Moving to Maine during the winter...... (Portland, Calais: renting, hotels, houses)

[AlisonL]

We used ABF when we moved out here, and would use them again in a heartbeat. Let them doing all the worrying and traveling in bad weather. I got a quote from them for using 19 linear feet and ended using an extra foot. That only cost us $91 extra.
You can email or call them for a quote. You pay by the amount of space you use in the trailor. In fact, our things arrived here 3 days earlier than they told us.
They pay all the gas and tolls and such, you don't have to worry about a thing other than driving yourself to Maine. Just be sure you pack things the way they advise and you won't have any problems. We had zero breakage.

[AlisonL]

Oh yea, you can claim your moving expenses on income taxes too. So save all the reciepts for the boxes and packing tape.

[Elcarim]

See my note above about the Penske quote - that was without the AAA discount. I'm not sure why you're being quoted so high. We're much farther away than you are.

[AlisonL]

El, have you figured in cost of fuel with the Penske? The quote is just for the truck. ABF includes everything in their quotes.

[Elcarim]

Yes, it's $818 for the truck and we estimate $1200 for fuel at 2200 miles/8 mpg. They said the truck would average 8-12 mpg and we estimated $4.00/gal for diesel.

When I checked ABF, their quote for Feb, door to door was $3200 for 16' of space. I need to find out from Will how he arrived at the great quote he got earlier. On our limited budget, another $1000 is worth saving.

[AlisonL]

Figure on lower milage and make darn sure that the truck heater works. We figured fuel at $5/gal when we did our planning for the move out here. Our quote from ABF was much lower than yours, I cannot remember exactly what it was.
Also be sure that you have plenty of extra just in case you should get snowbound somewhere for a day or two. Its entirely possible. I don't mean to sound like a wet blanket, just traveling through some areas won't be fun in February. Also you have 9 days from the time you leave TX to return the truck to Bangor, what happens if you end up being delayed and miss that deadline? Personally I would wait until May to make the move, but that is just me. I've seen late April storms in Maine with 23 inches of snow.
And go around NYC not through it.

[island mermaid]

El, I think you might want to increase your budget for diesel. I would figure closer to $5 per gal just to be safe, unless something drastic happens between now and Feb and prices drop. Just a thought...

[Elcarim]

Diesel here is running $3.77/gal, so that's why I estimated $4. Is it that high there?

[AlisonL]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

Diesel here is running $3.77/gal, so that's why I estimated $4. Is it that high there?

Who knows what the price of it will be in Feb. That is the middle of winter and prices always go up then. I would still plan on it being $5/gallon. As some states are going to be higher than others.

Another thing to bear in mind is if you should run into a snowstorm in say, Tenn, that storm will follow you all the way to Maine.

[BacktoNE]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

See my note above about the Penske quote - that was without the AAA discount. I'm not sure why you're being quoted so high. We're much farther away than you are.

Makes no sense at all, does it? I think when we get closer to an actual move date, I will call them and inquire in person.