Ask HN: I am moving from WA to FL. How do I move my stuff?

2 points by j765 2y ago ↗ HN

I have a full 1-bed apartment, one big dog, and no car.

At minimum, I need to keep the dog and a couple suitcases worth of irreplaceables, which can cheaply be done with an airplane. The rest of it can be tossed if the cost to ship is too high

I got a quote of $5k from upack and $2.5k from u-box. I'm trying to find something under $2k, but I haven't had much luck. Any suggestions?

I don't mind 30+ day shipping times, so I tried looking into freight (ocean and train), but a quick search didn't yield anything. It seems like those aren't really available to ordinary consumers...

I also don't mind having the goods delivered to a hub. The origin and destination are close to the largest city in each state, so I'd imagine there'd be plenty.

I'd rather not do a road trip unless it's dirt cheap AND comfy. Closest thing I could find is a $4k one-way RV rental.

2 comments

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ijhuygft776 2y ago ↗

Sell/donate most of your stuff if you have some time (Craigslist, FB's market, etc...).

If you only have a couple suitcases, take the train?

maxwell 2y ago ↗

I used to work on moving marketplaces. Not aware of an accessible way for U.S. consumers to access rail or sea for HHG shipments. A self-pack container with shipping sounds like your best option. If you're on the fence about keeping your stuff, be aware that for long haul moves, the cost to ship is usually higher than the value of the contents. I'd recommend also getting quotes from ZippyShell and estessuremove.com.