Moving to Chicago from FL (Aurora, Romeoville: truck rental, rental, house)

[saitoh7]

Hello all,
I am getting ready to embark on my journey from Ft.Lauderdale, FL to Chicago Illinois. Does anyone have any recommendations on a path to take that would not deviate to much from the standard google maps route, I will be driving a 26' Penske truck and towing a car behind. Also any 26' trucking tip and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Rico

[Drover]

I sure hope you don't have to try to maneuver that rig around narrow Chicago side-streets with a car in tow. In fact, depending on your actual address, you may want to drive straight to the truck rental place and drop off the tow trailer or tow dolly (whichever you're using) so you don't have to try to negotiate narrow streets with that setup. If you could tell us whereabouts you're moving to (the nearest cross-streets would suffice) that might help us determine what you're up against.

Other than that, I don't see any reason not to follow your standard Google Maps recommended route.

[saitoh7]

Drover,
Dropping the tow of first sounds like an excellent idea, our crossroads are apprx. W. North ave & N Halsted St.
Thx

[Drover]

Yeah, the side streets can get pretty narrow in that area.

Next issue: where to put the moving truck when you move. I'm going to guess you don't really have an off-street place to put the truck while you unload it. You can get temporary "No Parking" signs to put up so you have some place to park the rig when you get there. Go to the city website and find out who your alderman is going to be and contact them about getting those signs. But here's the trick: they won't put them up for you, you have to pick them up and put them up yourself. Do you know anyone in town who could do this for you?

[saitoh7]

My wife is flying up early to finish some paperwork, she could probably get some signs. Thanks again!

[ngrome]

Originally Posted by saitoh7

Hello all,
I am getting ready to embark on my journey from Ft.Lauderdale, FL to Chicago Illinois. Does anyone have any recommendations on a path to take that would not deviate to much from the standard google maps route, I will be driving a 26' Penske truck and towing a car behind. Also any 26' trucking tip and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Rico

First of all, congratulations on your move, it is a wise one! I moved to FL over 10 years ago and preparing the move back to Chicago area myself. Consider it an upgrade. However, don't know if you're used to it, but prepare yourself to get adjusted to the bitter cold by dressing in LAYERS, only a few months in the year, but the rest of the year you got the changing season to enjoy instead of the constant sweaty heat and humidity down in FL.

Now, regarding the move, I've taken this route numerous times, there's the one where you can take either the 75 or 95 then head up 65, cutting through Kentucky then Indiana. You're going through a lot more cities this way, encountering stop and go traffic and maybe hilly terrain.

The route I like taking is going 75, 285 through Atlanta, 24 West, then 57 North. This is a flatter route and will probably be more friendly to your moving truck and gas mileage. However, when are you moving? At this time of year, severe snow and ice storms are cutting through this route so you may want to take the first route I mentioned. But if you're moving later this spring or when the weather warms up, I recommend cutting through souther IL with this flatter route.

Do you mind me asking the reason for the move? Job change? Or tired of Florida, particularly the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area? Good luck, I envy you! You'll enjoy Chicago and become a Bears fan! Can't wait to do this myself in a few years, back to Sweet Home Chicago!

EDIT: Oh, let me add, whatever route you take, when you get to Chattanooga, TN, you'll be facing some steep inclines, so be careful with that little Penske truck, especially if you're towing something, been there, done that!

Yes, if you're towing a trailer, do not angle your trailer so much and try and park such that you always pull forward instead of having to go in reverse with something in tow, that could be a b-tch and could end up jack-knifing your own trailer, again, been there, done that.

[saitoh7]

ngrome,

Thanks! I actually grew up in Aurora and Milwaukee, so I am too familiar with the bitter cold. I am moving for a change in environment and job ^_^! I will be moving within a month and trying to plan the best route with this ridiculously huge moving truck.

[ngrome]

Originally Posted by saitoh7

ngrome,

Thanks! I actually grew up in Aurora and Milwaukee, so I am too familiar with the bitter cold. I am moving for a change in environment and job ^_^! I will be moving within a month and trying to plan the best route with this ridiculously huge moving truck.

Sounds like you're part of the reverse migration that went down to FL and is now ready to head back. How long did you stay in FL before you decided to make the move back?

[saitoh7]

11 long humid years.

[ngrome]

Originally Posted by saitoh7

11 long humid years.

I'll be right behind you man. It'll be 13 years by the time I move, but I have to wait for my youngest to finish high school, I'm not going to transplant her during these important years. As I mentioned, a lot or people who left the north for FL are moving back up (but there's still folks who are moving down to FL, they'll find out later, how a transient culture it is down here). You're from Aurora originally? I just got a house near neighboring Romeoville sitting there waiting for us til we move. Good time to buy now if you can! I sent you a PM on tips for the road trip.