Economical Moving Suggestions Needed - Interstate [ACT - SA] - 1 adult 1 kid 1 dog

miss arrow on 03/10/2018 - 13:02

Fellow OzBs - I'm budgeting for the most economical way to move "home" after a very tough few years.

We'd easily fit everything in a 20ft shipping container or small moving truck if I did take everything*.

The options I've explored so far are:

Friend hires small moving truck in SA, drives to ACT, helps us load, and we convoy back; 6 day truck rental, 2000km excess kms,+ fuel and accomodation is about $2500.

One way truck rentals start at $2666 so that'll be over $3000.

Hire a UHaul trailer (1.80x3x1.80) - $1200 though probably too small

Called a few removalists and they want over $5,000. Did have trouble with backloading twice previously so haven't explored that option yet.

Shipping containers vial rail look like a solution however I'm still waiting for a quote.

OzB what other avenues do you suggest I explore? I'm happy to leave with nothing however I have a kid who deserves better than that.

*We wouldn't be taking the big things like fridge, washer, couch etc so it's beds, bike, boxes etc

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Comments

  • GG57 on 03/10/2018 - 13:12
    +1

    I would go with option 1 (Friend hires small moving truck in SA).
    You get some help loading / unloading, and the trip itself will probably be more enjoyable. Not sure how your child will be handling the relocation, but with a friend at each of the stops there will be a distraction at the least.

    The use of the moving truck may also mean you can fit in more that you thought. Fill it to the gills with everything you can (with a priority for the things you really must take). It's surprising how much you can fit in.

    Good luck.

    • miss arrow on 03/10/2018 - 13:25

      Thanks GG57 - friends definitely make a difference right? :)

      Will look into other moving truck recommendations too :)

  • HighAndDry on 03/10/2018 - 13:23
    +1

    Sorry about what you're going through OP. I'd also go with option 1. Though:

    6 day truck rental

    Depending on the friend, could honestly do this in 4 days.

    • miss arrow on 03/10/2018 - 13:27

      True - was definitely budgeting for the worst case scenario.

  • Nugs on 03/10/2018 - 13:25
    +1

    that's a good friend.
    .

    • miss arrow on 03/10/2018 - 13:28

      I'm truly lucky :) I'd do the same if the roles were reversed too.

  • kingmw on 03/10/2018 - 14:26
    +1

    Have you explored self pack shipping containers?

    https://www.budgetselfpackcontainers.com.au/Page/adelaide-re…

    • miss arrow on 10/10/2018 - 16:34

      I did - no luck with one from Canberra via rail unfortunately :(

  • rambutann on 03/10/2018 - 14:29
    +2

    Could you buy a trailer in ACT and sell it once you get to SA?

    • miss arrow on 10/10/2018 - 16:35

      I'd need to make a couple of trips with a trailer :)

  • altomic on 03/10/2018 - 17:22
    +1

    How about - (A) buy a cheap truck in ACT and sell once you get back to SA..

    (B) sign up for a campavan relocation company. Wait for a large 4 berth of similar needs relocating. Fill it with your stuff. There use been threads about campervan relocation deals.

    • miss arrow on 10/10/2018 - 16:37

      Cheap and ACT aren't very compatible :) I would still need to move my car as well - I was quoted $1000 for this.

      I have been checking the few campervan relocation sites and none have listed anything from Canberra recently.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/10/2018 - 15:33
      +1

      I used to watch campervan relocations a bit and never saw Canberra to adelaide

  • 1mmy1mmy on 06/10/2018 - 23:32
    +1

    I always use backloaders - have you looked into them? It's like a removal company but you share the truck with other people - it's way cheaper.

    • miss arrow on 10/10/2018 - 16:40

      Yes, we used a backload to get here. Unfortunately the company double charged us and held our belongings for 5 weeks. I know not everyone has had the same experience however it worked out about 5 x as expensive for us to use them.

      Have you got a company you'd recommend me talking to; I'm trying to not judge an entire industry on one company.

      • 1mmy1mmy on 11/10/2018 - 05:20
        +1

        Wow that's a bad result! I have used http://backloads.com.au between Canberra and Melbourne five times and had no problems. Good luck!

  • Traveller107 on 11/10/2018 - 12:43

    We moved with the pets from East coast to west and then back to east a few years later. We used TNT road express to send all our stuff and it ended up costing us 20% of the other quotes (from memory was around $500 or so- It did take 2/3 weeks to arrive though). Flew ourselves and the pets each time on the same flight (It was less than $100 for each of them).
    You could also look at relocation vehicle for you and the furry friend and road express your belongings? A relative moved himself and his pets in a hire car relocation from Sydney to Brissy over 2 days and paid no one way fee.

    • miss arrow on 15/10/2018 - 16:46

      Wow Traveller107! Did you have to pallet up your belongings or was there an option for TNT Road to do that for you?

  • Traveller107 on 15/10/2018 - 21:47
    +1

    Hi Miss arrow, we packed everything in the largest super heavy duty cartons we could buy and TNT collected everything from the property.No idea how they packed/loaded it as I wasn't even home, the pet sitter signed off on my behalf as I was run off my feet. From memory there were around 25ish huge heavy duty boxes and bunch of tables and 2 beds flatpacked. We sold the couches before the move as the pets had already destroyed them. TNT collected everything from the property a day before we were going to fly out and charged us around $500ish(Perth to Sydney).

    The second time we moved we had around 15ish huge boxes that we dropped off at their depot (I remember this cost us something like $200 or so because I couldn't believe how cheap it was. This move was from Sydney to Brissy). But they were pretty good and soooo much cheaper than other quote we got and dropped off at the property 3 days later. The moves were around 4 and 6 years ago. Cheers!

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