moving, but driving myself up to NY

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 6:36 am

hey all, it is almost time for my move to NY. Or, New Jersey to be exact. I've found out just recently, that moving services in the US (for local moves) are extremely expensive.. popping me figures just over $6000.

That's crazy. Moving in Japan in never that expensive.. but then I guess I'll be travelling much greater distances so. well, maybe it does add up, who knows.

But anyway, I've decided to have the moving company move my audio gear and other breakables because I've found a very dependable company. The remainder of the stuff I'm going to drive up with a UHAUL truck. (UHAUL is a compnay that specializes in renting moving trucks)

Obviously, it's hell of a drive from Miami to NJ. 2100Km, or 1300miles. We're planning a 6 day trip, so that makes it 350km (220miles) per day. Or, 5 days at 420km (260miles) per day. The drive itself doesn't sound too bad.

But going that distance with lots of valuables and breakables in the back of the truck? I could be a nightmare. Has anyone got any tips or advice? Any do's and don'ts?

[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2006-08-05 07:37 ]

Post by **hubird** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:22 am

heavy stuff, this mony and distance

make it a nice journy, people from all over the word are planning a trip like that just for fun

good luck, I think it's a smart move this move

ChrisWerner · Post by **ChrisWerner** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:36 am

Any possibility to make the move by a ship, order a moving container?
Just as an option. I don´t know any details, though.

Anyway good luck on this adventure.

ReD_MuZe · Post by **ReD_MuZe** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:09 am

hey ken!
hubrid is right!
a journey like that is usualy done just for fun.
maybe spending a bit more money, making an interesting route can offer you an unforgetable trip.

i would send some delicate things with DHL (hard drives, important backups) just becouse they have insurance. and also try to backup important stuff.

and i say this from personal experience: loosing a hard drive full of your own music is one of the discoureging things a musician can experience..

another thing that came up to my mind, is that some things that are very big can be bought for pretty cheap. U could do a "Garage sale" for the stuff you can buy in NY and lessen the costs of moving things. on the other hand, it depends on what you have, and needs some more energy to execute...

enjoy your trip!

[ This Message was edited by: ReD_MuZe on 2006-08-05 09:12 ]

Post by **Neil B** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:31 am

On 2006-08-05 07:36, kensuguro wrote:
But going that distance with lots of valuables and breakables in the back of the truck? I could be a nightmare. Has anyone got any tips or advice? Any do's and don'ts?

[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2006-08-05 07:37 ]

Sleep in the truck!

Seriously, the journey will be less stressful than you think over that distance.
I once drove from Austria to the UK - 1000 miles - in one go, in gales and rain. That was tough, but spreading it out over a few days sounds good to me.
I regularly do 400 miles in one journey and used to drive middle England to Scotland for a 2 hour meeting and then come home. You get used to it, but if you're not used to it -

I would have thought that in terms of security worries, try and do more miles per day and therefore less days.

Keep to the speed limits and the miles still fly by, but not as stressfully.

Take regular breaks - black coffee is good.

Plenty of background music - not foreground.

Share the driving (if possible) and while you're not driving, don't study the road - read or catnap.

Plan your route and allow for delays.

Plan your overnight stops.

Let friends know your plans and call them each day at an agreed time.

Hope that helps

Post by **hubird** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:56 am

On 2006-08-05 09:09, ReD_MuZe wrote:
hey ken!
hubrid is right! a journey like...

make it hubird (like Hubert) and I'll put you on my heir list

Post by **garyb** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 9:27 am

that's a pretty normal move in the usa. i'd move it all in the uhaul. nobody is going to be as careful with your gear as you will be. with the money you save, you can afford a few motels and a good padlock on the rear door of the truck....

the last time i made a move that big, i had to move my and my wife's stuff from portland, oregon to orange, california, a trip of about the same distance. i bought a flatbed truck with sides for about $1000, put the biggest trailer possible on it, packed everything to the gills(lashed chairs across the top of everything) and moved the entire household in 2 days including a cat and saltwater fish, what fun!(not)...the cat really hated it....

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2006-08-05 10:28 ]

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 12:06 pm

Hoi Ken,

Similar distances we'd do here in 2 days, one night/sleep stop - speed limiting factor being the amount of hours a truck driver is legally allowed to drive in 24hrs... Going by van and personal (non professional) driver, if the van can take all gear, even chops some time off. I would personally not stay in places where I dont have to, look for safe area's to stay overnight and limit the amounts of overnights whenever possible - overnight stays are riscfull and should be avoided when possible, considering the value of the goods.

re: DHL - i would never trust my HD's to any express courier, unless abundantly shielded. They /will/ throw it as carrying takes too long for the loader/sorters. Shipping DVD backups however is an excellent way of making sure software and project files are preserved.

Good luck with the move, and NYC would be an excellent place for musicians IMHO...

at0m.

Post by **garyb** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:20 pm

back the truck up to a wall if possible when sleeping or in a restaraunt...

yeah, definitely a 2, 3day max trip....

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2006-08-05 20:21 ]

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:30 pm

thnx for the replies. So I get the idea the it probably won't take 6 days. I don't think I'll be fooling around too much in between.. will take it easy but not like tourism or anything.

So it's probably safest to spend less time as possible.

[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2006-08-05 20:31 ]

Post by **hubird** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:45 pm

move 'm up Charly

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 9:33 pm

I have done a few of those moves too. I have never had problems with my gear because I always put it in double boxes. It takes more time to do a box, you take more space, but it pays you back very well.

How to do it? Very simple, first you put all your things as usual, in a carton box smoothing everything between the items with paper, I mean, smashed paper you know? Then, when you finish the box, you have to use a second box, about 20 centimetres wider than the first, but filled with paper in between. So you put about 10 centimetres of smashed paper on the bottom, then put the box full of items, and then full up all the sides with smashed paper as well. This simple method has given me years and years of good luck! I brought all my gear from Europe to Chile, that way too, in the plain. When things arrived, all boxes were damaged on the edges, even if they came by plain and with a good company, they just don’t have the time to take care of your things... they go on... So, prevention is for me, the very best advice I could give you.

Another thing to take into account (which is quite obvious anyway), is to avoid bad streets and avenues, I don’t know how’s that in USA, but all those jumps are bad for your electronics, so be ready to tell the driver to slow down when you see holes or important imperfections.

If you have big screens I would suggest you to sell them, because the expense you’re going to pay for the extra load it’s not worth the money, you better get a new screen in NY.

Have a good time, enjoy, and be relaxed. Keep a good collection of music in your hands and good headphones to get there...

Good luck!

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 9:44 pm

hmm, now that you mension it, maybe my PC will survive just as well with a double box. (instead of paying expensive pros) Anyhow, the expensive bastards will be coming for an estimate this week.. Depending on their estimate, I'm just going to say good by to them on the spot and go with carrying everything myself.

[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2006-08-05 22:45 ]

Post by **garyb** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:20 pm

just don't drive like steve mcqueen....

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:43 pm

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:48 am

[ This Message was edited by: Shroomz on 2006-08-24 07:25 ]

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:57 am

Yes, keep it secure. I've heard lots of stories of U-Haul trucks getting stolen (including one first-hand)... they are a prime target for thieves.

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:05 am

5 or 6 days? I know people who go to Florida from Montreal in 22 hours. Just for a vacation mind you...

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:10 am

Memory is coming back: I remember that my boxes were all smashed and damaged by the edges when they arrived, but the double box method absorbs any hit converting it into something soft. Then nothing is touched, because the hits keep in the first layer. I remember one of the biggest boxes to have a hole of in, clearly made by a hit, well, nothing happened because the only thing you could see was some smashed newspaper.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:07 am

[ This Message was edited by: Shroomz on 2006-08-24 07:26 ]