Moving! Need suggestions.

[Watcher]

So, I've decided that I just can't be happy here in Chicago, and I have an opportunity to move down to Tucson Arizona to be with some family of mine.
There's options for similar work out there, and I'm getting a little fed up with my current day-job so I feel a change is in order.


I want to do this move on the cheap as best I can.  I don't have any furniture I will be taking with me, just my PC and desk (which comes apart), a couple of small tools boxes, a few medium sized duffle bags, some boxes of alcohol, some firearms and such, all my motorcycle gear, and of course my motorcycle.
I can fit all of my personal belongings into a station wagon, with some careful planning, just to show how much I really have.

I looked at some truck rates for U-haul and such, and the smallest vehicle they will rent for one way across country is a 10' box truck.
Well, it's got a ramp, so loading the bike up into it will be easy, but it's also way too spacious for the stuff I have.  But I was hoping more for a Van, and I'll buy a ramp and figure out how to get the bike into it.

Now I'm thinking maybe I can rent a large car or small SUV and a trailer and take it that way, but my big concern there is that since it's not a one day drive and I WILL be stopping to sleep there's no real security in a trailer...
Shipping might be an option, but I'm thinking it WON'T be cheap, and I don't want any stupid accidents to happen or for my bike to arrive way late and basically strand me out there.

And the final option I thought of was outright selling the bike, just renting a small car or something, and buying a new bike out there.  But then I'm subject to accepting low-balls to sell it on a deadline, then being forced to have no vehicle for an amount of time out there, and maybe be forced into a poor deal because of needing a vehicle on a deadline, and who knows if anything out there is even something I want.

Any advice?  Has anyone else moved a long distance with a motorcycle?  What did you do?

[Bluesmudge]

Uhaul rents enclosed trailers that you could put a motorcycle into and pull with most any vehicle. That will be the cheapest option if you have access to a car or truck. You can put a master lock on the trailer.

If you don't have a car you could look at other rental companies like Budget or Enterprise to see if you can rent a van one way. When I moved I just rented the small Uhaul box truck and loaded my motorcycle in that. I remember the price being pretty reasonable. If you have a car you can rent a trailer and tow the car behind the Uhaul truck.

[Janx101]

Maybe?

http://www.uship.com/motorcycles/illinois/chicago

[Kijona]

Another vote for the enclosed U-Haul trailer. Depending on what type of vehicle you have, you may be able to get by without having to rent something to tow it.

If you wanted to rent a van you could certainly do that. As I recall, the rental price for motorcycle trailers (so van + trailer) is very reasonable (~$15/day).

You could also go somewhere like Enterprise or Budget and rent a pickup truck. Put the bike in the back of the truck and rent a small enclosed U-Haul trailer for the rest of the stuff.

[smokestack]

I don't understand a move from Chicago to Tucson. Seems like a downgrade.

[Janx101]

Drier weather!

[Lbx!]

It isn't in the Midwest? Comfortable bike weather 10 months out of the year. Full moon rides through the desert. Did I mention not in the Midwest?
I have been in Arizona for a bit over a year, moved here from Indiana. I won't move back, with out a lot of coercion.

[Watcher]

Well, time to check in.

I sold my Honda, everything else I owned fit into a rental Toyota Rav4.  So I saved about $1000 over getting a box truck.
Sold my Honda for less than it was worth, but I ended up with a Buell and paid what I sold my Honda for, so I call that a wash.

Reasons for move are better bike weather, better politics, better family connections, and MOUNTAINS!
I'll upload some pics later.


Lbx!, what part of Arizona are you in?  I'd sure like to go riding with someone if you're near Tucson.