How does everyone transport......

Personally, I put the cake and my 10 year old daughter in the back of my van and drive yelling "Is the cake okay?!?!"

I would be open to suggestions...

I have a mommy van, so I have room all over the place. I put down non skid shelf liner under the cake plates in the boxes that they are in, and on the floor and I haven't lost one yet. I have also transported a huge quinsenetta (sp?) cake with the back seats down in my Jetta, which has a huge trunk. Then I assemble them on site. The non skid liner is a lifesaver!!

Here's a second vote for the non-skid shelf liner. I put it under the box of whatever I'm delivering and they don't move. Works great.

I haven't delivered / assembled a tiered cake so I can't help with that part - sorry.

i have a van too. i place a large white sheet down first,just looks cleaner. i have a large 18x18x27 box that i have covered in contact paper and one side drops down so i can put an assembled cake inside. I use the stress free support rings so ive delieved the cakes already stacked.

For my tiered cakes, I usually only ever do stacked. And I have gotten very used to delivering three tiers fully decorated and assembled. I get a large packing box (usually get them at Staples or Office Max) nad put the cake in that. So, if my bottom tier was 14 inches, I usually put it on an 18" base, then I would get a 18 x 18 x 18 packing box. I then cut the corners of one side of the box (length wise) to create a flap that I can pull down and easily slide the cake into the box. Then I just tape that side back into place. If the cake is too tall for the box, I tape up the top box flaps to make the box longer and then will cover with foil if needed (like it is raining or snowing out).

When it comes to tiered cakes that will use pillars (which I don't do many of) I try and get as much done as I can at home, then transport the tiers separately and assemble on site and finish whatevery I need to there.

When transporting stacked cakes, you need to make sure that you have a strong support system--make sure you have enough wooden or plastic dowel (or straws like sone people use) to be able to suppor the weight of all the tiers above and if using foam board or cake boards in between your tiers, putting a long center dowel down the middle of all tiers will help keep them all toghter.

I used to do the wood dowel thing with the center dowel, but I now use the Coast SPS system (similar to the Bakery Craft SPS system) and I love it! They are plastic seperator plates that "lock" into plastic pillars that serse as the dowels. Very strong. I then do what B. Keith Ryder demonstrates in is Whimsy cake instructions (http://www.cakecentral.com/article1-Instructions-For-Building-A-Whimsical-Tilted-Cake.html) by attaching the boards of the tiers to the plate with double-sided carpet tape. This keeps everything nice and secure--similar to the purpose of the center dowel. I love this method and it works great--I was even able to transport my whimsy cake with no issues. Here is a link to the Coast SPS system: http://www.cakedeco.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?p_catid=266

Hope this helps some.

Oops forgot to mention that I have a mini van and having a vehicle that can fit the large boxes and keep them on a flat surface really helps!

On a wing and a prayer?
LOL! Missy really has it down. I also tend to not deliver alone unless I have to, I spend a lot of time holding cakes on my lap saying "Slow down! Take the turn wide! You're not driving as slow as you think - drive CAKE slow! SLOW DOWN!"

Always! And a lot of screaming at the other drivers out there that drive like maniacs!! Once the cake is out of the car--then I can join them!

I have to pray alot... because that covers the cussing!!

I also use the non-skid shelfliners. THey are great! Anything over a 2-tier stacked gets put together on site. I do as much as I can and then add the final touches there. It's nice when it's a tiered cake and all you have to do is sit everything on the pillars.

What about those of us who do not have a minivan or SUV. I myself have a regular 4 door car. The cake won't fit on the floor of the car either in the front or back. I have no choice but to put it in the trunk. Let's say it's a 3 tiered stacked cake. Delivery an hour away. If I packed it in a box completely assembled with the non-skid pad will is survive? Or would I be better off just stacking two tiers and putting the top tier on upon arrival and then finish decorating?

[quote="justfrosting"]Personally, I put the cake and my 10 year old daughter in the back of my van and drive yelling "Is the cake okay?!?!"

I also have a mini van My kiddo's are grown and gone and everyone keeps asking "why do you need that van you don't have kids any more?" I tell them I HAVE CAKES! THEY ARE MY BABIES NOW! I put a sheet in the back and I also remove my seats so I have a clear shot of the cake. (like that matters! if anything happens it happens!)I also use the stress free cake support system. (those cakes don't move!) I usually just bring a box with tips i need and frosting and do a few if any touch ups.. I use a little tool box to bring everything in with me.. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT! People do notice and always dress nice when you deliver your cakes... (I sound like my mother) and oh yes prayers do help

No, you sound like MY mother, LOL!

I have to admit that I stop 2 or 3 times before I get to my final destination, run around to the back of the car and peek in just to check the cake

I would prefer to deliver cakes assembled, that way you're in and out at the reception. And if you decide to complete assembly on site, remember that you may have an audience. This may bother you, it may not. Once I went to a reception and there were several tables of couples who had gone to check out what the centre looked like when fully decorated.