Drive, Tow, or Ship?

[marshcat]

My '87 HJ61 finally arrives at the port of Baltimore next month! I live 7 hours northeast of Baltimore in Boston. I have a few options for getting the truck home

1. Fly down and drive it home. The 60 has been extensively serviced and runs well, but the suspension is original. We're talking blown shocks and pancaked leaf springs, which would make a drive up I-95 not very fun. A new Dobinsons suspension kit is waiting in my garage that I will install as soon as the 60 arrives.

2. Tow it home with my 100-series. My daily driver is an '07 LX with the frame tow hitch rated for 6500lbs. That's just enough to pull the 60 with a Uhaul auto transport or tow dolly. But again, a long drive on I-95 pushing the limits of the 100-series

3. Just pay for shipping and have the 60 professionally transported

 

[BurntToast]

Drive it, nothing better than a few hours to get to know the quirks of the your new truck

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I would go with option 2. I don't think you would be pushing the limits of the 100 series. I would also recommend the tow trailer and not the dolly. I have rented them a couple of times and they are really easy to use. The trailer will totally remove any issues with your 60 series vs the dolly which will still depend on the rear tires, etc.

 

[kevin in okinawa]

I picked up my hj61 from the B'more port 4 years ago. It took me two trips to the port, be warned. You will need to hire a port escort (I used A1 Escort Services 302-655-4030) to get into the port. Make the appointment for the morning, not the afternoon. The first visit my appt with the escort was for 1pm, that got delayed, by the time we actually made it in the actual port, the operation closed early in the afternoon, so I had to come back the next day.
I used a flatbed tow service to P/U the truck. I brought two new batteries with me, yours may very well be dead after that long trip. The port doesn't do jump starts and the hj61 is a 24v vehicle so plan wisely.

 

[DrRock]

Please tell us you won’t be parking that on the street in Sumavul, spoken like an old native…. Kevin makes excellent points regarding port extraction, ports are run by tha depaaated so plan accordingly. Last time my Dad and I had to get an item out some well placed franklins sped up the process. Lastly, check if MA dmv will issue temp plates for transport, last time I lived in MA, this was verboten.

 

[marshcat]

Please tell us you won’t be parking that on the street in Sumavul, spoken like an old native…. Kevin makes excellent points regarding port extraction, ports are run by tha depaaated so plan accordingly. Last time my Dad and I had to get an item out some well placed franklins sped up the process. Lastly, check if MA dmv will issue temp plates for transport, last time I lived in MA, this was verboten.

My house has a driveway and a garage! No street parking

 

[DrRock]

My house has a driveway and a garage! No street parking

Whew.... I'd still plan on some kind of immobilizer.... Our trucks are super easy to get into.

 

[marshcat]

I picked up my hj61 from the B'more port 4 years ago. It took me two trips to the port, be warned. You will need to hire a port escort (I used A1 Escort Services 302-655-4030) to get into the port. Make the appointment for the morning, not the afternoon. The first visit my appt with the escort was for 1pm, that got delayed, by the time we actually made it in the actual port, the operation closed early in the afternoon, so I had to come back the next day.
I used a flatbed tow service to P/U the truck. I brought two new batteries with me, yours may very well be dead after that long trip. The port doesn't do jump starts and the hj61 is a 24v vehicle so plan wisely.

ooof that sounds like quite the hassle. far easier to just pay the $700 and have an auto shipper handle all of it for me

 

[kevin in okinawa]

ooof that sounds like quite the hassle. far easier to just pay the $700 and have an auto shipper handle all of it for me

It was a supreme hassle. if you can get the truck from B'more to Maine for $700, I'd say that you are winning that game.

 

[OSS]

I’m for choosing a professional transport too. Yeah it costs more but just think of it as a necessary expense. There’s too many “what ifs” surrounding driving that vehicle home. IMO

 

[Alex7]

If time and money aren't too much or a major concern, I'd make an attempt to pick up and drive back. I'm not familiar with the 95 that far north (only drove it from VA to NY) but it would make for an adventure.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

700 bucks ain't s*** for transport