What is the cheapest way to move from Seattle to Montana?

Question

I am moving from Seattle to MT in a couple months, and was wondering the best way to do it. I have a 2 bedroom apt, and a car that I will be taking with me. No living stiuation in MT yet, but I'm thinking just getting an apartment with a short lease for starters. I don't have a ton of money saved, and will be moving by myself in Decemeber, so it might be tricky driving over the winter passes in a u-haul pulling my car! Was just looking for some advice...

Answer 1

Get a keg of Starbucks coffee in Seattle and a U-Haul truck.

Get your Seattle friends to help load the truck and drink the coffee.

Hitch your car to the truck.

Drive truck to Montana.

Unhitch your car from truck.

Set up an arsenal of weapons on the front lawn.

Wait for survivalists to show up to recruit you.

Have them help you unload truck.

Give survivalists the weapons.

Return truck to U-Haul.

Answer 2

You might consider selling most of your stuff, renting a small U-Haul trailer to attach to the back of your car, and get some used furnishings in MT. I rented a U-Haul truck with a trailer to move from AZ to TX (1999) and it cost me about $1400 for the 26 foot truck, car trailer, and gas at $1.30/gallon. If you've never driven a truck that size, they can be somewhat tricky until you get the hang of it.

Figure in a smaller truck, which might save you $100-$200, but gas is about double what it was then, so even doing it yourself will cost substantially.

Used furniture can usually be bought for a song, plus you save the hassle of moving all that heavy stuff, and with the money that you make from the sale, you're that much further ahead.

Answer 3

While it may be difficult to drive, your best bet for saving money is to rent a truck and drive. Penske is usually the best price. I have used them a couple of times for moving and their quotes are much more reasonable than the competition, plus one way long distance moves usually come with unlimited mileage, unlike other companies.


My wife and I did a similar thing when we moved a 4 bedroom house from Mississippi to Indiana. It cost us about $1300 plus gas for 2 26' trucks and two car haulers. That may sound like a lot but it's cheap compared to the $4000 a moving company would have cost.

Answer 4

Sounds to me a plausable solution. But you might try renting the U-haul truck for a day to take a test run through those mountain passes especially if ya never drove a big truck before. It wouldn't show you how pulling your car would affect the driving but it would give you a better feel anyway. If still in doubt, you might better find someone with the experience to do it for you. People normally need to take instruction courses and testing before they do this. Above all, Be responsible in your decision. Not only to yourself, but for others on the road as well.

Answer 5

Migrate with birds.