UHaul Fun!

[bsd058 296]

Well, my wife and I will be driving to Florida from Canada in a 26' UHaul. We booked a 17' truck, but for some reason the person who rented their 17' UHaul didn't come back with their truck because he wasn't able to get into his new home! Good thinking, buddy! Anyways, I want to avoid as many hills as possible, so I chose to take a route from:

Minot, ND to Albert Lea, MN to Springfield, IL to Abbeville, Alabama to Orlando, FL.

Anyone know if this route might have mountains? Thanks.

[Brian121957 43]

I don't want you to take any risks you do not feel comfortable with , but. If you stay on I-75 and just don't get in a hurry you should be fine.

Are you towing or trailering a car too?

[JohnR! 5,495]

I don't want you to take any risks you do not feel comfortable with , but. If you stay on I-75 and just don't get in a hurry you should be fine.

Are you towing or trailering a car too?

x 2!!!!

[aws&ndd 103]

You might run into some small mountains in Alabama, but not too sure. It shouldn't be too bad. What roads are you taking? Are you gonna be driving interstate the whole way?

[bsd058 296]

Ya we're hoping to use the interstate routes. It's a 26' truck, not a trailer. I just want to make sure we don't have too many dangerous turns and hills that we might have trouble getting up. On top of all of that, I'm going to do my best tying everything down well, but sometimes things get loose and I don't want them to get loose while we're going up or down large inclines. I wouldn't have worried about it with a 17' truck, but now that we have a half of a semi (26') that leaves a lot of space for loose objects to accelerate.

Yes, Alabama was a concern of mine. I tried my best to go around the Apalachians, but I will be going through Birmingham. They wouldn't be too bad on the outskirts of the mountains, right?

[aws&ndd 103]

From what I see, looks like the only problem area would be around Birmingham. If you take I-22 into Birmingham you might be able to avoid most of the mountains, as opposed to if you took I-65. Either route you take you should be pretty safe on the interstate.

[bsd058 296]

Thank you, aws&ndd.

Sorry I forgot to mention to the other posters, no, I will not be towing a vehicle. My truck will stay in Canada. We're just going to buy a new vehicle down in Florida for my wife when we get there. This way I have a vehicle for when I get back in a couple of weeks and we don't have to worry about importing a vehicle. It's just going to be easier that way for us.

[bsd058 296]

Good news! When I got to the UHaul location, they had a 17' truck available. I guess the guy got into his house finally. :-) Now I don't have to worry about all of my stuff getting thrown around back there!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Good news! When I got to the UHaul location, they had a 17' truck available. I guess the guy got into his house finally. :-) Now I don't have to worry about all of my stuff getting thrown around back there!

I used Uhaul from NS to DC, no problems. Ensure you check all the fluids and tire PSI.. Safe travels

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Safe Travels. Hope you have air conditioning .

[bsd058 296]

Safe Travels. Hope you have air conditioning .

Oh I do!

Ok, so everything went well! They were really only interested in the NOA1 document I presented and my passport.

I'll give you a replay of our encounter at border patrol.

We pulled up to the barricade for trucks since we were in a UHaul. It's about 12am when we pull up. We have a truck full of the stuff my wife is going to use in the new house (for legal purposes, it is her place for now but in reality I am planning to eventually move there once I'm given the IR-1) and my cat and dog.

Officer #1: How's it going?

Me: Good. You?

Officer #1: Good, thanks. Where are you guys heading?

Dog: Starts barking her head off at the officer. She's too protective of me.

Me: Closing my dog's mouth with my hands so she'll stop barking. "We're going to Florida. My wife got a job there and is moving before my immigration goes through. I'm just coming over the border for 2 weeks to help her move in and then I'll be heading back to Canada to wait for my immigration to be complete. Here is my wife's passport (I hand him my wife's US passport) and here is mine (I hand him my passport)"

Officer #1: Do you have documentation?

Me: Yes, sir.

Officer #1: You can step out of the vehicle with your documentation if you like. (He said this because my dog kept barking)

Me: (I get out of the truck with my documents)

Officer #1: (walked around and signaled me to the back of the UHaul). Do you have any drugs or firearms with you?

Me: No.

Officer #1: Could you open the UHaul, please?

Me: Sure. (I open the Uhaul part way and the officer stops me because he thinks things might fall out.

(Officer #1 signals to officer #2 to come and check my UHaul while officer #3 talks to my wife at the front of the UHaul)

Officer #2: (as he is looking through the UHaul) What in this truck is yours?

Me: I just have enough clothes for the trip to Florida. I plan on staying for two weeks.

Officer #2: Is the rest of the stuff hers?

Me: Yes.

(Officer #2 finishes looking in back of UHaul.)

Officer #2: You can close the UHaul.

Me: Thank you. (I close the UHaul)

(Officer #1 comes back over to me and brings me to the front of the UHaul)

(Officer #3 is done talking to my wife)

Officer #2 to my wife: Did you petition for his immigration?

My wife: (turns to me) Is that what it was called, hun?

Me: Ya, I think so. It was called an I-130.

My wife: (turns to officer #2) Yes I petitioned for him.

Me to officer #2: I have a notice of action if you need it and other documentation if you need to see it.

Officer #1 interrupts: No that's okay, I don't need to see the rest of your documents. JUst let me see the Notice of Action.

(I hand to Officer #1 the notice of action)

Officer #1: Thanks, I'll be right back, you can get back in your vehicle.

Officer #1 takes about 1 minute inside his terminal and comes back with my NOA1 and my wife's and my passports.

Officer #1 to both of us: Have a safe trip. You're good to go.

My wife and I: Thanks. Have a good one.

Total time at border was approximately 7-8 mins.

So it wasn't all that bad crossing the border. The NOA1 was the most important part. I had all off my proof and he didn't even care. Not to say that would always happen. This was just what happened in this instance. Now comes the hard part. The driving. Already in Albert Lea. Off to Springfield tomorrow (our anniversary!). Maybe we'll stop in and see the Simpsons!

Thanks for all of the great advice!

Edited July 18, 2012 by bsd058

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Glad everything went well for you! Good luck with the trip

[bsd058 296]

Thanks. Just to let you guys know. Best Western has been a great experience on this trip. Just in case anyone else decides to do a similar road trip. They let you have late check-out (very important for a road trip when you started late and got in late. Air conditioners that are as cold as ice. Nice sized rooms. Pet-friendly. Very friendly people. Free wi-fi.

We're just eating breakfast right now in Albert Lea. Going to get ready for a short drive to Springfield, IL. Hopefully we can just hang out in the pool for a bit, get a good sleep and then off to Alabama (longest trek of the journey).

This is a fun road trip. Lots of sights to see. Lots of crazy weather.

Another bit of good news. I have a job interview on Tuesday next week in Florida! So that's great! I'll get to sell my services. I already let them know it'll be some time before I get my immigration status, but they are happy to meet with me and get a feel for if I'm right for their brokerage, and vice verse, I'd like to see if their atmosphere is right for me.

Exciting!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Glad its all working out. Enjoy the trip!! I love driving, me and my dog drove from DC to Saskatoon and back last year. This yr I'm making the saskatoon to kamloops to calagry, back to Stoon circuit,lol. Stay Safe

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Sounds like everything is falling nicely into place. Good luck at the interview and continued safe travels. Enjoy the view - especially in the mountains (you'll be fine driving on Interstates or state roads) - the view literally is breath-taking!