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Best Way to Move Long Distance

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sportchampps

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7,361 posts
Nov 6, 2010 1:22 PM
I will be moving back to Columbus from Lawrence, Kansas it a couple weeks from today. What does everyone think is the best or cheapest way to move. Does anyone have experience with long distance moving using a uhaul or budget rental truck. The drive should take us about 11 hours but were splitting it up over two days so we can spend a few hours with her 92 year old grandpa in Kansas City before we stop in St Louis for the night. We basically are moving a one bedroom apartment ( Bedroom, Living Room, Desptop computer, and a few smaller things)
Nov 6, 2010 1:22pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Nov 6, 2010 1:35 PM
Moving Truck.
Nov 6, 2010 1:35pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

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16,816 posts
Nov 6, 2010 1:42 PM
If you don't have a whole lot of stuff to move probably the best or least expensive way to do it to rent a UHaul truck and do it yourself.

Just remember to get a padlock to lock up the back of the truck so your stuff remains in the truck while you stop for the night and for rest stops.
Nov 6, 2010 1:42pm
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sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Nov 6, 2010 3:49 PM
4ringz does that happen alot
Nov 6, 2010 3:49pm
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darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Nov 6, 2010 4:01 PM
the UHAUL idea sounds pretty good.

Good luck and drive safe
Nov 6, 2010 4:01pm
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tk421

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8,500 posts
Nov 6, 2010 4:07 PM
You could get a POD.
Nov 6, 2010 4:07pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

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7,566 posts
Nov 6, 2010 4:09 PM
11 hour trip isn't that bad, and that's a pretty easy drive. You aren't crossing the Rockies or the Appalachians. You should be able to handle a decent sized truck. I also suspect work isn't paying for the move?
Nov 6, 2010 4:09pm
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tk421

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8,500 posts
Nov 6, 2010 4:13 PM
I don't know about the OP, but what about anyone who's never drove a truck before? Are those UHAUL trucks easy to drive?
Nov 6, 2010 4:13pm
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Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Nov 6, 2010 4:18 PM
I've driven a mid-sized one for about 90 minutes. Interstate most of the way, you get used to it. I might be more concerned if I was driving on the WV turnpike or some other high-graded road. Just keep it at the speed limit and watch your surroundings and it isn't that big of a deal.
Nov 6, 2010 4:18pm
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Cat Food Flambe'

Senior Member

1,230 posts
Nov 6, 2010 6:06 PM
You won't have any trouble with a mid-sized moving truck on the interstates. One suggestion - be really fussy about where you stay in the St. Louis area - you don't want to park all of your earthly possessions in a sketchy part of town.

Just a personal observation - I've had much better experiences with Penske as opposed to U-Haul. U-Haul has their fleet scattered all over the place and seems to have more trouble matching up the right equipment and the right location.
Nov 6, 2010 6:06pm
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gerb131

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9,932 posts
Nov 6, 2010 6:07 PM
Mayflower
Nov 6, 2010 6:07pm
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gut

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15,058 posts
Nov 6, 2010 6:49 PM
tk421;547212 wrote:You could get a POD.

This is the best value. If he can get everything into a 15-20" U-Haul truck, those aren't too bad to drive. Don't know about PODS pricing, but I bet it's comparable to U-Haul with the gas and mileage and everything. But depending on where you are moving, PODS might not be a solution if the apartment or HOA has restrictions about dropping those things
Nov 6, 2010 6:49pm
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tk421

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8,500 posts
Nov 6, 2010 7:10 PM
I'd like the POD just for the fact that you don't have any hassle moving your stuff yourself. Just move your items in the POD and take your time moving wherever you're going.
Nov 6, 2010 7:10pm
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THE4RINGZ

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Nov 6, 2010 7:14 PM
sportchampps;547172 wrote:4ringz does that happen alot
I don't know if it happens often but if you park a UHaul and stay in a hotel or get out and stretch your legs for 15 minutes. It would seem like an opportunity for a thief. I would error on the side of.caution however
Nov 6, 2010 7:14pm
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mella

Senior Member

647 posts
Nov 6, 2010 7:23 PM
You might want to look at what you have and seriously weigh the cost between moving it all or having a moving sale and buying new stuff. The 15 - 20 foot U-Hauls aren't too bad to drive. I've driven one 240 miles any trouble. If you park at a hotel try to back the truck up to a wall if they have one. In all reality if someone really wants to rob you they will so don't lose sleep over it. Lock it up, back it up if you can, and get a good night's sleep.

Good luck with the move
Nov 6, 2010 7:23pm
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mucalum49

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1,639 posts
Nov 6, 2010 7:34 PM
I just moved from the Cleveland area to Charlotte, NC and used U-Haul. U-Haul was $980 including tax for a 17 ft truck and the deluxe car trailer. The 17ft truck should be good for a 1-2 bedroom apartment. The other options of a moving company averaged about $2200 and they couldn't guarantee when my stuff would get down here because they had to fill another truck heading south. PODS were around the same price if not cheaper then a moving company but the same thing happened, they have to have a truck of PODS heading towards your destination before it ships. Budget and Penske were cheaper options for the truck alone but they also only offer 15ft trucks so if that 17ft one sounds like it works for you then you sacrifice about 128 cubic ft (2 ft long x 8 ft tall x 8 ft wide) of moving space. If you need a car trailer then these two are going to be more expensive for you.
Nov 6, 2010 7:34pm
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gut

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15,058 posts
Nov 6, 2010 7:38 PM
THE4RINGZ;547512 wrote:I don't know if it happens often but if you park a UHaul and stay in a hotel or get out and stretch your legs for 15 minutes. It would seem like an opportunity for a thief. I would error on the side of.caution however

I'd say mostly urban legend. They aren't going to steal the truck because those things probably all have GPS on them now. And while an opportunist might grab some bolt cutters for a lock, it's still high risk in a hotel parking lot that often has people coming and going all hours and well-lit locations. Even then, they'd still have to sift thru your stuff to find things of value worth taking. There are far easier targets for a thief. But, sure, back it up to a wall, park in a well lit area, and put a good lock on it.
Nov 6, 2010 7:38pm
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mucalum49

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1,639 posts
Nov 6, 2010 7:39 PM
Sorry I skimmed your original post when I wrote mine. Another point about moving company's are that they want to come out and look at your stuff to give you a more accurate estimate. If it is within 2 weeks (you said couple) they might charge extra to get it on a truck and ready to be moved by then. They told me that normally a month in advance is desired but I only knew I was moving 20 days in advance.
Nov 6, 2010 7:39pm
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gut

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15,058 posts
Nov 6, 2010 7:39 PM
Don't mess with the car trailer. I'd assume the better half can drive the car. If you haven't driven a big truck before, adding a car trailer is only asking for 11 hours of white knuckling all the way there.
Nov 6, 2010 7:39pm
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mucalum49

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1,639 posts
Nov 6, 2010 7:43 PM
gut;547590 wrote:Don't mess with the car trailer. I'd assume the better half can drive the car. If you haven't driven a big truck before, adding a car trailer is only asking for 11 hours of white knuckling all the way there.

True statement. Although the drive from Lawrence to Columbus will be pretty flat I'm presuming. But driving through the mountains of WV with a car trailer was a pretty scary experience.
Nov 6, 2010 7:43pm
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gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Nov 6, 2010 7:43 PM
mucalum49;547586 wrote:Sorry I skimmed your original post when I wrote mine. Another point about moving company's are that they want to come out and look at your stuff to give you a more accurate estimate. If it is within 2 weeks (you said couple) they might charge extra to get it on a truck and ready to be moved by then. They told me that normally a month in advance is desired but I only knew I was moving 20 days in advance.

I've done this a few times. You can talk them into a phone estimate most of the time for a 1-bedroom. If it's pretty standard, they have a good idea of what the weight and dimensions are. Most will ultimately bill you by weight, anyway. There is no question a moving company will be the most expensive, probably by far, of the options mentioned. But if you call around you might get lucky with a company that happens to have a truck ready to go with spare room, provided you take a hard-bargaining stance. Also depends on when you have to move. Much easier to get a moving company mid-month on short notice than at the end/beginning of a month when most people are moving.
Nov 6, 2010 7:43pm
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sportchampps

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7,361 posts
Nov 7, 2010 2:55 PM
We have a little less then two weeks now. I think we are goin to go with Budget or Peneske. My girlfriend and I will be driving our cars and her dad said he would fly down and drive the truck back so he could also spend some time with his dad. We are going to stay with her aunt in a neighborhood in St Louis to get a few hours of sleep. Our drive is literally a turn onto 1-70 in lawrence to 270 in Columbus so pretty much all but maybe 45 minutes will be on 70 (Making for the worst drive ever). The company is paying $5000 relocation but were hoping to save some as well as buy a second couch and we also have to pay double rent in December (Columbus and Lawrence).
Nov 7, 2010 2:55pm
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redfalcon

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1,088 posts
Nov 7, 2010 10:17 PM
Be prepared to spend several hundred dollars on that truck. They advertise $19.95, but that is for in town rentals. Those long distance rentals are something like $.50 a mile, which can really add up. If you can, look into a trailer. Much, much cheaper.
Nov 7, 2010 10:17pm
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sportchampps

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7,361 posts
Nov 8, 2010 2:36 PM
The truck will cost us 450 bucks for the four days picking it up in lawrence and dropping it off in columbus
Nov 8, 2010 2:36pm