I’m moving to Baltimore in two weeks. In fact, two weeks from today I will be leaving my job. I will be packing all my stuff in a truck, and moving 586.7 miles from the only place I’ve ever known. I’m moving to a city where I know all of maybe 10 people. I should be freaking out, considering I don’t have a solid job lined up, and I don’t know a darn thing about Baltimore.
But I’m not freaking out about that.
I’m freaking out about the fact that I just had to rent a truck. A fifteen foot truck, which I probably won’t even fill half-way. All because I have to tow my car.
I HAVE TO TOW MY CAR!
Let me explain. I drive like a grandma. I’m very careful. I hate driving big cars, because they make me nervous. And now I have to drive a big mamma-jamma truck, AND tow my car behind me.
AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! How am I going to get over this fear in the next two weeks? How on EARTH am I going to fill up the gas tank every few hundred miles? What am I going to do? Please, give me some calming advice, or something! I’m freaking out here.
It isn’t as hard as you might think & the fact that you’re a careful driver will work very much in your favour - you have to drive like a grandma with a rig like that (unless you’re very very experienced). A few years ago, I rented a 15 footer, put my car on a trailer, and drove from SoCal to Western Washington. I’d never driven anything bigger than a pickup truck (shortbed even). I was seriously nervous and wondered how I was going to do it. It turned out to be a lot of fun & wasn’t nearly as stressful as I thought it might be.
Some tips for you:
When you turn, turn wide and slow. Don’t worry about the car behind you - they can just bloody well wait.
Avoid backing - if you can’t pull out driving forward, try to find someplace else to park.
If you’re going to stay at a hotel, try someplace like Super8 - they’re fairly inexpensive and usually have parking to accomodate large vehicles.
If the hotel you stop at doesn’t have obvious truck parking, check at the front desk before you get too comfortable taking up those four regular spots.
Filling up the gastank is no biggie; most places have two driveways so you can pull in one, pull up to the tank, and pull out the opposite side. Go for gas stations visible from the highway - they’re the ones most likely to be big enough to accomodate the truck. When you stop to eat, again, stop at a place visible from the highway, or even try a truck stop. They’ll likely have accesible parking & truck stop food isn’t as bad as it sounds.
Good luck & hang in there; I’m sure you’ll do just fine.
You’ll do okay. I think those things are all automatic transmissions, which means it’ll have the get-up-and-go of a drunk elephant, but you won’t have to shift gears.
Just stay in the right lane, drive the speed you’re comfortable with, and try to find gas stations with wide lots (big truck stops that are used to large vehicles are best). Remember, it’ll be over soon enough.
Oh it’ll be FUN. Like an adventure! Something to look back on and laugh at. Yeah. Just make sure you don’t have the parking brake set on your car when you tow it. That would be bad. Not tragic, so don’t get all wound, but a little bad. Bad-ish. Unfortunate surely.
And to fill up your gas tank, you pull into a gas station (important first step, let me tell you), park next to the pump with your gas cap towards the pump you want to use, take the gas cap off the tank, put the nozzle into the gas cap, (depending on how you decide to pay this part is variable, but since I always use my credit card at the pump this is what I do) swipe your credit card through the pump credit card slot, wait for the pump to reset (it takes a few seconds) and then squeeze the handle of the nozzle. When the pump shuts off by itself, you’re done. Unless it doesn’t shut off, then stop pumping when the gas starts to spew all over the ground. Replace the nozzle into the pump, take your receipt, replace your gas cap and drive off. That’s how you fill you tank here on Earth.
As long as you don’t have to back up, you’ll be fine. I towed my wife’s car when she moved up here with me, and other than having to drive slower than I was used to (a problem it doesn’t sound like you’ll have), it was no big deal. Just keep in mind you need extra room when merging with traffic, going through lights, etc…
I assume you’re putting some kind of brake lights on to your car (or does the trailer has them). Make sure they work before you start off. That was the one problem I did have. Luckily, I checked them before I left the rental place, so I made them fix the connection before I left.
As for getting gas, check which side the tank is on before you get going (write it down if you have to), and know if the truck takes unleaded or diesel. That way, when you get to a service station, you wont have to pull up, get out, look for the tank, swear, get back in, and pull up to a different gas pump. Believe me, it’s not fun (for you - other people may enjoy it, depending on how creative your swearing is).
Good luck!
(On preview, I see some of my advice has already been given. Too bad, I’m giving it anyway. )
Sionach, yeah, I’m pretty glad I drive like I do. Now, granted, on the highways I can be a speed demon. It took me 7 hours to get to Baltimore from Charleston the first time I went. And I stopped for food along the way. But usually I’m the one who stays in the right lane, or gets out of people’s way.
DeadlyAccurate, thanks. I’m so excited about the move, and definitely glad it’s an automatic truck. I can’t imagine driving a stick all the way there like this. Oh, and the truck has a radio, too, which is good, because my car doesn’t have one.
Rue, I just thought I would let you know that I read your post to my boyfriend, and he said he likes you already. But I’m thinking you’re a big ol’ smart-aleck. I’m pretty good about leaving the parking brake off. I mean, come on. I live in the “lowcountry” where our idea of hills consists of the bump going over a drainage ditch.
evilhomer: I didn’t even think about brake lights. How do they do that? Stick 'em on top of my car? I don’t know how they would connect them to my brake lights of my car.
I relayed all my fears to my boyfriend who said, “if they don’t get out of your way, just hit’em!” Heh! Just what I need!
If your car has an automatic transmission and you are not towing it on a complete platform trailer, please make sure the drive wheels (usually the back ones) are not rolling on the ground. I have been told by mechanics that this can burn out your transmission. Maybe some posters more experienced with automotive technology can verify this.
The truck will have a jack on its back bumper that you can connect brake lights to. The rental yard will rent you a set of magnetically mounted brake light / turn signals that will plug into the truck’s jack. Place these magnetically mounted lights on the rearward facing part of your vehicle. If you’re using a platform trailer, it should come with a plug that will connect to the truck’s jack.
Best wishes with your move and check out Fort McHenry, it’s a cool place.
I did this moving from Oregon to New Mexico (1,700 miles) by myself. You’ll be fine. Lots of good tips above, and just a few I’ll add:
Find out the height of the truck. You should be fine, but the height of roofs over gas pumps is usually posted, and you’ll get the peace of mind that you really WILL fit, if you know how tall your rig is.
Truckers are your friends. They understand that you’re inexperienced with a large rig, and will help you out, specifically by giving you room, and flashing their lights when you’re safe to pull in ahead of them.
Pull into driveways very slowly. I almost gave myself a heart-attack when on my first gas stop in Yreka, where the trailer tongue hit the driveway. No harm done, but going at a snail’s pace probably would have avoided the problem.
MAKE sure that you can pull through parking lots. I spent half an hour getting out of a Best Western in Sacramento because it looked like the parking lot went all the way around the back. Surprise! It didn’t.
The freeway driving is the easiest part. If you just stick to the right and cruise along, people will go around you.
Choose truck stops to get gas. You should only need one stop for your trip. The truck stops have lots of room and are generally easy to get in and out of.
Funny, I remember doing a similar trip once, only in the opposite direction. From Newport News, VA, to Columbia, SC.
Here’s how I handled it, and how I recommend you do it too.
Make sure you have good street maps for Baltimore and Charleston, and a good highway map for the trip in between. (The $5 road atlas you can get at WallyWorld will do for the latter.)
And start a MPSIMS thread asking for help unloading at the Baltimore end. We MADs are pretty good at helping fellow Dopers move in and out of the area. That way it won’t have to be just you and BF unloading the truck at the Baltimore end.
You drive to the truck rental place. You leave your car, pick up the truck, drive it home, load it up. Once the truck is loaded, you drive the truck back to the truck rental place, and get them to hook up the car and the trailer. (They’ll hook up the lights, and position you where you can leave the lot by driving forward.)
Study the map ahead of time, so you know the easiest way from the rental place to I-26 or I-526, whichever is nearer. If you aren’t sure after looking at the map, the truck rental people can probably clue you in.
You may not have noticed these particular signs before, amidst the cacophony of billboards along I-95 through the Carolinas, but some of the truck-stop billboards will advertise ‘easy off, easy on’. Those are the places you want - places where it’s easy for trucks to get from I-95 to the truck stop and back. Those are the places you want to stop for gas and food. Truck stops also have truck-sized, pull-through parking spaces and fill-up bays - no backing up necessary.
If you stop at highway rest stops, use the truck spaces there, too. Again, they’re designed to drive in one end and out the other, so you never have to back up.
A few specific tips for the drive:
a) Take I-295 around the Richmond/St.Petersburg area. This leaves I-95 at around Exit 46 or 47 (signs will be plentiful), and rejoin it at about Exit 85.
b) Give DC rush hour a lot of clearance. If you’re doing a mostly daytime drive, I’d recommend timing your trip to hit the Capital Beltway no earlier than 8pm.
c) Follow the Capital Beltway (I-95) around DC. Watch the signs carefully. You’ll follow the signs for I-95, for Baltimore and New York. The construction will make things a little rough from where you join the Beltway to a mile or so after the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
d) As you approach the Wilson Bridge into Maryland, be in the second-to-left lane, even if it means you’re a slowpoke compared to other drivers that far over. There are four lanes going your way toward the bridge, but the right lane drops off entirely, and the next-to-right lane becomes the right lane, and has all sorts of traffic merging in, in a very short space before the bridge. You want to be clear of this.
Can’t advise you on getting into Baltimore, since I don’t know where you’re going. Ask the BF for tips. Or our Baltimoron Dopers can help, Weirddave especially.
At the Baltimore end, reverse the process I mentioned earlier, assuming that the truck rental place where you’re dropping the truck off is in a safe neighborhood. Drive directly to the rental place to drop off the trailer, and have them detach car and trailer from the truck. Park the car, drive the truck to your new home, unload (presumably with the help of BF and Dopers), then drive the truck back to return it and pick up your car.
It won’t be fun to drive a big truck while pulling your car behind you, but it’s manageable. You’ll do fine.
One last tip: there’s different ways to pull a car behind you. Even though it’s somewhat bigger, I like the kind of trailer you can drive your car completely onto. That way a fenderbender won’t bend your fender, but just the ones you’ve rented.
May I add my comment that towing isn’t that big a deal. I dragged a 23’ sailboat (on a trailer) behind an Aerostar from Jacksonville to King George, VA. Your trailer will follow you. Just remember it’s back there when you change lanes or make turns. And backing really isn’t that big a deal. You need a picture in your mind of what’s happening - the back of your truck will be pushing the tongue of the trailer. If you have to back up, start out slowly with small wheel movements, then follow the trailer. Just take it slow, think it thru, and don’t panic.
Heck, if I’d known when you were moving, I coulda driven to Balto instead of flying - I’ll be heading up there that weekend too. Drop me an email if you’ll be needing help there - I’ll coerce FCDad into helping. I can do that with my feminine wiles.
Enjoy the trek - it’s an adventure, but nothing to fret about! Drive safely and use your signals!!!
Skerri, when you freak, just remember me. I left behind everything I had ever known to move here - and I had never been to visit. Or Montfort, or Spiny Norman. Then think of how fun it will be to driiiiiive all that way, stereo blasting, and the wordl’s best cheesesteaks waiting on this end. Not to mention the MADs.
My ex had to make a drive exactly like that - about 600 miles, 15 foot truck, towing her car. Trust me when I say that if she can do it, anyone can.
I’ve driven a big uhaul before and it wasn’t too bad. Brake early because of your heavy load and follow the other tips here and you’ll be just fine. ON the rare occassion that I have had to back it up, I had a few people even offer to do it for me and they did an excellent job. People are helpful and understand that it is difficult. You’ll be just fine!
good advice, and I second the DC stuff heartily. Coming north, the I-95/DC beltway meeting is a parking lot from about 6 AM until maybe 8 or 9. There’s construction there too, so be careful. Take either I 95 or 495, they’ll both get you back to I-95 north of DC. Don’t worry about it. Just make sure you’re in the right lane well in advance of your exit.
When you get up to Baltimore it’s ANOTHER beltway, 695, so make sure you’re headed the proper way once you get here.
When all is said and done, go down to Fells Point and get a crab cake at John Stevens. Repeat as neccessary.
Merge onto I-395 N via exit number 170A- on the left- toward WASHINGTON.
Merge onto I-495 N/CAPITAL BELTWAY via exit number 170B toward TYSONS CORNER.
Merge onto I-95 N via exit number 27 toward BALTIMORE/NEW YORK.
Take the I-695 W exit- exit number 49B- on the left toward I-70/I-83/TOWSON.
Merge onto I-695 N/BALTIMORE BELTWAY INNER LOOP.
Take the MD-144/FREDERICK RD exit- exit number 13- toward CATONSVILLE.
Turn RIGHT onto MD-144/FREDERICK RD.
This is the way I have gone on both trips to Baltimore, so is this the best way to go? I’ve driven on 295 once around Richmond, but there’s no way in heck I’m driving through downtown with this truck and trailer. Thanks for reminding me of that!
I was planning on leaving Charleston as early as possible, but that may put me in the DC area around 3-4 P.M. (Well, that’s saying if it takes me between 7 and 8 hours to get to DC.) Isn’t that the beginning of road rage time?
Basically the only stuff I’m taking to the house is my clothes and my cats. All my stuff is going into storage, because I’ll be living with the Boyfriend and 3 other guys. (Woo!) I think what I’ll end up doing is driving it to the storage space in Glen Burnie directly after getting my car detached somewhere, and unloading everything. I don’t have a lot of stuff, anyways. Thanks for all the offers of help with unloading. I’ll keep that in mind!
Arrgh! Everything seems so ‘up in the air’ with this. I’m ready to get it over with!
Oh, JuanitaTech, I’m moving up there to be with my boyfriend. Hokey, but true. We’ve decided to get married next year, and thought that being in the same city for a while might be the first logical step towards that. So we decided to live together. We’re going to be at the current Casa de Boyfriend for a few months so I can get a job and save some money, and then we’re going to get our own place. (Hopefully by July, August at the latest.)
Moving out is a pain in the ass,
moving in is fun!
There now, feel better? I thought not. You will though by the time you get on the road. And by the way, you have no choice but to drive that rolling pile of junk like a little old lady. It won’t go faster than 45mph. Enjoy your new home!
But I’m thinking you’re a big ol’ smart-aleck. 