How to move guns?
- Thread starter Kevinch
- Start date
- Status
workingstiff
Member
Trust yourself only
Moving companies and moving truck drivers hire "day workers" to load and unload the haul. The day workers that did my last move appeared to be recently paroled felons and/or pipe fiends. (I was there on both ends.)
Keep your guns under your control at all times. I didn't even trust the movers with my remote controls.
Moving companies and moving truck drivers hire "day workers" to load and unload the haul. The day workers that did my last move appeared to be recently paroled felons and/or pipe fiends. (I was there on both ends.)
Keep your guns under your control at all times. I didn't even trust the movers with my remote controls.
You don't want to put your guns into the control of someone else. Especially when you have no way of knowing if they are "prohibited persons" under the law. Even if everything else came out well, you would have commited a felony.
redneck2
Member
No way in hell would I let movers have possession on my guns. I've had movers relocate my stuff three times. Only time something wasn't lost/stolen was when I had small private outfit do it.
Mayflower broke my dishes, ruined two pieces of upholstered funiture, and stole over 200 albums (back in the day of real records). When I tried to file a claim "how do we really know you had them?? We need receipts". Yeah, like I kept a receipt for every record I bought.
Only way MIGHT be if they were in some type of cargo container that was padlocked and put in the very front of the truck. Then they'd have to unload everything to get to it.
One time one of the guys was talking about going back to his other job. So I ask the driver who helped unload. He said he goes to a truck stop and finds a driver that's out of driving hours and pays him cash to help.
Mayflower broke my dishes, ruined two pieces of upholstered funiture, and stole over 200 albums (back in the day of real records). When I tried to file a claim "how do we really know you had them?? We need receipts". Yeah, like I kept a receipt for every record I bought.
Only way MIGHT be if they were in some type of cargo container that was padlocked and put in the very front of the truck. Then they'd have to unload everything to get to it.
Move all your valuables yourself. I had a friend who worked for a popular local moving company here for a summer while he was in college. The partners he was teamed up with were frequently on work release from jail and he'd have to drop them back off there after their shift was done.
22-rimfire
Member
When I have moved interstate and when a moving company was involved, I still moved all my firearms myself along with any other significant valuables (art work, jewelry, coins, other collectables, ammunition, etc.) Rent a U-Haul trailer if you have to. Keep the good stuff close to you. No one cares about the stuff as much as you do. Carry enough clothing for at least a normal work week along with any other stuff you use that you don't want to buy again. Movers misplace stuff and sometimes it takes a while for them to find it; sometimes they never find it. Don't trust them ever unless you have no other option.
rdaines
Member
I'll be facing issue in a few years when we move from St. Louis to Arizona. I have a pickup which will be used but not with a locking cover. The drive takes a minimum of two days with a stay in a motel. I have not decided what to do that night but depending on how much the cab it packed, the firearms could stay in there.
22-rimfire
Member
Invest in a lockable trailer. Useful item to have available to you for many purposes. My pickup would not hold all of my things in one trip. If the stuff is not locked up at night, I unload completely at the motel of all valuables that are important to me. It is a real pain in the you know what. Let the movers move a gun safe and just put other less important things in it.
10-Ring
Member
No one will handle your firearms w/ as much as you will -- bonded or not! Move the guns yourself 
Cosmoline
Member
I have a hard time believing someone else's insurance is going to cover your gun collection in full. I'm not sure what the concern is about moving them. Just don't let them out of your sight until they're safe.
Regolith
Member
I'm going to have to agree with everyone here and say move them yourself. You are far more likely to have them damaged or stolen when in someone else's care than if they are in your own. And even if the company says it will replace them, many companies have a history of not fallowing through, or if they do its a fraction of the price of the real value of the items.
Also, a bit off topic...
RE: Doc2005
That's criminal. I've heard of cops confiscating firearms illegally before, and I'm appalled every time I hear it. Far as I'm concerned, that cop committed a felony and should have been arrested like any other scumbag, but unfortunately its difficult to prove and it becomes your word against theirs. :banghead:
Also, a bit off topic...
RE: Doc2005
That's criminal. I've heard of cops confiscating firearms illegally before, and I'm appalled every time I hear it. Far as I'm concerned, that cop committed a felony and should have been arrested like any other scumbag, but unfortunately its difficult to prove and it becomes your word against theirs. :banghead:
Guns R Tools
Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2005
- Messages
- 75
As far as ammo goes have it shipped the day before the move from local UPS/FEDEX. I bet you will be there, in your new place, before the ammo shows up.
Maybe ship long guns as well, insured.
Hand guns, put in a box disassembled, if you can, in your car, top it off with some clothing.
Good luck.
Maybe ship long guns as well, insured.
Hand guns, put in a box disassembled, if you can, in your car, top it off with some clothing.
Good luck.
Fulcrum of Evil
Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2007
- Messages
- 129
I'd recommend against Uhaul, given the quality of their equipment and the lack of guaranteed reservations, but self-moving is the way to go. I particularly like the idea behind pods, if not the price.
PatPatPat
member
Not one person dis-agreed! So far.
Make it legal transport and take out extra vehicle insurance coverage!
Don't you dare try and risk it! Fresh stolen, guns are a very valuable commodity on the black market/drug/terrorist/cashmoney market!
Keep'em true!
If you have CCW, have permit ready, beacuse YOU or passenger should carry too! (IF you can across them state borders) And a tracer vehicle. Preferably with a digital camcorder on board! (or they CCW)
Cover it all!!
Call a Lawyer who knows gun laws or has CCW and owns guns! Ask him/her! Just to make sure.
This really depends on how many guns were talking about.
Make it legal transport and take out extra vehicle insurance coverage!
Don't you dare try and risk it! Fresh stolen, guns are a very valuable commodity on the black market/drug/terrorist/cashmoney market!
Keep'em true!
If you have CCW, have permit ready, beacuse YOU or passenger should carry too! (IF you can across them state borders) And a tracer vehicle. Preferably with a digital camcorder on board! (or they CCW)
Cover it all!!
Call a Lawyer who knows gun laws or has CCW and owns guns! Ask him/her! Just to make sure.
This really depends on how many guns were talking about.
Cacique500
Member
My last move was from VA to GA. Took all my important stuff with me (rifles/handguns loaded into a trailered car behind a u-haul). I had about 70k of ammo at the time that the moving company wouldn't touch - it went into the back of the u-haul that pulled the car. Also took *all* of my safe contents with me.
I moved all of my firearms and valuables for one main reason - I didn't want them to see what I had...period.
If you're moving a short distance as you say, there's no reason why you can't move them yourself.
I moved all of my firearms and valuables for one main reason - I didn't want them to see what I had...period.
If you're moving a short distance as you say, there's no reason why you can't move them yourself.
evan price
Member
It took me six+ trips with a 17' U-Haul last time I moved. I shudder to think how many loads it would be today (the garage was two truckloads by itself). Since I had eight non-op cars to move too on a trailer this was why I took the smaller truck, each trip moved another car.
My guns, TV remotes, important papers, valuable knick-knacks, computer CPUs, stamp collection, laptop, key safe with all my keys, family Bible, car titles, etc went in the large trunk of my personal car. I left that car with the important stuff at the new house, locked in the garage, with the fuel pump fuse removed and keys on my person, until I fully occupied the new house.
Everything else including shop tools, went in the U-haul and got padlocked. I was moving only two hours away but had a lot of trips so stuff got loaded and padlocked overnight.
I worked with a lot of guys who moved in college. It seems the two types of people that are hired by movers are college kids to make a quick buck or two, or else druggies & misc. felons who need some sort of job. Either category are basically not gonna give a rat's behind about your stuff beyond what the foreman can see at best, or will walk off with whatever they can find at worst. Heard far too many stories from movers about what they used to do to stuff to ever trust them with my important/valuable items. Far too many stories ended with, "So the customer said we took/broke this, and my foreman, a 6'8" tall 300 lb guy, smacks his fists together and says 'so what are you gonna do about it?' You want the rest of your stuff off this truck or not?"
My guns, TV remotes, important papers, valuable knick-knacks, computer CPUs, stamp collection, laptop, key safe with all my keys, family Bible, car titles, etc went in the large trunk of my personal car. I left that car with the important stuff at the new house, locked in the garage, with the fuel pump fuse removed and keys on my person, until I fully occupied the new house.
Everything else including shop tools, went in the U-haul and got padlocked. I was moving only two hours away but had a lot of trips so stuff got loaded and padlocked overnight.
I worked with a lot of guys who moved in college. It seems the two types of people that are hired by movers are college kids to make a quick buck or two, or else druggies & misc. felons who need some sort of job. Either category are basically not gonna give a rat's behind about your stuff beyond what the foreman can see at best, or will walk off with whatever they can find at worst. Heard far too many stories from movers about what they used to do to stuff to ever trust them with my important/valuable items. Far too many stories ended with, "So the customer said we took/broke this, and my foreman, a 6'8" tall 300 lb guy, smacks his fists together and says 'so what are you gonna do about it?' You want the rest of your stuff off this truck or not?"
fwm
Member
Moving
If you maintain homeowners insurance in one of the homes you are moving from or to, that should insure your weapons if you move them yourself. Would trust the movers, unless they do so much business with your company they have to make good to keep the business.
If I were moving, I'd use my CCW to protect the the long guns.
If you maintain homeowners insurance in one of the homes you are moving from or to, that should insure your weapons if you move them yourself. Would trust the movers, unless they do so much business with your company they have to make good to keep the business.
If I were moving, I'd use my CCW to protect the the long guns.
learn2shoot
Member
When I moved
I was calling around asking about rates, and if they would move the guns...
One place said that his company would not move guns,or ammunition because most of his guys were felons.
I cut him off and said thank you and hung up.
I moved my guns myself and was OC during the move.
I was calling around asking about rates, and if they would move the guns...
One place said that his company would not move guns,or ammunition because most of his guys were felons.
I cut him off and said thank you and hung up.
I moved my guns myself and was OC during the move.
Well...the responses are not unlike what I expected.
I'll have to move them in our cars. A large locking trailer is not an option - I don't own a truck and all 3 cars combined = 12 cylinders. I believe the max I can pull is 1500 Lbs (I have a hitch on 2 cars).
My issue is what might happen if I don't have a home purchased when mine sells. My company will put me up for 2 months in a furnished apartment, and store all my "stuff". Problem is, the moving company is the storage company too. And, while in storage, I cannot get to it.
Also, I'm concerned about when the house is being shown. As we are cleaning, throwing out, giving away, etc. all the things we no longer want & consider clutter, I'm losing all my best hiding places.
Until then, I'll have to see if I can find a relative that will let me store at their home.
The next home will have a safe - guaranteed.
I'll have to move them in our cars. A large locking trailer is not an option - I don't own a truck and all 3 cars combined = 12 cylinders. I believe the max I can pull is 1500 Lbs (I have a hitch on 2 cars).
My issue is what might happen if I don't have a home purchased when mine sells. My company will put me up for 2 months in a furnished apartment, and store all my "stuff". Problem is, the moving company is the storage company too. And, while in storage, I cannot get to it.
Also, I'm concerned about when the house is being shown. As we are cleaning, throwing out, giving away, etc. all the things we no longer want & consider clutter, I'm losing all my best hiding places.
Until then, I'll have to see if I can find a relative that will let me store at their home.
The next home will have a safe - guaranteed.
Vern Humphrey
Member
You don't need a large locking trailer, you only need a small locking trailer -- big enough to hold your guns and a few other valuables. When you get where you're going, rent a storage locker and put them in there.
22-rimfire
Member
Moving always costs time and money and almost always some of yours even when the company picks up the tab. One of the problems is that most of us can not afford to technically own two houses at the same time and often you need the cash from house #1 for the purchase of house #2 or at least house #1 needs to be sold or very very close to sale to qualify for the loan on house #2.
The how deal depends on your $means$. If you are pretty sure that you will not have house #2 by the time you sell #1, rent an apartment even if you have to pay for it and begin taking "valuables" to store in the apartment.
Many rent a storage unit during the showing period of house #1. Get one with security. The purpose is to have a safe place to stash furniture, general stuff, and so forth away from the house as all the junk detracts from the sale of house #1. People will be looking inside your closets. The more empty things are the better the showing. An clean empty house gives people a better impression of the scale and often makes things look larger. It is all about marketing. Marketing costs money. Your realtor is marketing and you are also participating in the marketing by keeping the house relatively clean and sparsely furnished. You do not want a garage just stuffed full of junk although if the storage unit is not a viable choice, then putting junk in the garage is a far better choice than leaving it inside the house. It would be possible to hide firearms inside a garage pretty easily.
A small trailer Uhaul syle can be towed easily with a 4cyl car. Again, they are quite a useful item to own and last a long time even stored outside. You would be amazed how much stuff you can get into one; far more than you can comfortably put inside your car.
Selling a home, packing, moving, buying a new home, and unpacking is a lot of work. It costs. All moving expenses are deductable (over 100 miles distance, I believe, location to location) if the company does not pickup the tab including temporary housing. I believe there is a time limit on the housing deduction.
I don't want anybody touching my guns except ME in a move.
The how deal depends on your $means$. If you are pretty sure that you will not have house #2 by the time you sell #1, rent an apartment even if you have to pay for it and begin taking "valuables" to store in the apartment.
Many rent a storage unit during the showing period of house #1. Get one with security. The purpose is to have a safe place to stash furniture, general stuff, and so forth away from the house as all the junk detracts from the sale of house #1. People will be looking inside your closets. The more empty things are the better the showing. An clean empty house gives people a better impression of the scale and often makes things look larger. It is all about marketing. Marketing costs money. Your realtor is marketing and you are also participating in the marketing by keeping the house relatively clean and sparsely furnished. You do not want a garage just stuffed full of junk although if the storage unit is not a viable choice, then putting junk in the garage is a far better choice than leaving it inside the house. It would be possible to hide firearms inside a garage pretty easily.
A small trailer Uhaul syle can be towed easily with a 4cyl car. Again, they are quite a useful item to own and last a long time even stored outside. You would be amazed how much stuff you can get into one; far more than you can comfortably put inside your car.
Selling a home, packing, moving, buying a new home, and unpacking is a lot of work. It costs. All moving expenses are deductable (over 100 miles distance, I believe, location to location) if the company does not pickup the tab including temporary housing. I believe there is a time limit on the housing deduction.
I don't want anybody touching my guns except ME in a move.
kart racer
Member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2004
- Messages
- 482
We used to be an agent for a national van lines.I grew up in the moving business.Move your guns yourself.If a safe is involved let them move it,but you need to carry your weapons.
Don't know if they still do it this way,but the basic insured was based per lb-which won't cover squat.If you have anything that is really valuable to you,you need to take the extra insurance.
Check if the moving company does any governmant moves-as in the military...if so the warehouses,etc.will be goeverned a little stricter.
Don't know if they still do it this way,but the basic insured was based per lb-which won't cover squat.If you have anything that is really valuable to you,you need to take the extra insurance.
Check if the moving company does any governmant moves-as in the military...if so the warehouses,etc.will be goeverned a little stricter.
10 Ring Tao
Member
Wrap each gun in a towel. Lay the wrapped guns down on a large moving blanket. Roll the blanket up, tie one end, wrap the string/rope around the package to hold it together, and then tie the other end.
Put it all back in the safe, or some other container.
With pictures and an itemized list, I'd let the movers move them.
Put it all back in the safe, or some other container.
With pictures and an itemized list, I'd let the movers move them.
- Status
