Cross country shipping help needed (or should I drive?)

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J

Jwoodywild

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Aug 30, 2020
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I am moving from Georgia to San Diego and am looking to ship my 2003 LX470. It is in great shape - runs perfect - and has 292,000 miles. Has anyone had a really great shipping experience, and if so, with which company?

On a side note, I am scared to death of shipping my truck and having something happen. But with so many miles, and the fact that it is summer, I figure it is better to not stress the truck with the drive - even if we take our time.

Any advice welcome - thanks!
 
I moved CA to SC, and back to CA with work last year. They moved my truck both directions via Reindeer Auto Relocation | Car Shipping Experts Since 1997 - https://reindeerauto.com/ and I had slightly different experiences each way. My truck has plenty of “desert pinstriping” as people here say. Lots of light brush scrapes along the trail so it’s not prime shape. The guy from Reindeer that picked up in South Carolina had no issues and just took videos all around to record condition. He had it up and off in like 20min. When it shipped from CA the guy who picked it up was very anal about the scrapes. He basically circled that the whole vehicle was scratched, and wanted me to sign a doc that said so. He took photos but I still wasn’t comfortable signing something that said that. We boiled it down to agreeing to “light scrapes” verbiage and I took a really detailed video on my end in case it came back different. At the end of both moves the truck was exactly like I gave it to them. Overall the company was quick to ship and honestly super easy besides the one dude arguing about documenting scratches before he picked it up.
Good luck with the move! And let me be the first to welcome you to crazy CA!
 
Worst thing you can do to a 100 series, is not drive it. They love to be driven!
 
MechE30 said:
I moved CA to SC, and back to CA with work last year. They moved my truck both directions via Reindeer Auto Relocation | Car Shipping Experts Since 1997 - https://reindeerauto.com/ and I had slightly different experiences each way. My truck has plenty of “desert pinstriping” as people here say. Lots of light brush scrapes along the trail so it’s not prime shape. The guy from Reindeer that picked up in South Carolina had no issues and just took videos all around to record condition. He had it up and off in like 20min. When it shipped from CA the guy who picked it up was very anal about the scrapes. He basically circled that the whole vehicle was scratched, and wanted me to sign a doc that said so. He took photos but I still wasn’t comfortable signing something that said that. We boiled it down to agreeing to “light scrapes” verbiage and I took a really detailed video on my end in case it came back different. At the end of both moves the truck was exactly like I gave it to them. Overall the company was quick to ship and honestly super easy besides the one dude arguing about documenting scratches before he picked it up.
Good luck with the move! And let me be the first to welcome you to crazy CA!
Click to expand...
Thank you! Can you give me a ballpark on the cost? So far my research has only produced awful reviews no matter where I look and costs vary widely. The car shipping biz seems awful.
 
If you have the time to drive it, I would absolutely drive.

That said, Aaron runs Summit Auto Transport and is/was an active member here and generally a stand up dude. I've met and interacted with him a few times and had him quote out a couple possible journeys for my 100's. If I was to transport anything, he's the first call I'd make. Nothing but rave reviews from other members here as far as I've seen. I can't recall his s/n, but here's the website:

summitautotransport.com

Summit Auto Transport

summitautotransport.com summitautotransport.com

I've had an old Supra transported by a more generic company years ago and the process was fine - not great. Interacting with a smaller operation like Aaron's would give me a much better sense of security.
 
I didn't know there were people moving  in to California.

I'd drive it, and plan on 2-3 days to keep it enjoyable. Bring extra fluids just in case, a little compressor, etc. And for that long a trip, I'd try to find all the cheesy "world's biggest ball of yarn" attractions I could on the way. Since you're gonna pass em, and they're not worth a trip alone.

Anticipate about 2k give or take to ship it.
 
Post both zip codes and I'll quote you using our dealership's Central Dispatch, I won't be able to book it since it's monitored by the owners but I can give you a pretty good estimate of the cost.

Regarding being scared, I get it, I don't like my LC in other ppl's hands either, but Every car in the country is transported somehow, and 99.99% of them are using open transportation. Before booking search for the company's info. If you found one, post the company's full name I can also search for insurance info if they're registered in Central (biggest transportation hub).
.
 
MongooseGA said:
I didn't know there were people moving  in to California.

I'd drive it, and plan on 2-3 days to keep it enjoyable. Bring extra fluids just in case, a little compressor, etc. And for that long a trip, I'd try to find all the cheesy "world's biggest ball of yarn" attractions I could on the way. Since you're gonna pass em, and they're not worth a trip alone.

Anticipate about 2k give or take to ship it.
Click to expand...
I don't think a lot of people are leaving San Diego...

Patron100LC said:
Post both zip codes and I'll quote you using our dealership's Central Dispatch, I won't be able to book it since it's monitored by the owners but I can give you a pretty good estimate of the cost.

Regarding being scared, I get it, I don't like my LC in other ppl's hands either, but Every car in the country is transported somehow, and 99.99% of them are using open transportation. Before booking search for the company's info. If you found one, post the company's full name I can also search for insurance info if they're registered in Central (biggest transportation hub).
.
Click to expand...
Leaving 30307 and going to 92007 - thanks in advance!!
 
Jwoodywild said:
I don't think a lot of people are leaving San Diego...
Click to expand...
You’ll find out soon :)
Lotta outside-the-USA money coming into OC/LA/SD, bumping prices of houses and pushing out people that grew up here. As I said, you’ll see. Great place to visit, hard place to live! (Coming from a guy who moved his family back to it after a year in SC).
 
Drive it man take a week of or more and enjoy the car and take a good long decent road trip. Also be happy that you don't have to stop and charge it every 3-4 hours. Although hehe you will have to fill it up. Take a road trip buddy or the wife.
 
MechE30 said:
You’ll find out soon :)
Lotta outside-the-USA money coming into OC/LA/SD, bumping prices of houses and pushing out people that grew up here. As I said, you’ll see. Great place to visit, hard place to live! (Coming from a guy who moved his family back to it after a year in SC).
Click to expand...

Tough on a gasser V8 as well. CA gas prices vs. GA gas prices!
 
MechE30 said:
You’ll find out soon :)
Lotta outside-the-USA money coming into OC/LA/SD, bumping prices of houses and pushing out people that grew up here. As I said, you’ll see. Great place to visit, hard place to live! (Coming from a guy who moved his family back to it after a year in SC).
Click to expand...
Certainly not a cheap place to live. Then again, the best places never are...
 
Jwoodywild said:
I don't think a lot of people are leaving San Diego...


Leaving 30307 and going to 92007 - thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...

Jwoodywild said:
Certainly not a cheap place to live. Then again, the best places never are...
Click to expand...

I was always pretty anti-California growing up. Then in the last 5 years or so I visited the coastal areas a few times (my wife has family that grew up in San Jose in the 70's). I played golf at Torrey Pines. Ice cream on the coast in La Jolla, dinner and beers along the beach in San Diego. In-law gathering at a rented estate in Encinitas...

Turns out money is the answer. Who knew? :rofl:

Almost all those annoyances I hated on California for? A fat bank account and a place near the coast do an awful lot to counter all that and more.

A year or so ago, I noticed that a huge percentage of our ADGU customers are southern California residents. They can't all be wrong. :)
 
Sorry for the delayed answer, but the cost to ship this behemoth from ATL to cardiff bts is $1100, I wouldn't pay more than that unless they guarantee a swift pickup and delivery, and that's maybe a $100 extra, which they can tell you they'll do but might not.. When they have you car, you're in their hands..
 
That's not bad. I bet the gas alone to drive a 100 that far would probably be about half of that. Not to mention the collateral damage of long days in the car - sitting for prolonged periods, restaurant / road meals, lodging, etc.

I'd have to make a much longer vacation and camping trip out of it, otherwise I'd just ship it.
 
Yup, unless you're planning a road trip, shipping makes a lot more sense. It'll take the transporter 2-4 days to do the 2200 miles, so you can plan the delivery upfront and fly in 5 hours. Minimal risk, insured and no wear on the car.

Obviously, a road trip is better in every way, except $$wise.
 
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