Is there a cheap way to move a few heavy items crosscountry? (Overland: apartment)

[cazboy]

Well it's been almost four months since my wife & I have moved to Overland Park Kansas from northern Arizona. Our verdict is thumbs up! And that's partly due to the help and advice I've received here on this board. What a nice place for experienced advice.

Anyway, when we moved here we went through the usual drill, rented a truck and packed it with our best judgement of what we'd need to furnish a one-bedroom apartment. Overall we did well in anticipating what to bring and what to leave in storage, but there are a few items that I wish we'd brought and a few items I wish we'd left behind.

The items I wish we'd brought probably amount to no more that what would fill up the back seat of a car - in other words, not that much.

Does anyone here have any ideas on how I could get a small load moved out here without shipping each item? It's not worth renting a truck but too much to ship UPS or FedEx. I was even thinking about approaching some of the moving companies and asking them if anyone else is moving out here, could I "hitch a ride" on their moving van for a few bucks....or something like that.

I suppose one option would be to drive out there and back in our own car but I was wondering if anyone else had any other ideas - or am I just crazy??

[cazboy]

Anybody at all have any constructive thoughts? Maybe it's just a pipedream...

[belgarath]

Originally Posted by cazboy

Anybody at all have any constructive thoughts? Maybe it's just a pipedream...

Hey there

I fly RC airplanes and one way we use to ship things is using greyhound bus. they will ship items as well as carry people.
Hope it helps
Bel

[cazboy]

Originally Posted by belgarath

Hey there

I fly RC airplanes and one way we use to ship things is using greyhound bus. they will ship items as well as carry people.
Hope it helps
Bel

Hi Bel,
Thank you for that idea - honestly, I never thought of that!

Doug in Overland Park, KS

[cp1969]

I used to ship a lot of stuff via Yellow Freight using their 'Exact Express' service. I was always amazed at how cheap it was. Admittedly, my stuff was bigger than what you're doing but you might get a quote from them.

The cheapest way is for someone on the other end to take it to their terminal and then have them hold it at the terminal at KC for you to pick it up there. I don't know if they will even pick up or deliver at residences but even if they do, that is where they stick it to you.

[cazboy]

Originally Posted by cp1969

I used to ship a lot of stuff via Yellow Freight using their 'Exact Express' service. I was always amazed at how cheap it was. Admittedly, my stuff was bigger than what you're doing but you might get a quote from them.

The cheapest way is for someone on the other end to take it to their terminal and then have them hold it at the terminal at KC for you to pick it up there. I don't know if they will even pick up or deliver at residences but even if they do, that is where they stick it to you.

Thanks for the tip! I never heard fo Yellow Freight, I'll check it out. I also looked at Greyhound PackageXpress and they look like a good way to do it also.

Thanks guys, I think I have enough tips to send me on my merry way!!

[caydriver]

I have heard that you can ship by train in a container. Never tried it so don't know.

[KevK]

Any freight company- terminal to terminal- really not expensive but has to be boxed or strapped on a skid (pallet).

[quesera]

cazboy-

My mom moved back to Hays from Phoenix a little over ten years ago. She lived in Ph. for 12 years, but kept the family home in Hays, so she didn't need to bring back a lot of the things she accumulated while living in Ph. She donated a lot of stuff, but still had more than she could pack into the back end of her pick-up. She contacted moving companies to see if they had any moves scheduled to Hays, or the general vicinity, that she could piggy back the remainder of her things in the truck, if there was room. There were quite a few actually. She said the cost was very low (She's a cheap kraut, so it really must have been the typical definition of low), since they were making the trip, anyway.

It wouldn't hurt to check that route out.

Good luck to you!