Sorry for the slightly disjointed post… I finished my studies at LSU and will continue them at UGA this summer, so I need to move.
I’ve done a similar trip 4 years ago, from Florida (Gainesville) to Baton Rouge. About a 10 hour drive, my mom drove the truck (16’), and most of my things fit (and there was still a lot of space left) there.
This time it is slightly different. I have a car and a dog (my two most priced possessions). And a few more books and papers. The people in the trip will still be my mom (middle-aged) and me (mid-20s). No man will be on the trip (as far as I know).
I don’t doubt that my stuff will again fit with no difficulty in a truck like before (or smaller), but I would like some advice.
I’ve been looking into hitching my car (1998 Saturn SL2) to the back of the truck, so as to not have two cars driving the same route and be with my mom. Has anybody had any experience with this? How is the driving? Any tips? Or forget it and just have the two separate vehicles?
It will be about a 10 hours drive, so I was thinking of splitting the trip from Baton Rouge to Athens in two. Drive all the way to Montgomery the first day, and then from Montgomery to Athens the second day. I’ve done the Baton Rouge to Atlanta and back trip before, and I found that the trip was easier between Baton Rouge and Montgomery. The construction and Atlanta traffic afterwards made it more stressful.
Definitely trailer the car, either on the two wheel pull they offer or the full four wheel pull [where you actually drive the car onto the trailer].
My wife and I did it from AZ to CT - we took I-10 from Phoenix to Florida - dropped off a freeloader in Florida [a cat] and then took 95 north. We had the full trailer where you drive the car up onto it. It’s not hard, the trailer follows in line with the truck and you can barely see it through your sideviews. For an extra hundred bucks I think it’s worth it, plus, it will pay for itself with Gas being 4 bucks a gallon and all. It’s very easy, it looks a lot harder than it is.
I’m not sure you can drive a car right into a uhaul or budget truck. I guess you could, but how would you get it up into the truck? They certainly wouldn’t give you the ramps.
I’d definitely use a dolly and tow the Saturn behind the truck. I’ve done it several times, both with dollies and with full trailers, and it’s not that hard. A dolly is easier to get the car on and off, and you don’t need any of the advantages a trailer might offer. (BTW, all the truck rental agreements I’ve seen specifically forbid placing a vehicle inside the truck.) Towing the car doesn’t make a lot of difference in the way the truck handles, but I’m always cautious approaching stops.
Make sure you know where your fuel fill is before anything else. Take a few minutes to find everything on the dashboard before you start the truck the first time. If you’re unfamiliar with backing up the combo, just plan your approach to gas stops, restaurants and motels so that you can pull through. My main advice for Atlanta is don’t do it during rush hour, they’re friggin’ nuts! Other than that you should be fine. Just be mindful of your length and that you can’t see it all. And always make sure you like your mirror adjustment every time you start the truck. Easy does it.
Yea, my mom (she was the driver) was able to do a successful drive from Gainesville to Baton Rouge with the big truck.
We’re just concerned, especially with the turns and entrances, how difficult would it be to have the car towed behind.
Hell no, I don’t want to be in Atlanta during rush hour, if we make the overnight stop in Montgomery, we may be there sometime during the late morning, early afternoon. If we do it all at once (seems my mom wants it that way), we will be passing Atlanta during the evening, past rush hour (hopefully).
I’m glad to hear it is not that hard. Mom and I think we can pull it off, dad is not… which is why dad is not being told (and won’t be present).
I’m also thinking… in case we’re just not sure, we can put the dolly in the truck, forget about it, and drive the Saturn, right?
About saving gas… not so much. My Saturn gives me over 30 mpg on the highway, and I had to fill it up about twice last time (about $60). Of course, it would be nice having to fill up only one car and don’t have to stop to fill up both.
Not much to add other than I’ve just moved down the road from UGA, I miss it, and any excuse to come back into town, see my friends, and wander around downtown is a good one in my book. If you need help moving, PM me and I’d be happy to come help you unload if the dates are okay.
