If it weren’t for this bed I can move everything in my Outback a little at a time (I will be making many trips anyway) but the bed is the sticking point. I have thought of some options (I’ll list them below) but really want to get it there on the cheap.
Option:
1 - rent a uhaul, ryder or such and move everyting at once instead of multiple trips.
2 - rent the Home Depot truck - I think then have unlimited milage they go by time which would be apx 6 hr round trip.
3 - get it shipped (I don’t know if any carriers will take somethign that big)
4 - Become friends with someone who own’s a truck (not too likely)
5 - transport it via train (LIRR to Amtrak) - yea the conductor will love that.
6 - tie it to a big helium balloon when the wind is just right.
the trebuchet won’t work, then bed will become too damaged on multiple impacts and I figured it wasn’t a viable option (right below building a barge and floating it across the LI sound then up the hudson)
Call up the frats at your local university and put together a charity bed race in which teams push beds for 125 miles.
Line up TV coverage and sponsorship, and take a small percentage for admin costs. That way your bed gets delivered and you get a free trip to and from the destination.
Or just tie it to your roof – wrap it in plastic to keep it dry and use lots and lots of rope to tie it to the bumpers in many places so the wind does not catch it.
Rent a U-Haul trailer. We rented the 5x8 last summer, and it had room for a Queen sized bed. It only cost us about 20$, once you get the deposit back - totally worth it! With a trailer, you don’t have to pay mileage or gas - you get it for 24hours and move what you want in it.
I’d think that’s the cheapest way to go, short of on the roof - thought of getting a big plastic mattress bag to put it in first? It should survive ok. Get the bag anyways for the U-haul - they can be kind of dusty on the inside!
Having made many moves, both local and across the country, you will save yourself MUCH frustration and time by just moving everything at once. Get a U-Haul truck for $30 or $40 +mileage and make one trip, dropping the truck off at your destination. Much better than many small trips, I can assure you.
Checked Uhauls rates for the van (which is big enough)
Mattress is moving from LI to upstate
One way from LI to upstate = $324
one way from upstate to LI (not needed) = $104
round trip from LI = $20 + $0.89/mile = $242.50
Round trip from Upstate = $20 + $0.49/mi (possible but other direction is better) = $142.50
I’m sure they will throw in some other fees and such
Seems to me there was a thread not too long ago populated by people whom U-Haul has pissed off with shoddy equipment, reservation snafus, rude “service,” etc. FWIW.
If UHaul’s too expensive, try a car rental agency like Enterprise. The usually have a few large vans available, generally passenger types but you can still squeeze a buncha stuff in.
Yea, I called UHaul to make a resevation for my last move, and it sounded like I was calling a block party in the projects (loud music, people shouting, lots of random noises). Which might be a fun party, but I’m not giving out my credit card number.
Second aramis’ suggestion. Call around to regular car rentals, you should be able to get a cargo van or a large pickup (fine for a queen mattress I’d think, won’t the bed itself come apart?) for well under a hundred.
And ask how many miles a day you get before they start charging mileage. There’s usually a few companies that don’t charge for mileage if you call around a bit (should be okay with regardless tho if you’re only making one trip…)
I have moved mattresses many times tied down to the roof. My car didn’t even have a roof rack, like yours does. This is, IMHO, the easiest and cheapest way.
If you have a headboard and footboard to move as well, and they won’t fit in the wagon, perform the following steps:
Stack in order - mattress, box spring, both boards. Put some padding between the boards so they won’t get scratched.
Tie the whole assembly tightly together.
Get some shrink wrapping (very cheap) and wrap the whole thing up. This will hold it together and waterproof it for the trip.
Lift the whole thing onto your roof, and tie it tightly down.
Stop 10 miles into your trip, and every 40 miles thereafter, and check the tightness and stability of your rig.
You should be able to move the whole thing for less than $15, not including gas.
I am real tempted in trying to tie in onto the roof. The mattress and box spring is the only problem moving - I’m not worried about the bed frame. My concerns in moving it this way are:
chance of breaking the boxspring by overtighting it + wind load
is it legal to do this (I see it all the time but I don’t know if I could get a ticket doing this)
Carrying loads on the roof is perfectly legal. Just make sure everything is nice and tight.
You’ll lose mileage from wind resistance, but still save lots 'o money.
You shouldn’t have a problem with the boxspring. If you have a roof rack, you can put the box spring down. The ropes will cinch the mattress without causing damage.