wheelers?

A friend was pulling my chain... Hey, Ray, you dummy, they ship by air. That's right, you guys can kid me too, but I really don't have a clue.

I'm in a southern state, and I'm guessing it varies depending on how close a dealer is to the factory. I'm just curious, how will my new trailer most likely get all the way down here to Central Texas?

I was at my dealers in Cleburne, Texas a couple of months ago and there was a brand new what I think is a Class C (Not a motor home, but the one that is built on a truck chassis) sitting in their lot. The salesman came over while we were looking at it. I asked him how it was delivered. He said a private contractor drove it from the factory and pulled a toad behind it. After delivering it, he was on his way in the toad.

[paulmlac]

Originally Posted by B47

I was at my dealers in Cleburne, Texas a couple of months ago and there was a brand new what I think is a Class C (Not a motor home, but the one that is built on a truck chassis) sitting in their lot. The salesman came over while we were looking at it. I asked him how it was delivered. He said a private contractor drove it from the factory and pulled a toad behind it. After delivering it, he was on his way in the toad.

We bought a new class C this year from RVDirect. Our prep / PDI / delivery person said the same thing. A driver drives it from Indiana to wherever the dealer is & then goes back (or to wherever the next stop is) via toad. Came up when I noticed the backup camera pointed straight down - he said the drivers do that to hook up their toad behind.

Also heard from a local dealer that they go from the plant in Indiana to some sort of offsite but nearby storage lot. Probably something to do with being able to book the sale versus still being in inventory by saying it's off Forest River property & on the way.

[huntr70]

All answers above are correct.......except the OP air delivery!! LOL

We get Keystone and Forest River products from Foremost/Quality Driveaway.

There are several different transport companies, and each manufacturer contracts with different ones....

[Itsthetwoofus]

We have family friends that do it for a living. They'll pull 5th wheels to Alaska and all over the States. They never sleep or use the RV's and when the get to the destination they are required to wash and clean the outside before delivery to the dealer or let the dealer wash them and that's deducted from their pay. It's cheaper for them to clean it then have to dealer do it.

[Vinster30]

And all this time I thought they were delivered by UPS 😋. I have seen some smaller units on trailers, multiple units can be delivered this way.

[rip]

Hey, thanks everyone, for educating me. I've seen tent campers and small units packed together on a flat bed like new autos. Never really noticed the long-haulers pulling the big trailers. I guess mine will be sloshing through winter snow/salt later this month. It's only around 1200 miles to get here.

[campnqueen]

We saved the freight charged and went and got our. What a great trip! So worth it...I am sure we spend and 1/2 in gas but it the journey to get your RV. Had fun coming back and doing the shake down cruise.

P.S. would do it again!

[jevanb]

got friends that pull them from the plants to everywhere. most of them have over 400k on a 06 or newer 3/4 and 1 ton long bed diesels, I called a few hauler companies and they wanted long bed trucks only and some wanted no older then 2 year old trucks

[jeeplj8]

One of the things that struck me as odd is the freight charge per unit. We were looking at trailers and a dealer had 2 side by side with different invoice prices. We were looking to see if they were different options, etc, but it turned out the difference was in freight. I asked if they did not have a set fee like car dealers, and he told me he thought htey did, but apparently not.

[paulmlac]

May just have been a difference in dates and one having crossed over the line. For example one shipped in June, FR started passing along higher delivery costs starting on 7/1, second shipped in July. NOT real info just speculation. Shipping costs are going up everywhere due to higher gas costs over time, not enough qualified drivers, etc.

[huntr70]

Freight can vary on a daily basis. There are fuel surcharges, toll charges, and different companies delivering the same units.

Also, certain larger units will have a CDL surcharge if over a certain length or weight.

[whj77372]

Last year when I considered buying from the wholesaler RV dealer in OH, they quoted $1.65 cents per mile.

[trudinator]

I don't think we paid any freight on ours. We live less than 5 hours from the plant and our TT was released from quality on a Friday and we were driving it home after our PDI by noon the next day. In fact, our dealer was going to drive to the factory himself if he couldn't get a delivery by 3pm on Friday. The advantages of living in the midwest, I guess.

[rip]

Originally Posted by whj77372

Last year when I considered buying from the wholesaler RV dealer in OH, they quoted $1.65 cents per mile.

That rate must be fairly close. The freight was set at $2000.

1200 mi X $1.65 = $1980, and I saw $14 tolls in a comment.

[ChooChooMan74]

On my way to Albany NY, I saw a Dually with a flat bed Fifth Wheel (or gooseneck) hauling 3 trailers - 2 Microlites (one single axle, one tandem), and a Roo 183 (side tent, no slideout). I never seen that before.