Moving a car from IL to CA - How?

[BillTIZ]

I thought there were freight companies that will move cars either on open car carrier racks or inside containers for about $500-600 cross country.

 

[sba55]

I thought there were freight companies that will move cars either on open car carrier racks or inside containers for about $500-600 cross country.

There are a ton that will do it (or claim to) for ~$700. Most of them are just brokers for trucking companies, though, and who knows who those trucking companies are. I don't feel like givin some random guy to keys to my sports car. I just checked the DOT number for one of them and it came back as "inactive" and registered to some guy in AZ. Seems fishy.....

It you're going to spend $1500 on a truck why don't you just drive it and accept the $1500 depreciation? Aren't cars meant to be driven?

Because I'd still have the truck in that case. Which is still useful....rather than spending it all on rental costs.

If you're coming right back, rent the truck and trailer for the "Local" rate, climb under the truck, pull the speedo sender out of the tranny, remove the gear and reinstall the housing. This takes 5 minutes and a 7/16th wrench. You'll have to pop the lead cap off the bolt, but don't worry, no one ever checks it on return. About 120 miles from home, reinstall the gear. You can do the trip in 3-4 days of local rental for less than $300. Better to just stick it on a professional carriers truck though.

That would be an interesting idea....but I'm not planning to make the 2100 mile drive twice! Last time, I did drive it in my car in 38 hours, with military-style naps every two hours. I was awake the whole time, but it wasn't an experience I'd care to repeat much!

 

[bbchien]

...must be a nice car........sigh.

 

[Henning]

That would be an interesting idea....but I'm not planning to make the 2100 mile drive twice! Last time, I did drive it in my car in 38 hours, with military-style naps every two hours. I was awake the whole time, but it wasn't an experience I'd care to repeat much!

If it's just miles and depreciation you're worried about, just pull the speedo gear off your sports car and drive it, you just won't have cruise control.

 

[sba55]

If it's just miles and depreciation you're worried about, just pull the speedo gear off your sports car and drive it, you just won't have cruise control.

Ok, but what are the odds that it would log that? I think very high, given everything in the car is computerized. The GPS has a mileage counter that can't be reset as far as I know, too....

I'm leaning toward having it trucked now. Maybe it's $1700 to FedEx afterall :-/ Or Tony

 

[colohan]

I've used dasautoshippers.com twice (moving CA->MA and then back), and my in-laws have used them multiple times as well. Never a problem (for me), great prices.

YMMV, of course.

Chris

 

[Ddayle]

If you're coming right back, rent the truck and trailer for the "Local" rate, climb under the truck, pull the speedo sender out of the tranny, remove the gear and reinstall the housing. This takes 5 minutes and a 7/16th wrench. You'll have to pop the lead cap off the bolt, but don't worry, no one ever checks it on return. About 120 miles from home, reinstall the gear. You can do the trip in 3-4 days of local rental for less than $300. Better to just stick it on a professional carriers truck though.

quick and easy to do. and you probobly won't get caught. but there is a word that describes this action. Stealing. DaveR

 

[ntbjounin]

hire a C-5?

 

[sba55]

I've used dasautoshippers.com twice (moving CA->MA and then back), and my in-laws have used them multiple times as well. Never a problem (for me), great prices.

YMMV, of course.

Chris

Thanks for the recommendation. Going to check them out!