[help] Dodge Grand Caravan cargo space

[BiggusGeekus]

Have you checked to see how much it would be to rent in virginia drive down, pick it up, and drive it back? Many times when driving from A to B, the company charges you a big fee to get the truch back to A.

This is what I should have done. I confess to poor planning. The idea was to fly down with my family, celebrate my daughter's birthday with my wife's relatives, and drive the stuff back north while they relaxed for a day or two and took the plane back.

I had absolutely no idea it was so expensive to move stuff one way. The last time I did it was 15 years ago.

But it looks like driving past my local dodge dealer with a tape measure is the best bet.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Who are you renting from? have you looked at all the big long distance truck rental places-Penske, U-Haul, Ryder, Budget, etc?

 

[Crothian]

Another option is to see how much it would be to ship it itself.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Who are you renting from? have you looked at all the big long distance truck rental places-Penske, U-Haul, Ryder, Budget, etc?

Penske? I'll try them. Tried the rest though.

U-Haul gave me the $900 quote, which I can cancel for free if I do it soon enough. They're currently my "Plan B". All I need now is a "Plan A".

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Another option is to see how much it would be to ship it itself.

I'm kicking that around. The irony is that it will probably be too expensive. Not because of shipping costs, but becase we still have to get me back to DC! The timeframe is way too short, so no cheap air fare for yours truly.

Again, it's becoming rapidly clear I'm a victim of my own poor planning.

EDIT: Ah-ha! I just got off the phone with Penske. $1,250. However, they explained why it was so expensive. Everyone wants to move at the beginning of the month. If we had decided to celebrate my daughter's birthday a few days late and I left on the 7th the rate would drop to under $800. Presumably this holds true for all the other companies as well.

Well, at least I'm wiser for the ordeal.

 

[Crothian]

Well, best of luck and wish littlelest Geekus a happy birthday for me.!!

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Penske? I'll try them. Tried the rest though.

U-Haul gave me the $900 quote, which I can cancel for free if I do it soon enough. They're currently my "Plan B". All I need now is a "Plan A".

Make sure when getting the quotes that you find out what the "per mile" fee is. Sometimes that is tacked on AFTER the regular rnetal charges, and it can really add alot onto the cost. Uhaul has higher per mile fees, if I recall correctly. Their base rates are better, but can end up being higher in the end after allt he charges are added.

 

[kenobi65]

I assume you've got a level of emotional attachement to this particular chest...because it might just be cheaper to sell the chest and buy a new one in D.C.

Edit: I'd also note that many of the newer Chrysler vans (like the Grand Caravan) now have "stowable" rear seats, which means that they can be folded down into the floor, rather than needing to be removed. If the one that the rental car company's offering has stowable seats, you might be in luck.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I assume you've got a level of emotional attachement to this particular chest...because it might just be cheaper to sell the chest and buy a new one in D.C.

It's my wife's. And yes, it has sentimental value to her.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Edit: I'd also note that many of the newer Chrysler vans (like the Grand Caravan) now have "stowable" rear seats, which means that they can be folded down into the floor, rather than needing to be removed. If the one that the rental car company's offering has stowable seats, you might be in luck.

When I rented a van a few years ago from a car rental company, the seats actually had locks added to them so they were not removable. This was a problem, as the company I worked for at the time was planning on using the van to move lots of boxes for a few days while the company van was in the shop. So make sure, if you end up going with a passenger van, that teh seats are removable/foldable/stowable before you sign any paperwork. It would really suck for you to get the thing home and go to fold the seats down and find that they won't fold due to the companies security "features".