Hire an outfit to tow trailer 1-way north to south?

[bighatnohorse]

I have a car-hauler trailer (with small tractor) that I need to haul from Washington to Arizona.
My first thought was to rent a pickup and tow it myself, than fly back for my camper rig and tow.

But is there a better way?
Has anyone found or used a commercial outfit to haul their trailer?
And what did it cost?
Would you do it again or another way?

[golf_bears]

Why don't you just sell the tractor where you're at now then buy a new one whenever you get to AZ?

[bighatnohorse]

John&Joey wrote:
Just because I like brainstorming and problem solving (otherwise I'll drop it if you got the answer for your wants.)

I'm still mulling it over.
It occurred to me that the most cost effective method is to rent the pickup - I drive it towing the trailer/tractor - and follow my wife driving the camper/jeep.

We park at rest stops. I sleep and eat at home (camper).

In a perfect world, this would be the ideal solution.

[John_Joey]

Just because I like brainstorming and problem solving (otherwise I'll drop it if you got the answer for your wants.)

Do you really need the Jeep this winter? Leave it behind, take the camper off, and put it on it's legs (and sawhorses maybe?) when you get to your winter destination, then pull the trailer down yourself for the winter behind the camper, no need to fly back or any other extra expensive' s will be incurred.

Not every snowbird with a slide in camper has the luxury of a tow to use. They seem to manage for the winter once they take their slide in off.

For me, if I had a nice truck and a good car trailer it would kill me to pay someone else to do that job. I would think I could do it better, maybe at the end I might think different when all was said and done. YMMV

[bighatnohorse]

63-Coupe wrote:
Have you checked with any driveaway services in your area?. You could then tow trailer/tractor down and have them supply someone to drive the Jeep down for you. It's usually not too difficult to get someone going southbound in late summer or fall.

Thanks. I'll look into it.

[63-Coupe]

Have you checked with any driveaway services in your area?. You could then tow trailer/tractor down and have them supply someone to drive the Jeep down for you. It's usually not too difficult to get someone going southbound in late summer or fall.

[bighatnohorse]

Me Again wrote:
Do you want to do this next fall?

Maybe - probably not in the middle of summer - possible in very late summer. And it depends on our camping departure date and destination not yet set in the fall.:@

[Me_Again]

Do you want to do this next fall?

[bighatnohorse]

I got a call back from the B3 company last night. For them to send a man from Washington to AZ towing my trailer/tractor - and then get the man back up to WA. . .estimated cost: $3,500.
If they have a paying return job it would cost less.

I called U-haul for an estimated cost on a one-way pickup truck rental and got an estimated cost of $710.
That plus two hotel overnight stays for me plus food might run (my estimate) $275. (Assuming driving 500 miles a day)
Fuel cost? $350 maybe.
Flight back to WA - $200 to $250 maybe.
Airport to home transportation: $30

So my estimated DIY cost would run about $1600 out of pocket - plus my time - time driving a rental, sleeping in hotels and eating road food. . .

No, I can't tow a jeep behind the trailer. If wife drives the Jeep then it adds another fuel expense and more stops along the way. (and maybe charges of aggravated assault).:M
On the plus side, having the camper might mean avoiding hotels and eating better. Plus no required return flight. Yup, that's most cost effective.

[John_Joey]

I help a guy pull 5'vers down south from time to time. The local rates run from .50 to 1 dollar a mile depending on how official the tow'er is (licensed, bonded, insured...). That's 500 miles or less though so YMMV, but at least it may give you a ball park number.

If you're from the "I can do it myself" generation after reading what you wrote above you could also weld on a hitch to the car trailer and try this. Thinking the car trailer tongue should be able to handle the added pulling weight of the jeep, but you would have to verify it. Guessing the Jeep has some sort of a brake buddy.

Clicky

[Bird_Freak]

Check some of the rv transporters. They would love to have a paying load back part of the way to In.

[NMDriver]

Drive rig to AZ drop camper and jeep in secure storage and drive back up to WA and get trailer with your pick-up.

[Fizz]

bighatnohorse wrote:
, I probably could do it but don't want to have the DW drive the Jeep.

Worried about the wife or the Jeep? 😛

[bighatnohorse]

Thanks for the leads. I've got a call into that B3 Transport companies voice mail.
As for towing the trailer/tractor behind the rig, I probably could do it but don't want to have the DW drive the Jeep - thou that would be the cheapest way to get it done.

[Ivylog]

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