Shipping a car interstate. (1 Viewer)

[El Floppo]

Timing is off... But I would LOVE to take my son cross country for a week before he heads to college.

That's likely a hard sell- to the kid, the wife and my office.

I mean.....you could store it until you could pull this off with your son. Your work will allow you to miss some time to spend with your child before he goes off to college, right? Put in for the time now, go find some cheap airfare and pull off the road trip of a lifetime with your boy. It's a damn big country and until you drive across it, you really don't get an appreciation for how big this place is and how diverse it is across time zones.

This is really dated, but it's an excellent read that I think everybody should consume. Peter King tags along with John Madden on his bus from East Bay to NYC and it's a literary treasure. Maybe this will inspire you, GB.

Busman’s Holiday

Coast-to-coast commuter John Madden liked what he saw as he rolled across America in his suite on wheels

www.si.com

My family used to drive all over the west coast when I was a kid.

When I graduated college, a good pal and I went from NYC down and across the bottom of the country with a month layover in the SWest, up the west coast and back across to NYC. We took almost 3 months doing this

It's a genuine eyeopener to see other parts and people of our amazing country besides your own, especially with time by car.

Eta... My wife hates driving. My daughter gets car sick... So they're out. But I think my son would like it.

Just have to figure out where to park the damn thing until summer. And convince the wife the week (of only two) off from work is best spent on doing this (without her).

 

[General Malaise]

Timing is off... But I would LOVE to take my son cross country for a week before he heads to college.

That's likely a hard sell- to the kid, the wife and my office.

I mean.....you could store it until you could pull this off with your son. Your work will allow you to miss some time to spend with your child before he goes off to college, right? Put in for the time now, go find some cheap airfare and pull off the road trip of a lifetime with your boy. It's a damn big country and until you drive across it, you really don't get an appreciation for how big this place is and how diverse it is across time zones.

This is really dated, but it's an excellent read that I think everybody should consume. Peter King tags along with John Madden on his bus from East Bay to NYC and it's a literary treasure. Maybe this will inspire you, GB.

Busman’s Holiday

Coast-to-coast commuter John Madden liked what he saw as he rolled across America in his suite on wheels

www.si.com

My family used to drive all over the west coast when I was a kid.

When I graduated college, a good pal and I went from NYC down and across the bottom of the country with a month layover in the SWest, up the west coast and back across to NYC. We took almost 3 months doing this

It's a genuine eyeopener to see other parts and people of our amazing country besides your own, especially with time by car.

Eta... My wife hates driving. My daughter gets car sick... So they're out. But I think my son would like it.

Just have to figure out where to park the damn thing until summer. And convince the wife the week (of only two) off from work is best spent on doing this (without her).

Well it's not like your using a week on debauchery. It's time with your child - forced time together, the American way!

Some storage units will take a car if it fits and won't set you back too much....certainly better than paying for the parking in NYC!

 

[krista4]

Honestly I'd do a leg of this. I love driving/road trips. Plus, shtick.

I don't think this car could even hit a top speed of 90.

Out.

 

[gianmarco]

Timing is off... But I would LOVE to take my son cross country for a week before he heads to college.

That's likely a hard sell- to the kid, the wife and my office.

I mean.....you could store it until you could pull this off with your son. Your work will allow you to miss some time to spend with your child before he goes off to college, right? Put in for the time now, go find some cheap airfare and pull off the road trip of a lifetime with your boy. It's a damn big country and until you drive across it, you really don't get an appreciation for how big this place is and how diverse it is across time zones.

This is really dated, but it's an excellent read that I think everybody should consume. Peter King tags along with John Madden on his bus from East Bay to NYC and it's a literary treasure. Maybe this will inspire you, GB.

Busman’s Holiday

Coast-to-coast commuter John Madden liked what he saw as he rolled across America in his suite on wheels

www.si.com

My family used to drive all over the west coast when I was a kid.

When I graduated college, a good pal and I went from NYC down and across the bottom of the country with a month layover in the SWest, up the west coast and back across to NYC. We took almost 3 months doing this

It's a genuine eyeopener to see other parts and people of our amazing country besides your own, especially with time by car.

Eta... My wife hates driving. My daughter gets car sick... So they're out. But I think my son would like it.

Just have to figure out where to park the damn thing until summer. And convince the wife the week (of only two) off from work is best spent on doing this (without her).

Well it's not like your using a week on debauchery. It's time with your child - forced time together, the American way!

Some storage units will take a car if it fits and won't set you back too much....certainly better than paying for the parking in NYC!

Maybe Christie Brinkley will drive by in a Ferrari.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Timing is off... But I would LOVE to take my son cross country for a week before he heads to college.

That's likely a hard sell- to the kid, the wife and my office.

I mean.....you could store it until you could pull this off with your son. Your work will allow you to miss some time to spend with your child before he goes off to college, right? Put in for the time now, go find some cheap airfare and pull off the road trip of a lifetime with your boy. It's a damn big country and until you drive across it, you really don't get an appreciation for how big this place is and how diverse it is across time zones.

This is really dated, but it's an excellent read that I think everybody should consume. Peter King tags along with John Madden on his bus from East Bay to NYC and it's a literary treasure. Maybe this will inspire you, GB.

Busman’s Holiday

Coast-to-coast commuter John Madden liked what he saw as he rolled across America in his suite on wheels

www.si.com

My family used to drive all over the west coast when I was a kid.

When I graduated college, a good pal and I went from NYC down and across the bottom of the country with a month layover in the SWest, up the west coast and back across to NYC. We took almost 3 months doing this

It's a genuine eyeopener to see other parts and people of our amazing country besides your own, especially with time by car.

Eta... My wife hates driving. My daughter gets car sick... So they're out. But I think my son would like it.

Just have to figure out where to park the damn thing until summer. And convince the wife the week (of only two) off from work is best spent on doing this (without her).

Well it's not like your using a week on debauchery. It's time with your child - forced time together, the American way!

Some storage units will take a car if it fits and won't set you back too much....certainly better than paying for the parking in NYC!

My sister stored her car here in SoCal for over a year. I had to go start it occasionally. It’s totally doable.

 

[Drunken knight]

I googled it. Apparently there are a ton of car transport services.

The wife looked into it briefly... About $1,500.

That's not bad. seattle to north bay was about $500. dealer covered it for me

know anyone in CA that could drive it to NY for you? A tow truck would cost a ton I bet

I'm not in college any more, so no.

I actually love road tripping and would do it myself... But no time.

if i had the time, i would have done that with you

 

[Caveman33]

In On the Road, Jack and Neal would drive cars across the country through Auto Driveaway. I think the same company still exists 70 years later. Those guys used to really beat the cars up, though, so maybe not the best service.

 

[General Malaise]

Timing is off... But I would LOVE to take my son cross country for a week before he heads to college.

That's likely a hard sell- to the kid, the wife and my office.

I mean.....you could store it until you could pull this off with your son. Your work will allow you to miss some time to spend with your child before he goes off to college, right? Put in for the time now, go find some cheap airfare and pull off the road trip of a lifetime with your boy. It's a damn big country and until you drive across it, you really don't get an appreciation for how big this place is and how diverse it is across time zones.

This is really dated, but it's an excellent read that I think everybody should consume. Peter King tags along with John Madden on his bus from East Bay to NYC and it's a literary treasure. Maybe this will inspire you, GB.

Busman’s Holiday

Coast-to-coast commuter John Madden liked what he saw as he rolled across America in his suite on wheels

www.si.com

My family used to drive all over the west coast when I was a kid.

When I graduated college, a good pal and I went from NYC down and across the bottom of the country with a month layover in the SWest, up the west coast and back across to NYC. We took almost 3 months doing this

It's a genuine eyeopener to see other parts and people of our amazing country besides your own, especially with time by car.

Eta... My wife hates driving. My daughter gets car sick... So they're out. But I think my son would like it.

Just have to figure out where to park the damn thing until summer. And convince the wife the week (of only two) off from work is best spent on doing this (without her).

Well it's not like your using a week on debauchery. It's time with your child - forced time together, the American way!

Some storage units will take a car if it fits and won't set you back too much....certainly better than paying for the parking in NYC!

Maybe Christie Brinkley will drive by in a Ferrari.

Lol, I stumbled upon that movie a few nights ago and settled in for an hour or so. I love how she just casually drinks an imported beer at the rest stop absent a care in the world. Man, the early 80s were awesome.

 

[Terminalxylem]

is it in Marin? I can drive it as far as vegas

I’ll be in Vegas at month’s end. I can drop it off at Zion NP. Who will be there in April?

 

[Terminalxylem]

Timing is off... But I would LOVE to take my son cross country for a week before he heads to college.

That's likely a hard sell- to the kid, the wife and my office.

I was thinking this would be an excellent option. Store it until you can make it happen.

I took two cross country trips with friends, one between HS and college. Great memories.

ETA What @General Malaise said

 

[nirad3]

Timing is off... But I would LOVE to take my son cross country for a week before he heads to college.

That's likely a hard sell- to the kid, the wife and my office.

I mean.....you could store it until you could pull this off with your son. Your work will allow you to miss some time to spend with your child before he goes off to college, right? Put in for the time now, go find some cheap airfare and pull off the road trip of a lifetime with your boy. It's a damn big country and until you drive across it, you really don't get an appreciation for how big this place is and how diverse it is across time zones.

This is really dated, but it's an excellent read that I think everybody should consume. Peter King tags along with John Madden on his bus from East Bay to NYC and it's a literary treasure. Maybe this will inspire you, GB.

Busman’s Holiday

Coast-to-coast commuter John Madden liked what he saw as he rolled across America in his suite on wheels

www.si.com

My family used to drive all over the west coast when I was a kid.

When I graduated college, a good pal and I went from NYC down and across the bottom of the country with a month layover in the SWest, up the west coast and back across to NYC. We took almost 3 months doing this

It's a genuine eyeopener to see other parts and people of our amazing country besides your own, especially with time by car.

Eta... My wife hates driving. My daughter gets car sick... So they're out. But I think my son would like it.

Just have to figure out where to park the damn thing until summer. And convince the wife the week (of only two) off from work is best spent on doing this (without her).

This is spurring off the OP, but I did a 40-something day roadie with a buddy just after college. Started in LA, drove due east to Atlanta, headed up the eastern seaboard and then back diagonally from Boston back to LA. While we had a cell phone, this was before Google Maps, etc. We had a AAA "trip tik" that showed us the route to go. We had hotels booked at certain destinations but winged it for others. We also stayed with friends/family a few times. Probably one of the best months-plus of my life, will never forget it.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Hundreds of carriers that will pick up your car and drop it off but you need to be aware of some things

-They will never drive it to your door because they are likely carrying many cars and at best they will meet you at a main artery which could be the Interstate or the 1st State Road they come to. They will tell you anything you want to hear to earn your business and get the pick up but when push comes to shove and the Euro/Middle East driver tells you that he's at such and such so come pick up your car, there's no argument at that point. They are very similar to the nightmare moving companies you read about online so be very careful

We see a lot of them down here in Florida when the winter birds all show up and have one of their cars shipped

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Carvana will buy it and pick it up

/thread

 

[El Floppo]

This has all been really helpful, friends- thanks!

I'm obviously still waffling, but I think I'd like to try having a car here for a bit... I've never owned one! If it stops making sense, I'll sell it.

eta: So I'm back to figuring out how to get it here. Moving company... driver... self-drive.


another tangent- I had to box up some stuff at my family home that I'll need to ship here. My brother has offered, but we had the goofy idea to throw the 3 boxes in the back of the trunk and use the car shipping to also ship the boxes.

The boxes have photos, drawings, letters, and other personal things that are priceless to me but zero-value to anybody else... so not sure if it's a good idea to have them just hanging out in the trunk for a few days hoping nobody breaks into the car.

thoughts?

 

[arrow1]

This has all been really helpful, friends- thanks!

I'm obviously still waffling, but I think I'd like to try having a car here for a bit... I've never owned one! If it stops making sense, I'll sell it.

eta: So I'm back to figuring out how to get it here. Moving company... driver... self-drive.


another tangent- I had to box up some stuff at my family home that I'll need to ship here. My brother has offered, but we had the goofy idea to throw the 3 boxes in the back of the trunk and use the car shipping to also ship the boxes.

The boxes have photos, drawings, letters, and other personal things that are priceless to me but zero-value to anybody else... so not sure if it's a good idea to have them just hanging out in the trunk for a few days hoping nobody breaks into the car.

thought?

Sounds like a good idea.

 

[wlwiles]

I know a guy called Memphis that will handle it for you. Just leave it somewhere, he won't even need the keys. He'll get it loaded into a shipping container. He works fast, often handling 50 cars in one night. Works for a guy named Calitri...eccentric dude, likes to build things out of wood.

 

[Ron Swanson]

This has all been really helpful, friends- thanks!

I'm obviously still waffling, but I think I'd like to try having a car here for a bit... I've never owned one! If it stops making sense, I'll sell it.

eta: So I'm back to figuring out how to get it here. Moving company... driver... self-drive.


another tangent- I had to box up some stuff at my family home that I'll need to ship here. My brother has offered, but we had the goofy idea to throw the 3 boxes in the back of the trunk and use the car shipping to also ship the boxes.

The boxes have photos, drawings, letters, and other personal things that are priceless to me but zero-value to anybody else... so not sure if it's a good idea to have them just hanging out in the trunk for a few days hoping nobody breaks into the car.

thoughts?

Good way to save some coin. Pack the items in boxes of things nobody wants, like Cologard boxes.

 

[B Maverick]

Man if I had the time myself I would totally drive it out there for nothing more than gas, food, lodging and a return flight home.

I had this exact thought.

 

[General Malaise]

How many of us that have offered to drive the car solo on Floppo's behalf are currently married? Asking for a friend....

 

[B Maverick]

How many of us that have offered to drive the car solo on Floppo's behalf are currently married? Asking for a friend....

Why? Got some recommended places for stopping for non married people?

 

[General Malaise]

How many of us that have offered to drive the car solo on Floppo's behalf are currently married? Asking for a friend....

Why? Got some recommended places for stopping for non married people?

Well YES of course, but that's not why I asked....

 

[brun]

Don't have any helpful advice. You already got plenty.

Now I want to find the movie Vanishing Point streaming for free somewhere.

 

[tri-man 47]

If you make the trip with your son: Travel the state highways! My wife and I have been doing this for several years, and it's so enjoyable. You really get to see Americana. Sure, it's slower. But the driving becomes the experience. It actually becomes disappointing when you're approaching a moderate sized-city and they have a four-lane highway skirting around the town. Fun fact: Cracker Barrel is built on this model where drivers would stop in the center of a town, shop a little bit, and grab lunch.

If you'd be leaving from LA (not sure if you'd mentioned it), you could, for example, construct a route that takes you to Natchez, MS (and some of the anti-bellum mansions) where you can catch the incredible Natchez Trace Parkway, a 450-mile route traveling NE to Nashville. The NTP just weaves through America's backyard - no commercialism at all; just some entrances/exits every 30-40 miles or so.

 

[B Maverick]

And to prepare, watch movies like "Joyride" and "Breakdown".....

 

[General Malaise]

If you make the trip with your son: Travel the state highways! My wife and I have been doing this for several years, and it's so enjoyable. You really get to see Americana. Sure, it's slower. But the driving becomes the experience. It actually becomes disappointing when you're approaching a moderate sized-city and they have a four-lane highway skirting around the town. Fun fact: Cracker Barrel is built on this model where drivers would stop in the center of a town, shop a little bit, and grab lunch.

If you'd be leaving from LA (not sure if you'd mentioned it), you could, for example, construct a route that takes you to Natchez, MS (and some of the anti-bellum mansions) where you can catch the incredible Natchez Trace Parkway, a 450-mile route traveling NE to Nashville. The NTP just weaves through America's backyard - no commercialism at all; just some entrances/exits every 30-40 miles or so.

Just look out for the Midnight Runner!

 

[SWC]

so we doin this or what scarfhan take that to the bank

 

[El Floppo]

bump...

gotta lock this in stat. the house goes on the market in the next weeks and the car has to be gone.

we'll be shipping it to my MIL in NoVA (who's land is a like an elephant graveyard of her kids' and grandkids' cars) until we sort out garage and everything else.

the wife has already planned out all of my vacation time and then some around our kids schedules (our 20th anniversary is this year too- wlll be taking her on a trip for sure). no time for a week off with the son driving cross country.

Any other advice or suggestions appreciated... have to lock in a shipper or drunk teenager immediately.

 

[MTskibum]

I used uship to ship a boat 1000 miles previously.

https://www.uship.com/

But this may be more money.

 

[El Floppo]

Went back and looked. First one I booked with was RoadRunner. They tried to jack the price up a bunch after I confirmed the rate and date. Told them to piss off. Ended up using these guys: https://safemileautotransport.com/

Thank you!

I just put in the addresses for an online quote... 1170. I'm sure that'll go up, but that's fine.

You were happy with the outcome?
Anything I should know or ask, from your experience doing it?

 

[RCon]

Went back and looked. First one I booked with was RoadRunner. They tried to jack the price up a bunch after I confirmed the rate and date. Told them to piss off. Ended up using these guys: https://safemileautotransport.com/

Thank you!

I just put in the addresses for an online quote... 1170. I'm sure that'll go up, but that's fine.

You were happy with the outcome?
Anything I should know or ask, from your experience doing it?

Mine was great. Guy delivered to our door exactly when he said he would. Since these are ultimately independent contractors working through the clearing house, I imagine experiences will vary. The sites do have some pages of do/don't tips, in terms of how to pack the car, what to put inside or not, etc.