Shipping the S10 with a moving company

[coastie]

Has anybody shipped a motorcycle with a moving company before? I will be moving from Jacksonville to the Houston area the beginning of September and i'm thinking of sending my ride with the movers. I would really like to put it on a trailer and take it with me, but I do not want to purchase a trailer for a one use trip and renting a trailer won't work because I could be a few weeks before I have a place and I don't have anywhere I can unload the bike when I get there. So if you have used movers before, do you have any advise on precautions I should take before letting them take it? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

John

 

[MikeBear]

I shipped my bike from Texas to New York once. I was in New York. They came and picked it up at my friends house. I wish I was there at that time. Shipping company screwed up handle bars. Those f@ckers had no idea, how to strap it to their pallet. Make sure you are the one to strap you bike on and don't forget to drain fuel. In 2005 it was $675 and took them 2 weeks to get it here. Hope it helps.

 

[jajpko]

Has anybody shipped a motorcycle with a moving company before? I will be moving from Jacksonville to the Houston area the beginning of September and i'm thinking of sending my ride with the movers. I would really like to put it on a trailer and take it with me, but I do not want to purchase a trailer for a one use trip and renting a trailer won't work because I could be a few weeks before I have a place and I don't have anywhere I can unload the bike when I get there. So if you have used movers before, do you have any advise on precautions I should take before letting them take it? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

John

I'm not in the Houston area(Fort Worth), but if you want, you can store the bike in my shop. Sold my boat so have some extra room.

Jim

 

[Karson]

I'm not in the Houston area(Fort Worth), but if you want, you can store the bike in my shop. Sold my boat so have some extra room.

Jim

This. This is what makes this community rock. Good luck with the move, nonetheless.

 

[Cykel]

I'm in Austin, and ditto Japako's offer...have space in the garage.

Can't offer any advice on the movers. I almost did it once, but rode the bike instead. To me it would be a spur of the moment call I think, based on how I felt when interacting with the movers. With mine I would have trusted but I just really wanted to ride ::001::

However it happens, look forward to riding some Texas Hill Country with ya.

 

[BUGKILLER]

Sent my 2003 ultra classic from NJ To AZ. I was going to use a MC shipping Co. About $600. but the salesman said the moveres could could the job. Long story short they Fd up my bike royaly. Yes thier insurance paid but I wished I would have just hired a pro to do it. ::010::

 

[Combo]

Same here John. I have room in my shop and room if you purchase a trailer. I am south of Houston close to Galveston with 4 & 1/2 acres.

No problem if you you are in need and welcome to Texas.

Bruce

 

[bloodline]

I just shipped mine home (sc) from California via forward air. It was expensive but perfect. Their crate is steel and you tie it down and remove it from the crate. I wouldn't trust any company to handle it for me.

In an ideal scenario, if I were moving halfway across the country, I'd leave the movers to all of my shit, except my bike. I'd catch up to the movers when I could, on my bike.

 

[simmons1]

I would ride to Houston, leave it one of the guys houses in this thread that offered to store it for and fly back to Jax. If you timed it right you could probably do this on a two or three day trip.

 

[coastie]

Thanks a bunch for the offers and suggestions. I only have 60 days from when I was told I need to move until I have to be in Houston, so the options you all gave me, made it a bunch easier. I really did not want movers touching my motorcycle, especially since the government uses the lowest bidder for the job. Combo, PM sent. I'm looking forward to hitting hill country with the texas crew! ::012:: Ill make sure I introduce myself in the Texas thread when I finalize my move ::025::

 

[Yamaguy55]

While I haven't personally used these guys, they come highly recommended: http://www.idtransport.com/ They are bike specific, and if you look closely, they even support the remote buying crowd: (eBay, Craigslist, etc)

I think if you get the right mover on the right day withy the right crew and they aren't in numbskull land, you could be alright. I had two bikes shipped to the US from an overseas location many years ago, as part of my move, and had no problems. But many, if not most, have. It isn't so much that the government uses low bidder, but more who they get with that low bid. Retired Navy here; some of my moves were trouble/damage/drama free, others were a nightmare. Many from the same major company (United Van, Allied, etc), but the local crew made all the difference.

If it were me, I'd do the ride out/fly back thing and that way you'll know how your Tenere arrives: you'll be on it! That way, if it goes poorly, you can yell at/beat on the goon that screwed it up all the way home. 8)

 

[OX-34]

I used http://www.motorcycleshippers.com ::008::

I bought the FJR over the internet from California and had it shipped to Georgia, all via email. The bike arrived without a scratch.

Next month I may call on them to ship the same bike from Denver to PA.

 

[Psyduck]

I don't trust any shippers. Some work, some will mess up your baby.
When we moved from Alabama to Oregon a few years back I moved 2 bikes (and lots of other stuff) in a big U-Haul trailer.
Combine that with the offers above to store your bike (great community): Problem solved.
If I remember correctly the rent of the trailer wasn't more than $300.

 

[coastie]

Yep, I'm going to rent a trailer and haul it. Ill keep those motorcycle shippers in mind for the future, they might come in handy.

 

[cottons]

Coastie,
You can buy a 4x7 open expanded metal trailer with a fold down ramp for $500.00 at Tractor Supply. I think the closest one to you is in south Orange Park on Hwy 21 (Blanding)

 

[coastie]

Thank you cottons, I'll check it out.