A shipping stand for large machinery, the shipping stand comprising: a primary support structure including first components that are configured to support the large machinery during a shipping operation; and a secondary support structure attachable to the large machinery and cooperable with the primary support structure , the secondary support structure including second components that are configured to support the large machinery during the shipping operation, wherein the shipping stand is selectively configurable between a full support configuration using both the primary support structure and the secondary support structure and a discrete support configuration using only the secondary support structure such that the primary support structure forms no part of the shipping stand in the discrete support configuration, and wherein at least one physical characteristic of the shipping stand is varied between the full support configuration and the discrete support configuration, characterized in that in the full support configuration, the secondary support structure is received by the primary support structure , wherein the primary support structure comprises a front end base member , a rear end base , and supporting rails disposed between the front end base member and the rear end base , wherein the secondary support structure comprises bracket support base and a gib plate , and wherein in the full support configuration, the bracket support base is positioned on the front end base member of the primary support structure and the gib plate is positioned on the rear end base , the shipping stand further comprising a pair of stand legs attached to the bracket support base and each respectively positioned to receive a machinery pin . a primary support structure including first components that are configured to support the large machinery during a shipping operation; and a secondary support structure attachable to the large machinery and cooperable with the primary support structure , the secondary support structure including second components that are configured to support the large machinery during the shipping operation, wherein the shipping stand is selectively configurable between a full support configuration using both the primary support structure and the secondary support structure and a discrete support configuration using only the secondary support structure such that the primary support structure forms no part of the shipping stand in the discrete support configuration, and wherein at least one physical characteristic of the shipping stand is varied between the full support configuration and the discrete support configuration, characterized in that in the full support configuration, the secondary support structure is received by the primary support structure , wherein the primary support structure comprises a front end base member , a rear end base , and supporting rails disposed between the front end base member and the rear end base , wherein the secondary support structure comprises bracket support base and a gib plate , and wherein in the full support configuration, the bracket support base is positioned on the front end base member of the primary support structure and the gib plate is positioned on the rear end base , the shipping stand further comprising a pair of stand legs attached to the bracket support base and each respectively positioned to receive a machinery pin . <EOS>