Scrapping a car - and how do I get it on the trailer

I am trying to scrap a 1987 Mazda rx7 (with title). however, all of the suspension has been removed. I need to get in on my trailer.

I have a dolly that is 3" channel steel with 4 castors. (Picture a pallet made out of steel with 4 castors.) The car is strapped to this castor / dolly device. I can push it around quite easy.

The car will not easily go onto the trailer. I was thinking about lifting the car about 3 feet off the ground and driving the trailer underneath the car.

The question is: How do I lift the car that high AND support it?

Any help on this is appreciated!

Also, have you scrapped a car? Did you fill it with scrap metal? Did the scrap yard dislike that you filled it with scrap metal?

Thanks!

Rob R.

Yikes. No neighbors with a tractor or fork truck?

Probably a long-shot, right?

Oak tree and cumalong.

I scrapped a car, but it was drivable, so it drove onto the trailer.

I put a bunch of old brake rotors/drums, and an engine head in the trunk. I never told the scrap yard they were there, they never checked, and never said anything.

I was told by a couple folks that I had to poke a hole in the gas tank before they'd take it, so I drilled a hole in the tank and drained it after I got it on the trailer. When I got there they never checked and never asked.

I was also told I had to have the title to scrap it. I took the title with me, but again they never checked and never asked.

YMMV

I drove my Jeep and trailer with scrap car onto the scale, they gave me a slip of paper. A big fork lift came and picked up the car off of my trailer. I drove the Jeep and now empty trailer back onto the scale, gave the lady my original slip of paper, and she handed me cash. Easy peasy.

• Lee

I scrapped a car once, without wheels, or suspension... I called the guy, and he came over with his flatbed, and winched it (as in drug the husk) onto the flatbed, handed me a check, and drove away. easy as pie.

This may give you ideas.

http://youtu.be/c0_oKHARhXw

We did this with a tr7 shell.put it up on stands as high as they would go toward the center of the car. Backed up the trailer to the stands, under the nose of the car. Got some metal pipe that was in the yard, and put that on the trailer. Two guys could pick up the nose, a 3rd pulled out the stands and we lowered it onto the pipes. Then a jack under the rear or two people, and you winch or pull it up on the trailer. Keep putting pipes under the nose as it goes forward and it rolls very easily. To unload at the yard, tie the shell to something and drive away, or they pick it up with a forklift

Tractor's loader/fork truck + back the trailer under it. You're in PA for crying out loud, there should be an abundance of tractors there.

warning the following contains crimes against the environment from a much simpler time

We used to scrap cars without wheels and suspension all the time. But we'd put them on the trailer then pull everything. When we got to the local yard they had a big tree out front, we'd tie the car off to that and drive away, car got yanked off the trailer and eventually they came with a forklift or whatever.

Aside from filling the car with any other junk we'd always fill the gas tanks with our used oil (there was no recycling at this time) well the one day we're getting ready to tie off to the tree and the guy shows up with the forklift, sure enough he put one of the tines straight through the gas tank. We drove off before he could notice the mess. So yeah, we're the reason they want holes drilled in the gas tank.

• Find Sawzall type device
• Install long metal blade
• Cut vehicle into manageable pieces (try not to enjoy it too much)
• Strap pieces to trailer.

P.S. - A car that is cut in half is no longer a car, it's just scrap metal (no paperwork)

I once scrapped a Spitfire body with no suspension. I backed up a steel landscaping trailer as close as I could get to it and pulled it (slowly) onto the trailer with a come a long. I used some old scrap 2x4s t keep it from hanging up on the trailer. I filled it with all the loose scrap metal I could find. The scrap yard snatched it off with a fork lift. I made about $55.

I used wood ramps and a come-a-long to get a wheel free neon on the trailer to take it for scrap.

aircooled wrote: - Find Sawzall type device - Install long metal blade - Cut vehicle into manageable pieces (try not to enjoy it too much) - Strap pieces to trailer. P.S. - A car that is cut in half is no longer a car, it's just scrap metal (no paperwork)

^^^ This. Scrapped a 74 Jensen last week, 3 pieces.

Sawzall FTW

Can anybody recommend one of those "we buy scrap cars" services?

I am not sure I want to go to the trouble of cutting it up. That sounds like not such an easy time.

Rob R.

How much of it is left? If it's just a shell I would take it directly to the steel scrap yard and cut out the middle man.

aircooled wrote: - Find Sawzall type device - Install long metal blade - Cut vehicle into manageable pieces (try not to enjoy it too much) - Strap pieces to trailer. P.S. - A car that is cut in half is no longer a car, it's just scrap metal (no paperwork)

this is my method

wvumtnbkr wrote: Can anybody recommend one of those "we buy scrap cars" services? I am not sure I want to go to the FUN of cutting it up. That sounds like not such an easy time. Rob R.

FTFY

wvumtnbkr wrote: Can anybody recommend one of those "we buy scrap cars" services? I am not sure I want to go to the trouble of cutting it up. That sounds like not such an easy time. Rob R.

Any newspaper should have ads in the classifieds for that. Can't vouch for their service tho, never used them.

fasted58 wrote:

wvumtnbkr wrote: Can anybody recommend one of those "we buy scrap cars" services? I am not sure I want to go to the trouble of cutting it up. That sounds like not such an easy time. Rob R.

Any newspaper should have ads in the classifieds for that. Can't vouch for their service tho, never used them.

There is a sign for a "we haul your junk car" service nailed to a telephone pole in the alley behind my house. Maybe they are trying to tell me something...

aircooled wrote: - Find Sawzall type device - Install long metal blade - Cut vehicle into manageable pieces (try not to enjoy it too much) - Strap pieces to trailer. P.S. - A car that is cut in half is no longer a car, it's just scrap metal (no paperwork)

I did this and yes you do get some measure of enjoyment out of doing this, not sure why though? When I did it I didn't even bother with scraping it, I just dumped it into any available dumpster near my house.

Craigslist "We buy cars" guys. Tell them to bring a flatbed. They can winch anything up onto that thing.

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I just scrapped a Miata tub (no, it wasn't usable). Called the first number I saw on my local Craigslist. Told them what it was, they offered $100. SWMBO was home when they arrived, I was not. He tried to change the price, but since she heard the phone call, she knew what had been offered. Then he was surprised it had no brakes, and didn't run (the description of the car involved neither). Still, I got my $100, and a clear spot in my car court, so not I can more easily progress on the other 2 Miata that I own

Easy button:

I didn't get any money for it but I didn't really have a choice (no trailer at the time) and pressed for time.