Moving to FL w/ 2 cars

[hAm53]

My girlfriend and I are pretty sure we'll be moving from MA to FL in about 3 months, but we're running into the problem of what to do with the second car.
Her dad's already said he'd drive the moving truck, but we were trying to find one that you can drive a car right into, then pack around it. We're not too keen on the car carrier thing, as they say that you need to check it every 50 miles or so, and you can't go more than 45mph.
Has anyone ever used those car carrier things (not the tow one, but the one that your whole car is being pulled), and if so are we just being paranoid?
Both cars are Hyundai Elantras, so its not like we need to move 2 SUV's. Our cars aren't that big.
We were leaning toward Penske since they have unlimited milage, and we had some friends that used them, and they said Penske was pretty easy to use.
Thanks for the help.
~Chris

 

[Pin Wizard]

Our solution was DH coming down first in his car. He stayed with friends of my boss which saved $$$ on a hotel. He stayed with them a couple weeks to find an apartment and a job. Then he flew back up and we both drove down in my car. Solved that problem. Good luck!

 

[jamsmom]

I have a good friend that moved with her husband from Ft. Hood, TX to PA. They shipped her car. She checked around and found a place that had reasonable rates. The car made it before they did (earlier than expected) so a family member had to go pick it up.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

We have moved a GrandAm on a car carrier from the eat side of MI to Iowa. 6-7 hour drive. We had no problems with it. And just 2 months ago we moved a Mazda on a car carrier from Iowa to Wisconsin no problems!

We used U-Haul, but Penske might have cheaper prices.

Good luck on your move!

 

[CathyCanada]

No advice, Chris, just wanted to say hey!

Congrats on the move!
CC

 

[Jenzebelle]

We moved the opposite direction with 2cars and a uhaul. DH drove the uhaul with the firebird on a car carrier and I drove his truck. It worked out pretty well for us

 

[Mishetta]

When my Mom & I moved from MI to CA we had 2 cars to get out there so we drove in my car & my best friend's husband volunteered to drive my Mom's car out. He had 2 CB Radio's & hooked one up to each car so we could keep in constant contact & I just followed him all the way to Los Angeles! I never once looked at a map! Anyway, then he flew back to MI.

Then when my DH, DS, MOM & I moved from CA to MI (sad day), we had both cars shipped by Dependable Auto Shipping service & it was absolutely excellent service. They brought the cars out on one of those huge car carriers & it wasn't that horribly expensive. We shipped one car first so that we'd have wheels as soon as we arrived in MI & we shipped the second car the morning that we had our flight scheduled for MI!

The other option would be, you drive one car & your girlfriend drive the other. That would save you guys money too!

Good luck on your move!

 

[jfulcer]

Here is a list of car transporters in MA:

http://www.movecars.com/states/massachusetts.htm

Be sure to check your BBB for ratings, and I would prolly choose one that's been in business for a while.

Good luck!

 

[jfulcer]

I just read this article about car moving, you should check it out:

here

 

[maleficent1959]

We had to transport two cars when we moved from AZ to FL five years ago. We drove the pickup, and towed the GTO on a carrier behind a U-Haul. We didn't have a huge U-Haul since we used movers for most of our things, but it wasn't the smallest they had either.

I guess we broke the rules, because we didn't check it every 50 miles (just when we stopped) and we definitely went faster than 45. We were fine. It got a little tricky maneuvering a big truck with a carrier but no problems otherwise.

 

[JustHolly]

We are moving to Fl in August and were in the same boat until we priced UHaul's....

$4,000 for a UHAUL and a car trailer thingy for the back of the Uhaul. NO WAY!

We found a company called UPACK www.upack.com

For less than $1000, UPACK will move our stuff for us. They drop off a tractor trailer, you fill it, and they come pick it up. YOu pay by the space you use. They drive it to your destination, leaving you both to drive your own cars, as we are going to do. Then, they drop it off, you unload your stuff and call them to pick it up.

I have done research on the company and they are good. You can read many, many reviews on epinions.com.

So, that is how we are goign to do it.
Holly

 

[FOJMO]

We moved from Rochester, NY to Orlando, FL 14 years ago and we rented a Ryder truck, and packed up all of our belongings in it.

We had two minivans. One minivan we towed on a hitch behind the Ryder truck (and filled it to the brim). The 2nd minivan, I drove, with our DD (then 3), and the rest of the van filled to the brim.

We had a CB radio between us to keep communication going. Don't remember how much the truck rental was, but we had no trouble pulling the one minivan on the truck hitch.

Our only complaint was how SLOW we had to go on such a long trip. Couldn't really do over 45 MPH. Made for a long trip down. But at least I knew it was only "one way"

 

[stego]

and back in 1990. Geez, so much has changed. I was around 26, 27 yo. Not sure of your age. On the way over, we rented the 17 ft. U-haul van. We only had the one car, my Chevy Beretta.
We rented this thing called a car dolly. What you do is you drive the car with the front wheels onto the dolly, and then hitch it onto the truck. The front wheels of the car ride on the dolly, and the rear wheels of the car just roll along. Just have the place you rent the truck and dolly show you how to rig it up. I did the same on the way back later the next year going from FL back to TX. I know, long story. Same deal, we just used Penske. I initially wanted to use a tow bar, but the car was front wheel drive. I was all excited about using the car carrier, but man, that was some serious money to rent! So the dolly was the choice.
I had no problems driving that truck with car behind. It seems intimidating, but when you're several hundred miles down the road, it just comes naturally. You just have to remember you can't back into anything. Well, I guess you could, I just wouldn't try it. I don't guess we drove much faster than 65, and the truck AND the car were loaded up.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by JustHolly
We found a company called UPACK www.upack.com

So, that is how we are goign to do it.
Holly

Upack.com is done by ABF trucking, which my uncle just retired from. Since he retired after 25 years from there, I think they've been in business for a while... I will check with him and see if he's got any suggestions for using their services...

 

[babslittleones]

We rented a full car carrier along with a rental truck from U-Haul for our move from Orlando to Milwaukee. U-Haul actually helped up load up the car onto the carrier. We didn't have any problems at all pulling the trailer and we drove the speed limit and a little over for the whole trip (except the mountains). It was a very smooth move.

Our big mistake was actually moving from Orlando. We now live in southern Ohio. We sure miss Orlando and can't wait to move back there in a few years.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by babslittleones
We rented a full car carrier along with a rental truck from U-Haul for our move from Orlando to Milwaukee.

Most of us here in Milwaukee want to move to Orlando - you did it backwards!

 

[babslittleones]

We never knew how much we would miss Orlando until we left.

My husband got a promotion but it required us to relocate to the main office which is in Milwaukee. We only stayed there for a year before we moved to Ohio which is where both of our families live. We have been here for almost eight years now. I figure we will be move back to Orlando within five years and we can't wait.

 

[lady & the tramp]

I don't know if this will help you, but, how about taking the cars on the AUTO TRAIN, since it's just a one way trip. The AUTO TRAIN runs daily between Lorton, Va. (about 20 miles north of washington, D.C.)and Sanford, Florida(about 20 miles north of Orlando).

 

[hAm53]

Thanks for all the great help so far. We really appreciate it.

After looking at the Autotrain, it seems like the best gig to get the one car down there. Its only 288 bucks for the two of us, then we'll just catch a cheap one way southwest flight back up north. It seems like that'll still be cheaper (and a lot easier) than getting the car caddy thing. Rose's dad (who is a bus driver has already said that he'd drive the truck (probably a 15 footer, maybe even a 10 footer) to florida for us as long as we get him a ticket back home. And we'll drive the second car down.

Thanks again, and if anyone has any advice, we're all ears.

~Chris