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Moving Cross Country?

October 1, 2006

Packing for a MoveI will soon be moving from VA to OR. All of my belongings will fit in my car, so it will be just me and my geriatric chihuahua. The longest trip I have ever taken alone was 9 hours away. I'm looking for tips to save money, be safe, and also things I should pack that I might not have thought of. It's gonna take me about 5 days (I hope) to get there.

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Thanks,
Margaret from VA

Answers

October 2, 20060 found this helpful

Safety, number one, never park in a dark area. Fill up at stations that are busy. Truckstops are some of the safest places, believe it or not. Stay on all main roads and only stop at motels that are well lit and nice, or make reservations ahead of time thru one of the websites. Request lighted areas.

Put as much of your belongings in the trunk of your car as possible, do not leave anything valuable visable, maybe put clothes and covers in the backseat to hide anything that might be of value.

At the motel, back your car into the space, as close to your door as possible. Do not stop for anyone on the road, unless it is an accident and you are the first to the scene.

If you have or can get a cb radio, you can listen to and communicate with the truckers. Most of them are very helpful and friendly. Road side parks are ok to stop at, in the day time, if there are a lot of vehicles there, I would not stop after dark, or if the area is empty.

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Obey the speed limit and try to stay in the left lane unless passing someone, use all of your typical driving skills, blinkers and such. If your car is not equiped with daytime lights, turn them on.

If you get tired, pull over at a well lit area, by a store and walk the dog and rest a bit. Don't push yourself, if time allows, visit a historical site.

Packing, dog food, dog poo bags, bottled water and a small bowl. An ice chest for snacks and water, duct tape, paper towels, flashlight & extra batteries, notepad & pen, map, blanket, first aid kit, water and any medication that you may need to take or at least some tylenol. All of these things should be in the front for easy access.

A gallon jug of water for the car if it were to overheat, have the oil changed at a reputable place before heading out and check it several times along the way. As well as having all fluids checked, including the windshield washer fluid. Keep your windshield clean and clear. Make sure tires are inflated properly (saves gas). Keep a bottle of oil in the car, a blanket, a small first aid kit, map already charted out (I find it helpful to write it down step by step before taking off). Your car really needs to be serviced completely, everything checked, tires, belts, hoses, water, oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, everything.

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Please drive safe and watch out for those that do not and when you reach your destination, let us all know.
Happy traveling,
Tina

 
By jean (Guest Post)
October 2, 20060 found this helpful

Stay in the right lane except when passing. Do not let your gas get below quarter tank.
Take your dog's bed if he has one. If he normally wears a collar, consider a harness because he could slip out of the collar.
Once you know your destination, get a good map, and plan out your route, allowing for how many miles you feel you can drive in a day. Pick towns/cities about that far apart. Say every 350 miles or so. Then do Mapquest for each leg of the drive. I recommend from experience that 300 - 350 miles is about 8 hours driving. (my last round trip was NY to MO, about 2800 miles)

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If you are not a member of a roadside assistance club, consider joining one. AAA has really helped me out a few times.
If staying in a multistoried hotel, ask for a room on the 2nd through 10th floor. If there is a emergency, the 10th floor is as high as rescue ladders and equipment can reach.
Wherever you stay, make sure that you know the nearest way out in case of emergency. Always use the deadbolt lock.
If possible, choose hotels with restaurants, so you will not have to go out alone.
If you do not have a cell phone, get one for the trip. Those tracphones sold at Walmart are about $20. If you already have one, make sure it is on "roam" so it will work outside your area. Then make sure it is off "roam" whn you reach your destination.
Best wishes for the trip and your life in your new home.

 
By theroadrunnerla (Guest Post)
October 3, 20061 found this helpful

I agree 100% with "trbrownn22" in her hints and tips for traveling alone. My husband and myself, and sometimes me alone have traveled the roads for many years. One suggestion is to wear a baseball cap (or other manly hat/cap) with your hair tucked under the cap. Most folks only get a view from behind through the back window, or do a quick glance from the side, and the cap/hat gives the impression of a man behind the wheel.

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Walmarts (K-marts, etc) make for good one stops, also. They have bathrooms, eateries, and plenty of room to walk and stretch your legs. You can pick up anything needed such as gas, oil for your car (saves a lot of money compared to buying from independent stations) snacks for yourself during your ride and dog treats.

Buy a loaf of bread and chicken salad or luncheon meats, chips or fruit and you have meals for the rest of the day, possibly two days. Gas is available at most Walmart Supercenters too. Never go to any restroom without a handful of toilet paper or napkins, and do your absolute best to avoid highway rest area bathrooms.

Keep water and sodas in a small ice chest on the frontseat (within reach while driving) for yourself, and cool water for your dog. Any veterinary office should be happy to have you stop to walk your dog, giving you much needed stretching for yourself. Small town city parks are usually a very good place to stop for making those sandwiches, walking the dog, and just resting, just be sure to drive around the park first and check out the immediate area for safety.

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Carry a bottle of aspirin/ibuprofen/pain relievers within reach. A Ziploc bag with a damp washcloth, which is kept in your little frontseat icechest, is very cool and refreshing to wash your face and hands. With a spray bottle of Febreeze or wrinkle releaser, you can get by wearing the same outfit for a couple of days. Loose elastic waist pants/shorts are most comfortable for riding. If wearing summer clothes, always have a long sleeve shirt handy for when you may reach chilly areas.

Stick an umbrella under the front seat. Bring one plastic drinking glass, a plastic plate, roll of paper towels to wipe off/clean items, a manual can opener, metal fork and spoon, and keep them in the car. Always grab a few extra napkins at eateries to store in your car for stains/cleaning/accidents.

Instead of buying drinks at drive thrus, buy a two liter bottle and a bag of ice for the ice chest. Saves a lot of money. Boiled eggs done before you leave home make for a good snack on the road for the first couple of days. If you get tired during the day and you just can't drive any further, stop at a police station, explain your situation (traveling alone) and ask if you can rest in your car with the doors locked and windows cracked for about an hour in their parking lot. They'll keep an eye on you. It's a good place to stop for walking, too.

Invest in jumper cables for that car battery that may go dead. You'll usually find a "hero" but they often don't have jumper cables with them. Men can be our saving heroes, but please don't be too friendly with most that you may encounter, you don't want to encourage anyone while you are alone! No need to smile too much, a thank you and a nod will usually be enough.

Stop for the night an hour or two BEFORE dark. Have your car filled up before you stop for the night, and definately back your car into your hotel/motel parking place. It wouldn't hurt to prepare your hotel bag for the coming night while you are in the parking lot of that Walmart during the day, putting change of clothes and toilet items you'll need once in the hotel room. You don't want to make but one trip from your car to your room, puppy, puppys food and all.

This may be the one "splurge" expense since you will be alone, stay at one of the better hotels, ask for a bottom floor, close to the front desk. Don't be afraid to ask the hotel for an escort to your room. If you don't have a cell phone, you may want to invest in a Tracphone, just for this trip. A one month phone card for the Tracphone should get you all the way across the country since you'll only be on the road about a week, if you use it only when needed.

Let several family members and friends know the route you will be taking, your estimated time of arrival to your new destination, as well as your car make, year, color and license plate number. A copy of your drivers license for yourself and to leave in Va. with a family member might be a good idea too.

Make an extra set of ignitian, door and trunk keys, and keep them on a chain around your neck during this entire trip! It's so easy to lock yourself out of your car! They can go in your wallet once you arrive in Oregon.

Gas is usually cheaper away from the interstates. If you feel comfortable doing so, drive about a mile from the interstate exit and see if it's not cheaper, or take the business exit and follow it through town.

Never, never leave your purse in the car, this would be a good time to consider a waist pouch that is not taken off until bedtime.

Take a picture of your dog, and carry it with you should something happen and you get separated. Have a name and phone number of a responsible person, and the brand of his dogfood on a special card in your purse/waistpouch, should something happen to you. Be sure and have the dogs health records with you too. (Rabies tags, health certificate if you have a regular vet). A gallon Ziploc bag will hold all the previous listed dog items just fine.

There is a website that lists all hotels/motels that allow pets, but I can't remember the web address. Perhaps another reader could supply that, or just enter "hotels that allow pets" in a web search. Traveling, almost non-stop, is going to be harder on your dog than on yourself, so stop frequently, and take his "special" blanket or toys if he has one or two. You can get cardboard pet carriers that are folded flat, and if you have the money, it may be a good idea to have one if you don't have a "hard sided" one to bring along. You never know when you may need one.

If you don't already know how to do it, LEARN HOW TO CHANGE YOUR OWN TIRE (don't mean to shout, ha)! Should you need to change a flat tire, on the side of the highway is not the place to linger, trying to get everything back in the trunk neatly. Get the tire changed, throw everything anywhere in the car, get behind the wheel and drive away. You can stop later at a safe place to rearrange everything.

Bring a little notebook and pen, write down the price of gas per gallon and your total gas purchase, and what town you bought it in. And at the end of each day, write down any adventures you have had, where you stayed the night and how much you paid for the room, anything special you saw, etc. You'll enjoy going back over your trip in years to come. I may have repeated what "trbrown22" has told you, but take all of our advise to heart. You should make it across the country in fine shape, and yep, "trbrown22", I hope she lets us know when she gets there!

Have fun Margaret, I envy you taking this wonderful adventure! P.S. Throw your own pillow in the backseat!

 
October 4, 20060 found this helpful

One last thought to add with my previous post on your trip across country. Putting as much as possible in your trunk, out of roving eyes is a great idea. Just make sure your spare tire is not under all your stuff in the trunk! It's so frustrating, dangerous and time consuming to have to unload the trunk of your car to get to the spare tire. If you have a sedan with the tire under the cover in the trunk floor, you may want to consider carrying the tire and jack, jack handle, etc. between the front seat and back seat on the floor. Since you'll be alone, even an SUV or pickup with the tire underneath the car can be a battle to get out. Get someone to show you, with you actually doing the work from start to finish, how to use the jack to elevate your car. Make sure you can undo the lug nuts by yourself, which you do before jacking the car up. A "four way" lug wrench is the easiest to use, you'll have better leverage for undoing the lug nuts. Much better than the single long arm kind that usually come with vehicles. Ask a guy if you aren't sure what a four way lug wrench is. And carry a can of Fix-A-Flat. Go as soon as possible to have your tire repaired or replaced. Just make sure that if you have to use Fix-A-Flat on a flat tire (in the case of a nail in your tire), that you tell the tire repair man that you have used it in your tire. And if the need ever arises that you are caught on the side of the road with a flat and are really scared or in a dangerous place, or it's after dark, just ride on that flat tire toward the side of the road, somewhat slowly and carefully, but keep going with your emergency flashers on until you get to a safe area with people and bright lights. Don't stop for anyone flagging you down, just wave to acknowledge them and keep driving with your doors locked. Getting a new rim and tire is nothing compared to your need for safety, you can get a tire and rim, but not a new life! And if a police officer sees you, he'll usually follow you with his lights flashing until you are safely off the road at a business. Now I've got my husband helping you go across the country now! haha...Our best to you~

 
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April 12, 2004

I am looking for some cheap ways to get my stuff to another state. I am moving to Alaska and have tried some of the Big name moving companies but they all say that it is an international trip and want $5200 for shipping. I only have a few items that are furnature, a couple bunkbed sets and 2 recliners. The rest is boxes. Any ideas?



Susan

Answers

By Joe (Guest Post)
April 12, 20040 found this helpful

I would check to see if they have a Uhaul or Rider truck rental place where you are moving. I have never driven to Alaska but I believe their is a car ferry that makes it a pretty reasonable trip. The cost would come in well under 5200. Just make sure you try out the truck and have confidence in it before you hit the road. It's surprising what they send people out in. Ofcourse, I am in Washington, driving to Alaska isn't out of the question for me. If I lived in Florida I wouldn't dream of it.

Beyond that, seems like UPS ground can be pretty reasonable for boxes under 70 pounds. But you have to pack them VERY well if you want them to get there unharmed. We moved cross country and shipped about half of our stuff through UPS. We sold any furniture that we couldn't fit in the cars we were driving. It wouldn't be hard to estimate how much you boxes would cost to ship... just figure out an average weight and size and use ups' online shipping calculator. http://www.ups.com

Maybe sending the boxes UPS and then finding other arrangements for the furniture would work.

5200 seems pretty high, I would call around with that figure and see how much other moving companies might be willing to beat it. And consider shipping companies as well.

 
By Marti Criswell (Guest Post)
April 12, 20040 found this helpful

For $5200 you could buy a used truck and drive it yourself. You could resell it when you get there.

 
By Isis (Guest Post)
April 13, 20040 found this helpful

check out http://www.upack.com
They do the driving and everything. I think it cost me around 450 to move my stuff from So Cal to WA. You pack it up, they section it off from the rest of their truck (they use a semi trailer) and then they will deliver it on the day you need. Check it out. It may work out well for you.

 
By Liz (Guest Post)
April 13, 20040 found this helpful

My sister used to live in Anchorage. I guess since they have to ship by air over some water, it is as expensive as an international move & so they charge you the same. Sorry to say, $5000 sounds about right. I bet UPS ground won't go to Alaska. You could drive, but it is REALLY far - over 1400 miles just from Vancouver to Whitehorse in the Yukon! Road conditions are not always good. Why are you moving? Is it for work? Won't they pay relocation?

 
May 11, 20040 found this helpful

I live in Alaska and we drove up the Alcan in 1995. We sold almost everything we had to do it. Granted, our things weren't worth bringing up either. If you have real nice things than it is worth it, because it is expensive to replace.

There are quite a few options of getting your belongings here. One, as someone else suggested, is to buy your own U-haul type truck or a closed trailor, horse trailor that can be closed off, snow machine trailor, etc. and sell it once you get here. There is NO LACK of someone willing to buy things of that nature in Alaska. I would HIGHLY recommend that it be a closed trailor or truck though. You never know what weather you will encounter no matter what time of year you move.

Some friends of ours recently moved to California and the company they used brought a shipping container to their home and parked it (it is on a diesel trailor) you pack your own things and they return at an agreed time and deliver it to the docks. They flew to California and within a few weeks they had their belongings once again delivered to their front door for them to unpack. If you are interested in knowing the name of that company I can find out for you. You can email me directly at tator2ter@worldnet.att.net. In fact they also had a vintage car they drove into the container as well.

Depending on where you are moving from, you can make your way to Washington and take the ferry the rest of the way. I had a friend move to Arizona two years ago and she was quoted around $1200 just for her van, herself and her four kids.

SOmething to think about also if you are driving yourself is you have to come through Canadian customs. They can and will search your vehicle and you need to know what is and is not allowed through the border. Guns and ammunition are VERY limited. If you have guns and ammunition that you want to bring with you, I would highly recommend sending it with someone that may be flying or send it with your items that is being shipped because you may lose it at the border. Also... fruit, plants, etc. are not allowed either. I would HIGHLY recommend you purchasing a book called the Milepost. This gives you the do's and don'ts, maps, businesses, it tells you where you can get gas, etc. It is the Alcan Bible as far as I am concerned! Also if you have pets, you MUST go to your veterinarian and ask them for proper papers, shots and identification for your pet because the Canadian border will ask for it. You cannot bring more than I believe one bottle of wine or alcohol through, you would have to verify what the current code is. Things that some may not think about and you can lose it at the border.

Like I said, if you want to talk more, you can email me directly.

Tawnda

 
By stella (Guest Post)
June 20, 20050 found this helpful

we moved from NY to Kansas ( a three bedroom apartment ) for less then 900 bucks - ABF - they are a commercial truck - you pack it they drive it, and deliver it to your door where ever you are ( it took a bout seven days ) but it was great - and we unpacked it too - but that price included taxes, gas and tolls

 
By karen (Guest Post)
December 12, 20050 found this helpful

I AM MOVING FROM OHIO TO WA IN THE SPRING AND AM LOOKING FOR THE CHEAPEST WAY TO DO IT. ANY SUGESTIONS? LIVESON480AOL

 
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May 2, 2005

My husband is a teacher in CA. We are looking to move to the state of Georgia. He has job possibilies there. We are looking to move the most frugal way possible. We have two dogs , some ducks and chickens that we would like to take with us. Has any one made long distance moves with animals? I would like to have all the tips, on keeping moving costs down and traveling with animals, possible. We are planning to move in late July. We have lots of time to plan, but I believe in starting early. We do not have a very large budget so keeping costs down are very important.



Thanks,
Reva in CA

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January 3, 2012

Does anyone know of a cheap way to move some things cheaply?

By Lucille from Belmont, MA


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April 18, 2012

I'm moving from Kentucky to Fort Irwin, California. The problem is we are taking an airplane to get there. I have just a little bit of furniture and stuff we need to get there because our home is not furnished. How would I be able to move without having to come back to Kentucky?

By Cassandra

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May 18, 2014

I want to move from Boston to Texas. I have around 10 medium boxes that I want to post. I am wondering if it is possible to send them to a storage facility in Texas and later get it from them? Do you know any storage company to do that?

By zack2000

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