Shipping from TX to IN

[tightbox]

The time has come to move my car.

Looking into all available options. Any recommendations for best place to rent a trailer or inexpensive shipping providers? Not having much luck on UShip, which is what I’ve traditionally used.

73 CS going from San Antonio to Indianapolis.

Storage fees just keep going up here!

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

I'm not sure what you mean by "not having much luck with UShip"? Do you mean they are not providing a quote, or that you don't like the quote?

The way the car transport biz works is that brokers (like UShip) interface with a customer and get the details on the shipment. The shipment is posted on a nationwide electronic bulletin board. Truckers build their route by committing for shipments on this board. Only the desperate truckers are going to commit for a lower than market priced shipment, and the shipment can sit on the board for some time until a desperate trucker comes along.

San Antonio to Indianapolis is 1,200 miles. $1 a loaded mile is a good budget number for an open carrier. You could probably get it done for $1,000 with some patience depending on the time of year, current fuel cost, and the economy in general.

If you are still living in NorCal, driving to San Antonio with your truck, renting a trailer, taking the car to Indy, and driving back to NorCal is not going to pencil.

If you are now living in San Antonio, and are thinking of renting a trailer and taking it to Indy and returning, it still doesn't pencil (gas for 2400 miles @ 15 MPG @$3/gallon=$480, 3 motels @ $125 each=$375, food $30/day for 4 days=$120, trailer rental @ $100/day for 4 days=$400, Total=$1.375). This assumes you have a truck big enough to tow, you don't experience any breakdowns or delays, you don't factor in maintenance and depreciation on the truck, you don't mind driving steady for 4 long days.

 

[Thomas76]

If you have special insurance for the car (ex: Hagerty) they may have connections and discounted car hauling program in their network.

To extend on Dick's (no pun intended) comments, I found the car transport pricing dropped dramatically when your pick up/drop off times are open. It gives them time to fill up a trailer for the run, which helps your cost.

 

[teahead]

Talk to Rose at Landway Auto Transport.

They moved some stuff for me at good prices.

What I do is...get some quotes from Uship. Find a few of the cheapest they quote.

Then be sure to check them out on https://www.transportreviews.com.

Then contact the shipping companies individually (i.e. do not go through Uship since they charge an additional fee).

Good luck! I must have moved maybe 15 cars over the years.

 

[adawil2002]

Assume you want closed transport.

Try Reliable or my go to Plycar. I used to be loyal to Intercity for enclosed transports yet their scheduling conflicts over the past few years have been frustrating.

 

[Stan]

Maybe @Peter Coomaraswamy would drive it out! You play for the flight home, food and a small fee

 

[Ohmess]

I've been thinking that might be a nice retirement hobby Stan.

Hagerty does indeed have a discount arrangement with Reliable.

 

[Stan]

I've been thinking that might be a nice retirement hobby Stan.

Hagerty does indeed have a discount arrangement with Reliable.

Absent Covid19 I would be into it!
Fly me to point A, I drive to point B and see the sights, visit friends on the way.
I would love it!

 

[tightbox]

I was thinking I might drive it, but the fuel system is so gummed up it won’t stay running longer than the amount of fuel I pour into the carbs. Love that ethanol!

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

I was thinking I might drive it, but the fuel system is so gummed up it won’t stay running longer than the amount of fuel I pour into the carbs. Love that ethanol!

It isn't the ethanol or we would all be having the same problem. It is lack of use. Gasoline without ethanol will do exactly the same thing. It turns to "varnish" as the volatile elements go away.

 

[Stan]

I was thinking I might drive it, but the fuel system is so gummed up it won’t stay running longer than the amount of fuel I pour into the carbs. Love that ethanol!

Might still be less expensive to have the fuel tank, lines, and carburetor addressed locally then drive

 

[tightbox]

Got it running with a boat hand primer and fresh fuel. Now I’m fighting a loose ignition switch that *was* working with inward pressure on the key while turning. Now I’m digging further!

 

[mulberryworks]

I just got my E9 and Boxster shipped from Austin to Jacksonville FL for $1300 total with the help of Easy Auto Ship. It's just over 1k miles. This was in an open trailer, they quoted me $150 more (each, I think) for an enclosed trailer. The cars aren't in the the sort of condition that I'd notice the difference for enclosed transport. Both need paint and new windshields, so I had nothing to fear. As it was, the transport itself was perfect.

I actually had to defer the scheduled pickup date because the 2800cs wouldn't start. I could get a good run with gas poured in the carbs, but no fuel was coming from the tank. I replaced all the rubber hoses and added an electric pump to bypass the original mechanical one for this move. Still nothing. I pulled out the gauge sender/pickup tube from the tank and saw that sitting for a couple of years was a bad thing. Besides the stink of old gas, there was some corrosion on the gas screen holder ring and once I got that off, probing the pickup tube showed that the first inch was plugged. I rodded it out with a small screwdriver and then cleaned it with some pipe cleaners. The float for the gauge seems to be stuck, but I'll address that issue later. I used some generic "Evap o Rust" to clean up the oxidation which worked well. Reinstalled, the pump was able to fill the carbs and she started right up.

Deferring the pickup cost me few extra days in Austin, but that's on me for not having the time to verify the start up. I got an excellent driver who lives in Jacksonville and was dropping off 9 Volvo's at the dealer in Austin and heading right back to Jacksonville so my cars got the fastest possible trip. Good thing my wife was there to accept them.

 

[tightbox]

“Easy Auto Ship” was the ticket! From listed to loaded in 5.5 hours in a two car enclosed trailer. Scheduled for delivery late tomorrow. Fingers crossed all goes well!

Thanks again to everyone who helped with suggestions.