Transporting My Stuff to Another State?

I would check to see if they have a Uhaul or Rider truck rental place where you are moving. I have never driven to Alaska but I believe their is a car ferry that makes it a pretty reasonable trip. The cost would come in well under 5200. Just make sure you try out the truck and have confidence in it before you hit the road. It's surprising what they send people out in. Ofcourse, I am in Washington, driving to Alaska isn't out of the question for me. If I lived in Florida I wouldn't dream of it.

Beyond that, seems like UPS ground can be pretty reasonable for boxes under 70 pounds. But you have to pack them VERY well if you want them to get there unharmed.

Maybe sending the boxes UPS and then finding other arrangements for the furniture would work.

5200 seems pretty high, I would call around with that figure and see how much other moving companies might be willing to beat it. And consider shipping companies as well.

For $5200 you could buy a used truck and drive it yourself. You could resell it when you get there.

check out http://www.upack.com
They do the driving and everything. I think it cost me around 450 to move my stuff from So Cal to WA. You pack it up, they section it off from the rest of their truck (they use a semi trailer) and then they will deliver it on the day you need.

My sister used to live in Anchorage. I guess since they have to ship by air over some water, it is as expensive as an international move & so they charge you the same. Sorry to say, $5000 sounds about right. I bet UPS ground won't go to Alaska. You could drive, but it is REALLY far - over 1400 miles just from Vancouver to Whitehorse in the Yukon! Road conditions are not always good. Why are you moving? Is it for work? Won't they pay relocation?

Tawnda

May 11, 20040 found this helpful

I live in Alaska and we drove up the Alcan in 1995. We sold almost everything we had to do it. Granted, our things weren't worth bringing up either. If you have real nice things than it is worth it, because it is expensive to replace.

There are quite a few options of getting your belongings here. One, as someone else suggested, is to buy your own U-haul type truck or a closed trailor, horse trailor that can be closed off, snow machine trailor, etc. and sell it once you get here. There is NO LACK of someone willing to buy things of that nature in Alaska. I would HIGHLY recommend that it be a closed trailor or truck though. You never know what weather you will encounter no matter what time of year you move.

Some friends of ours recently moved to California and the company they used brought a shipping container to their home and parked it (it is on a diesel trailor) you pack your own things and they return at an agreed time and deliver it to the docks. They flew to California and within a few weeks they had their belongings once again delivered to their front door for them to unpack. If you are interested in knowing the name of that company I can find out for you. You can email me directly at tator2ter@worldnet.att.net. In fact they also had a vintage car they drove into the container as well.

Depending on where you are moving from, you can make your way to Washington and take the ferry the rest of the way. I had a friend move to Arizona two years ago and she was quoted around $1200 just for her van, herself and her four kids.

SOmething to think about also if you are driving yourself is you have to come through Canadian customs. They can and will search your vehicle and you need to know what is and is not allowed through the border. Guns and ammunition are VERY limited. If you have guns and ammunition that you want to bring with you, I would highly recommend sending it with someone that may be flying or send it with your items that is being shipped because you may lose it at the border. Also... fruit, plants, etc. are not allowed either. I would HIGHLY recommend you purchasing a book called the Milepost. This gives you the do's and don'ts, maps, businesses, it tells you where you can get gas, etc. It is the Alcan Bible as far as I am concerned! Also if you have pets, you MUST go to your veterinarian and ask them for proper papers, shots and identification for your pet because the Canadian border will ask for it. You cannot bring more than I believe one bottle of wine or alcohol through, you would have to verify what the current code is. Things that some may not think about and you can lose it at the border.

Like I said, if you want to talk more, you can email me directly.

Tawnda

we moved from NY to Kansas ( a three bedroom apartment ) for less then 900 bucks - ABF - they are a commercial truck - you pack it they drive it, and deliver it to your door where ever you are ( it took a bout seven days ) but it was great - and we unpacked it too - but that price included taxes, gas and tolls

I AM MOVING FROM OHIO TO WA IN THE SPRING AND AM LOOKING FOR THE CHEAPEST WAY TO DO IT. ANY SUGESTIONS? LIVESON480AOL

Norma Parker

May 6, 20080 found this helpful

I moved from LA to Hawaii 13 years ago. I had 18 years of stuff to sort, ship, or rather I had to decide what to take with me. After checking moving prices, I bit the bullet and made a list of every piece of furniture I owned and put it on the condo bulletin board. The best thing I ever did. I mailed by US mail my books, music, tv, clothes, files(paper only),few pots and pans, my pillow , couple of towels, some sheets. Lots of things can be mailed 4th class, much cheaper. Books, music, files. Everything I couldn't sell, or give away, I packed in large boxes and checked them in baggage on my flight of LA. I mailed my little tv too. I didn't even have an apt., a girl I met on the plane and I hit it off when I watched her kids while she went to the restroom on the plane. She drove me around and we found an apt. I still live in that bldg., and I bought a condo in the bldg. a few years ago. Leave that stuff behind. If you can't pack it or mail it forget it.

Hope this helps.

Norma J.