I am looking to sell my SA glass moonroof, and I have potential buyers that aren't local. I am worried of how to ship this without it being damaged. Irregardless, it will of course be shipped insured just incase.

The only really secure way I can think of is buy building a wooden frame for it. This would of course increase shipping costs, but is probably the safest way to prevent it being broken.

I know some people out there has to of shipped these before. I am looking for information on what they did, or any advise from my fellow rotorheads.

 

Just a really stiff cardboard box with padding that it can't slip through to come in contact with any of the sides. It would have to be seriously mishandled to crush the box out of shape and break it.
You could build a wood box/frame around it and put in a larger cardboard box if you have the time. I have gotten carried away packaging things more than once.

 

have shipped 2 with cardboard boxes, edges protected by styrafoam block - and Big-Assed "GLASS!" stickers. By Post. no problem. But yah, insurance is, well, cheap insurance

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

I had one shipped to me long distance in cardboard with lots of paper and foam peanut padding .... arrived no problems

 

Nice. This is great info guys, thanks. I just have a tendency to go above and beyond in most cases, but I am very glad to find out I don't really need to in this case.

One question, I am familiar with shipping parts, but I haven't really come across a good source for a box for this purpose. For those who have shipped it, where are you getting your boxes?

 

I have shipped them in 1x4 wood frames and had great success, I have had odd shaped glass shipped to me in cardboard boxes with those expanding foam bladders that take up all the negative space. I think they are the best idea.

Isaac

 

Go to the UPS store or equivalent and get a picture frame box that is 36"x30"x6" they are pretty sturdy boxes. you can cut the box so the height will be about 28" so the new measurements will be 36"x28"x6" but just check online with both measurements you may not need to cut the box.

Bubble wrap and foam on left and right side of the glass enough to make it stand off the top/bottom of the box a couple inches, there should be enough packing to make it a snug fit with no movement. Wish I had some pictures it would make it a lot easier to understand, just make sure the edges are very well protected. I have shipped at least 10 this way and haven't had a broken one yet

My boxes weigh between 18-20lbs, Flat rate (7-10 days) through US post office is between $25-$35, add $30 on-top of that for priority mail (2-3days). This does not include the cost of the box.

This may be more then you asked for but I hope it helps

 

Mine was wrapped in bubble wrap, then had cardboard sides stuck to it with "Caution GLASS Fragile" written all over it.

It was sent with USPS and made it all the way from the USA to Australia no problems at all...

Cam...

 

i just shipped a moonroof...i went to a windshield glass repair shop and found all i needed in there recycling dumpsters.

 

The BEST way is to attach it ot the top of a -7 and drive it there...

 

I work at a major shipping terminal, so I may be able to advise:

First off, plenty of padding on the edges. Assume that it will be stood up vertically at some point, so you want the weight to be on the box and not transferred to the sunroof.

Second, you want solid, rigid pieces of foam or at least THICK bubble wrap covering the entire surface, top and bottom. Assume some idiot is going to stack heavy boxes on top of it.

Third, double box it. The more cardboard you can put around it, the better! You want the box to be as rigid as possible so that the box takes any weight that is put on it. And go heavy on the tape. I've seen stuff packaged well, but then the tape fails and the thing just slides right out and hits the floor and shatters.

Last, doesn't hurt to write in big letters "FRAGILE GLASS." Most of the time, stuff is broken before we even see that, but there's a chance that someone will care.

Or alternatively, you could drop the price a hundred bucks and I'll come down there and get it

 

Thanks for all the helpful input. Now that I have a better idea of what I need to do I am going to try to get it packaged up this week after I finish my finals.

LizardFC-- I never hold back on the tape. I'd rather it be over taped than under taped. Haha, I don't know about a price drop at this point. I have too many people interested in it at the asking price, and I could sure use the money. At that price I would probably just keep it, esspecially since it's starting to get so nice out

 

Just an FYI. I once temped at a DHL terminal for a morning and was thoroughly disgusted with the way some of the boxes were put in the trailer. A lot of the smaller ones were actually thrown to the top only to come crashing back down when the truck took off. No regard was given to "Fragile" or "Glass" stickers.