Commercial Shipping

Going to be moving in a few months and I'm seeking options and alternatives for moving both my bikes 1300 miles up to our new home. Originally was locked in on using a U-haul box trailer, but after examining several there just aren't enough tiedown rings to secure 2 ea. motorcycles. Therefore I'm requesting info regarding reliable companies (not necessarily the cheapest) that will move my ST and VFR from AZ to OR with no drama.

 

I just rented a u-haul 6x12 enclosed Cargo Trailer and made the move from Southern California to Northern California and put my bikes in it. I ask if it was ok and I went to Home Depot and got some sturdy hooks and bolted them in. To bad you couldn't rent that trailer i left them in it lol

 

Try another truck and trailer outfit. Pulling the wide stuff off a bike might give you some creative juice. (tanks, bars, bags ect.

Read your rental contract. Sometimes when the rentals load up in various destinations, the rental outfits will get an added fee for having to move their own rentals to another location.

If you're heading to the Oregon Coast, buy yourself a raincoat. They are probably not that much in AZ unless you live in Tucson..

 

Invest in a couple of wheel chocks. Since the wheel chock is what is actually holding the bike upright you would only need a few support straps to supplement the support. You could even put down a sheet of plywood in the trailer and mount the chock directly to it.

 

Just a thought, you could buy a three rail motorcycle trailer and sell it when you are done with it. Around here they are pretty reasonable. The wheel chocks would be a great option too.

 

Improvise and Overcome!

I thought I've seen a larger company shipping bikes anywhere within the U.S. for $475.00 a unit. Go to Cycle Trader, there's some listed there.
I bet a U Haul is cheaper, or some alternative. Couldn't you nail a board to the floor, then anchor your tie downs to said board. A lot of trailers have wood floors. Not sure about those? Or, could you not back one bike in abd drive the other in, so you could tie them down front and back. You can rent 1/2 ton trucks as well, 2 bikes would fit in that, for sure. A one or two day rental probably would be less than a Shipper and safer!

 

Somewhere in that rental contract, look for the term, willfull act. This is the one that if you get nailed making mods to the outfit's rigs you can be busted.

 

I have 2 of these http://www.harborfreight.com/1800-lb-capacity-motorcycle-standwheel-chock-61670.html . One is mounted on my lift. I will mount it and the other one to a 3/4" plywood sheet in the bed of my truck and ride the bikes into them side by each. I'll tie the triple tree to the stands' outriggers and secondary tiedowns at the back. The front ones do the work. A couple of screws will anchor the stands to the plywood or the floor of a trailer.

 

I guess the first question I would ask is are you moving yourself or are you moving because of a employment transfer? If so make them pay. If not I would look for a used Kendon Dual trailer. The one I have is design to haul two full dress Harleys. I have hauled my ST1300 and my wifes VFR from Denver to Austin, TX and back. Other than a drop in mileage on the car I really didn't know it was there. Deals can be had. I bought mine used last fall for $1000, but I did have to travel 1600 miles round trip to get it. It was well worth the saving. As an example there are several in the Denver area on CL from $1850 to $2300.


Here is one in the Phoenix area https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/snw/5721458779.html

 

I have used this site twice and happy with their service.
People actually bit for your business.

http://www.uship.com/LandingPages/c...fQR0PMUtlKHAlNWZSuIRoCzaDw_wcB&alwaysShowCCTA

 

Great alternative!!

Buying a used trailer is good too if the bike owner doesn't live in a second floor apartment and since this outfit brokers bids on live animals too, it might be a great source for SOW to ship his cats. Freeze drying did not work oot that well I hear.