I Couldnt Stop Screaming All The Way To The Venue!!!

Decorating By StephsCakes72 Updated 21 Oct 2010 , 5:51am by MJTKNT

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StephsCakes72 Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:11pm
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Hi all,

I did a cake this weekend for a friend. It was a 6-8-10" cake baked in 3" pans. I cut out a wall letter on my scroll saw and hand painted it to match the cake. I was smart enough to take that off while it was being transported. I put plastic dowels in the cake, took a piece of wood and placed it in the back seat of my car. I had it propped up so that it would be level. I taped the bottom tier to the cake plate. Taped the cake plate to a larger platter. Taped the platter to the box I put it in and taped the box to the piece of wood.

The moving and rocking the cake did during the 30 min ride made me absolutely sick. Especially when I rode over cobblestone and trolley tracks. I finally picked up a friend and they drove and I sat in the back holding the cake. I had to due a few repairs when I got to the baby shower.

Is it just me? Is it possible to transport a 3+ tier cake in a car? Would it be better to rent or borrow and SUV type vehicle. I don't think I can go through that again.

37 replies
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Sarahbearah Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:17pm
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I completely understand how you felt.. I have done 3 tiered cake in a car, even if you level it the best way to not have too much damage is to hold it in your lap or such. That is what I have found withing my cake transports..

I now just barrow my older brothers SUV, it is completely flat in the back and easier on me..

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tarheelgirl Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:19pm
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Starting out I had a compact 4 door car. After delivering a few 2 tier party cakes, I decided it was time!!! Time to buy a mini van. I would never attempt a 3 tier cake in a car ever! You are brave!

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Kellbella Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:20pm
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I HATE delivering my cakes...I want to throw up the entire time. I have a small size SUV with a nice flat bottom and I put my cakes on that sticky rubber material that you can use to line the bottom of your cabinents with and they usually don't move too much. I drive at funeral procession speed with a sign on the back of the car telling people a cake's on board. If you have a car I would have someone hold it while you drive, it'll be too costly to rent an suv everytime you need to deliver a cake.

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Renaejrk Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:24pm
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There is NO WAY I would drive one in a car! Yikes - you ARE brave! I would be terrified. I take out a seat in the middle of my minivan to transport big ones.

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nonilm Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:27pm
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Depending on your car you should be able to put the passenger seat all the way forward or all the way back and place the cake on the floor in the front or back. I have done this with that size cake but will usually use our SUV. SUV is definitely easier to get in and out. Either way it is totally nerve wracking and I usually feel sick the whole way!

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Rising_Flours Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:33pm
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I actually deliver all my cakes (3 tier, 4 tier, carved etc) in a 4dr Honda Civic. I do panic the entire time but it is possible, if you drive very carefully.

I put a thick textbook on the back seat so I start off with a levelish surface under my cake. I'm not sure if this helps, but I like thinking that it does.

I will be upgrading to something more appropriate in the Spring, and I've been looking into the Cake Safe option as well. If the alternative for you is renting an SUV for each delivery, a Cake Safe may be less expensive in the long run

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StephsCakes72 Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:35pm
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Glad to see it's not just me. Oh, I just can't stand it! And I have another 3 tier cake due in a few weeks. I broke out in a cold sweat. Totally shaking. My friend called me this morning to laugh. It's funny NOW...(I guess), but so not funny yesterday. I couldn't post a picture of it, so here is the link. http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1837425 I'm getting nervous just thinking about it again!

Tarheelgirl-I think it's time for me to buy another vehicle as well.

Lol @ Kellbella and funeral procession speed. My friend had a lead foot. I must admit that I tapped him ever so gently on the top of his head as a reminder. Which only made him laugh harder.

@ Sarahbearah-Can I use your brother's SUV. I promise I'll bring it right back. icon_wink.gif

@Renaejrk-I think I won't be doing this again.

@Nonilm-Nope, my car doesn't do that. icon_sad.gif

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StephsCakes72 Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 7:37pm
post #9 of 38

Thanks Rising Flours. I will look into the Cake Safe...

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ILE Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 8:05pm
post #10 of 38

It is nerve wracking to deliver a cake.... i always put my cake in the trunk of my car an no problem. i put a beach towel under the cake an it doesn't move at all.

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ALR1955 Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 8:06pm
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Ooooh, This bring back memories! I'm glad to know that others get nervous when they deliver a cake. Way back when I was delivering a 7 tier cake when a crazy person in front of me decided to make a left hand turn with no lights, no warning!!! To keep from hitting him I swirved to the right and went off the road. Cake went flying forward. Once I got myself back together and on the road, I just kept praying that the wedding was a few hours off. Nooooo it was in one hour. I have never redecorated a cake so fast in all my life. The bride never knew. Whewwww!

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indydebi Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 8:14pm
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believe it or not, I think the no-skid material holds much better than taping things down. I really do.

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ALR1955 Posted 17 Oct 2010 , 10:32pm
post #13 of 38

I agree IndyDeb!

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TexasSugar Posted 18 Oct 2010 , 3:06pm
post #14 of 38

I was car shopping in May. I had a SUV before so I was looking for that again. I don't do cakes professionally but I do still do some of them. One of my requirements was a large flat place to set a cake. I had the sales guy lay down the back seats in the car I was looking at to see how much flat cake space I would have. I don't think he's ever had anyone check a car out for cake space before.

I also keep a large piece of the non skid stuff in the back of my car. Actually my parents do too, because it keeps alot of things from sliding around.

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StephsCakes72 Posted 18 Oct 2010 , 9:24pm
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@ ALR-A 7 tier cake? OMG!

Thank you Indydebi, I will try that.

TexasSugar-Thank you. I showed my fiance your post...and the others concerning the importance of a good vehicle for cakes. I think we're gonna go car shopping soon Woo Hooooooooo! Too excited. I think he thought it was just me!

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Cake_Karen Posted 18 Oct 2010 , 9:40pm
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I always deliver my cakes by car and put them in the front of the car in the footwell. I find this a good place as its flat and as Im driving I can keep an eye on it.

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Kitagrl Posted 18 Oct 2010 , 9:40pm
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I always refrigerate all my cakes no matter what...it makes them VERY nice and firm for transport and much less likely to be harmed by the jiggles and bumps of a transport.

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Kitagrl Posted 18 Oct 2010 , 9:41pm
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And PS: The roads around here ARE terrible, aren't they?!!!!!! icon_smile.gif

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calivettie Posted 18 Oct 2010 , 9:42pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nonilm

Depending on your car you should be able to put the passenger seat all the way forward or all the way back and place the cake on the floor in the front or back. I have done this with that size cake but will usually use our SUV. SUV is definitely easier to get in and out. Either way it is totally nerve wracking and I usually feel sick the whole way!




I do this for customers who are picking up their cakes.

Otherwise I do as others have said use a huge non skid mat in the back. I've transported a fully assembled four tier buttercream wedding cake for 3hours with absolutely NO DAMAGE to the cake, me on the otherhand was a complete wreck!!!

icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif

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peg818 Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 2:53pm
post #20 of 38

For up to three tiers i can fit that in the trunk of my honda its a 2 door accord i lay the back seats down so i can see into the trunk and the ac can reach back there, say a pray then off i go.

For larger then that i have to use my silverado that i can fold up the back seat and with a rolled towel on either side of the small bump that is there it levels the floor just fine for delivery.

I to deliver cold and i prefer to use the truck to do so, but sometimes its just not available.

If i buy a new car, i'm actually looking at a mini cooper, since i saw them at a car show and the whole back seat lays flat, I was so excited that my husband pulled me away before i bought one of what he considers the ugliest cars around.

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JawdroppingCakes Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 3:15pm
post #21 of 38

I hold them on my lap but for bigger ones I borrow my moms Excursion and sit in the back with them. When someone chooses to pick up their own cake I tell them to make sure to bring someone with them to hold the cake or to bring a vehicle that has a flat clean surface, I have seen many cars full of trash and it grosses me out when I have to place the cake there and try to level it for them. Hope this helps!

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GenGen Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 3:16pm
post #22 of 38

i've not personally purchased one so i can't give personal testament. but i have once seen the price lists for the cake safe.. a very good investment and i do mean investment.. they were not cheap..

another one for my wish list someday icon_biggrin.gif

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indydebi Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 3:20pm
post #23 of 38

for all of the time I've been on CC, the general concensus seems to be that holding a cake on your lap is the WORST way to transport a cake.

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Pastry-Panda Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 4:01pm
post #24 of 38

I would have to agree with debi that holding a cake on your lap is a terrible idea , but my only choices for transporting a vehicle is a bunch of small to mid sized 4 door cars , so I just lay down 4 or five full sized towels and a large piece of the non skid mat stuff in the back seat to level it out. The good thing about the towels for me is that they kinda absorb some of the bumps along the way. These freeways out here are rough!!! it works for me till I can get a better larger vehicleicon_smile.gif

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daltonam Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 4:27pm
post #25 of 38

I agree holding one may not be the best way, but it is sometimes the only way. My daughter held the teapot cake, stacked as you see it (in my pics) to the venue. Granted it wasn't a wedding cake, but it was HER cake. If I had been alone I would have called a niece or friend to help me. I've sat beside (on a flat surface) a cake that was too heavy to hold & I'd hold one any day if I never had to do that again. Saying that, I probably won't ever stack a cake like that again & travel down bumpy dirt roads, I'll just have to request to get to the venue early (even if it is someone's home) & stack it there. TOO MUCH STRESS!!!

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Herekittykitty Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 4:29pm
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I have several boards that I use to build up the back seat and place a large board on top of that the depth of my seat covered in shelf liner, gives me a perfectly flat and grippy surface. I then drive at a snail's pace the whole way, royally peeving everyone around me. Tough!

I needed my BF to drive me for the last cake b/c there were some pieces I had to hold and NEVER AGAIN! He has a sport suspension, kept stopping and taking turns WAY to fast. I was almost crying by the time we finished the 3 miles to my friends house but we all arrived intact (and by we all I mean me and the cake).

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Rosie2 Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 5:06pm
post #27 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rising_Flours

I actually deliver all my cakes (3 tier, 4 tier, carved etc) in a 4dr Honda Civic. I do panic the entire time but it is possible, if you drive very carefully.

I put a thick textbook on the back seat so I start off with a levelish surface under my cake. I'm not sure if this helps, but I like thinking that it does.


I have the exact same car and do the exact same thing, it works!!!!...but yeah, of course, I'm stressed out throught out the whole car ride. Believe it or not the thick book does makes it levelish icon_smile.gif---it helps that I love to read so, I always have books in my car LOL icon_biggrin.gif

On a side note...every time I buy a new cake toy I always 'tell' myself that there are more expensive hobbies...like photography, art, paintings etc however, now I'm thinking...do I have to buy an SUV to deliver my free cakes? yikesssss, that would be my most expensive cake toy Ha, ha!! icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif

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cai0311 Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 6:04pm
post #28 of 38

I deliver 3 tier wedding cakes, already stacked, every weekend in the trunk of my little Suzuki Areo.
Most of my cakes are 4 tiers but I can only fit a 3 tier in the trunk. So I assemble the 3 bottom tiers and put the top tier on at the venue.
My next vehicle will be a mini van.

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The_Cakery Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 6:15pm
post #29 of 38

I feel your pain. And God help anyone who makes me slam on brakes. Out comes the finger.

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LuluSweetArt Posted 19 Oct 2010 , 6:53pm
post #30 of 38

As much as my husband and I wanted an SUV, we couldn't really afford it, so we bought the next best thing. We drive a Dodge Caliber, the seats fold flat into the floor right up to the front seat and it's a hatchback. Works wonderfully. I have driven very large tiered cakes all around Southern California and parts of Arizona. A lot of hatchbacks will do that now. I also use the non-skid mats. But when I have really large pieces I call up my friend who has a large quad cab truck. My friend and I drove my OSSAS show piece all the way to Tulsa from San Diego in her truck and I spent the whole drive trying not to throw up or pass out at the thought of all that delicate sugar vibrating over what I swear are the worst roads in the country. Sometimes you gotta make do with what you've got...or make friends with someone who has something better. Good luck!

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