We need a helping hand in New Zealand
 

Our motorcycles are taking a break and we're kitting out a 32 year old VW Vanagon, because we discovered it's much easier to travel the world with 2 dogs in a Vanagon than in a sidecar (we tried... it could have been better), and obviously no other overlanding vehicle could surpass it. ;)

There's just one problem. The only roof rack we can find that will fit our Frankenstein vehicle is an old Thule rack that has apparently been out of production for years (the joys of a 32-y/o vehicle!) and hardly anyone has them in stock. Thule NZ appears to be the only English-speaking place we can find that has them (there may be a place in CZ that has them but as we don't speak the language, we're reluctant to risk ordering from them as we've already ordered from 2 other sites that didn't actually have it)... but the problem with Thule NZ is that they don't ship to the US. We've called to verify, and they do have the roof rack parts we need in stock (they have three, in fact!) but they can't ship it to us.

We'd be eternally grateful if someone in NZ could receive the roof rack shipment for us, and then forward it on to us in the USA. (Alternately, can anyone recommend a service that does this kind of thing?) Obviously we'd pay for everything, and if you're ever in the US (or whenever we make it to NZ) we'd love to buy you a beverage of your choice! ;)

Can anyone lend a hand, or recommend someone who might be able to help?

Hi,

That's strange that they won't ship to the US. In my experience it's usually the other way around!

Have you tried on Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles, Coupons and More | eBay ? Thule roof racks are very popular in Australia, so I'd be very surprised if you did not turn up the bits you need there.

Cheers,

One place claimed they couldn't ship out of NZ because their contract with Thule prohibited it. As for ebay, we've tried every English speaking version. The particular part we need is fairly rare. Not many people need a roof rack that's over 60cm tall. ;)

Thank you for the suggestion though.

No problem.

Hopefully a nice friendly Kiwi will pick this thread up. :thumbup1:

Cheers,
Brett.

There is a chain of shops called Pack & Send who may be able to help. They have a web site (Packaging | Freight | Courier Services | Pack & Send - New Zealand) with a contact form. If that doesn't work I can call in and ask at my local store.

Do you know the dimensions and weight of the items you require? If it was only a small parcel I could probably do it, but can't cope too easily with larger parcels.

If you tell me exactly what you want and who you have been dealing with at Thule NZ then I can call them and see what can be done. Are you willing to ship by FedEx or similar. Also what is your email please. Rgds

Just PM'd DLyttle with contact info and some details.

The item we're having the most trouble with is the Thule 423. They have 3 of them in stock, and it's the *only* place we've found that actually has them. It's an adapter for the 420 foot which we've found at a few places in the UK, one of which would actually ship it to us, but it's worthless to us without the other part.

I haven't found any sites that have details on the size of the shipping weight or size. It shouldn't be too big. The 423 is just 6 short lengths of metal and some connecting bolts (i assume). My guess would be that the box for the 423 would be about 100cm long by 15cm square, and maybe 3kg. That being said, I'm really guessing.

... and thanks for the info on Pack and Send. I'll look into them first thing in the morning. It's the middle of the night here and I desperately need to get some sleep. ;)

If that helpful person from Nelson can't help, let me know. I could do it.

Best regards

Nigel in NZ

When we lived in Metro Detroit in 2001 we got our Vanagon parts there: VW Parts, VW Diesel Parts, VW TDI Parts @ Parts Place Inc.

Give them a call, hell knows, they might be able to help with a used part.

Cheers
Chris

I dropped Pack & Send a line via their contact form and it turns out that they can help! Yayyyy!

For anyone else out there who needs to get something shipped from a vendor in NZ the process seems to be: Call the shipper and get the dimensions and packed weight of the box you'll sending them. They'll give you a quote for shipping it to your home country. You then have the box shipped to them they charge you, it ships to you.

The obvious problem here is that most retailers haven't a clue the size and weight of the box until they've packed it and they're not inclined to pack it until you've ordered it and they're not inclined to let you order something and let it sit around until you call them back to tell them where to ship it.

I'll let you guys know how it goes.

(Kay here)

Dlyttle managed to track down a retailer who spoke with the home office and got us some dimensions and weight.

Susan over at the Pack and Ship in Aukland (thanks for the tip artig) gave me some quotes to let me know how bad the shipping could be (pretty bad) and authorized my having it shipped to them once she knew I wasn't going to freak out when I got the final quote.

John over at Fully Equipped in Christchurch (thanks for the contact Dlyttle) helped by taking my money and putting metal in a box for us. :)

Along the way we discovered one of life's mysteries which is that the 420 part is cheaper by more than $200 (US and NZD) if purchased in UK. I happen to have spoken with a place that had it in stock earlier this week. So, even if the shipping is expensive for that heavier part I should still come out ahead, so I'll call them when they open in the morning.

Then.... I get to order the cross-bars from someone in the US.

This is the most complicated, and multinational, order we've ever made, and it wouldn't have been possible without the help of you fine folks.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. We really appreciate it.

P.S. our 32 year old Frankenstein vehicle has the last OEM windshield washer pump in the US (possibly anywhere) and now she's about to have one of the last few crazy-tall roof-rack adapters in the world... I don't know what that means but it makes me smile.

Her name is Sally, and this is what she looked like before we got started bolting things on and ripping things out.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3768/1...21ec826fbf.jpg
Untitled by CorporateRunaways, on Flickr

I don't know what those Land Rover folks are thinking. No challenge. ;)