so it looks like im giving up everything here and moving across country for parents

[BLK95TA]

so it looks like im gonna end up moving back to help my parents...which i thought i was ok with, but im starting to really wonder about it..

my dad seems to think that i can just sell off/give away most of my stuff and put the rest in my car and drive 1800 mi back to indiana.

reality check is, the last time i moved, while i did drive across country, it was during the summer, and my car wont really go in snow, and i did ship a good $150-$200 worth of boxes (i mean it cost me $50 a box and i shipped 3 or 4)

that and im just really nervous about driving my car across country in february for several reasons...

1. its RWD, V8 and has summer only "Z rated" performance tires on it
2. no traction control
3. if i have a flat, i have no room for the full size 17" wheel in the car if i have to put the spare on
4. the tranny was acting up a bit a few days ago and probably needs a fluid change, but it could be going out, and 1800 miles continuously on a car is not good on the transmission.

once i get there im gonna park the car in their garage and use my moms car since she isnt driving.... but getting there, i dunno. i was just going to rent a u haul truck and car trailer for abouit $950 and go from there but i dont have a lot of expensive stuff, just enough that i dont really want to try to squeeze it all into my car.

i wish i could find a place that rented pickup trucks or something cheaper/smaller than a full size u haul truck that could still tow a car.

or maybe pay the $795 to ship the car and then rent a car/truck for my stuff.... but then again thats more than the u haul...

since i dont really plan on staying there after my mom gets better (could be a month, could be 6 or more) i thought about just renting a garage at a friends apartment complex for $85/mo and putting most of my stuff in there, except for maybe most of my clothes, and some of the larger furniture items i could just give away/sell cheap (like my couch and chair which were given to me by my old roommate)

any suggestions...

FWIW its an 1825 mi drive from phoenix, az and merrillville, in

[wordsmith]

I'm wondering whether your concern lies mostly with the logistical issues of a cross country move, or the giving up everything factor.

[BLK95TA]

I'm wondering whether your concern lies mostly with the logistical issues of a cross country move, or the giving up everything factor.


i think its more of a financial worry...

logically the easiest thing is just to rent the truck and trailer... but thats $1000 ~ plus gas

if i was in fact perminantly moving back to my parents house it would make more sense, but since chances are, im gonna want to be back out of there by next fall and back to a warm climate, i was really thinking of just doing the $85 a month garage thing and leaving my car and most of my stuff here, and getting rid of some of the stuff that i was given (couch and chair, an end table and other stuff)

but at the same point i dont want to go and sell all my electronics and stuff at 10 cents on the dollor knowing im gonna buy all the same stuff again within 6 months, like i did the last time i moved... i sold a tv, a computer desk for half of what i paid for them, and other stuff only to move and then buy similar items at full retail again.....

and yeah im also leary about putting that much wear on my car driving it across country right now, if the trans goes im fucked, if i have a tire blow out i have no room in the car to put the flat tire once i put the spare on etc.... (i have 17" wheels and a car with no real trunk, ive had a flat before and the old 16" barely fit when the trunk area was totally empty)

not to mention i havent driven in snow in 3-4 years and a sports car with no traction control and "summer" tires will not go very far...

[wordsmith]

If it makes you feel any better, I live latitudinally as far north as you're going (not that far from there, either), and people drive sports cars in the winter months plenty.

I've actually never purchased snow tires in my life, and I've lived exclusively in Illinois and Minnesota. Except for the rare true blizzard (when most people are snowbound, not just those in sports cars), you should be fine.

[BLK95TA]

If it makes you feel any better, I live latitudinally as far north as you're going (not that far from there, either), and people drive sports cars in the winter months plenty.

I've actually never purchased snow tires in my life, and I've lived exclusively in Illinois and Minnesota. Except for the rare true blizzard (when most people are snowbound, not just those in sports cars), you should be fine.


well in what i would spend in car washes ($6 or so a day) to keep the road salt off the car i would just assume buy a cheap beater...

i have had cars killed by salt up there

and as for snow on the ground, im sure the car would be fine if the roads had no snow on them, but if they did, i wouldnt even want to try it...my thunderbird (the aforementioned car destroyed by salt) was slippery in the snow and it had a lot less power and more of an all season tire than the Z rated "summer only" tires i have on the trans am

[analogman]

Do you plan to keep your car long term? If yes, then you'll probably need to get the transmission looked at and fixed, right? It's more of a 'when' rather than a 'if' question on the transmission repair. I'd say that you should get it looked at and fixed if necessary. That'll probably help you feel better about driving cross-country.

I think flats are pretty rare now. You can possibly pick up a can of tire repair stuff that'll both seal small holes and inflate the tire. That way if you do get a flat you can possibly get back on the road and drive to a tire shop without needing to put on the spare.

I have very little experience driving in snow/ice so I don't know how helpful this is going to be. Your car is probably going to be loaded with stuff so that'll help with traction. If the car is auto and has a 2nd gear start that will also help. You might be able to do the same with a manual and if not there is the 1-4 skip shift feature anyway.

[BLK95TA]

Do you plan to keep your car long term? If yes, then you'll probably need to get the transmission looked at and fixed, right? It's more of a 'when' rather than a 'if' question on the transmission repair. I'd say that you should get it looked at and fixed if necessary. That'll probably help you feel better about driving cross-country.

I think flats are pretty rare now. You can possibly pick up a can of tire repair stuff that'll both seal small holes and inflate the tire. That way if you do get a flat you can possibly get back on the road and drive to a tire shop without needing to put on the spare.

I have very little experience driving in snow/ice so I don't know how helpful this is going to be. Your car is probably going to be loaded with stuff so that'll help with traction. If the car is auto and has a 2nd gear start that will also help. You might be able to do the same with a manual and if not there is the 1-4 skip shift feature anyway.


it is an auto and does not have second gear start.... and the last time i had a flat tire on the car there was a huge gash in the sidwall, no fix a flat will help that....

as for the tranny, its possible that its just the fluid, im probably gonna take it this week and get the tranny flushed...

but the bottom line is i still cant really fit very much in the car....so i would feel much more comfortable trailering it and using a truck than cramming it with everything

maybe if i wait until spring but not in the dead of winter

[WorkInProgress]

I think flats are pretty rare now. You can possibly pick up a can of tire repair stuff that'll both seal small holes and inflate the tire. That way if you do get a flat you can possibly get back on the road and drive to a tire shop without needing to put on the spare.

What? Flats are rare now? Why, pray tell? I do think that getting a tire repair kit might be a good idea, though.

OP, have you considered looking into a storage unit for your stuff for the next few months? That might work, since you intend to move back. Also, can/would your parents be amenable to helping you fund the move, since it is temporary and the only reason is to help them out?

[sondra_finchley]

Why dont you store the majority of your stuff in Phoenix and travel light, in your car, home? Rental units dont cost THAT much, and if you are only going to be gone for less than a year, it should still workout cheaper than the uhaul and paying for the gas to get the uhaul to IN, and then the backside of hauling all your crap BACK across the country.

[wordsmith]

There isn't any way I could move without renting a truck or trailer at this point in life...it's just a necessary thing for me. I'm about a half-dozen years past the stage of being able to move in my car (and in my current car, it wouldn't have been possible, ever, it's a two-door hatchback).

[Ciderhillnh]

I have lived in a snowy climate my entire life. I have friends who have the type of car you have, and they have no problem driving in the snow, sleet or ice here.

Its been a pretty mild winter AND its almost over, the likelyhood of a major ice/snow storm goes down every day we get closer to spring.

I agree that you should probably just get your transmission fixed, since then its taken care of and its one less worry about the car.
If you are so concerned about your tires, have them inspected. If you are worried about carrying a spare etc due to car room, then sign up with triple A...they will come and fix your tire etc should something happen. Or tow you FOR FREE (due to membership AAA fees) and you can get a new tire there.

You do NOT need to wash your car DAILY if it has salt on it....a simple rinse from the house at your house if totally necessary, and then when its warm enough get a car wash (so once a week if you REALLY have to be that careful with the car)
Ive had salt on my car for weeks and its done NOTHING to the paint or undercarrage.

It sounds like storing your stuff and just taking what you need is your best bet. If you dont want to sell your chairs and big electronics, get a larger storage unit, it will still work out cheaper than renting a Uhaul, paying for gas, getting to your parents and then doing it all again very shortly.

[asm198]

I know nothing about the tires you are talking about, but I own a Cavalier and have lived in snow territory my entire life, have never purchased snow tires and have been fine. My mother in law and sister in law also live where there's snow and they both own mustangs and have been fine.

If you'd feel better about it, have you priced out how much the smallest uhaul truck would be that could handle a tow trailer? And if you're really concerned about your car, just park it and use your parents vehicle. It sounds like they won't be doing much driving.

[BLK95TA]

What? Flats are rare now? Why, pray tell? I do think that getting a tire repair kit might be a good idea, though.

OP, have you considered looking into a storage unit for your stuff for the next few months? That might work, since you intend to move back. Also, can/would your parents be amenable to helping you fund the move, since it is temporary and the only reason is to help them out?


i may or may not move back to phx, but even if i didnt, i could always fly back out and rent a truck and then move to wherever im going....that way im not putting the wear and tear on my car and not losing a lot of stuff (i would probably still ditch the couches since i wont have the room in a garage for them if the car is in there, but it would be $85 a month for a 10x20 garage in a buddy's apartment complex)

im going this morning to get the tranny looked at, the guy (who is a knowledgable 4l60e rebuilder at an fbody perf shop says most likely its the 2-3 clutch packs going out, which means i will probably need a rebuild eventually, which is $1100 at their shop)

[wordsmith]

My understanding was that this is a long-term move, not just going back temporarily. That being the case, I would not leave belongings in storage across the country.

[BLK95TA]

I know nothing about the tires you are talking about, but I own a Cavalier and have lived in snow territory my entire life, have never purchased snow tires and have been fine. My mother in law and sister in law also live where there's snow and they both own mustangs and have been fine.

If you'd feel better about it, have you priced out how much the smallest uhaul truck would be that could handle a tow trailer? And if you're really concerned about your car, just park it and use your parents vehicle. It sounds like they won't be doing much driving.
yeah i can use their garage to keep my car in while its winter, and use my moms subaru wagon since she wont be driving, but that is not the issue, driving across country with tires not rated for snow (for example, here is a tire similar to what i have now)

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireDetail.do?rcz=85008&rc=AZPINT&cs=275&pc=18594&rd=17&ra=%2FtireProductBySize.go&ar=40&tc=FALHZB
i cant seem to find the "ratings" on there but im pretty sure that has an "n/a" snow rating which means you'd be nuts to attempt to drive a car in snow with them, especially an RWD light sports car

[wordsmith]

When would you be leaving? The roads are currently clear right now, and have been all winter, with the exception of one large winter storm. That was in early Dec., though. I don't know your route, or whether you'll be going through areas with worse conditions, but right now, driving in the region isn't really hindered so much.

[BLK95TA]

My understanding was that this is a long-term move, not just going back temporarily. That being the case, I would not leave belongings in storage across the country.

well temporarily is probably <6 months... so probably somewhat long term, but i dont plan on being there by next fall... i dunno i really hate the weather in that area...

im just very nervous about driving my car full fo stuff across country again, i did it once a few years ago but that was summertime and through the south....


as for my route, it would be up I 17 in phx to I40 in flagstaff, I40 east to oklahoma, i44 to st louis, I 55 north out of st lous to indiana 80/94 or thereabouts, possibly a different route in the illinois/indiana area like I 57, but the I 17-40

[wordsmith]

Are your parents' issues really gonna be worked out in less than six months? That being the case, I probably wouldn't make the road trip at all, I'd probably just fly to them, since they have a car you can use anyway.

[WorkInProgress]

Are your parents' issues really gonna be worked out in less than six months? That being the case, I probably wouldn't make the road trip at all, I'd probably just fly to them, since they have a car you can use anyway.

That's an idea. Have you checked into whatever the flights would cost, OP?

[wordsmith]

And if it's gonna be a short-term thing, it's not like you'd need your stuff. Of course, you'd have to be either continuing to pay rent on a place you're not using (assuming you rent, of course), or rent storage.

[BLK95TA]

And if it's gonna be a short-term thing, it's not like you'd need your stuff. Of course, you'd have to be either continuing to pay rent on a place you're not using (assuming you rent, of course), or rent storage.



i can rent a garage in a friends apartment complex to store my car and my stuff for ~ $85 a month


btw i just got back from a transmission shop that i trust (arizona fbody association sponsor, tranny and performance shop) anyway, it looks like my trans IS on its way out and if i drive 1800 miles in a pretty much continuous basis, i may lose 3rd and 4th gear... essentially leaving me stranded in the hands of a no name tranny shop for $$$$$$

whereas i could get the tranny rebuilt by them with a 12 month unlimited mileage warrenty and reinstalled for $1100~

ugh i dont know what i should do

[wordsmith]

But if you're only gonna be gone a short time and are returning, why would you give up your current housing?

[BLK95TA]

But if you're only gonna be gone a short time and are returning, why would you give up your current housing?


because my lease is up and its costing me $825 a mont rent here and i dont have a job right now

[cache]

I would force yourself to make this temporary: store your car and any remaining possessions, then fly to IN with only what you need. That way, you won't have to worry abuout the car, or the weather. Plus, if all your stuff is still in Pheonix, it will not be as difficult to keep perspective that this is a temporary move.

If you move everything, it will feel more permanent, and could very well turn into that.

[BLK95TA]

I would force yourself to make this temporary: store your car and any remaining possessions, then fly to IN with only what you need. That way, you won't have to worry abuout the car, or the weather. Plus, if all your stuff is still in Pheonix, it will not be as difficult to keep perspective that this is a temporary move.

If you move everything, it will feel more permanent, and could very well turn into that.

thats exactly what im afraid of happening.....my sister is trying to say "dont think this is gonna be a short term thing, bla bla bla" and she is even trying to tell me to sell my car too.... which i refuse to do

[wordsmith]

I have to wonder why it is you're going back, since you clearly don't want to.

[BLK95TA]

I have to wonder why it is you're going back, since you clearly don't want to.


thats a good question... i guess im being pressured to....

[BLK95TA]

There isn't any way I could move without renting a truck or trailer at this point in life...it's just a necessary thing for me. I'm about a half-dozen years past the stage of being able to move in my car (and in my current car, it wouldn't have been possible, ever, it's a two-door hatchback).


my car is also a 2 door hatchback FWIW... see the link in my sig, its a 95 trans am.

[wordsmith]

Yeah, I caught that, but trust me, you could move a lot more in a Trans Am than a Geo Metro.

[vxmike]

well temporarily is probably <6 months... so probably somewhat long term, but i dont plan on being there by next fall... i dunno i really hate the weather in that area...

im just very nervous about driving my car full fo stuff across country again, i did it once a few years ago but that was summertime and through the south....


as for my route, it would be up I 17 in phx to I40 in flagstaff, I40 east to oklahoma, i44 to st louis, I 55 north out of st lous to indiana 80/94 or thereabouts, possibly a different route in the illinois/indiana area like I 57, but the I 17-40

That's a poor route if you're concerned about snow. Take interstate 10 all the way east and then cut up north once you clear all the mountains. Interstate 40 will take you through some very high elevation areas in AZ and NM.

[BLK95TA]

That's a poor route if you're concerned about snow. Take interstate 10 all the way east and then cut up north once you clear all the mountains. Interstate 40 will take you through some very high elevation areas in AZ and NM.

i may end up renting a mini van if i can get one with the foldable seats, and put all my stuff in that, and then spend $650 shpping my car

[BLK95TA]

its looking now like ill probably pay my buddy for 3 months of rent on a garage, and put my stuff and my car in there, fly home for now and help my parents and re evauluate in a few months to see if i need to pay him more money and keep renting down there, or go get my stuff and be off to wherever.

[BLK95TA]

well the garage at my buddy's apartment fell through but i got a 10x30 storage unit in a storage facility about 5 mins down the road from him for $209 a month... seems a bit steep i know, but its either that or truck everything across country, and then truck it all back...(or to somewhere other than phx, but most likely closer to phx than indiana)

the one way plane ticket my dad paid for is only $100