by "Khalbali" (khalbali2)
Published 06/25/2017 at 19:09
by "Khalbali" (khalbali2)
Published 06/25/2017 at 19:09
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STARS: 0
So due to reasons, me and the wife are about to pack up and leave Denver for Chicago in a week or two. We’ll already be shooting ourselves in the foot financially so we’re trying to find the cheapest way to accomplish the move. When we moved here we rented a Dodge Grand Caravan or similar from hertz and got very lucky and got an actual grand Caravan. The reason I say we were lucky is that the main difficulty is a 7' tall bookshelf my wife’s late father built, and while I was reasonably confident it would fit in a grand Caravan with the stow and go, who knows if it would fit in something else. At the time it was only $400 or so to rent it for a one way 24 hour trip, but looking now it seems to be closer to $700 per day, and we really didn’t want to do it in 24 hours again, it was stupid and dangerous and we were up for close to 48 hours straight and easily could have fallen asleep at the wheel, since we were even in separate cars. So what ideas does OPPO have? Last time a u-haul was way more expensive hence the grand Caravan, but I’m thinking a cheap beater van is the way to go, either cargo van or minivan with the seats tossed. Ideally we would be able to sell it there and not take too much of a hit, although since we’ll be staying with family initially it might be nice to keep for a bit so we don’t have to unload all our crap. There’s also a chance we would add like a platform bed or something since my parants don’t have a huge house and they have their own shit to deal with, so we could camp in it. Max budget is as close to a grand as possible, definitely under 2. Only has to run 1100 miles and I am an apprentice mechanic so I could handle a little work but don’t want to dump money into something. Been looking at retired buses too but those seem a little out of our price range. So whatcha got OPPO?
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
06/25/2017 at 19:12, STARS: 1
It is possible to disassemble the bookshelf?
"My X-type is too a real Jaguar" (TomSlick)
06/25/2017 at 19:14, STARS: 2
A rust free cargo cargo van will be an easy sale in Illinois, I’d go that route.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/25/2017 at 19:14, STARS: 1
Is your only other vehicle a miata? I ask because when I moved from Florida to Oregon, I bought a 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer for $1,200 and sold it afterwards for $1,800. I towed it behind my Dodge Magnum RT.
"Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes" (sovereign-automotive)
06/25/2017 at 19:22, STARS: 0
The best option requires the most effort, and the most money up front. Buy cheap conversion van, do conversion van things, sell conversion van.
"cluelessk" (cluelessk)
06/25/2017 at 19:41, STARS: 0
A few years back my Dad bought an ‘88 GMC Rally van$1200 CAD. All it needed for a Safety was a tie rod end. Took it on a couple cross country road trips.
"diplodicus forgot his password" (diplodicusforgothispassword)
06/25/2017 at 19:41, STARS: 0
Have you looked at those pods? You fill them up and they pick it up and drop it off at your new place. My sister used one from MI to WA not sure what they cost though.
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
06/25/2017 at 19:53, STARS: 0
I’d say 1100 miles is peanuts. As long as it starts, reaches highway speeds without any serious vibrations or untoward noises, stops okay, the temperature gauge stays steady, and it doesn’t smoke too badly, I’d say you’re fine. In the last six weeks I’ve done over 3000 miles in a 2001 Jimmy I picked up for $250. I’ve got a bunch of money into it in parts (good reminder, I need to add it all up and write up another post) but most of that was in fluid changes and HVAC parts, which frankly wouldn’t be critical. It doesn’t have to be pretty or run well, but if it doesn’t look like it might explode around the next corner it’ll suffer through 1100 miles on the highway.
I’d avoid conversion vans or busses myself if you’re on a seriously tight budget. Something something single-digit mpg.
"FerioDreams" (feriodreams)
06/25/2017 at 20:02, STARS: 0
I say go for the van! We just bought one for the same purpose. We are moving from LA to Boston in August after our wedding. Decided to buy a van and we will probably use it to go camping/visit our syrupy neighbors to the North before inevitable rust takes it’s toll and we sell it off. It’s a ‘95 Econoline with 140k. Been with the same art installation company since new. Best of luck!
"Birddog" (maintmgt)
06/25/2017 at 20:21, STARS: 0
Have you looked for a used E series or other van for cheap on CL?
One of our security guys is moving from Dubuque to somewhere north of Seattle. He snagged a used plumbing van for $900, put a set of used tires on it did typical fluid changes and took off. Maybe a $1200 total investment. He’s flying back this Tuesday, I’ll ask how it went.
Why Chicago?
"XJDano" (xjdano)
06/25/2017 at 20:28, STARS: 1
From what I read sounds like moving in with parents.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
06/25/2017 at 20:31, STARS: 0
First one I looked at was Penske. So that’s under $1000. For 16' box truck. Those get 9-11 mpg or so. Can get a tow dolly for more money as well.
Good luck.
"Birddog" (maintmgt)
06/25/2017 at 20:32, STARS: 0
Missed that part.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/25/2017 at 20:38, STARS: 0
Yeah that’s the best idea I’ve got so far, anything that cheap tends to go pretty quickly though and I work 15 hour days so it’s hard to catch something.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/25/2017 at 20:39, STARS: 0
Yeah I’m looking at older minivans too, might work if I chuck all the seats. Stow and go wasn’t until 2005 I think so not gonna find one of those in our budget. Chucking the seats will hurt the resale though obviously but it’s an idea. But you’re right, gas would add up pretty quickly.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/25/2017 at 20:40, STARS: 0
We also have a Kia Rio lol, so towing seems out of the question.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/25/2017 at 20:42, STARS: 0
Yeah that’s kind of where we’re at, if it’s gonna cost a grand to rent something I’d rather spend 1500 and buy something and hopefully sell it for close to that on the other side. But upfront cash is an issue, my wife isn’t able to work anymore so I’m fighting a losing battle on keeping up with bills and we don’t know yet what it’ll cost to get out of our lease.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/25/2017 at 20:43, STARS: 0
Yeah that seems best, but anything that cheap goes pretty quickly and I’m working 15 hour days so it just comes down to timing there.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/25/2017 at 20:44, STARS: 0
Yeah that’s the front runner so far definitely, I always wanted to do a camper conversion but realistically we’ll be pretty behind on bills at the end of this so I doubt we’ll keep it.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/25/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 0
Not yet but will explore tonight, I vaguely remember them being prohibitively expensive a few years back when we moved her, but will report back.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/25/2017 at 20:46, STARS: 0
Awesome, that’s the way to go!
"Slant6" (slant-6)
06/25/2017 at 20:56, STARS: 0
I’d say van and cheapest trailer you can find. Either a rental or just buying one. This way you can camp in the van. Also keep some more visibility when driving that far, rather than packing the van to the Windows. I feel like the market for trailer is always pretty solid, so no doubt you could sell it when you’re done.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
06/25/2017 at 21:21, STARS: 0
Those things are ridiculously expensive if you are moving. Monthly storage isn’t too bad, but having it moved to another state is where they get you.
"random001" (random001)
06/25/2017 at 21:32, STARS: 0
So big question, does it have to be enclosed? Wrap it and get a truck or an SUV?
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/6192854275.html
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
06/25/2017 at 21:39, STARS: 0
Not sure what sort of space requirements you’d actually have. I moved nearly all my stuff in the Niva twice (no large furniture, just big tools) and the second time found space could be had better than flipping the seat forward but removing it, folding it flat, and tucking it in along the side. It still occupies the same volume, but allowed me to consolidate empty spaces better to allow for longer objects.
On a similar note, don’t get a Niva to move, no matter how tempting it may seem. Less than eight feet from the firewall to the hatch means not much goes into it if you want to have a passenger.
"razorbeamteam" (razorbeamteam)
06/25/2017 at 22:31, STARS: 0
Title says it all
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/6191673770.html
"Nibbles" (nibbles)
06/25/2017 at 23:48, STARS: 0
I dunno about Chicago but our move from Denver to Washington State is gonna cost about $4000 for pods and transport.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/26/2017 at 00:05, STARS: 0
Aye... And rentals are getting out of hand. The reason I did it that way was because U-haul wanted an obscene amount of money for a one week rental, then we would have to find a storage unit. We used the trailer to store our stuff for 2 months while living with the in-laws, then used it to move to our rental house, then finally to the house we bought before selling it at a profit!
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/26/2017 at 00:31, STARS: 0
I had already emailed about that one, he did edit the post though to say he probably wouldn’t take it across the country lol.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
06/26/2017 at 00:33, STARS: 0
Yeah it would definitely be a lot easier this way, just don’t think it’s worth it trying to find a tow vehicle and a trailer too, and I’d be worried about it making it a lot more than a van or something that didn’t also have to tow.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
06/28/2017 at 12:16, STARS: 0
one of the best prices for a cross-country move was to box up a lot of stuff and shrink wrap it to a pallet. we shipped it terminal to terminal freight for 60 cents a pound or so. One way on a penske truck isn’t too bad either.