Is it worth the savings driving a massive moving truck with a car towed behind it?

June 2, 2010 9:31 PM

How badly will it suck driving a loaded 26ft Penske moving truck with a car towed behind it from Florida to Long Island, NY without a co-pilot?

I'm a good driver with very little truck driving experience. I plan on doing two long days of driving and one night in a motel somewhere. I'm not concerned with driving alone but a truck this size with a car in tow stresses me out. And just the thought of parking or backing up at the motel/gas station/rest stop freaks me out.

Is it worth the extra money for a you pack/we drive solution? I'd still have to make the trip with my sedan, regardless. Should I expect a great jump in gas prices this summer?

posted by mizrachi to travel & transportation (27 answers total)

Driving something that big sucks, but it's not that bad for the highway part of the trip. Driving in the city is another story. Tip: If you're passing a tractor-trailer, they'll usually flash their lights off and then on again when you've cleared them so you can safely get back in the right lane.
posted by sanko at 9:37 PM on June 2, 2010

I recently made this type of journey from Florida to California. I had the fully loaded 26ft truck, my Honda Fit on a tow dolly - the type where all four wheels were off the ground and on the dolly, AND I had two very energetic dogs. I guess dog was my co-pilot. I was VERY nervous about this cross-country trek, but I really didn't have any problems until I got on the freeways of California. And, even then, it was just the volume of traffic that made me nervous.

I just kept a steady, slow speed. I rarely passed other cars, and when I did, I made sure I had enough room for a football field to fit in the passing gap. And, I found that most gas stations and hotels were more than equipped to make sure I never had to put the truck in reverse. I even stopped at a Chic-fil-A with no problems.
posted by AlliKat75 at 9:41 PM on June 2, 2010

If you can swing it, maybe convince/bribe a buddy to drive your car and then fly him/her back home when you get there?
posted by ian1977 at 9:49 PM on June 2, 2010

I did this exact thing from NC->CA. The vast, vast majority of the trip was fine and easy; highways were no sweat, and motels were fine too. I only got stressed out twice, both times trying to turn around in a vague 3-point turn sort of way. But in both cases I was able to get out of the jam alone, and I don't really see what good it would have done to have another person there.

So, just remember that if you want to turn around exhaust all other possibilities before trying to do a 3-point turn. And when backing up remember that everything is the opposite -- normally when you turn the wheel to the right (clockwise) the rear of your car moves to the left, but when you also have a trailer attached the rear end goes to the right when you turn the wheel to the right.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:00 PM on June 2, 2010

If you're not comfortable with the truck, I'd take the western route, and skip 95 entirely. Much less traffic, nicer roads, prettier views, etc.

Do whatever you can to avoid parking the truck in a spot where you'll have to back out. If you have no choice, try as hard as you can to find a spot that will let you back out without turning.

I'd avoid crossing from Jersey into NY (and presumably through Brooklyn) during rush hour. It's congested, and the highways are much narrower than you'll find elsewhere around the country.

Good luck. You'll do fine.
posted by schmod at 10:02 PM on June 2, 2010

I also meant to add that the trailer hitch that I was using had chains that would prevent the trailer from forming too sharp of an angle (jacknifing I guess you call it) and so when I got into trouble backing up I knew it because I could feel the chains kicking in and I knew that if I continued what I was doing I'd cause damage. I don't know if all hitches have that or not but it was helpful.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:05 PM on June 2, 2010

I did roughly the same configuration driving from California to Nebraska during the winter. You don't mention whether you've made this particular drive before or not, but one thing to be prepared for, if you have, is that the trip will likely take longer in the moving truck. Slower to accelerate, and some rental companies put governors on their vehicles. The gas mileage is going to suck right out loud as well. But aside from that, it's not much different once you're out on the highways. If you can enjoy a long distance drive like this under normal circumstances, a trip like you're describing shouldn't be too unpleasant.
posted by Ipsifendus at 10:06 PM on June 2, 2010

Honestly, the biggest issue with towing things is if the trailer starts to have any significant percentage of the towing vehicle's weight. A truck with a normal car behind it will be almost unnoticeable - it'll just go where the big weight in front of it goes.

As for needing to reverse, your secret is planning. If you can't see an easy way to get in and out of the place you are looking at, park somewhere safe and walk in and look. A 26ft truck with a trailer has a decently small turning circle compared to a standard sized big truck (be careful to learn what this is in advance in a big truck stop if you can- you may not be able to go completely onto full lock).

Just make sure you consider how you exit a parking area and you'll be fine.

Other concerns:

Don't drive in high winds, especially across bridges. They can be scary if you are not experienced.
Give plenty of space when coming back into a lane after passing someone, don't even attempt the over take if you don't have plenty of room (ie if traffic is backing up, stay where you are and slow down with traffic).
Give yourself more room than you think you need when slowing down - and pay attention as traffic can stop REALLY fast when you are driving a truck (they do take a long time to stop compared to a car, and that extra heave on the brakes in an emergency is not anywhere near as reassuringly effective. Plan to not need it).
Assume that no-one understands how much room you need when negotiating corners - 75% of the time you'll be right and someone will be right in your blind spot on your inside as you turn and worry about clipping them in their clueless haze.
Make sure you know what the trailer/dolly tyre pressures should be and check all pressures of tyres that are touching the floor. Check your load at every stop.
posted by Brockles at 10:14 PM on June 2, 2010

And, I found that most gas stations and hotels were more than equipped to make sure I never had to put the truck in reverse.

This.

The reverse gear will be your downfall if you've never learned how to do it before. It's completely counter-intuitive.

Want to see an otherwise perfectly sane adult exhibit every emotion possible? Anger, tears, despair and the depths of batshit insanity? If he's never backed up a truck while towing something, ask him to.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:23 PM on June 2, 2010 [2 favorites]

normally when you turn the wheel to the right (clockwise) the rear of your car moves to the left, but when you also have a trailer attached the rear end goes to the right when you turn the wheel to the right.

I just realized that I said that backwards. Sorry for the confusion.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:38 PM on June 2, 2010

I hope you're familiar with driving in and around NYC and LI. Remember that trucks and trailers are banned on parkways. Really the only decent way to go is is GW Bridge, Cross Bronx, Throgs Neck Bridge, LIE. Crossing Staten Island drops you on the BQE, which is really narrow in some places, avoid at all costs. The tunnels? Crazy talk. Driving that rig across Manhattan is a challenge for pros.

Time you trip so you cross into NY around 3am. There's going to be traffic at any time, but this is lightest. Buy gas in NJ, the taxes are lower. Most road maintenance is done at night now, check ahead. 880 and 1010 on the radio have traffic reports every ten minutes. Tolls are cash if you don't have an EZpass. When approaching the GW Bridge remember: Upper level only!

Don't try this on a weekend, even at 3am traffic is heavy.
posted by Marky at 11:16 PM on June 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

Will the car be on a dolly or with all 4 wheels on the ground? Without a dolly, you actually won't be able to back it up at all (maybe a few feet). The best plan is to not need to reverse at all.
Check your route on the state DOT sites for construction - If there are long stretches of single-lane jerseys, it's going to be stressful beyond belief. There's plenty of room, but it won't feel that way. I drove an RV across PA when I was 16, it still makes me tense.
Remember that there are much bigger vehicles than yours - you'll fit just fine through toll booths, etc. Know your clearance though and watch for arched bridges.
Take I-81 if at all possible over I-95. The extra distance is worth it when you get around DC.
Following distance is very important, especially in a rental truck that you're not all that familiar with. Expect everyone in a car to do something stupid.
Take breaks, walk around. If there's no truck parking, just go to the edge of the parking lot and put it across the spaces.

Oh, and make sure that truck is locked and secure when you head into the motel.
posted by hey you over in the corner at 4:37 AM on June 3, 2010

Take an extra day, go slow and time the bad spots for low traffic.
posted by sammyo at 4:53 AM on June 3, 2010

"Really the only decent way to go is is GW Bridge, Cross Bronx, Throgs Neck Bridge, LIE. "

THAT is the most important counsel you can get here. Do not be fooled into cutting across Staten Island to take the Belt, with a truck towing a car! By FAR the most delicate part of your trip is the last 60 miles. (Although the Jersey turnpike isn't a huge treat.) Still, do not, do not, do not get on the LIE at the wrong time of day. (Mid-day will be fine though. Unlike the poster above, I highly dislike 3 a.m. on the LIE because of the high percentage of drunk drivers.)

Also, I would be zero percent concerned about the truck and car on the drive up on 95. You should know, however, that doing that trip in two days is exhausting. I have done it. I wanted to cry most of the way. It is a really long two days. If you're starting at Miami, the traditional sleeping place is at the border of North and South Carolina. Your mileage (har!) and amount of teariness will vary if you're starting further north, however. I mean, Florida is pretty much 400 miles so, if you're at Jacksonville, it's not a terrible trip at all.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 4:55 AM on June 3, 2010

Others have mentioned issues related to this, but watch your approaches. Not only are you banned on some skyways, but depending on exactly what you're driving, you won't necessarily fit through all the tunnels. Which can be an embarassing and inconvenient thing to discover in the moment.
posted by valkyryn at 5:32 AM on June 3, 2010

"Want to see an otherwise perfectly sane adult exhibit every emotion possible? Anger, tears, despair and the depths of batshit insanity? If he's never backed up a truck while towing something, ask him to."

I wholeheartedly second this.

I drove the exact same configuration from South Florida to central NC. The majority of the trip on 95 was fine and most gas stations and stops along the highway are set up to allow you to stop and leave without having the reverse. The couple of times that I had to reverse (once was in a motel parking lot) were absolute misery. Like others have said, be sure to plan ahead when you're going to stop to avoid having to reverse.
posted by Jambi at 5:42 AM on June 3, 2010

FWIW, I used ABF U-Pack to move from Georgia to California. After I factored in the cost of gas ($3/gallon at about 8 mpg) for 2,700 miles in a Penske truck towing my car, it was only 5% more cost for me to get U-Pack to do it for me and that was only because I had an AAA discount with Penske (had I not, U-Pack would have been the same price!).

I can't describe how much this was worth it. Not only to maintain my sanity, but also the fact that I got to do a cross-country trip instead of a mindless drive. I could stop to see friends, go to national parks, take more interesting, alternate routes. I got to drive MY car. Totally, completely worth it, even if it had cost significantly more.
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 6:20 AM on June 3, 2010

Where are you going to return the truck? It sounds like actually entering the city will be your hard part, so see if you can return the truck at a location outside the city, then do this:
drive to the return location,
unhitch the car trailer and leave it at the location,
drive the truck into the city without a trailer,
unload the truck at your apartment,
drive it back out of the city to the return location,
officially return the truck and the trailer,
get your car and drive back into the city.
posted by CathyG at 6:53 AM on June 3, 2010

I did Ft. Lauderdale to Boston in a 24' truck towing my car 13 years ago when diesel was pretty cheap compared to today. My copilot was my cat, who was the opposite of a copilot for me, as the little hindrance insisted on sitting on the dashboard right in front of me . It was a really easy drive. I spent the whole trip doing the speed limit in the right lane. As others have said, most places along the I-95 corridor are equipped to deal with large trucks (both for utility and convenience). The only time the trip got hairy was going through the Ft. McHenry Tunnel in Maryland. Man, that sucked.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:23 AM on June 3, 2010

Oh, just so you know (and this is possibly the most useful piece of trucking advice ever) there is a very, very good reason why truck drivers get up ridiculously early in the morning:

It sucks big hairy balls to be driving a truck in rush hour. If you start early enough, you have got enough miles in to stop for a big breakfast and then a late lunch/snack when it gets bad and miss out on the drama all together. Driving from 5-8am and then from 9-4:30 pm is the easiest 10 & 1/2 hours you'll get in the day time. If you really need to get going, drive again from 6:30 to 9 and then get some rest.

Also, if you stop for fuel, pee. If you stop to pee, fuel up. Maybe obvious to most, but it loses a hell of a lot of time when you stop in a truck - slowing down and speeding up takes longer and there is invariably more walking involved due to how the parking is arranged. Minimise your stops with efficient bladder control!

In the same vein, if you drive during the traditional lunch hour (due to your late, large breakfast and snack purchases) you won't be stopping for midday meal the same time as everyone else and it will be a quicker and less painful delay. Plan your meals around good stopping periods rather than sticking to your usual meal times.
posted by Brockles at 7:46 AM on June 3, 2010

I did TX to CT with a full moving truck and car being towed (the hitch where the back tires were on the road) and while had a co-pilot never really came into parking or turning issues.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND pricing movers though...it was actually cheaper when we moved back to pack ourselves and get movers and have me drive the car down separate then renting a truck and towing (not to mention the stress of the death grip on the steering wheel that automatically comes along with this type of drive (in LA and on the GWB in NY I could actually feel the bridge swaying just a bit!)

Start local with your mover search. It will be a local crew but a franchise of a national line so you do have real accountability. I had about 5 companies come out and ended with the middle quote. I don't remember the different types of pricing but make sure you end up with a final quote. It's the one where they estimate everything and you pay 1 amount as opposed to the estimate where you could end up paying more (or less but is that ever a reality?).

Either way the drive will be really stressful but totally doable, just make sure you price out your options first.
Safe travels!
posted by doorsfan at 8:16 AM on June 3, 2010

Two days is going to be grueling! The stress of driving truck and car will tire you out more than you expect. Consider spending two nights (or daytime sleeping) in motels.
posted by mareli at 8:17 AM on June 3, 2010

I've done this. Pulling the car wasn't that big of a deal, and the one time it looked like I'd have to back up, the driver of the semi who was blocking the way came running out to move it.

But...it took me twice as long to drive my route as it had in a car. This shocked me - I used to drive transit buses for a living, so size doesn't bother me. I just didn't push, because pushing in an unfamiliar vehicle is a recipe for disaster.

Also, diesel and tolls cost me a lot more than I thought they would, and I'd researched both.
posted by QIbHom at 8:34 AM on June 3, 2010

I've done almost the exact same thing (big truck, car in tow) - but from L.I. to Atlanta. And it only sucked a little. I did it in, almost, one shot. Sixteen hours from L.I. to northern GA, when I was just too exhausted to continue. Parked at a truck stop, took a nap for an hour or so, and finished.

Some advice that I got from my brother who did a move with car in tow: try to avoid situations where you'll be backing up. It is tough to do. I made it without having to back up. It's pretty easy if you plan ahead.

On the suckiness of driving a long time/distance... Don't feel like you HAVE to go fast, make good time, etc. A "positive mental attitude" helped me a lot. Go at a decent (safe!) pace, and take breaks regularly.

And, what Marky said. Good luck!
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 8:59 AM on June 3, 2010

Also keep in mind that you'll want to check with your car's manufacturer to see if there are any preparations or modifications you'll need to make, if you're towing it as a dinghy (all wheels on the ground) or on a dolly (two wheels on the ground). If you're pulling the car on a trailer where none of the car's wheels are on the ground, no special preparation is needed. Other than that, what everyone else has said. Take it slow and steady, and enjoy the ride.
posted by xedrik at 11:46 AM on June 3, 2010

I was shotgun on a friend's move from NJ to FL using a similar, if not the same, moving vehicle setup, all rented from U-haul.

The car being towed was on a trailer, all 4 wheels off the ground. The trailer had a rather low tongue. This becomes crucial in a minute.

It went mostly ok with one gigantic snag:

At our midway point in South Carolina we fumbled the directions to the relative's house we were spending the night at and had to turn around on a 2 lane road in a strip mall/commercial area.

My friend chose what looked like a nice, big wide parking lot to turn into to do the U-turn.

What he failed to take into account was that the parking lot was about 10 feet higher than the road and had a sloped entrace ramp.

As the truck went up the ramp, we found ourselves suddenly slowing down, and then stopped while the engine raced into high revs. Suddenly we were stuck, could not go forward or reverse, and stepping on the gas made the engine race as though it were in neutral.

Stepping out of the truck and walking back to the trailer revealed the problem - As the truck went up the ramp, the trailer was still at street level and the trailer tongue wedged against the concrete on the ramp and levered the rear wheels of the truck up in the air.

The truck now had all of its weight on the front wheels (unpowered) and the bottom of the trailer tongue.

We called U-haul but they refused to assist. We were about to call a truck towing company when a good samaritan in a dually pickup truck noticed our predicament. He hooked up chains to the frame of the car trailer and then pulled the whole rig, trailer + truck, backwards until the trailer tongue was unwedged and the truck wheels got back on pavement.

So watch for abrupt elevation changes if you pull off into a parking lot....
posted by de void at 1:59 PM on June 3, 2010

If you're not comfortable with driving in metro NY in a big truck, maybe daytime/rushhour isn't the best time to be there. Time accordingly. (Read: get here at 4am.)

For the most part, trucks are not allowed on parkways, list of parkways.

Get an EZPass, waiting 20 minutes to pay a toll is stupid.

Upon reading the comment, everything Marky said is right.
posted by Brian Puccio at 2:53 PM on June 3, 2010