Transporting costs/options

[windtrader]

Question to the many here with trucking/hauling experience. I am needing to move a couple dozen travel trailers along I5 about 280 miles. Yes, I know not exactly a bus topic but full of very experienced truckers. First option is to put road worthy tires on and pull them. Roadworthiness on a number of them is questionable so looking at options for putting on lowboy (now bus country). Hoping to get two on for each trip.


Criteria is safe passage and cost. Time is not a factor. Who does this at reasonable rates? I'm assuming calling large commercial tow companies is expensive and a poor slob with a trailer that could use some extra bucks is hard to find.


Liability is a concern so the hauler would need to have sufficient insurance/bonds whatever so any problems do not stick or even come our way.


Thanks don

[Busted Knuckle]

Don I can tell you right now anyone who operates with LEGAL authority, proper insurance and all that in being done in CA is going to cost some $, however that being said I would look into some of the tow companies with a Landoll, TrailEz or similar transport trailer that are along the route you are talking about and see if any of them would make you a good deal as fill in work for slow times. Or if you get one that is close to the destination (I am guessing they are going to end up all at the same place in the end?), they could use them a back haul from another run as long as they can come in an grab 2 of them anytime convenient for them.
You don't say from where to where, but it's also possible a local trucker that is equipped right might make you a fair deal for "back hauls". The key to back hauls is the flexibility of picking up anytime and not RIGHT NOW!

But on the other hand if you got plenty of spare time, a good 3/4 or 1 ton pick up and ability to do tire and lighting work you can save yourself a bunch of cash and have a blast doing it yourself! 
  BK   

[windtrader]

Hi Bryce,


The trip is from the OR-CA border, town of Hornbrook, to Sacramento, about 280 miles, all freeway.  The quote we have for the first 22 is $400 per trailer which seems pretty fair from the figures I see for hauling buses. We have considered hauling ourselves but concerned primarily about liability. Heading into conference call soon to discuss various options. Thanks for the input. Don

[luvrbus]

 Are those FEMA trailers that is not a bad price if they haul 2 or 3 at trip but I don't believe any one with a Landoll is going to be that cheap

[windtrader]

Clifford,


The trailers are abandoned on the ranch and a real eyesore so prioritizing the project to get them off the ranch.

Comment from another board described what is proposed, a "load and tow" arrangement where one trailer is loaded onto bed and second one is towed. After chatting, there is a lot involved with getting old travel trailers ready to go: dig them out, get some road worthy tires on, check hubs, safety, etc. Price is very reasonable and first couple of 22 trailers are moving next week.

[chessie4905]

too bad the railroad doesnt run between the two cities, and a spur nearby.

[Busted Knuckle]

Just out of curiosity WHERE are they being moved to? Someone else's property, scrap yard, dump, new slum city for vagrants, etc?
If disposing of them another option would be to get them all real close together and toss a match in the middle. Once burned a rented skid steer makes short work of loading left over scrap metal into a roll off dumpster to sell to the recycler.
   BK 

[windtrader]

BK,


Although seeming a bit suspicious the old travel trailers, having been abandoned or heavily in arrears for lack of paying storage fees over the years [/size]are leaving the ranch in an above board manner.
Liability to the 5,000+ acre ranch is critical so only 100% legal avenues were considered.


With respect to where they are going is a bit of sunshine in these never ending days of gloom. There is a 50 year outfit, a rare RV salvage operation, funded by service and a massive inventory of used trailer/RV parts. Other than keeping their lights on, they are deeply embedded in the local/regional charity organization to provide shelter for the underserved. A watertight shelter like a trailer is better than a tent and a godsend for getting some of those who want off the street someway to survive.


One option evaluated was having a rip-a-trailer day with an army of sawsalls and hammers, doing as you suggest, part into bits, loaded into dumpsters (recycling not viable in today's markets), and hauled off. Once we learned this stuff has value to others this option was put down the list.


I'd rather characterize the donation to the suffering something other than "new slum city for vagrants", especially as the whole issue of homelessness and income disparity is a society problem more than an individual one.

[Dave5Cs]

RV Dr.? Good job my friend.

[chessie4905]

Oh,ok...

[Busted Knuckle]

Don, I am sorry "new slum city for vagrants" was a poor choice of wording for lack of trying to think of a more positive description.
I totally agree with the situation of homelessness being a national issue as well as a disgrace as we have thousands of homeless veterans that have selfishly served our country only to be abandoned and left to end up homeless! (I know there are other unfortunate soles that end up homeless as well, but the treatment of our VETERANS really upset me)

I really admire the idea even though I didn't show it at first!
  BK 

[windtrader]

Cool. enough said for this OT bus topic. Now back to breaking nuts, that is off the wheels. LOL

[Jim Blackwood]

Cool. I bought a well used 21ft travel trailer once and used it as a home for a couple years once. It gave me a great boost at a time when I really needed it.

Jim