Moving guns, the 2016 thread

[Librarian]

Numerous Californians are announcing plans to relocate.

I'm trying to find info to add to Calguns, for the cases where the number of guns is large-ish, so flying with them is impractical, and the distance is so far that the drive will take at least one overnight stay - perhaps requiring leaving the guns in a vehicle in the parking lot of a motel.

And additional thoughts on moving ammunition - as movers apparently will refuse that part of a load - would be welcome.

10 historic threads exist, the most recent from 2012. I've read the first 4, and I'm aware of the horror stories. Company performance varies over time, so I'm asking for an update with more recent data.

I'm interested in positive experiences with specific professional moving companies. Names and particular offices involved would be helpful. Of course, 'stay far away from this company' would also be useful.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Hanzo581]

If I were moving I'd use PODS. Fill it up, they move it to your new location and you unpack it. Done and done.

https://www.pods.com/

 

[DaisyCutter]

Last time I moved, I was 35 years old and for the first time had more money than time, so I hired movers.

Before the movers arrived, all my guns, accessories, and valuables were secreted away in my personal vehicle, and their presence was never known to the movers. This included electronics, jewelry, my camera equipment, etc. They only moved the bulky stuff.

It sounds judgmental, and frankly since since they were handling my property I should get to judge, but the movers were not the sort of folks I trust. They were tweekers and felons. I know druggies and prison tats when I see 'em. They probably know what I am when they see me too.

I paid cash, got a receipt, and I tipped the 3 guys $20 each. Then I closed the gate and turned my dogs loose in the yard. They got some "extra" without having to take it, and I was able to maintain secrecy of what I actually have.

 

[bannockburn]

Librarian

Pretty much the same experience as DaisyCutter: I move all of my own guns, ammo, accessories, jewelry, electronics, etc. Moving crew seemed decent enough but still don't have any abiding reason to trust strangers with that kind of information.

 

[larryh1108]

I moved from CT to NC a few years ago and I used the PODS as mentioned above. You pack it up, lock it with your lock. They pick it up and deliver it to your new address. Due to logistics, it takes about 10 days to go a distance. I packed my ammo and reloading supplies in it. They were not visible but were packed in dresser drawers, in bins, etc in case someone did break in. I took my guns in my car but it was a 16 hour drive with no over night stay. It worked very well for my needs. I'd do it again if needed.

 

[david58]

I moved from OR to NM a bit over a year ago. Built a "deck" in my SUV, using 2x6 lumber on edge to support a platform of plywood. Slapped carpet on the top of it, so my dogs had a place to ride, and all the long guns hid up under the decking. Not obvious to anyone from outside. I did have three overnight stays, which did cause me some nervousness, but I parked close to the room under the lights and the rig is alarmed. The ammo was all in cans in my UHaul trailer, so nothing but reloading equipment (sans powder) went with the mover. The guns were already loaded and locked in my rig before the movers rolled the safe out of the house and up the ramp.

 

[Speedo66]

The last move I did I rented a Penske 26' diesel truck and hired movers from a company that specializes in that to do the loading, and the unloading at the end. They knew how to load the truck and all interior space in the truck, right up to the roof, was utilized. Ammo was loaded in small unmarked boxes. Truck was parked in my driveway overnight following the drive and unloaded the following day.

Mine was a 700 mile trip which I completed in one day. All kinds of deals out there, and I saved thousands by doing it that way. Firearms and other valuables were carried in my personal vehicle.

As far as truck rentals, Penske is the way to go. U-Haul is a disaster with no guarantee you will have a truck when you arrive to pick it up. Budget is OK, but not up to Penske's level, which also has the newest and best maintained fleet.

 

[danez71]

The last move I did I rented a Penske 26' diesel truck and hired movers from a company that specializes in that to do the loading, and the unloading at the end. They knew how to load the truck and all interior space in the truck, right up to the roof, was utilized. Ammo was loaded in small unmarked boxes. Truck was parked in my driveway overnight following the drive and unloaded the following day.

Mine was a 700 mile trip which I completed in one day. All kinds of deals out there, and I saved thousands by doing it that way. Firearms and other valuables were carried in my personal vehicle.

As far as truck rentals, Penske is the way to go. U-Haul is a disaster with no guarantee you will have a truck when you arrive to pick it up. Budget is OK, but not up to Penske's level, which also has the newest and best maintained fleet.

I've personally move back and forth between AZ and CA a couple times and this post is a near clone of what I would write except I loaded/unloaded my self with friends/family.

I've also helped mom relocate from CA to east TX.

The truck comments are spot on. You are not guaranteed a truck at UHaul. Ask me how I know

"Wardrobe" boxes can fit gun security cabinets.

Ammo and guns get loaded deep into the truck, or your car.

Buy new boxes from U-Line or somewhere so they all stack nicely. Sell patio furnature, exercise equipment and the like as it doesn't stack and takes up too much room. Who uses it anyways

Truck gets backed into a wall if you have to spend the night at a hotel with a cable thru the steering wheel and locked to the brake pedal so bolt cutters have a lot harder time getting to the lock. Use a 2"-3" shackled lock to accommodate the cable and the brake pedal arm under/behind the pedal itself. (Kinda of like the "The Club")

I'd consider a PODS but where I moved to none of those companies delivered to.

If I hired a company it would be a dedicated truck for me and I'd follow it particularly if they packed the boxes and loaded the truck.


Librarian,
I will say that if the people think they are resourceful enough to pick up and move to another state and start new jobs etc, then they should have no major problems figuring this stuff out for themselves. If they can't or find it too hard, they should reconsider making a move like this. Logistics is the easy part of the equation. I speak from experience. I've notice quite a few of those have been claiming to leave for a loooong time. I wouldn't put too much effort in this buy a commend your thoughtfulness.

 

[hdwhit]

the distance is so far that the drive will take at least one overnight stay - perhaps requiring leaving the guns in a vehicle in the parking lot of a motel.

My father and grandfather were career military so we moved regularly. I've been a little more stationary since I got out of the service, but have also made several moves on my own. For the stuff we didn't want the government contract movers to know about (and have a chance to pilfer or break), my Dad or Grandfather would rent a U-Haul or Ryder truck on their own. They would buy a good quality lock for the truck and put the guns, the silverware, china and the crystal in it. They would always pay for a high-end hotel in a nice neighborhood some distance from the interchange with the main highway and park in a well-lit area near the main entrance. We never had any problems.

For my own part, when moving around the middle of the country, I don't take that kind of a chance. I just bring the gun cases into the hotel room. Nobody has ever said anything about it.

 

[Librarian]

Good info, ty

I
Librarian,
I will say that if the people think they are resourceful enough to pick up and move to another state and start new jobs etc, then they should have no major problems figuring this stuff out for themselves. If they can't or find it too hard, they should reconsider making a move like this. Logistics is the easy part of the equation. I speak from experience. I've notice quite a few of those have been claiming to leave for a loooong time. I wouldn't put too much effort in this buy a commend your thoughtfulness.

I have long ago taught myself to not be surprised what people do or do not know about things.

For many, moving is a Big Deal. My dad was USAF, so we moved a lot, but I have really done just one household move myself, over 20 years ago - and that was a company-paid relocation.

So I really do appreciate the info so far.

 

[Twiki357]

Here in Arizona, especially Phoenix, it seems that it’s constantly on the news about someone moving here and their belongings disappear or frequently take a long time to arrive. It also seems that there are some movers who jack up the price and hold property hostage, at least until DPS gets involved.

The best way to avoid problems is to be sure that you’re selecting a responsible company. The first thing is be sure that you’re dealing with the actual moving company, NOT a third party or broker. Check the company out with the BBB, the destination states AG for complaints and/or the consumer advocates of local TV stations at the destination.

Personally, I prefer the PODs approach or rent your own truck. If you need help loading or unloading, hire some local muscle like “Hire a Vet” or “Vets for Hire.” Anyone moving from CA is almost always going to have a vehicle, so that’s how to move guns and ammo.

 

[Nuclear]

Except for a couple of personal defense guns (one for my son and one for me), I loaded all my guns into my safe, along with other items that the moving company wouldn't officially move, or I didn't want them to know about, before they ever arrived. It took 4 guys and a special hand truck to move the safe into the truck. Because of the weight, it was put as close to the truck cab as possible, then other items loaded into the truck. I shipped the ammo that didn't fit in the safe via UPS. I had the safe set down in the garage, then had a local safe mover position it into its final resting place and secure it.

I drove a personal car with my recently graduated son and 80 pound dog cross country, staying in La Quintas (very dog friendly!) along the way. The personal guns would be discretely taken into the motel rooms each evening. No one the wiser and no problems.

I'll see if I can dig up the moving company's name. It was ok.

 

[Plan2Live]

I recently moved about two hours further north. Moving the guns was fairly easy, the ammo was a different story. I moved all of my ammo by myself in the cab of my four door Silverado. It took more than one trip. My temporary residence is an apartment on the second floor. For the first time ever I questioned my "need" for that much ammo. It was a daunting and tiring task. I don't look forward to moving it again in a year when my lease expires and I buy a house. Meanwhile, I sure hope the beams under the spare bedroom closet are stout and I haven't figured out what to do when the pest company comes in for their annual spraying. There is a clause in my lease that prohibits "flammable or dangerous" materials and they specifically state the definition of both is at the property owner's sole discretion.

 

[boomeradf]

The two times I have moved requiring an overnight stay I have camped.

 

[22-rimfire]

Move high cost items yourself. Trucks and trailers lock. Nobody needs to know what is inside except you. If you do not have a place to move into yet, rent a storage unit at the destination city/locale and store until ready. There are always horror stories, but most people have no problems at all.

If you feel you have to use a moving company, try to have the moved items picked up, hauled, and delivered without their storing or unloading. That's when you loose stuff.

If you must ship your firearms, place them inside boxes (well padded) that give no indications of what might be inside. They become just boxes mixed in with all the other boxes.

 

[GAF]

If I was moving myself here is how I would pack the truck.

At the front of the truck would go all of my valuables. Guns, jewelry ext ....
ThenI would pack the rest of the truck full with the rest of my household goods. I would use a club or some other device to lock the steering wheel.

A friend of mine once use movers to move just a couple hundred miles. He was disabled and could not do the heavy work. The movers packed up his goods so they knew what he had. His guns never showed up at the end of the move.

 

[Ed Ames]

I moved out of California years ago, and have helped two others.

I mainly wanted to offer up a bit of advice that hadn't really sunk in for me when I left California: You can sell your used Glock with 10rd magazines in California, drive to Arizona, and there is a good chance you can buy a new Glock with normal capacity magazines. I mean it is a really really good chance. That's true for whatever sort of gun you had. Depending on condition you might be able to do that for even money, or even money if you count moving costs, or if you had something hard to get in CA you might come out money ahead.

Short of guns with sentimental value, I wouldn't move MSRs or modern mass market pistols from California again. Leave the bullet buttons (or whatever they will call the next generation where it won't drop the mag unless the receivers are parted) and 10rd magazines for folks who need them, deposit the funds in your bank, and go on a shopping spree once you get settled in. Buy some of the things you couldn't buy while you lived in CA.

That said...the previously mentioned pods worked well. Personally, I bolted a RSC in a trusted family member's home in CA and stored everything except some SD/HD guns there until I was fully set up in my new place. Then I made several trips over an extended period. Once everything was moved I gave the keys and combo for the RSC to the family that was hosting it and everyone was happy.

 

[Olderbutwiser]

I recently moved from Long Island ,NY to Loudon Cty, TN . I used a small POD to load some small furniture & lots of boxes of items that we did not need right away for the relocation move. I put my ammo cans , cleaning & reloading equipment all the way forward and filled the POD with the above items to the roof. They pick up and drop it in the driveway of the TN house. I had 7 Shotguns/rifles, 4 handguns and transported them in my pvt vehicle. (A SUV) That was also loaded with some boxes and placed the weapons towards the front of the storage area. I had an overnight stay at a a Comfort Inn, so I cut up cardboard boxes into rectangle strips and placed my long guns inside, taped them up and used a side entrance of the motel to carry them to my room. The handguns were in locked metal boxes , unloaded and stored in the back of the SUV'. All came into the motel . No problem. Be aware that transporting handguns can be a tacky issue with some State laws on handguns. https://www.nraila.org/articles/20150101/guide-to-the-interstate-transportation This may help (or confuse you) with transporting weapons in vehicles across State lines.

 

[Librarian]

Looks like we've run out of material for this version.

Thanks, all - good stuff.

If someone were to have more to add later, please do. The out-migration from CA - of pro-gun people, to be sure - looks to increase significantly this year and in 2017.

 

[medalguy]

I'll add my experience moving from Texas to New Mexico, about 900 miles. We rented a 26 foot Penske truck and packed ammo cans on the bottom of the truck and placed sheets of 3/4 inch plywood on top of the ammo cans which completely filled the bottom of the truck. Then my boxed long guns went into the truck at the front, and a sheet of plywood placed in front of the gun boxes, and then we called a crew of guys to move everything else into the truck. They saw the ammo boxes but not the gun cartons but we left town immediately thereafter so it mattered not if they knew what they were or not.

On arrival in New Mexico, we again had a crew of guys waiting to unload the truck but all they saw and handled was the furniture. I don't think they had any idea what was in the green boxes on the bottom of the truck. My son and I unloaded the remainder ourselves. No problems.

 

[Valkman]

We used movers last time we moved and are about to move again but I think we'll use Pods this time. Whatever the means the guns go with me and the wife in the pickup.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I've done this, but more than a decade ago. In any case, if it's of great concern to you, rent a truck or van that a bit larger than you truly need. When you stop for the night, depending on where, you have options.

1. Sleep in the back of the van or truck, that's why you got one the size you did.
2. Pitch your camp immediately at the rear of the vehicle. If you're a bit paranoid block the rear wheels so it can't be easily driven off, or backed over you.
3. Use a high quality padlock to secure the rear door of the rental truck. If you've got tens of thousands of dollars of personal possessions in there, don't gripe about spending fifty bucks for a good lock. If you sleep in the thing, a couple of fairly low-cost welder's clamps can prevent the door from moving on it's internal rails.

900F

 

[cjwils]

I have heard of rental trucks and rental trailers being stolen from the parking lots of motels. Some thieves target rentals on the assumption that there will be lots of goodies inside. If you are planning to use a rental and planning to spend the night at a motel, then take extra security steps. Consider removing the distributor wire from the truck or securely chaining the trailer's tongue to your vehicle.

 

[X-Rap]

I used to move fairly often and always did it myself.
Like others have said, I put the safe and all the good stuff up front.
The big issue is having the truck stolen. Can't say as I've heard of moving trucks being stolen but I'm sure it happens.
I have certainly heard of those using movers losing things.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Sav .250]

Instead of asking, I`d just call some local (big) moving companies and see what they say.
You have questions . They have answers. Hopefully.