Moving advice... how to transport stuff?

[curtis73]

I'm moving from CA to TX in mid July. I need some advice on how to do it. I've never really moved before like this. My wife and I full-timed in an RV, so with the exception of moving a carload of stuff in and out of college dorms, we've never "moved". When we came to CA, we just parked the RV in front of the apartment and moved the stuff. I think it took a little over 45 minutes. I now have a sizeable amount of stuff; a 3-bedroom apartment and a 2-car garage. Its mostly already packed in boxes.

I just don't know what's available to me. I looked into renting from Penske, Ryder, and Uhaul, but they all want nearly $2000 to rent a 22' straight truck. I thought about PODS, but they want almost $5000.

Is there a cheaper alternative? I see Uhauls driving around that always say $29 a day and I don't mind returning it back here in CA... but $2000?!?!

What other methods can I explore?

[ericn1300]

I heard about a couple who bought a used uhaul truck on craigslist, moved to CA and sold it for the same price they paid for it.

[Hungrycat7]

The best moving method is milking your friends for everything they are worth! Sounds bad but hey what are friends for? I just moved, not quite a big move as yours, but it was a four hour drive. I actually had a friend with a truck and a horse trailer. I cleaned the horse trailer and bribed him into letting me fill it up with furniture and drive it down to me! If you are unable to do that you might call an actual moving company. May be pricey but I don't think it will be any more expensive than those PODS!

['97ventureowner]

If I'm not mistaken, those U Haul rates may be "local only" and there would be restrictions or extra charges for taking it out of state at that rate. Call some U Hauls and ask, wouldn't hurt as that could be your least expensive alternative. I thought I had read an article a few months back where truckers, (independent) who did cross country trips sometimes had space on their trailers to haul something for people at a pretty good price. I'd imagine if that were still true, and with the current prices for diesel, some truckers may be doing that. The only problem there is trying to locate one going towards a location near you, AND a place nearby where they can drop off the stuff, most of the time a place with a loading dock.

Originally Posted by curtis73

I'm moving from CA to TX in mid July.

Slowly working your way back East are ya??

[fredjacksonsan]

Don't forget Budget (and possibly Dollar); they are usually cheaper than the big names and sometimes have some deals if you want to drive it yourself...you'll have to pay for gas and that's expensive at 7 mpg.

I've also found that some moving services are comparable to the basic rental costs of a moving van...so having XYZ moving come by and pick up your boxes might be a less expensive alternative that's worth checking into.

[blazee]

When my cousin moved recently, he bought a used enclosed trailer. Hauled all his stuff and then sold the trailer for more than he paid.

[fredjacksonsan]

Great idea, Blazee. Curtis, couldn't you tow it with that wagon you rebuilt awhile back?

Oh, and I forgot...I have a sister with a "6 month rule"...if she hasn't seen it, needed it, wondered where it was or wanted it in the last 6 months, out it goes prior to the move.

[sivic02]

I have moved so much that when I move I throw away or get rid of almost everything. Easiest thing in the world to do! Have a garage sale and take the other stuff to goodwill or some charity thing like that (tax write off). Other than that find a friend with a truck and trailer.

[BeZerK2112]

+1 on the get rid of stuff. My wife and I just unloaded our storage unit into the garage. We are now going through everything and selling or throwing it all away. We havent seen this crap for like 2 years.

Heres something that may help. If your using Uhal going from a big city to a small city it will cost a ton of money. My move to here would have cost $2000 from Longmont Colorado to Rexburg Idaho. However, same truck from Longmont Colorado to Salt Lake City Utah was only $420, well worth the 4 hour drive to drop it off. Check Uhal again and get the truck from and drop it of in a larger city. You may have better luck, even if you have to drive 4 hours to drop the thing off.

Oh and the 29.99 local rate, it has a price per mile you have to pay to use it. I think it's like .45 cents a mile.

[speediva]

You can rent pick-ups from Enterprise - unlimited mileage, but you pay for gas. If you rent a pick-up, you'll probably still need to rent a trailer, too... but at least no mileage costs on the trailer.

Look into rail freight, too. I know in Pennsylvania, they offer cheaper prices on rail freight for larger items like cars, etc.

[2.2 Straight six]

Can't you rent a Dually Sprinter or something for cheaper? Between that and the RV you should be able to fit everything, and anything that doesn't fit you can probably tow.

[72chevelleOhio]

Originally Posted by Hungrycat7

The best moving method is milking your friends for everything they are worth!

Thats what I did. My friend had just bought a brand new 26' equipment trailer back when I moved. The only thing he had on it was his restored farm tractor. So I basically was the one to "break it in"....

Or you could just burn the whole place down, then all you have to move is an insurance check.. ....uh......no....I mean....uh...

[ericn1300]

just sell all the furniture you own on craigslist and buy it all over again off craigslist when you get there. Unless you hava a lot of valuable heirlooms the old lady is going to want to redecorate anyway. As for the boxes full of stuff you couldn't bear to part with, but will mostly be in your first garage sale when you get there, post on craigslist under ride sharing and see if they'll take a couple of boxes each. Or look for truckers going that way with a short load, hauling your stuff is non taxed cash in their pockets. short loads are also known as LTL or Less Than loaded, do a google.

[jsagar]

if you can afford them, use a reputable moving company. i hired allied and they did what they said they were going to do and my items got to me safely.

[WickedNYCowboy]

Get a moving company, if your not doing it yourself or a good friend that you trust to move you. The moving company will have DOT, ICC, and all the proper insurance needed, and will be liable for all applicable fines for a CMV(which a rental truck you will need is). Also you can look up the equipment the company has, and their safety ratings on the net. Just google USDOT Safety search.