Lowest cost moving truck solution (also best).

[bretfraz]

I'd just rent one of these and be good to go.

I entered info moving from Atlanta to So Cal and got $456.00 for 8 days use, unlimited mileage. A 16 footer was $477.00. Buffalo to PHX has gotta be cheaper than that. www.budgettruck.com

 

[MNgopher]

As much as we've ragged on U-Haul, I've had "decent" luck with their enclosed trailer rentals for 1-way moves (three to date). The first went fine (5x9 trailer), the second trailer (a 6x12 dual axle) had 2 worn tires on it that I wouldn't use on my own personal equipment but were legal, and the last unit was a 5x9 that was in great shape. The most I've been charged was $200 for a one way, and they gave me plenty of time to do it in.

I towed with a '97 F150 2wd 4.6 V8 and my '99 F150 4x4, without problem. (of course, fuel mileage suffers - I had a low of 9 mpg on the last haul - but thats what 70 mph against a 30+mph headwind will do to you!)

If you think you can fit in a sprinter type vehicle, maybe the 6x12 would get it done for you. For a small investment in a reciever hitch (preferably a non-uhaul install!), perhaps this may be another choice?

 

[windnsea00]

Like Bretfraz mentioned, Budget (owned by Avis) has 10 foot box trucks that sound like they would be ideal. However those aren't diesel...some of their 15/16 foot box trucks are and most of their 24 foot ones are.

You won't need a special license as their largest trucks are right at the 26,000 GVW limit and don't have air brakes.

But they keep their truck fleet in good condition, I would know since our family owns 4 Budget locations in so.cal... but since we only have the rights to rent cars we rent the corp's trucks and get a piece of the revenue.

Also I would look at Enterprise, they have gotten into the truck market and basically took over where Budget left (due to Avis).

 

[Tosh]

We used Movex when we moved from Florida to California 3 years ago and found it to be the cheapest and most flexible option.

Pro:
1.You pack the truck yourself and only pay for the actual space used. (Then the driver boards up your section and goes to the next customer.)
2.You don't worry about your stuff until it shows up at your new place.

Cons:
1.You need room to park a semi for a few hours near your old and new place.
2.You may need to 'race ahead' of the truck to meet it at the destination to unpack it. (But you're not driving, right?)

It was totally smooth sailing for us, although there was a chance we wouldn't have an apartment lined up in the time we had before the truck arrived. (We could contact the driver by cell phone for very accurate ETA.) We didn't have a lot of stuff either.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

Fast Food? No way! Loaf of bread, selection of lunchmeat, chips/dips, soda.

Eat and drink less, fewer bathroom stops. Plus, full bellies make sleepy eyelids.

The only long-distance move I had was a double axle U-Haul trailer from N.Carolina to Illinois. The #@$%! trailer brakes weren't right and the wheel bearings caught fire. That melted the tires and they blew off the rims.

If I didn't HAPPEN to stop right at a little stream coming down off the mountain, and didn't HAPPEN to have an empty antifreeze jug on hand to bring water to the trailer....we'd have lost everything.

I now carry a fire extinguisher at all times.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Stay away from U-Haul. My many experiences with them tell me that they don't maintain their equipment. The list of bad stuff is too long to post, but just save yourself a huge headache and go with Ryder or Budget.