Moving advice!

[ack]

Last time I moved a long distance, I drove, but I didn’t bring any furniture. Some of the stuff went in the car, and I shipped the rest by UPS. Even if you have to ship 20 big boxes, it still comes out cheaper than renting a van for that distance.

Remember that it ALWAYS takes longer to unload the truck and “move in” than you think it will. Also, towing a trailer can be a scary experience if you’re not familiar with how a trailer handles at high speeds. (For example, if the trailer goes out of control and starts swinging to the side, how do you correct it?)

When I’m driving on interstates, I stay FAR away from U-haul trucks towing cars or trailers.

 

[Alexandra]

Fifteen years ago we packed up and moved from Oakland to north central Iowa, 2000 miles. We gave someone a ride that was moving that way and so we had four of us. My husband drove the 24’ U Haul towing a car, while I drove the van with a friend and two dalmatians and three cats. Took us 5 days to make the trip. It’s hard enough with company, but I cannot even imagine doing that kind of move alone. From NV to Iowa there is basically nothing, Wyoming and Nebraska being particularly sparse. If the cost is the same or even slightly more, I’d hire someone to do it. When my parents moved out here to be with us they hired movers, and apart from waiting for the movers to arrive (they were nearly a week late) it all went smoothly and they unloaded everything into the rooms they needed to go into. Just be sure to mark each box specifically where they are going and life is much easier.