Can Lowered Cars Be Shipped? | Shiplux

With ShipLux, the answer is ‘yes.’ Lowered car transport is easy when you trust the experts at ShipLux. High-end, luxury, and performance cars need special care and attention. That’s why ShipLux specializes in lowered car transport, offering Premium Service and Handling for every car, every time!

Ground Clearance Matters

You know ground clearance matters. Ground clearance, or ride height, is simply the distance from the lowest point of the undercarriage to the road. A lower ride height translates to a lower center of gravity. That’s important because it provides improved handling. But the real benefit of lower ride height comes from the aerodynamics. Reducing the space between the car and the road alters the flow of air around the vehicle. This increases the downward force on the wheels, helping a performance machine hug the road through even the sharpest of turns. Your baby is a performance machine

Unfortunately, lower ground clearance comes with a set of challenges along with the benefits. Rough roads, potholes, and curbs can be disastrous for a luxury vehicle on city streets. You know you don’t want to drive your baby across the minefield of hazards between where she is and where she needs to go. But now you’re wondering about shipping a lowered car.

Enclosed Shipping

You’re smart, resourceful, and fanatical about your baby, so you did your research. You know what’s best. When transporting a luxury car, classic car, or another high-value vehicle, you know choosing an enclosed trailer is the best option. That’s why you have already decided to cradle your baby in an enclosed trailer to protect it from dust, dings, weathering, and onlookers. What you might not realize is there are two ways of loading a lowered car on a trailer.

Ramp Loading

Ramps are the default option for loading a car for transport. Most companies use ramps to load vehicles, even for enclosed shipping. They are cheaper and provide a cost-effective loading method for most vehicles. They reduce costs for the customer without cutting corners during transport. While this method is the cheapest and most common, some potential hazards should be mentioned. Ramps are inclines that require a minimum ground clearance. Generally speaking, a car must have a ride height of at least 4 inches to be able to clear the ramps during loading. A solid five inches is the recommended minimum when transporting on an open carrier transport truck. This takes into account the minimum height needed for the driver’s side door to clear the edge of the transport, as well as the fluctuations in deck angles on the open carrier transport truck. Enclosed shipping and low-angle ramps provide some relief from these requirements, but any vehicle with less than four inches of ground clearance needs special considerations during transport. Contact ShipLux today for a custom quote for your situation!

Without the minimum ground clearance, the undercarriage will scrape. This can sometimes result in costly damages that may not be immediately clear. The internet has plenty of “advice” about how to lengthen the angle of approach to make ramps a workable option for lowered car transport. Lurking about in forums relating to racing and performance vehicles yields some concerning suggestions regarding shipping a lowered car (like these for Porsche, Ford, Miata, Volkswagen, and Subaru!). One site, dedicated to drift-style racing, breaks down the process of using ramps to load a lowered car on a trailer into a “simple” matter of ten separate and precise measurements, a short course in geometry, a forest of lumber, and some experimentation, which any luxury vehicle owner will tell you is one of the most frightening words to hear in reference to your pride and joy!

Unfortunately, perfect calculations and enough lumber to build a cabin can’t take the risk out of loading a lowered car on a trailer. An inattentive or inexperienced driver could steer the car off the thin surface of the ramps. The traction of the tires on the ramp can destabilize the ramps and send them flying toward your car. Even worse, the precision braking and acceleration required to steer the car up the two thin ramps while loading a lowered car on a trailer risks burning up the clutch.

Hydraulic Lift Gate Loading

A less common option is a hydraulic lift. Hydraulic lifts are simply the best option for loading a lowered car on a transport trailer. Luxury vehicles, performance machines, and race cars tend to have a lowered suspension. This reduces ride height to maximize performance and creates a strikingly sleek look. Hydraulic lift gates reduce the angle of incline to nearly zero, making loading a lowered car for transport as simple as parking in the driveway. A hydraulic lift acts like a personal precision elevator, cradling your baby through the loading process. Even the lowest car can be gently guided onto the lift platform.

Hydraulic lift gates provide a solid, stable surface for your car. They protect precision suspension systems, temperamental transmissions, and custom paint jobs from potential damage during loading. Hydraulic lift gates ensure you won’t have to remove parts like bumpers, body kits, and splitters when transporting a lowered car. Hydraulic lifts are a bit more expensive, but they eliminate the dangers associated with using ramps to load a lowered car for transport.

So how can you ship a lowered car while guarding against this parade of potential horror? It’s easy.

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The Bottom Line

The experts at ShipLux understand. Let us take the worry and experimentation out of shipping a lowered car for you. ShipLux is committed to providing Premium and White Glove services. That includes hydraulic lift gates for a precision mechanical solution for loading a lowered car on a trailer. There are no ramps or inclines to navigate and no challenges to worry about! Hydraulic lifts, enclosed shipping, and the Premium Service you get with ShipLux make the difference in lowered car transport.

Contact the experts at ShipLux now to get a quote based on your unique needs!