Moving question

[Serenity9]

I have 2 options for my upcoming 8-hour-drive move, and I'm not sure which one to choose.

Because of the small amount of stuff I have to move, the small window I have to move it in, and a low-to-medium budget for the move, hiring movers to do the whole thing professionally is not an option. 

So I'm going to get a small, 10' UHaul. I'll hire people to help me load and unload it on each end. The part that I'm having trouble with is getting my car down there. I could:

A) Rent a hitch to put on the back of the UHaul to tow my car with me. The positives: the hitch is only about $50 more. I only have to make one trip. The UHaul folks would inspect it to make sure it is secure. Negatives: Even driving a UHaul will be a challenge for me, let alone driving one with a car hitched to the back. I would be so afraid if I had to back up, like at a gas station. I have no idea how tolls would work. 

B) Leave my car at a friend's house, drive the UHaul down, then take a 1-way flight back the next weekend to get the car, and do the drive again. Positives: I'll be living in an area where it is not a problem to go without a car for a week. I actually don't have parking lined up, and could use that week to find and lease a parking spot. Negatives: extra expense to fly back and for the gas. Not sure if I'd be paying the same tolls or more. Spending 2 weekends on the move rather than one.

Which would you choose?

[snowflurry]

B. If you are not comfortable driving a u-haul, adding a car on the back seems like a bad idea. I would also look into having your car transported to you. If may be cheaper than the airfare/gas.

[soozy87]

A.

[TR]

A. And just don't back up, lol.

[FormerlyRR]

Towing the car would suck for all the reasons you mention and then some. I like the car transport idea best.

[FastHands]

Soooooooo much B. So much. Check out sale fares. If Frontier flies nonstop on that route, a $49 fare could be very likely. I might put more time between the trips, at least one weekend to catch up on sleep and veg. If I'm remembering where you're moving, I'd think that would be very easy to survive a couple of weeks.

[toepick]

I helped a friend do this once, and she just paid for my flight home. Anybody you could ask to help?

[shopgirl07]

I helped a friend move from Boston to DC. She drove the U Haul van and I drove her car. She paid for my flight home, which was pretty inexpensive. Is there anyone who'd be willing to do that for you? If not, I guess I'd do B.

[gummy]

Can you have a friend drive your car and fly them back home?

[nessness]

A. You shouldn't need to stop more than once or twice, and you could plan it out to only stop at truck stops like PP said.

[Serenity9]

Thanks! I think I'm going to skip option A. It's going to be stressful already; I don't need that added stress. I looked up having my car transported and that would be $300-400. That's a bit pricey for me. I'll probably fly back to get the car. I don't think I'd want to ask a friend to give up her whole weekend to help me move.

[Deleted]

Jun 8, 2016 9:02:46 GMT -5 toepick said:

I helped a friend do this once, and she just paid for my flight home. Anybody you could ask to help?

This is what I was going to suggest. When we moved last year, my BFF drove with me so I didn't have to entertain my 2.5 year old on the 10 hour drive by myself. I bought her plane ticket home. SaveSave

[janegold]

Jun 8, 2016 9:33:51 GMT -5 Serenity9 said:

Thanks! I think I'm going to skip option A. It's going to be stressful already; I don't need that added stress. I looked up having my car transported and that would be $300-400. That's a bit pricey for me. I'll probably fly back to get the car. I don't think I'd want to ask a friend to give up her whole weekend to help me move.

I actually think that price sounds really reasonable for transporting your car. How much would a flight and gas cost? Probably less, but maybe not all that much less. The added expense would be well worth the convenience and saved time, in my opinion.

[Serenity9]

Jun 8, 2016 9:58:31 GMT -5 janegold said:

Jun 8, 2016 9:33:51 GMT -5 Serenity9 said:

Thanks! I think I'm going to skip option A. It's going to be stressful already; I don't need that added stress. I looked up having my car transported and that would be $300-400. That's a bit pricey for me. I'll probably fly back to get the car. I don't think I'd want to ask a friend to give up her whole weekend to help me move.

I actually think that price sounds really reasonable for transporting your car. How much would a flight and gas cost? Probably less, but maybe not all that much less. The added expense would be well worth the convenience and saved time, in my opinion.

If I went with a discount airline like PP said, it'd be about $50 - 100 for the flight. They don't fly directly between the cities, so it'd be an additional $10-$20 for local transportation. Then the gas and tolls one-way would be about $50. So I'd be looking at $110 - $170 instead of $300-$400, but spending about 2 days of my time. Plus I'm moving to a HCL area and taking a pay-cut. So saving the money looks more attractive to me.

[insominac]

B.

I did A and less than a couple of miles from our new place backed up in this driveway and everything got fucked up. lol

Aside from that though, it wasn't bad. Get gas at truck stops - they're right along the freeway. I also drove at night since I could only go 50-60 mph. Painful.

[Serenity9]

Jun 8, 2016 10:23:23 GMT -5 Catlawdy said:

Is a Pod out of the question?

Pod was way more expensive. And they couldn't be exact in their delivery times. The apartment complex I'm moving into requires me to schedule a 3-hour window for my move-in. 

[emoflamingo]

I have helped someone move cars across country and flown back before. If it's a good friend and they paid expenses, I would have no hesitation giving up my weekend to help them. My dad is an over-the-road truck driver so I'm always up for a road trip. Personally, I would do A and just not back up because I would want everything there at once, but I'm used to driving vehicles that are bigger than 10' and know how to back up with a trailer.