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Next month marks the 4 year anniversary of fulfilling a childhood dream of mine, moving to Colorado from my native New Jersey. When I moved, I was no stranger to the costs and rigors of moving, but the long distance move was a whole new experience. If moving can be expensive, it pales in comparison to long distance moving. Luckily, there are a variety of options, and a frugal person can make their way across country (or countries) without breaking the bank.

Not all of these options will work for everyone. If you don’t have a driver’s license or have a medical condition which limits your ability to drive for extended periods, renting equipment and transporting it yourself won’t work. If the place you are leaving or are arriving has limited space, a large truck may not be able to reach it. Consider your circumstances to determine the best option for your long distance move.

Renting a Trailer

Does your vehicle have a trailer hitch? If so, you may be able to rent a trailer. This option will work best if you aren’t transporting furniture, as cars and small SUV’s will only accept up to a Class II hitch with a maximum of 3500 pounds. The largest cargo trailer available from U-Haul weighs nearly 2000 pounds by itself! Since it only has a volume of just over 300 cubic feet, filling it with furniture is going

If you are considering this route, there are some things you need to consider.

• Most rental places will not rent a trailer to be pulled by a convertible or soft-top. There may be minimum weight requirements as well.
• Determine the towing capacity of your vehicle. This will be in the owner’s manual and can be found online. Exceeding this weight can damage your transmission.
• When hauling a trailer, drive slower. 55 MPH (
• Backing up a trailer is tricky! If you’ve never done it before, don’t try it for your long distance move. (more…)