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Where do people get their wheel shipping boxes...

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Old 05-12-25 | 07:30 AM
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Where do people get their wheel shipping boxes...

Curious as to what folks use box wise to ship wheels...? Frames can sometimes use TV boxes, I know...
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Old 05-12-25 | 12:29 PM
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Cut down a frame or bike box. TV box might work but some are too narrow.
Kids bike box should work, especially if tires are dismounted.
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Old 05-12-25 | 12:42 PM
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I've used sturdy boxes from a radiator shop to ship wheelsets.

But bike shops have the real thing, designed for lowest shipping cost with good protection.
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Old 05-12-25 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by rccardr
Cut down a frame or bike box. TV box might work but some are too narrow.
Kids bike box should work, especially if tires are dismounted.
Thank you! Good suggestions!
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Old 05-12-25 | 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by dddd
I've used sturdy boxes from a radiator shop to ship wheelsets.

But bike shops have the real thing, designed for lowest shipping cost with good protection.
The magic dimensions seem to be 32X28X8 for the best balance for price on bike flights. Wheel boxes at 9 and 10 seem to send it over the edge.
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Old 05-12-25 | 12:50 PM
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U-Haul, and a lot of storage places sell boxes, for various shapes and sizes, ie boxes for artwork.
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Old 05-12-25 | 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by hazetguy
sorry if this is obvious, but i get bike/wheel shipping boxes at one (or several) of the local bike shops in town.
i stop by or call to see if they have, or will have any soon. they either have some they haven't torn down yet, let me go through their cardboard recycling dumpster, or they'll set them aside for me for future pick up (within days so they are not taking up valuable shop space). i always get a few "extras" to have on hand (i have two in my basement right now). they've always been free.
can't say there's ever been a time whe i could not get just about any quantity of boxes i wanted or needed within a short period of time, perhaps other than during the pandemic.
What size do you find the wheel boxes from the LBS to be? A couple of Trek stores said no on bike and wheel boxes, but that was a few years ago so who knows?
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Old 05-12-25 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by John D
U-Haul, and a lot of storage places sell boxes, for various shapes and sizes, ie boxes for artwork.
Thank you! Good suggestion! Artwork boxes.
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Old 05-12-25 | 01:09 PM
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Appliance stores are a good source for free larger boxes. Large boxes bought retail can be very expensive, and with places like Uline you often need to order a quantity of 5. I tried to get a box from a Trek store when visiting relatives, no go. My local shop, on the other hand, has given me half a dozen nice bike boxes. They have even let me pick my own box to use and have refused my repeated attempts to give them some $$. As you mentioned the exact size of the box matters for shipping prices, which is another reason I seek out free boxes, since they will need to be cut and modified anyway. I have a large apt complex very close to my garage, I keep an eye out for big screen & appliance boxes and then stash them in garage for when needed. Back of Home Depot/Lowes is often another source for boxes
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Old 05-12-25 | 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by SoCaled
Appliance stores are a good source for free larger boxes. Large boxes bought retail can be very expensive, and with places like Uline you often need to order a quantity of 5. I tried to get a box from a Trek store when visiting relatives, no go. My local shop, on the other hand, has given me half a dozen nice bike boxes. They have even let me pick my own box to use and have refused my repeated attempts to give them some $$. As you mentioned the exact size of the box matters for shipping prices, which is another reason I seek out free boxes, since they will need to be cut and modified anyway. I have a large apt complex very close to my garage, I keep an eye out for big screen & appliance boxes and then stash them in garage for when needed. Back of Home Depot/Lowes is often another source for boxes
Thank you! More good ideas!
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Old 05-12-25 | 02:04 PM
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I 2nd the appliance box. American washers/dryers come in 28x28 boxes. Just cut them down. Boom
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Old 05-12-25 | 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by hazetguy
sorry if this is obvious, but i get bike/wheel shipping boxes at one (or several) of the local bike shops in town.
i stop by or call to see if they have, or will have any soon. they either have some they haven't torn down yet, let me go through their cardboard recycling dumpster, or they'll set them aside for me when the build the bikes inside them for future pick up (within days so they are not taking up valuable shop space). i always get a few "extras" to have on hand (i have two in my basement right now). they've always been free.
can't say there's ever been a time when i could not get just about any quantity of boxes i wanted or needed within a short period of time, perhaps other than during the pandemic.
Same here, the local bike store is always happy to off-load their boxes that are going to the dump/recycler, just ask , why pay for stuff that is made for shipping.
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Old 05-12-25 | 06:48 PM
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Um, I use the boxes the wheels I purchased came in?
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Old 05-12-25 | 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by nlerner
Um, I use the boxes the wheels I purchased came in?
Unfortunately someone seems to have more wheels than boxes to ship them in or frames to put them on…

Not sure how that happened…

The smart thing would have been one set of wheels in, one set of wheels out…

I'm not smart…
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Old 05-12-25 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by nlerner
Um, I use the boxes the wheels I purchased came in?
I save these boxes too. I store tires in them in case I need one for shipping at a later date
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Old 05-12-25 | 10:47 PM
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Make sure to strategically reinforce the box. It may add a couple pounds, but well worth doing.
Despite creating handle cutouts and marking in bold letters 'this side up' plus arrows, Fedex and UPS could lay it sideways.
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Old 05-13-25 | 08:16 AM
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Originally Posted by SoCaled
Appliance stores are a good source for free larger boxes. Large boxes bought retail can be very expensive, and with places like Uline you often need to order a quantity of 5. I tried to get a box from a Trek store when visiting relatives, no go. My local shop, on the other hand, has given me half a dozen nice bike boxes. They have even let me pick my own box to use and have refused my repeated attempts to give them some $$. As you mentioned the exact size of the box matters for shipping prices, which is another reason I seek out free boxes, since they will need to be cut and modified anyway. I have a large apt complex very close to my garage, I keep an eye out for big screen & appliance boxes and then stash them in garage for when needed. Back of Home Depot/Lowes is often another source for boxes
Originally Posted by SurferRosa
I went to my Home Depot.

Well, I guess I could have been more clear, thought the "Free" theme of my post was obvious. My Lowes and Home Depot often have large boxes behind the store, with the recycling, they get lots of large items in boxes, unbox them for display and put the boxes out back. Home Depot does actually have some large boxes available (you could pick-up in store) but they have to be ordered online.


The problem with these boxes (and a lot of the big screen tv boxes now) is they are only 6" deep, so you would have to join boxes, which I am not a fan of.
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Old 05-13-25 | 09:17 AM
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I guess I am fortunate to have a Trek store within a few blocks of my shop. They give away bike or wheel shipping boxes ( used of course) . I have also used a small shop in mid town , both are happy to give away boxes! Only once did I have to dumpster dive for them , they usually have them inside before they haul them to the dumpster. If you go to any shipping supply store you will pay a lot for them.
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Old 05-13-25 | 10:24 AM
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First thing you do is look on your local craigslist or Facebook marketplace. Like these wheel boxes for free:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/...23734022140590
Earlier I tried to get rid of my two wheel boxes for free. I had no takers at all. The boxes sat outside through the winter and I finally put them in the recycling bin last week.
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