Moving across country

[Nemies]

Okay, so I live in Illinois right now, and I'm going to be moving to Oregon soon. I'm trying to figure out the cheapest/simplest way to make my move. We've got Too Much Stuff, which would normally require a 24' or 26' Uhaul truck or the like. However, I've got this diesel truck in my front drive way. And I've towed RVs with, so I know that I *can* tow something big and heavy.



What I'm trying to figure out is the best way to go about this. Do they make moving trailers that are big enough to hold all my crap and DON'T need a 5th wheel/goose? If not, would it make sense for me to GET a 5th wheel/goose to rent the proper over-axel trailer?



Cost is my main issue. Right now, Penske quoted me a little under $3000 to use one of their 26' trucks. Owch.



Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

[wyosteve]

Don't know how much help this will be, but here goes. First of all depends on how much "stuff" you have. I did the move last fall and unfortunately again this spring. They make bumper pull enclosed trailers up to 32 ft. , but 28 is probably the max for comfort and safety. I ended up buying a 32' used Haulmark gooseneck car hauler. Held all my stuff. When I get it unloaded, I should be able to sell it for what I paid. I felt that paying U'Haul, Ryder, etc. was just throwing money away. Sooo, my suggestion is buy a used enclosed cargo trailer either bumper or gooseneck and then look to resell and recoup your money. There's definitely a demand for good used trailers.

 

[Nemies]

Originally posted by wyosteve

Don't know how much help this will be, but here goes. First of all depends on how much "stuff" you have. I did the move last fall and unfortunately again this spring. They make bumper pull enclosed trailers up to 32 ft. , but 28 is probably the max for comfort and safety. I ended up buying a 32' used Haulmark gooseneck car hauler. Held all my stuff. When I get it unloaded, I should be able to sell it for what I paid. I felt that paying U'Haul, Ryder, etc. was just throwing money away. Sooo, my suggestion is buy a used enclosed cargo trailer either bumper or gooseneck and then look to resell and recoup your money. There's definitely a demand for good used trailers.

Now, by "bumper pull", you mean "with your hitch receiver", right? Is that safe, as far as tongue weight? I moved most of my stuff with a 20' moving truck last time, so I figure a 20+' cargo trailer would be enough again. I worry that they're shorter in height, though, but that may just be an illusion because the moving truck's storage area is up above its axels.



And somewhat unrelated: what's the difference between the gooseneck and 5er connection? (Besides physically: I understand how they look different. ) I guess I mean, why do most RVs come as 5ers, and cargo things come as gooseneck?



Thanks again!

 

[LandShark]

Nemies; You need to shop around a bit more. About 4 years ago I used Penske for a LA to Austin, Texas trip with their biggest truck. They were by far the cheapest. I think it was about $1200?



A couple of weeks ago I web shopped a move from Austin to Port Townsend, WA. Here's what I found:



U-haul, 26', $1622 plus tax for 2755 miles and 9 days



Ryder, 24', $1160 for 2643 miles and 8 days



Penske, 25', $923 includes tax, 10% web discount, 10% AARP discount, and unlimited mileage.



Rates vary based on locations involved, day of the week picked up, and time of the month and time of the year.

 

[Nemies]

Originally posted by LandShark



Penske, 25', $923 includes tax, 10% web discount, 10% AARP discount, and unlimited mileage.



Rates vary based on locations involved, day of the week picked up, and time of the month and time of the year.

Yeah, unfortunately, it seems that Oregon doesn't want me to move there. If I used your origin/destinations, on the same date, Penske quotes $1300 after 10% web, 12% AAA.



So, assuming I can drop the price $400 by moving my dates around, that's still over $2500. Erk.



So, now, I've researched gooseneck trailers, and while the gooseneck is cheap... the trailers are NOT. Doh.



Gah; I'll leave it all behind. All I need is my truck anyway.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Talk to some moving companies to see what it would cost to have them move your packed boxes. Gotta be less than $3G. You might be suprised at the cost.



Brian

 

[illflem]

I found out while recently moving that just changing your pick-up and drop-off points 10 miles to the next town can lower the price with U-Haul up to 25%. Get on their website and plug in some different towns close by. Even better advice is to get rid of most of your possessions, most people have way too much useless junk anyway. It's a lot more fun going out buying new (or used) stuff than it is packing, unpacking and moving boxes. Washer and dryer come to mind, they take up a lot of room moving. I sold my old pair and bought used ones at my new home, came out $200 ahead and with a better pair. The folks I bought and sold from we're doing the exact same thing.

 

[mbrolin]

Nemies,where in Oregon you moving to?Im here in Corvallis and had lived in So. Beloit before moving out here. Was only 13 at the time. As suggested,Id do some more checking as far as dropping in a different town,different day,etc.

 

[moparguy]

One word, AUCTION

We've considered moving to the Four Corners (or prehaps a little north) area many times. When we do, I'm just gonna have a auction.



I can buy new junk that's at least as good as the junk I now have when I get there.

 

[merryman]

Wyosteve has a valid idea; A few years ago , when I bought a near new bumper pull stock trailer (not agreat description but it was not a goose neck or fiver), after I had paid the guy for the trailer, s we talked, I learned he had just moved to Oregon from somewhere in the south and that I had paid him within about $300. of what he had paid for the trailer, so the move did not cost him a lot. He had bought it just for the move. You can put a bunch of stuff in 20' stock trailer. A big goose neck stock trailer could haul more and that type of trailer sells well out here.

After I had used the stock trailer I mentioned for about 10 years, I did a good rehab. on it--new wheels, tires and a good (do it myself) paint job, new lights, etc and sold it for half again what I had paid for it 10 years earlier. I just made it look like a new trailer and inflation in prices did the rest.



Combine this approach with illflem's idea of getting rid of bulky easy to replace stuff, and you should be able to do it with out a 2nd mortgage.



Vaughn