Moving to the US (U-Haul vs. Upack vs. ???)

[Yomtl 0]

Hi,

Do any of you have any other ideas than U-Haul or Upack as far as moving companies / truck rental companies are concerned?

Both seem to be really expensive (around 1500$ for the one-way rental of a U-Haul truck during 6 days ; Upack also seems to be around 1800$).

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We briefly considered using a U-Haul or a U-Pack but ended up going with a professional moving company because of the convenience. It cost more but we didn't have to worry about the loading or the transport or the unloading. We weren't able to find a U-Haul company that was willing to let us do a one way international trip, plus with all of the aggravation involved, the distance and the possibility of break-downs on the way, we decided it just wasn't worth the hassle. Others have had great success with U-Pack. Again, it was one extra hassle at a time when there was a lot of other things to worry about - having to pack the cube and unpack it ourselves - that we decided we didn't want the additional burden, and were willing to pay the extra money not to have to worry.

Edited May 20, 2008 by Kathryn41

[melusine 5]

Upack here !

about the same price as uhaul but with gas + driver + taxes include.

From mtl to la it costs around 2700 something (but 3300 if we would move a day later... weird)

from terminal to terminal wich will mean we will uhaul the stuff here and there.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

We are going with Uhaul...mostly cause we don't have that far to drive. We will only need it for 3 days..(It's only an 8 hour drive)

Costing us about $600.00 bucks.

Hope you find something affordable!!!

[Yomtl 0]

Since I have my dog and my motorcycle to move, the "cheapest" solution seems to be to put everyone in U-Haul truck and drive all the way down to Florida. Plus I'm also kind of excited about this long trip....it will definitely make me realize that I am moving for real (and not just flying for another visit)

Is there any form that I'm supposed to fill in advance and give to the customs officer in regards to the personal belongings that I will be moving across the border? (or is a detailed list of all the boxes and items sufficient?)

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

I would just make a list of everything packed...(do it as you go along)

That should be fine.

Isn't this exciting!!! 2 months and I'm moving!!!!

[JillA 2]

I'm renting a Uhaul as well to drive to Philly... I'm starting to pack now, just writing a list of what's in each box and then numbering the boxes in case customs goes in anything... This is SO exciting!! Can't wait...

[Leafgal 3]

I'm renting a Uhaul as well to drive to Philly... I'm starting to pack now, just writing a list of what's in each box and then numbering the boxes in case customs goes in anything... This is SO exciting!! Can't wait...

I did this numbered each box with the contents. I put one on the box and I had one with me for customs. We did U-Haul from Kitchener to Southern VA (crossed at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls), had the truck for 2 days and I think it cost like 900, no problems with the truck thank goodness. Customs never looked in the truck, never asked for a list of contents, we just had to park and go in and wait (it was US Thanksgiving weekend).

[rae_and_scott 1]

Do any of you have any other ideas than U-Haul or Upack as far as moving companies / truck rental companies are concerned?

Both seem to be really expensive (around 1500$ for the one-way rental of a U-Haul truck during 6 days ; Upack also seems to be around 1800$).

I have been stressing myself over trying to find something cheaper too. I just don't think it exists.

We wanted to get a cargo van since Scott doesn't have a ton of stuff, but you can't do a one-way rental across the border. In fact, you can't do a one-way across the border with any company that you drive yourself besides Uhaul, from what I have found. Moving companies definitely cost more.

If you have your own vehicle a pull-behind trailer is a fraction of the cost but then of course you'd have to have a small amount of stuff.

I thought about getting a van here in Brooklyn and driving it both ways b/c it was about half the cost... but would involve the headache of driving it both ways.

Thought about Upack too but with the cost (and added hassle) of doing local moves on either end of the terminals it's just as expensive as Uhaul. Door to door also more expensive.

After deliberating for many days on this, we finally bit the bullet today and booked a Uhaul. But personally, I hate Uhaul, and if I didn't have to use them I absolutely would not. I think they are a horrible company that makes a lot of mistakes and doesn't give a damn about their customers. Really I don't even know how they stay in business.

We are going with Uhaul...mostly cause we don't have that far to drive. We will only need it for 3 days..(It's only an 8 hour drive)

Costing us about $600.00 bucks.

Hope you find something affordable!!!

Wow, really? Our drive is like 9 hours and ours came to $725. Add gas and I figure we're looking at at least a grand.

ugh!

[naviomelo 0]

I looked into this for myself. I was going to get a U-Haul and dump it at the nearest place once I got to the US, then just transfer the stuff and do a one way SUV rental. It would have saved me on gas, for sure, not to mention the rates. I budgeted for $3.899 gas and found that the cheapest company (turned out to be Avis) would have let me do it for $1,065.60. I decided to just get rid of stuff I don't need and fly. I can take two bags for free. Alaska Airlines charges $25 for the 3rd bag and $100 for each additional bag. Even if I have 6 bags, this turns out to be $325 plus the cost of a one-way ticket, which shouldn't be any more than $250. Total cost $575. I wanted to drive, but it would have just been too expensive.

[Carlawarla 1]

One of the things I had to look at was what did I really NEED to bring. Gene had been living in a house for 14 years. I had furniture and "stuff", but it wasn't as nice as his, and where was I going to put it anyway? I had two young adult children who lived on their own, who sure appreciated better furniture than what they had. I had no family heirlooms to worry about. I had to critically decide, what did I really want, and need. Personal momento's were important, some clothing, some books, but really...I didn't need to bring everything. Some of my things I sold, and just used the money to buy it new when I got here. I don't know if you're a pack rat, if you have kids you're bringing down, or if you're moving an apartment or a house full of things, but it's something to consider when it comes time to move.

I ended up moving with 5 suitcases, and 2 small boxes were mailed to me after I arrived. That's it. There wasn't the same restrictions on luggage when I came down last year, but it wasn't more than $300.00 for everything I did bring on the plane.

[Flames9_RN 358]

great point about decluittering prior to moving!! I threw/donated a lot of ####### out!!

[trailmix 77]

Hi,

Do any of you have any other ideas than U-Haul or Upack as far as moving companies / truck rental companies are concerned?

Both seem to be really expensive (around 1500$ for the one-way rental of a U-Haul truck during 6 days ; Upack also seems to be around 1800$).

Where are you moving from in Canada Yomtl? We just drove from Calgary to near Orlando last month and sent a relocube from Upack with our stuff. We chose the door to door option, which was around an additional $ 300 (total 2264.00), we also hired a mover to pack it in Calgary, which was around $ 140. When we get a place of our own (we are renting an apartment month to month right now) we will hire someone to unload it as well. (Currently our relocube is stored at the Upack depot in Orlando).

I totally agree about the decluttering, we posted a single bed, air conditioner and our living room sofa and chairs on kijiji, for free and they were snapped right up. Donated a lot of clothes and other smaller things to women in need. We also brought a lot of stuff too! As we were both moving from Canada there was no one already here with a house and stuff in it

I'm just wondering, with U-haul being $ 300 less than Upack, how far you are travelling as it may work out to be about the same with gas for the truck- then again if the price for Upack isn't door to door, you still have to load and unload at their depot, so might work out costing more for Upack.

Edited May 21, 2008 by trailmix

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Wow, really? Our drive is like 9 hours and ours came to $725. Add gas and I figure we're looking at at least a grand.

ugh!

I don't have very much stuff so we can get away with the smallest vehicle available. I'm figuring with gas it's going to be closer to $700 though, probably will end up being more. What does it mean when km are including? It says that 834 or something km included. Its only like 720 to get down there.

[anxiouslywaiting 0]

Wow, really? Our drive is like 9 hours and ours came to $725. Add gas and I figure we're looking at at least a grand.

ugh!

I don't have very much stuff so we can get away with the smallest vehicle available. I'm figuring with gas it's going to be closer to $700 though, probably will end up being more. What does it mean when km are including? It says that 834 or something km included. Its only like 720 to get down there.

They will calculate how many kms it will take to get to your destination and will usually add some extra kms in there for you so you don't go over. You also have to figure what the kms are from the uhaul place to your place and from your destination to the drop off place because that may add up to the extra kms.