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Transporting a vehicle from FL to CT

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by FloridaWen, Mar 11, 2008.

  1. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    My Wife and I are moving from Florida to Connecticut in a couple of months. We have a 2007 Toyota Prius we want to both drive up in (including a cat in a carrier and a small dog in my lap or back seat?) We have a second vehicle, a 2004 Honda CR-V EX 4WD that we want to “ship†to our destination but I am such a fanatic with our vehicles, plus it’s in fantastic condition, I ONLY want to use an “enclosed†trailer to transport it. Our moving company is taking our 12,000 pounds of items for a reasonable fee but when I asked how much more to transport the ’04 CR-V they said $1100. I went on the internet and found an ENCLOSED TRAILER vehicle transporting company that will transport for $900 but know nothing about their reputation. I know I definitely DO NOT want an “open†car carrier and prefer an enclosed trailer !!

    My concerns are that if using my moving company, the vehicle is mixed in not only with OUR furniture, boxes, etc., but with other people’s furniture and goods as a mover usually take three or four families per trailer load.

    Can anyone suggest a “trusted and dependable†vehicle carrier (enclosed trailer) that will get our vehicle from Florida to Connecticut without the fear of boxes or furniture falling on it ??
     
  2. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    Any chance that you might find a friend to drive it up with you?
     
  3. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    The trouble is that ALL our family and 95% of our friends are in Connecticut. I was thinking of having my Brother take a few days off work, fly down here, drive the CR-V back up, but that would put me out well over $700+ not including the money for gasoline to drive it back and overnight hotel stays.
     
  4. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Think of it this way: you could save the roughly thousand bucks if you drove in separate vehicles...just a suggestion.
     
  5. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Why are you so insistent about having an enclosed trailer? If the car were driven it would be exposed to the elements as well as road hazards such as gravel thrown up by highway trucks. Shipped on an open trailer it will be exposed to less damage than being driven. Just make sure the company has a good reputation. In the end it's a car, not a puppy. Any cosmetic damage it might sustain can be fixed, and if you properly document the condition (careful photography, which you can do in 10 minutes for free) they'd have to pay.
     
  6. jrmason

    jrmason New Member

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    Hi

    In in NH. I'll drive down to CT leave my car there at your house. You pay for the flight down to FL (Southwest Airlines) $150 or so and the gas for the drive and I'll do it. I have a clean driving record and insurance. My work is a bit slow I wouldn't mind a bit of a get a way.

    Jon
     
  7. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    The price difference I have found between a traditional "open" carrier and a "closed trailer" was $300 - $400 higher for the closed. If I'm gonna shell out $800 for an "open" I might as well go the extra "protection" of flying debris, road grime, etc. and pay $1200 for the "closed" !! Just my wierd logic, I guess !! :rolleyes:
     
  8. prius729

    prius729 New Member

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    I agree. It's not like you're transporting a corvette or something. I maybe wrong but don't the moving company cover any damage to the vehicle once it's in their possession?
     
  9. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    :( This is exactly what we DON'T (and CAN'T) want to do again (separate vehicles w/ walkie talkie communication) ...... we did it TWICE before and unfortunately I am currently on a medication that makes me very drowsy, no matter how much sleep I get, so long distance driving for me is not a good thing. I will mainly be the "co-pilot" this trip and probably do less than 20% of the actual driving. Last time we drove two separate vehicles was about seven years ago and I was in a lot better shape..... I remember wanting to drive straight through the night, non-stop, and it was my Wife who was getting very drowsy as she drove her vehicle alone. I was the lucky one with the cat and dog along with me for the drive !! Times sure have changed :( !!
     
  10. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    :rolleyes: As we know, and as the moving company reminded me, they take two or three other families posessions in the same moving trailer along with our stuff. They outright said (quote) .... "that there is always a chance of an object or box falling onto my vehicle" ....
    After hearing that quite UN-assuring sentence, I made my mind up to ship the vehicle in it's own "vehicle transport trailer" made specifically and ONLY for vehicle transport.
    Just DON'T want to go through the hassle of making a damage claim, etc. with the moving company......... just want my vehicle to arrive exactly as it was when it left !!
     
  11. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Okay. I guess if the difference is only $300 to $400 and you've got the money to spend for the peace of mind, it's understandable.

    But what about renting a small trailer and using the CRV to tow the Prius? Quick and dirty back-of-the-envelope suggests it would cost $300 more to drive the CRV than the Prius, and even with the cost of a trailer that would be a lot less than paying a commercial hauler.
     
  12. bonshawman

    bonshawman New Member

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    You might try HotShot Hauling. The often post loads on that board, and your vehicle could ride in a "smaller" trailer. With the cost of fuel being what it is, pricing is an issue. In a "couple of months" would be the normal northern migration of vehicles, and your best (cheapest) transport would be on a multi-car carrier. It is a cost/benefit decision. You could also check with Hemmings (check search engine for their website) - they may have an on-line edition of their monthly magazine, which lists a lot of classic car enclosed transporters. It is going to be difficult to expect an enclosed transport for low dollars.....
     
  13. gman11377

    gman11377 New Member

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    Just an idea, used to drive a "parking lot" (car carrier). Ask the company that you contacted about moving the vehicle in the open carrier what protection services they offer, car "wrap" isnt that expensive and will protect from most of the worst problems. They may be able to cover the vehicle in a similar way from how new cars are shipped, my company used to offer this service but it's been a few years. If not, then the previous suggestion of trailering it down behind the CR-V might be the best bet.
     
  14. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    A good idea, but..... unfortunately the rear bumper on the CR-V is a thin, vinyl bumper with NO "inside reinforcements" and I have NO trailer hitch installed on the vehicle. A decent trailer hitch (installed by myself) and rental (one way) of a trailer (remember the CR-V is AWD so I can't "dolly" it) would all be as much (or more) than a "covered" carrier !! Plus I can't imagine the MPG drop from 20 now would probably go down to 15 or so, thus gasoline would cost me around $350 - $400 !!
     
  15. okiebutnotfrommuskogee

    okiebutnotfrommuskogee Senior Member

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    You won't like this idea, but here it is anyway. Sell the CRV in Florida and use that extra thousand bucks you just saved to help buy something else when you get settled in CT.
     
  16. prius729

    prius729 New Member

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    That sounds like a good deal. Maybe if you can get him to send you a copy of his license and DMV driving record.
    No offense to you jrmason, but you never know these days.
     
  17. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    Our 2004 CR-V EX (AWD) has only 30K miles, never in an accident, original owner, NON-Smoker, Florida vehicle, ALWAYS GARAGED, '05 16" alloys with four new BFG's, new battery, Mobil1 and WIX oil filters ever since the end of break-in period and changed at 4K intevals since...... I'd be a F:bowl::bowl:L to sell it !!
     
  18. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    I DON'T expect an enclosed transport for "low dollars", especially as the Summer months arrive, prices will fly high, but for "peace of mind" I don't mind paying the price for a quality and time efficient transport service !!
    I used to be a Service Manager at a Chrysler Dealership in Connecticut and we sold (on eBay) a ZERO MILES, brand new, sitting in showroom for three years, Prowler, with all manuals, tools, papers, etc. shrink wrapped in orig. plastic wrapping, and the buyer was out west coast (California) and had it shipped with an enclosed carrier. Mahogany wood floors in the carrier, top notch all the way. Back then it was only $1,500 CT to CA. The driver (of the carrier) walked around the vehicle before it was loaded on, for nearly 45 minutes, and made sure no scratches, dents, dings, etc. I was thoroughly impressed with the care he used in driving it into the enclosed carrier, too. Now, on the other hand, I have seen dozens of "open trailer" transport delivery and pickups and made out quite a bit of damage claims. Lots of stone chips in glass was most common.
     
  19. koa

    koa Active Member

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    I don't know much about it but did you check with Amtrak about riding the train up and taking the cars with you? Maybe they have something that would work and neither of you will need to drive.
    Amtrak - Routes - South
     
  20. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    Seems like a good idea or possiblity worth exploring:

    Sanford, FL to Lorton, VA (near DC) - 1 adult + 1 car = around $350.