Shipping Unimog from Durban help sought

[Smiley]

A family member has a Unimog which is a camper conversion currently located 50 miles from Durban, it is UK registered and lhd. It is a bit of a beast of a machine, about 7.3 tonnes.
He needs to get it back to the UK; he can arrange the shipment and the documentation and he was planning to fly to Durban so that he could drive it to the port for shipping but a series of unfortunate family and personal reasons are making that very difficult. Does anyone have any contacts or recommendations in the Durban area that would be able to help with moving the truck about 50 miles to the port?

 

[noogieman]

Would love to see photos of this heavy duty Unimog.
Please share.

 

[W1ghty]

A family member has a Unimog which is a camper conversion currently located 50 miles from Durban, it is UK registered and lhd. It is a bit of a beast of a machine, about 7.3 tonnes.
He needs to get it back to the UK; he can arrange the shipment and the documentation and he was planning to fly to Durban so that he could drive it to the port for shipping but a series of unfortunate family and personal reasons are making that very difficult. Does anyone have any contacts or recommendations in the Durban area that would be able to help with moving the truck about 50 miles to the port?

Can he not pay a neighbour or local HGV driver to get it there ?

 

[neilrr]

From there to here would be the drive of a lifetime.

 

[DSM10000]

From there to here would be the drive of a lifetime.

It would be fun but I imagine organising the paperwork could be "challenging" and you probably need a fuel truck following

 

[W1ghty]

From there to here would be the drive of a lifetime.

These days you would probably be robbed every 100 miles , I think the days of roaming the world in relative safety of the 1980’s has long gone .

 

[Darrell]

I think the days of roaming the world in relative safety of the 1980’s has long gone .

Shame really.

I’d have loved to been about in the hippy era and driven the overland journey to Afghanistan etc.

 

[W1ghty]

Shame really.

I’d have loved to been about in the hippy era and driven the overland journey to Afghanistan etc.

You still can but someone might cut your head off

 

[Smiley]

Can he not pay a neighbour or local HGV driver to get it there

Yes or someone with a big recovery truck - but would prefer someone recommended. It is LHD so local South African not allowed to drive it.

 

[Smiley]

The original idea, going back well over 10 years ago, was to drive it to SA and then either ship it back or drive it back. Then the Arab spring happened and it became impossible to drive there with any sort of safety - so it went by ship to Durban.

 

[Smiley]

Would love to see photos of this heavy duty Unimog.
Please share.

I'll see if I can dig one out

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Shame really.
I’d have loved to been about in the hippy era and driven the overland journey to Afghanistan etc.

Would the TV show about that era be a good substitute?

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[oldguy57]

A family member has a Unimog which is a camper conversion currently located 50 miles from Durban, it is UK registered and lhd. It is a bit of a beast of a machine, about 7.3 tonnes.
He needs to get it back to the UK; he can arrange the shipment and the documentation and he was planning to fly to Durban so that he could drive it to the port for shipping but a series of unfortunate family and personal reasons are making that very difficult. Does anyone have any contacts or recommendations in the Durban area that would be able to help with moving the truck about 50 miles to the port?

I would try one of the UK vehicle shipping companies. They seem to have contacts all over the world for transporting all sorts of vehicles. I found them very helpful.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Yes or someone with a big recovery truck - but would prefer someone recommended. It is LHD so local South African not allowed to drive it.

Are you sure locals cannot drive it?

When I still lived there (many years ago I’ll admit) there were plenty LHD American cars around and we did not need to convert or retest. Same as when you go overseas, your international driver’s permit allows people to drive on he right hand side of the road. Never known LHD vs RHD to be an issue when converting driver's licenses (I’ve had homes in 8 countries & worked, lived & driven in several more).

I drove Unimog Gun Tractors in the SADF (Operation Savannah 1976) . No special skills needed.

It may help solve your problem.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Those overland 'London to Capetown' jaunts were all the rage back in the late 70's early 1980's , many similar overland trips available to India and further.

Often run by enthusiast youngsters who used it as a way of funding their own travels.

Those were the days, Probably wouldn't get out of the province of Natal in that Unimog one piece these days , crime being what it is in ZA right now.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Those overland 'London to Capetown' jaunts were all the rage back in the late 70's early 1980's , many similar overland trips available to India and further.

Often run by enthusiast youngsters who used it as a way of funding their own travels.

Those were the days, Probably wouldn't get out of the province of Natal in that Unimog one piece these days , crime being what it is in ZA right now.

Was a great desire of mine (70s). I could never afford the time off work or the cost. IIRC they used old army Bedfords.

I was thinking the same thing about the crime in ZA and all the way up the continent. My last trip there was in 2009 and I was shocked how the country had deteriorated under the “free and fairly” elected ANC. The only black government SA has ever had. ~30 years on and the place is a disaster.

Wife and I keep talking about taking the grandkids on a safari when they are a little older but have opted for Botswana, Zambia or Tanzania.

 

[W1ghty]

I saw a red Unimog driving in Essex today on the way to Bradwell .