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TracygeneRV's avatar
TracygeneRV
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014

Military PCS with TT

We are active duty set to PCS this May. We are doing a partial Dity move using our TT. It seems we won't be paid for the trailer but only the weight we transport. We have to weigh it empty then weigh it after it is fully loaded. My question is if we own the TT, why won't we get paid for it? We have only had it since Nov so this will be our first move with it. Should will fill our fresh water tank when we weigh it; I do not want to cheat the system, but we will need some water with us while traveling?
Any other tips on doing a PCS with a TT? We are excited about the stops we will get to make along our way. We have reservations at some military campgrounds already. I know some of you have more experience at this so your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gene and Tracy

20 Replies

  • path1 wrote:
    Or better yet - why not ask your military rep? They get paid to answer those kinds of questions. It doesn't matter one iota even if every person on this forum agrees with you. You need an official answer. You won't get it here.


    X2 talk to you your TMO or whatever your branch calls it. Traffic Management Office. Probably got a civ worker there that has worked there many years and knows every in and out. And download reg and learn.

    On Mil Camps, be sure to find out what gate to use and gate hours before showing up. Some bases have the "new" gates that they think you can turn on a dime.

    Water is around 10 pounds a gallon, I would have weight out of RV as possible when empty weight and have as full as I could when weighing loaded weight.
    Wonder if you could do the U-Haul thing pulling the RV? Also at 10-12 mpg doesn't pay to go out of your way with Famcamp prices at some bases.
    Enjoy your trip.


    Water weighs 8.44 lbs per gl.
  • Make sure you save all your receipts. You will not make much money when you do a partial dity unless you are moving furniture and household goods. You will get money for chow and fuel. PM me if you have any other questions. I retired in 2010 and moved 6 times.
  • Thank you all for your thoughts. I am sorry if I confused some using military lingo; I assumed those who were not prior military would just disregard my post. But I figured there had to be some folks on here with military background. That's who I was addressing. Sorry I did not make that clear.
    As for doing the partial move in the TT, we are only carrying things we will use or we will need right away. We estimated 1500-2000 for the five of us in the truck & TT and found out we will get some reimbursement, but I had not calculated the extra gas. Thanks for thinking of that. Still, it's a chance of a lifetime and we have always made our transfers into a vacation, stopping along the way. Who knows if we will ever get to that part of the country again. Seize the day :)

    Blessings to you all!
  • We have checked on base and it was TMO who said they only pay for motorcycles, not RV's. I just wondered why since it was something we owned. I'm not too concerned, just curious. It will be a blessing to not have to live out of a suitcase for a change. We will pack our clothes in the closets. Plus we won't have to eat out nearly as much.
  • It's been a few years since I retired, so you might want to verify the following:

    1) PCS mileage is paid for the transportation of you and any dependents. It is a flat rate. Makes no difference if you move 1 car, 2 cars, 1 car-1 truck and 1 tt - you get X cents per mile of the official distance between the two duty stations.

    2) A partial DITY (Do It Yourself) move is set for a reimbursement based on rental of a commercial vehicle - U-Haul/ Penske, etc. It is also set by the weight moved.

    There is no way I'd use my TT to move personal effects for a PCS move of over a couple hundred miles. Most TT only have a cargo capacity of maybe a thousand pounds, maybe 1,500. Frankly, you can move that better in your pickup truck than you could in the TT.

    Also, you (and I and most folks) will be tempted to bulk out the TT - i.e. fill it to the maximum allowable volume with HHG/effects. That runs a serious risk of overloading the TT by weight. To the point that you will increase the likely hood of tire failure, frame damage, having the tow vehicle overloaded.

    (Though if you have a toy hauler, you might actually have some good weight capacity.)

    Yes, moving the TT at 9-10 mpg is going to eat up the mileage reimbursement for the PCS pretty quickly. So did moving a ski boat which many of us have done over the years.

    Before you commit to using the TT to move personal effects - be sure to weigh it and the truck. Then calculate how much carrying capacity you have left.

    I'm almost certain that it will be much less than you had planned.
  • Or better yet - why not ask your military rep? They get paid to answer those kinds of questions. It doesn't matter one iota even if every person on this forum agrees with you. You need an official answer. You won't get it here.


    X2 talk to you your TMO or whatever your branch calls it. Traffic Management Office. Probably got a civ worker there that has worked there many years and knows every in and out. And download reg and learn.


    Enjoy your trip.
  • TracygeneRV wrote:
    We are active duty set to PCS this May. We are doing a partial Dity move using our TT. It seems we won't be paid for the trailer but only the weight we transport. We have to weigh it empty then weigh it after it is fully loaded. My question is if we own the TT, why won't we get paid for it? We have only had it since Nov so this will be our first move with it. Should will fill our fresh water tank when we weigh it; I do not want to cheat the system, but we will need some water with us while traveling?
    Any other tips on doing a PCS with a TT? We are excited about the stops we will get to make along our way. We have reservations at some military campgrounds already. I know some of you have more experience at this so your feedback is greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Gene and Tracy


    First of all you should tell those here who don't know the "PCS" in military lingo means = Permanent Change Of Station.

    Second, you should ask your question regarding reimbursement of your TT to your military section that handles military travel pay.

    As I understand it from military friends, the military's FAM CAMPS" have a web site that has info regarding costs,hook ups,availability etc. it's sounds like you have already availed yourself to that.

    Lastly - thanks for your service and hope your trip and next duty station/assignment are good.
  • I would fill it with water before weighing and then refill it before you weigh at your destination. That way their is no concern of a fraudulent activities. The JTR does not treat a TT as a POV so that is why you are not getting paid mileage for it.
  • You might try your question on this forum:
    http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/index.php?
    Or better yet - why not ask your military rep? They get paid to answer those kinds of questions. It doesn't matter one iota even if every person on this forum agrees with you. You need an official answer. You won't get it here.