Looking for help, moving out of state and I have questions.

[Sutherland]

Well the time has come and the family and I have the chance to relocate for work. My house is currently on the market a d we are heading to Tampa! Crazy change right! My biggest fear is how do I get all my guns, ammo, and reloading gear powders and primers all down there safely? Has anyone else had to deal with this during a move across country? I'm open to all ideas but am currently looking to rent a big uhaul. Or have a moving company help out and then just rent a vehicle to take all my personal/guns and valuables. Just trying to plan the best way to go about this all. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[jrebel]

Never made a move like that, but no way my guns would go with anyone other than me.  Uhaul, truck and trailer.....whatever I had at my disposal.  I would have movers move the other contents of the house.  You could also move the other contents with pods which you pack and unpack and the trucking company moves. 

My bigger concern would be the powder and primers staying at a reasonable temp for the drive across country.

Lastly.....when you have to stop for the night, I would be sleeping in my truck.  Call me paranoid....but folks are crazy and I wouldn't take a chance.  Maybe rent a Huge RV to transport all the high value items and just sleep with them when you have to stop.  Don't advertise to folks you are transporting this stuff either.   

Glad someone has the chance to leave this Liberal State.  Enjoy your new life in a state that actually loves the constitution. 

[callturner]

Funny this was brought up in the last week I have a friend who is taking care of his brother in law's estate back in Nebraska. He was moving with a U-Haul some things that he wanted to keep and he stopped in Denver. At a very nice mode hotel and when he got up the next morning his vehicle and his U-Haul had disappeared and there were firearms involved. The police told him he was be lucky to find anything because it was probably in pieces by now and the stolen U-Haul had been distributed. I would definitely keep my eyes on everything.

[brew]

What about renting one of those "PODS" to put everything but the most personal then take those with you.  I have heard a ton of horror stories about moving companies.  Do your homework and happy fishing in your new locall

[baldopepper]

Havent done it in a number of years, but on 5 different out of state moves I just had the moving company do it.  Last time they just loaded up the gun safe with all my guns carefully wrapped in it.  Company was paying the bill.so don't know if they  charged extra or not and don't know if they will.still do it or not.
 
 

[MADMAX]

I sent 17 guns in one big box via USPS from Florida to my FFL here when the stepdad died and I moved my mom up here with us
Legal easy and relatively cheap even with insurance

[lastmk8]

I have to agree with Mad Max on this one, use the USPS, insure the shipment and leave it to them.  As far as the primers and powder, I would sell what I have here and just rebuy once you are established in Florida.  Seems to be the cleanest option with the least headaches involved.  Good luck on your move and as others have said, congrats on getting out of this crap-hole liberal infested wasteland. 

[bearpaw]

Well the time has come and the family and I have the chance to relocate for work. My house is currently on the market a d we are heading to Tampa! Crazy change right! My biggest fear is how do I get all my guns, ammo, and reloading gear powders and primers all down there safely? Has anyone else had to deal with this during a move across country? I'm open to all ideas but am currently looking to rent a big uhaul. Or have a moving company help out and then just rent a vehicle to take all my personal/guns and valuables. Just trying to plan the best way to go about this all. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I don't think long guns are an issue, but pistols may have more regulations? @carpsniperg2  probably knows the laws on interstate transport.

[jaymark6655]

My Aunt and Uncle did a move and there was a fire. Because there was ammunition (not theirs) in the truck, insurance wasn't going to cover any of the truck's contents. Because of stuff like that and such items being highly pilferable (stolen/lost by airlines, shipping boxes being opened and resealed after contents switched for wood), I always transport by car with someone remaining in the car at all times. If I am alone I only get drive thru and sleep in the car. It can really suck depending on how much you own. Last time I had to use a Yakama skybox because there wasn't enough space in the SUV.

[Alchase]

When I moved to OKC in 2015, I inventoried my rifles and handguns (photos serial numbers etc.) then packed all my weapons and ammo in my safes, and packed a couple sleeping bags in to keep everything form moving.
We used a company paid mover. The only damage I had was to my Craftsman Tool Cabinet with drawers, they put a nice dent in one side. I created a claim, and they reimbursed me the cost of the Tool Cabinet.
Safes and contents arrived with no problems.

[carpsniperg2]

I can’t give legal advice but I would start with checking if your firearms and your mags are legal in the state you are moving to and also any states you are traveling through on you move.

[Rob]

As many have said - put them in a vehicle and either sleep in it along the way, or bring them into the room at night.

I just wrapped up a trip a couple months back to Abilene TX and back.  I elected to stay at rest stops at night to save money on hotels.  I drove 28 hours over a 31 hour window. When I drive cross country I really just want to be driving or sleeping.  So stopping at rest areas when I got tired to grab an hour or two of sleep worked very well.

Everyone told me to be super careful sleeping in rest areas.  To be honest, I never felt safer.  They were packed at night.  It was actually difficult to find a place to park at a few of them.  Wall to wall truckers with lots of private drivers parked as well.  If you go this route, make sure to bring something to block the lights.  they were pretty bright.

I made a nice nest to sleep inside the bed of my truck (it has a canopy).  It was nice to stretch out rather than sleep in a reclined seat.  It was amazingly comfortable. 

[Fidelk]

Last move was ABF hauling household stuff and guns were in vehicles.

https://www.moving.com/tips/what-is-abf-freight-and-how-does-it-work/

[jaymark6655]

As many have said - put them in a vehicle and either sleep in it along the way, or bring them into the room at night.

I just wrapped up a trip a couple months back to Abilene TX and back.  I elected to stay at rest stops at night to save money on hotels.  I drove 28 hours over a 31 hour window. When I drive cross country I really just want to be driving or sleeping.  So stopping at rest areas when I got tired to grab an hour or two of sleep worked very well.

Everyone told me to be super careful sleeping in rest areas.  To be honest, I never felt safer.  They were packed at night.  It was actually difficult to find a place to park at a few of them.  Wall to wall truckers with lots of private drivers parked as well.  If you go this route, make sure to bring something to block the lights.  they were pretty bright.

I made a nice nest to sleep inside the bed of my truck (it has a canopy).  It was nice to stretch out rather than sleep in a reclined seat.  It was amazingly comfortable.

I just did the same thing on a trip to NC (12 hr drive). Started at 8PM, drove until I couldn't Friday night, stopped until sun up and then finished the drive. Did the same thing on the return trip Sunday night. Not so scary with number of cars, more likely to not find a spot vs being attacked. Being armed makes me even more comfortable doing it. Only time it has been a problem was driving to Pensacola. I think GA and TN didn't allow sleeping at rest areas, so check before planning a stop somewhere. That was a long stretch that I wasn't planning to drive without stopping.

[Rob]

As many have said - put them in a vehicle and either sleep in it along the way, or bring them into the room at night.

I just wrapped up a trip a couple months back to Abilene TX and back.  I elected to stay at rest stops at night to save money on hotels.  I drove 28 hours over a 31 hour window. When I drive cross country I really just want to be driving or sleeping.  So stopping at rest areas when I got tired to grab an hour or two of sleep worked very well.

Everyone told me to be super careful sleeping in rest areas.  To be honest, I never felt safer.  They were packed at night.  It was actually difficult to find a place to park at a few of them.  Wall to wall truckers with lots of private drivers parked as well.  If you go this route, make sure to bring something to block the lights.  they were pretty bright.

I made a nice nest to sleep inside the bed of my truck (it has a canopy).  It was nice to stretch out rather than sleep in a reclined seat.  It was amazingly comfortable.

I just did the same thing on a trip to NC (12 hr drive). Started at 8PM, drove until I couldn't Friday night, stopped until sun up and then finished the drive. Did the same thing on the return trip Sunday night. Not so scary with number of cars, more likely to not find a spot vs being attacked. Being armed makes me even more comfortable doing it. Only time it has been a problem was driving to Pensacola. I think GA and TN didn't allow sleeping at rest areas, so check before planning a stop somewhere. That was a long stretch that I wasn't planning to drive without stopping.

Interesting on GA and TN.  Seems odd to not allow sleeping at a REST AREA...  but who am I?

I am a big fan of the drive till you are tired, sleep a couple hours and then drive some more method.

[Sutherland]

Thanks for all the info everyone! definitely going to be taking all valuables with me and will be sleeping in the uhaul or truck we rent. I dont have much else that im bringing, nothing thats of any major value anyways. Just the major thing will be the powder and primers, has anyone had any luck shipping them via UPS? I really dont want to sell what I have as it took so long to find the powder/primers in the first place and have no idea what I will be able to find in Florida.

[Rob]

Pack 'em in a box and keep them in the vehicle with you.  It will be temperature controlled the whole drive.