Long distance equipment moving

[Furu]

I question if there is a good or easy solution to my issue but thought I would turn to the group which has a large collective experience.

In the next couple of months I need to move a portable mill from Alabama to the Pacific Northwest. I have been quoted by the manufacturer that the folks they use charge $2.70 per mile. That is a bit over $7500 in shipping.:shocked:
Obviously I am looking at another option. One of which is to pick it up myself and tow it but don't want to drive there and back.
A solution would be renting a truck and towing but I am fairly certain that Penske and others do not allow you to tow a trailer that is not theirs. Their trailers are built for cars and thus will not handle a 30 foot trailer on top of their trailer most likely.
Are there any rental companies that anyone is aware of that will rent a vehicle for tow purposes? Any good ideas on a workable solution other than the shipping costs I mentioned.

 

[RBA50]

Shipping Wars? I saw it on TV once somewhere, no idea if it is till on, don't have TV at home.

There are independent haulers who will bid for jobs. Not sure how to find them though, as I never needed one.

A little more info might help in getting suggestions. Sounds like this is on its own trailer? Weight, type of hitch, brakes, lights, etc?

ABF has containers or trailers that they drop off and you load, then they deliver and drop so you can unload. No idea what it costs.

Maybe you could hire a retired or unemployed person to haul it, either using your truck, or theirs.

 

[JD 4520]

UShip.com would be my recommendation. The truckers are all independent and they bid your job. Be as flexible as you can to attract the best rate. Look for a back haul situation although with the distance you are talking about that might be tough. Size and weight will be real important to cost of course.

Also I don't think your assumption is right on rental trucks. You generally do not have to use or rent their trailers but I'm not sure that will be your best option without knowing more about your cargo. Again, flexibility will be your best help to cost.

 

[TomSeller]

Rail an option? Then trucked the final bit.

 

[Furu]

A little more info might help in getting suggestions. Sounds like this is on its own trailer? Weight, type of hitch, brakes, lights, etc?

ABF has containers or trailers that they drop off and you load, then they deliver and drop so you can unload. No idea what it costs.
.

It will weighs about 8000 lbs, 2-5/16 inch ball hitch, dual axle electric brakes, with street legal road lights.
Had not thought about the ABF containers but worth looking at.

 

[Furu]

UShip.com would be my recommendation. The truckers are all independent and they bid your job. Be as flexible as you can to attract the best rate. Look for a back haul situation although with the distance you are talking about that might be tough. Size and weight will be real important to cost of course.

Also I don't think your assumption is right on rental trucks. You generally do not have to use or rent their trailers but I'm not sure that will be your best option without knowing more about your cargo. Again, flexibility will be your best help to cost.

JD 4520
Do you know of any company that will rent a vehicle allowing you to tow with it not using their trailers? So far I have struck out in my research but I know it is not complete. That is why I turned to the group. The Uship option needs to be looked into.

 

[schmism]

sell and repurchase on the west coast? pacific northwest is full of portable bandmills for sale. Even if the sell/buy was at a net cost of several thousand, youd end up paying that to move your current one so net money out of pocket would be no diffrent and you may be able to upgrade or freshin the mill in the process.

 

[Furu]

sell and repurchase on the west coast? pacific northwest is full of portable bandmills for sale. Even if the sell/buy was at a net cost of several thousand, youd end up paying that to move your current one so net money out of pocket would be no diffrent and you may be able to upgrade or freshin the mill in the process.

There are none of the specific model out here for sale, there is only one owner/ mill company within 10 hours of me that I can even find and it is brand new purchased April 2013 and they have no plans to sell theirs. The shipping cost may limit my choices. I am not moving myself and a mill but am getting ready to purchasing a new one and trying to get it to me.

If I was moving from there it would be no problem to just tow it myself one way.

 

[schmism]

you familiar with the forestry forum?

many guys on there that have bandmills they may be able to point you to one in your area.

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/...ml?PHPSESSID=e3e5da83ae3af2b9913c166ad052689f

 

[JD 4520]

JD 4520
Do you know of any company that will rent a vehicle allowing you to tow with it not using their trailers? So far I have struck out in my research but I know it is not complete. That is why I turned to the group. The Uship option needs to be looked into.

I have use Budget Rental Truck twice across country and pulled my trailer behind. Not an issue with them in the past.

I bought my tractor in the south and used Uship.com to bid and haul my tractor to Washington. Very satisfied and paid a tip to the driver / operator for job well done on all accounts.

Happy to provide more info if needed.

 

[Furu]

I have use Budget Rental Truck twice across country and pulled my trailer behind. Not an issue with them in the past.

I bought my tractor in the south and used Uship.com to bid and haul my tractor to Washington. Very satisfied and paid a tip to the driver / operator for job well done on all accounts.

Happy to provide more info if needed.

I will contact Budget and see what they say. I know that Penske was a complete loss; no trailers other than their own allowed. Said for liability reasons. I had guessed that the car type rentals companies would be worse than the more commercial types like Penske. I will give Budget a call. I had never heard of Uship until yesterday so will have to check that out. That is why I posted this as I knew that there were folks on TBN that could help out.

How did they package/crate/whatever else; your tractor so as to prevent movement, damage, etc. Was it inside a trailer or on a flatbed?
Thanks

 

[Furu]

you familiar with the forestry forum?

many guys on there that have bandmills they may be able to point you to one in your area.

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/...ml?PHPSESSID=e3e5da83ae3af2b9913c166ad052689f

VERY familiar but thanks anyway. Many PM's and other postings going overthere.

 

[medic0648]

Check for the light commercial side of some of the major rental companies. They usually have 3/4 and 1 tons for rent and you can usually get 1 setup to tow the weights you're looking at for little or no difference in price. They're also usually the same price as renting a midsize car in the areas they're offered.

 

[JD 4520]

How did they package/crate/whatever else; your tractor so as to prevent movement, damage, etc. Was it inside a trailer or on a flatbed?
Thanks

The bidder that I selected had a enclosed trailer. My tractor had a bucket and box blade on which made it easy to secure. I was very flexible on pick and delivery dates which allowed me to get a bid from a driver that had a mostly empty return load and had capacity. I also made arrangements on both ends to use a loading dock so made it easy for pickup and delivery which also affects how your shipment is loaded.

The driver was great. He regularly provided updates before pickup and during transport which is why I gave him a tip. I really appreciated his desire to provide good service and he did.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Enterprise will rent F250 and F350 trucks. Just the other day a friend told me about someone who just rents an f250 whenever he needs to tow his race car trailer. No questions asked from Enterprise and the trucks come with hitch, brake controller, etc.

 

[aczlan]

Enterprise will rent F250 and F350 trucks. Just the other day a friend told me about someone who just rents an f250 whenever he needs to tow his race car trailer. No questions asked from Enterprise and the trucks come with hitch, brake controller, etc.

I was going to say the same thing. Local Lowes had Hertz or Enterprise F250 sitting in the parking lot setup with a 7 pin plug, 2" receiver, built in brake controller, etc.

Aaron Z

 

[Furu]

Have not yet contacted Enterprise but so far Hertz Budget Penske Uhaul all state that it is a violation of rental agreement to pull a trailer that is not rented from them. Hopefully Enterprise does not have the exclusion language in their contract.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

call 1-888-736-8287. You may have to ask for commercial rentals as the website only shows only have dakotas and canyons.

I'll add that last year my Chevy K20 was totaled and the at-fault driver's insurance paid for a rental while my truck was at the estimator's. Told them I needed a truck for my daily work - including towing a trailer - and they gave me a clean, bare bones 2012 Chevy pickup. Their only concern was that my trailer wouldn't exceed the capacity of the truck.

 

[bdog]

Another vote for Uship. I have used it several times all with good results. Had something of similar size hauled from North Carolina to Texas for $1000.

 

[LD1]

Wow, yea for a 8k trailer, alabama to washington isnt gonna be cheap.

2500 miles give or take @ 10MPG loaded, about $1000 in fuel loaded. Then the return trip. Gonna cost close to $1600-1800 total in fuel. Might make it in 2 days, so figure a 5 day week round trip, 5 nights in a hotel, meals, looking at 3k just in expenses. Then you have to pay someone a weeks worth of wages......

I doubt anyone would ship that for under $5k. And if they are, I dont see how they make money:laughing: Sure if you had a semi w/sleeper and hit grocery stores, but worse fuel economy.

I saw that show once about shipping wars. Just dont see how they stay afloat with some of the pricing I seen.