Moving a thing to the midwest

[nerf965]

will a 74 thing fit in the back of a 22ft ryder moving truck, also any ideal in how to get it up into the truck. looking for a loading dock in Phoenix Az to use. I am moving from Az to Chicago. I love my thing and don't want to sell it, the cheapest wayto move it is to rent a moving truck and place it in the rear of the truck.
thanks for the ideals

[Captain Spalding]

[Ferretkona]

I second driving it. If you need to rent a truck to haul your stuff in, buy a VW towbar and just tow it. A thing will fit in a 22 truck, but you will have little room to spare.

[bmwloco]

UPS what you can, load up the Thing, go.

Simple. That's how I do "big distance" on a motorcycle.

[Woreign]

Your rental agreement probably prohibits transporting a vehicle inside the truck. Should something happen (fire, oil spillage, etc) you would be liable. Maybe get a smaller truck and car trailer instead, just to be safe?

[Ferretkona]

You could always use a transport company.

[nerf965]

I called a transport company they want $900 I figured Since my thing is apart and gas tank is out of it and can drain the oil out of the car i would push it in or winch it up in to the truck, I don't have much other things to put in the truck. with the thing, just a bet and few boxes.

[Captain Spalding]

[ztnoo]

Anything you do loading it will essentially have to be reversed upon your Chicago arrival, i.e. if you do the loading dock option in AZ, you are going to have to find one in IL to unload it. Unless you have made prior arrangements, that might not be as easy as you might imagine.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/74thing/page8.jpg
Dimensional specs:
Wheelbase: 94.5 "
Overall width: 64.6"
Overall Height: 63.8"
Track front/rear: 53.3"/53.5"
Overall Length: approimately 144" (my spec)

[nerf965]

Thats the nice part, I have the loading dock in IL, Same placed I will be storing the thing at while i restore it. I called almost 30 diffrent transport company and the cheapest so far is $825

[kubelmann]

I recently bought a 23' enclosed car hauler trailer for $5000 Took a Thing to California from Colorado. Delivered the Thing. Stayed a few days and sold the trailer for $5600 Paid the gas, lodging and food for the trip. Basically I moved the car and took a week vacation for free... Go figure.....

[Ferretkona]

Putting the thing in the moving van is not really a bad idea, a buddy and I moved his Mini in one years ago. Being able to load and unload it is the question. Will the 22 footer give you enough room to pack around it?

If the Thing is not running right now you probably have a running car, have you thought of towing the thing and just loading it up like a trailer?

The Kmann is right about trailers, I know of someone making a nice income buying new trailers over in Upland and selling them up Pismo. He buys as much as he can stack up and sells them for close to double his cost.

Even at $900 it probably is a good value. Shipping prices had to increase as fuel costs went up.

[nerf965]

Hey Ferretkona,
how did you strap the mini down inside the truck, did you install the tie downs so the car won't shift?
Thank to everyones ideals, after a lot of phone cars i will being using a 22ft truck with the thing in the back, and my small amout of stuff around it. and behind the truck my Jetta on a tow dolly.

Thanks to all, any other ideals please keep them coming.

[Ferretkona]