getting my 89 Astro back to New England

[Rinny]

Pob could have it shipped for 1200

[Rockridge]

Pob could have it shipped for 1200

That's great advice. Would be fully insured by them, no stress

I was getting quotes in that neighborhood when i was looking at an astro in LA.

[markmitch]

I looked into that a few years ago and I found out there are so many scams involved with that industry such as they either will not unload the vehicle unless you come up with another grand or they put it in storage and will keep it there till you pay another 500 and even charge storage. I got quoted 1200, 2200, 800, and so on and yet they mostly use one of the three transportation companies to get jobs?

[pmou]

hmm i can ask who we used, but my sister took a job in california and we had her car shipped there no problem (from Massachusetts). Even filled it with junk although you aren't really supposed to

if it's something you are considering let me know i can find out more about what we used

[markmitch]

Yes please do , Thanks, Mark

[Rinny]

I am looking into getting an '03 from down south shipped as we speak. 800 to 1150 door to door. But ya you have to do your homework there are a lot of scams going on in that industry. Just had a Tacoma shipped to RI from south Dakota no problem but the dealer arraigned it. I got a quote from those guys for 1250, lil pricey.

[markmitch]

OK Thanks, Mark

[AstroWill]

LOL, guess we have to start adding standard disclaimers around here.
Warning: Contents of coffee cup may be hot.

I posted the link that shows the laws for flat towing in all us states. My van is over 3000 lbs so it is not legal.

Mark, while you have decided to go another route, I was just stating an option. It IS in fact legal with the proper tow bar and braking setup.


Anyway, if this comes up in search here are a couple examples, a tow-bar that has the brake system built in, and an add-on as well:
https://amzn.to/3nhCRHT
https://amzn.to/3rURUuG

There are more, but they are a simple google search away for those that care to find them.

And they even have the emergency brakeaway as required by a lot of states. https://amzn.to/3bh3ZV2

[markmitch]

Oh I know you can buy them for more weight I was talking about the u haul bars, it really does not make much sense to buy a bar for a one time use. But I appreciate your help. We still have time to figure this all out. We are currently looking at a southern home for winter so if that happens we may just rent a moving truck and trailer like we did 7 years ago when we moved here.

[AstroWill]

Oh I know you can buy them for more weight I was talking about the u haul bars, it really does not make much sense to buy a bar for a one time use. But I appreciate your help. We still have time to figure this all out. We are currently looking at a southern home for winter so if that happens we may just rent a moving truck and trailer like we did 7 years ago when we moved here.

I don't think U-haul does tow bars, only tow dollies and trailers. Sure, it may not make sense for a 1 time use unless it's $500 to rent what you need. Or purchase one for $1,000(I got mine used but in mint condition) to $1500, then sell it like I did. Then you get to use it for $0 or even make money on it. Either way, just giving options. Of course if you are renting a $3,000+ U-haul already, what is a few extra $$.


Tow Bar:

Tow Dolly:

towdolly.jpg (15.38 KiB) Viewed 288 times

Trailer:

cartrailer.jpg (11.37 KiB) Viewed 288 times

[AstroWill]

And most tow bars are rated at 5000 lbs and my van weighs is closer to 6000 lbs.

Was just thinking about this today after towing another van home recently. Have you weighed your van? Should easily be under 4500lbs, maybe you are looking at GVW(Gross Vehicle Weight) instead of curb weight?
With your shorty, probably closer to 4,000lbs

[markmitch]

OK so I spoke to a guy on facebook that used a dolly from uhaul to tow an Astro from New York to Florida and never had an issue with the towing or the police. I have a friend back in New Hampshire that has a tow dolly he bought and he offered to sell it to me next time I go to NH again. So we are going to drive there come spring with both our truck and the new(to us) 03 Astro. I will be towing a pop up camper I use to haul stuff with tools and parts inside. The trailer and truck will be left in NH and I can tow the empty car dolly back to California so it is here when we actually move. We have a 97 ford e350 with a 10 cylinder engine. I will use it to tow my Astro to NH with the dolly. I will remove my drive shafts as needed and install two donut spares on the front. This is the plan for now. I may also buy some towing lights to put on the top of my van and plug them into the ford.

[markmitch]

My van will most likely be towed on a u haul dolly from California to New Hampshire by the Ford e350 in April /May
I will load my tools into the Silverado and tow a pop up camper to New Hampshire in March get there unload park the camper and the truck then after a week or so fly back to California. Then what ever we decide to take to NH will be loaded into the ford then load the Astro on the dolly and drive one more time. This way the ford will not be loaded down and towing. I still need to go to pick n pull and get an extra donut spare tire. The tires that were on my 98 parts van are very new and two of them will be on the rear of my Astro-I will get new tires after the move once its drivable again. Thanks for all the help. Mark

[AstroWill]

If you use a full sized tow dolly, you shouldn't need the skinny spare tire, only if you are using the smaller u-haul dolly.

[markmitch]

Using the u-haul dolly my friend in NH sold the dolly he had, so u haul it is. turn a five day trip into a 6 or 7 just to be safe. Why rush could be the last move like this for me due to health issues. Even if we bu a home in Texas of where ever my van and tools are staying in NH. I will put them in my will for my oldest stepson since he is the only car guy in my family. He has a 11 second Mazda RX7.

[MI_Ghost]

With that E350 just buy a good used 7000# car hauler trailer.
With the mountains and high winds across WY & NE trying to dolly tow will be challenging and stressful.

Don't need the trailer after the move. Craigslist it to recoup some $$$

As far as flat towing is concerned.
Properly rated towbar and safety chains with working lights on rear of towed vehicle.
Remove front bumper and use bumper mount holes to build hitch crossmember to attach towbar.

[sixsix]

With that E350 just buy a good used 7000# car hauler trailer.
With the mountains and high winds across WY & NE trying to dolly tow will be challenging and stressful.

Don't need the trailer after the move. Craigslist it to recoup some $$$

As far as flat towing is concerned.
Properly rated towbar and safety chains with working lights on rear of towed vehicle.
Remove front bumper and use bumper mount holes to build hitch crossmember to attach towbar.

Haha - save your breath.

[MI_Ghost]

With that E350 just buy a good used 7000# car hauler trailer.
With the mountains and high winds across WY & NE trying to dolly tow will be challenging and stressful.

Don't need the trailer after the move. Craigslist it to recoup some $$$

As far as flat towing is concerned.
Properly rated towbar and safety chains with working lights on rear of towed vehicle.
Remove front bumper and use bumper mount holes to build hitch crossmember to attach towbar.

Haha - save your breath.

Still waiting to exhale

[markmitch]

not sure how flat towing verses dolly towing would be that much different to be honest. Buying a tow bar then modifying it would be more hassle since I only have a 110 mig welder which is not enough to weld something that strong in my opinion. As far as the dolly if there is wind blowing that strong then I will have to go slow or stop for the night early.

[MI_Ghost]

not sure how flat towing verses dolly towing would be that much different to be honest.... As far as the dolly if there is wind blowing that strong then I will have to go slow or stop for the night early.

Dolly towing creates an additional pivot point that makes more slop/movement in the towing connection. I often see people dolly towing totally oblivious to the fact that the vehicle they are towing is swaying like a fishes tail behind them. I have even seen wrecks were the towed vehicle swayed enough to cause the driver to lose control.

When you cross WY and see all the big fence like objects. Those are wind breaks. 25-30 mph winds are the normal light winds. NE does not have any wind breaks. Not even trees! Even a semi truck does the white knuckle dance in those winds. April is still winter across the Sierras an Wasatch ranges. Watch the weather and drive safe. Plan on a 6-8 day trip towing with a dolly.

As a OTR truck driver for 30 years it is a safety issue to me. I've said my peace. You will do as you wish. Enough said.