Moving FJ40 between Mn and NC

[pbarber]

I recently purchased a nice 77 FJ40 in Minneapolis, MN area and need it moved down to Raleigh, NC. The truck runs and will be easy to load.

Anyone have any recommendations about getting it moved.

I had one offer for someone who would drive it down at about the same cost of me flying up and driving.

Thanks in advance.

 

[corsair23]

Unless you like driving and have the time it would take to fly up and get it and drive it back I'd say ship it or take the person up on their offer to drive it down for you.

Here might be a semi-useful website to check out...

http://www.transportreviews.com/

Click on the link on the left side to get the past 2 years ratings...FWIW I dealt with SMS (Specialty Mobile Systems) on a transport move. It never happened due to the seller being a scammer up in VT but I found SMS to be good to deal with. In my case they were going to be the ones actually transporting the vehicle as opposed to brokering it out. You have to check carefully (if you care) whether the transport company actually moves vehicles themselves, brokers the business out, or does both.

GL

 

[jwildzza]

Corsair is right, alot of those shippers broker the trip out....you don't know who has your fj...then if there is any damage you go back and forth...

 

[pbarber]

Thanks guy for the reply. I took the advise and did some research on the net. I think I'll go with Hilton Auto Transport. I know they are a broker but they seem to have gotten mostly good reviews.

It was too hard for me to turn the keys over to someone I don't know to drive it down to NC.

Thanks again,

 

[corsair23]

It is a crap shoot unless you know the company personally. I read through all of the reviews and even the ones that seem to get good "remarks" have some bad mixed in there. One claim is that the transporters only refer happy customers to the site to offer their review...Don't know one way or the other on that.

IMO your best bet is to try to find someone that does moves in your area (i.e. don't pick one that does mostly CA moves) and if at all possible does NOT broker out the transport. Try not to expect the best, get EVERYTHING in writing and be ready for the "change-a-roo" where they quote you a price, nothing happens, and then they tell you to "offer" more $$ to entice a transporter. Typically you pay the "broker" $50-$150 for their service and then pay the actual transport company CASH when they drop off the vehicle.

If you are not in a time crunch go with someone like SMS or others that actually transport vehicles personally and work with them to pick up the vehicle and deliver the vehicle when it works best for them. You should be able to get a better deal (i.e. they'll be in the area anyway and or might be returning empty if not for your move) and you know who has your 40

Good luck and don't forget to post up how it went!

 

[jaacina]

You bought a FJ40 in MN? We are in the rust belt.

Now did you buy a red '72?

 

[pbarber]

I bought the truck from Jim Van de Ven's father in Minneaplois It is a 77 and in good shape as they did a off frame restoration about 5 years ago. I may just have to drive up and get it myself as the transporters don't seem to be in any hurry.

 

[corsair23]

I think the only thing that makes the transporters hurry is $$...Although, I was able to get a 40 shipped from CA to CO in about 4 days once

IMO it comes down to what your time is worth and how much spare time you have...MN to NC in a FJ40 would seem to me to be a 2 day trip plus a day to get up there. Factor in gas, lodging, food, airfare, etc. of course. Some would kill to get a chance to do a 2 day road trip in a 40 and others wouldn't. Either way good luck and enjoy the 40.