How to ship a vintage gas tank?

[KathyD19]

I was wanting to sell a couple vintage gas tanks online and I don't know how to go about the shipping process. From what I've seen on Ebay, sellers list a shipping price so I assume they are using either USPS, UPS or FedEx but I don't know what the restrictions might be on an item such as this. Obviously it wouldn't have any leftover gas in it but it might give off an odor. Has anyone else dealt with this issue? Thanks!

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

I don't mean to sound rude...but why don't you simply call and ask the shipping companies these questions instead of us?
They are the ones who make the rules.

 

[KathyD19]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

Didn't mean to be a bother, disregard my post please.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

Take it down to the Local UPS STORE.
They can give you the skinny and even will box it up for you for a price.

 

[KathyD19]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

Thank you, UncleWilly. I'll do that. I appreciate the response. Have a great Memorial Day!

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

I did a carburetor exchange to Florida. The old carb. smelled to high heaven, so I left the package open till I got to UPS.
The clerk and the supervisor said they would not of taken the package without knowing all was OK.

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

I tinker with classic car parts, I always wash my car tanks inside and out with a Gain/Dawn mixture, rinse with warm water, then rinse the inside with rubbing alcohol to get all the water out, let dry overnight. That kills the smell and gives the buyer a clean tank with no water to cause rust. Good Luck.

 

[KathyD19]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

Actually, this is the information I was looking for...how to remove the gas odor from the tanks if at all possible. And that's also a very good hint to leave the package open so the clerk can see what exactly is inside. I have to use the post office often for my work and they always go through the same banter "anything perishable, breakable, glass, flammable, hazardous..." etc so I now the USPS wasn't gonna let an old gas tank make it by them. I'm in a small town and we don't have a local UPS store so I was unsure of their policies and their website isn't clear on that either. Being a holiday, I didn't bother to call their 800 #. Thanks for the helpful hints!

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

HOW about selling them on craiglist, and let the buyer pick them up.???? Are you talking about old Johnson/Evinrude tanks?

 

[KathyD19]

Re: How to ship a vintage gas tank?

Actually these are old Mercury Kiekhaefer tanks. I've had some friends have a few "scary" incidents with Craigslist people before so I am a little gun shy about doing that. I talked to the guy at the post office today and he said as long as there is no detectable gas odor, it can be mailed. Thanks again.