Facing a Dilemma With Safe and Moving, Need Advice

[woad_yurt]

Evergreen:
The bed tilts on the little trailer I mentioned above. Put down a few pieces of pipe for rollers, tilt the safe onto its back and roll it the rest of the way onto the trailer. It's not difficult.

I saw some Mennonite guys deliver and place a giant 12X20 shed (it was more like a little house) with a few pieces of 2" PVC pipe. They were moving it all over very easily and that thing weighed way more than does your safe.

 

[snorky18]

We went through the same set of choices as the OP when I was interviewing in Alaska (we're in NC right now).

We had 1 car at the time, so our tenative plan was to buy a 3/4 ton or 1 ton pickup, sell the car, buy 24' enclosed trailer used, and sell it when we get there for more than we bought it for down here. Once up there we probably would have kept the truck.

Your highlander can definitely tow a trailer with the safe as long as you are careful with your speed and engine loading (75MPH up the mountain towing a trailer is impressive, but horrible for your vehicle), and have a good (big) transmission cooler (I'm assuming it's automatic tranny, don't think they make stick shift Highlanders).

In terms of sleeping in the truck, one alternative that I use is to back the trailer up to a retaining wall, building, or other fixed object to prevent access to the door. That way someone would have to move the truck/trailer forward to get to the door. Use the disc locks for the trailer door if they will fit.

And always, always have the trailer door locked. When we moved into an apartment in downtown Charlotte 5 years ago I left the trailer unlocked one night b/c all that was inside it was a moving blanket or two that I had not requested; someone had left them in the trailer before us. The next morning the blankets had been rearranged considerably in the trailer, and it looked like someone (probably homeless) made a bed out of them. I'm just glad the person(s) were gone when I got up to go return the trailer.

 

[jkingrph]

If you plan on using a trailer, take your SUV to a good transmission shop and have an auxilary( larger) transmission cooler installed. Two or three hundred there can save a couple of thousand when considering a burned out tranny, crossing the mountains.

 

[wishin]

If you plan on using a trailer, take your SUV to a good transmission shop and have an auxilary( larger) transmission cooler installed. Two or three hundred there can save a couple of thousand when considering a burned out tranny, crossing the mountains.

Good advice if you'll be hauling the safe and a carload of weight that exceeds your GCVW. I gather you won't have any passengers. Otherwise, it's not needed. Double check with your dealer.

 

[SafeGuy]

A1 did a good job of covering the bases on this scenario, but there is another option you may want to consider. Call around to a few freight brokers who specialize in truckload shipments. Lots of them have offices in larger truck stops. You may get lucky and find a load headed in your direction where there would be room for a small safe such as you have.

You won't get it delivered to your door in such a scenario, but you could make arrangments to pick it up at the point the rest of the merchandise was delivered. You'll also have to make arrangements to get it to the point the other freight would be picked up, but even a small import pick-up will handle 650 lbs. For that matter, check around with friends who may have friends who drive trucks for a living.

 

[chaim]

Since you currently own a decent tow vehicle, those people who suggested a trailer have a good idea (probably better than mine). They aren't that expensive, and if you buy used, you can probably sell it for what you bought it for, and you can do it all in one trip (only one vehicle to drive).

A 2008 Highlander with the V6 and tow package is rated for 5K pounds towing. Without the tow package the V6 is 2K. Since you'll be going cross country, and driving over the mountains (those Western mountains can be pretty steep) you probably want to stay 20% or so below the max tow rating, so you can probably tow around 4K (this includes anything you have inside the vehicle) so you can probably keep the safe and a good deal of the rest of your stuff if you'd like. If you don't have the tow package you can probably have it retrofitted, the Highlander V6 tow package includes a heavy duty radiator and fan, a transmission oil cooler, and a heavy duty alternator.

If you stay in hotels, several people made some interesting suggestions to keep your stuff safe. I know you don't want to sleep in your vehicle, but have you thought about camping? Bring an air mattress for comfort and a small dome tent (7x7 or 8x8 should give you enough room to be comfortable while being small enough for one person to set up easily) and you can travel with far less cost and if someone tries to break into your vehicle you'll be more likely to hear it (with only nylon between you and the outdoors).

 

[leadcounsel]

As for moving the safe, you and a few friends can move the 650 lbs safe using proper technique. It'll be difficult, but search THR for suggestions including using a dolly, a 4 wheel cart made from 2x4s and large wheels, and rolling the safe on golf balls or PVC pipe or pulling it on a strip of carpet.

 

[MinnMooney]

I think if you figure that you're going to lose $300-$400 off the purchase price (realisticly more like $500-$600 in your small town) and then have to pay movers $150-$200 to help you move a new one into your new place after you purchase one, you'll probably be better off just moving it across country. That way, you'll have a trailer to move several other "just can't leave behind" items.

 

[Roger G]

After reading some very good suggestions above,I would rent a 24 ft U Haul or Ryder and a car trailer.They both rent them. Sell everything you can do without. Load the safe with all your guns in it,packed with moving pads of course. Load your car on the trailer and packet it full of your clothing and what ever and hit the road. You can move your safe with a refrigerator dolly( UHaul rents those too) with a little help on steps and there will be a loading ramp that is with the truck. I think you will do just fine. Big step clear across the country GOOD LUCK TO U
Roger

 

[NMGonzo]

LTL ...

 

[rattletrap1970]

Sell it and buy one when you get to your destination. Then the place you bought it from delivers it for you too.