new tow rig needs a tow

[Clubbs]

PICS ADDED SEE PAGE 2

I just bought a new tow rig (2005 ram quad cab, long bed, 4x4 diesel 6sp with 73k miles) I got it for a song but its in South Dakota... a good 1600 miles away. Anybody ever shipped a long bed truck like this? There's tons of auto transporters out there, which one do I use? I've never shipped a car I always just went to get it but in this case it makes more dollar since to ship it.

Dave

 

[Rich]

Even if you get a good deal at $1500, you are looking at around $400 in fuel to drive it, maybe $300-400 for a plane ticket, that leaves $700-800 for lodging and food for the 2-3 day drive back.

If I was in your shoes, I'd do it, but I enjoy driving, and did do it when I bought my Dodge. (Drove from San Antonio)

 

[Roughshod]

Same here, bought my tow rig out of Houston and drove it back to Charlotte. I really think that's the way to go if you bought it in supposedly road worthy shape. Also, regardless of what the deal was, it gives you a chance to do an in-person final inspection prior to pick up just in case something was misrepresented. I have also heard of cases where the transporter damaged the vehicle and then claimed that the seller gave it to them like that, which just turns into a he-said, she-said nightmare. You're really better off picking it up yourself.

 

[MILLION-MILES]

1600 miles thats 2 days at most but then again i was a truck driver for 9 years. And with it being a long bed 4x4 your going to pay premium prices

 

[iluv_mud]

You guys ever been to south Dakota there ain't shit there. With that being said the seller of the truck could be 200-300 miles from the closest airport. So it might make more sense for him to ship it. However with that being said since its a northern truck I would want to see it in person I know firsthand how the frame looks.

 

[MILLION-MILES]

You guys ever been to south Dakota there ain't shit there. With that being said the seller of the truck could be 200-300 miles from the closest airport. So it might make more sense for him to ship it. However with that being said since its a northern truck I would want to see it in person I know firsthand how the frame looks.

The only state i haven't been is Alaska. Went to Hawaii on vacation. I dont think the salt in the dakotas like they do in the north east. And yes SD can be a whole not of nothing. Its one of those places if you think your in the middle of nowhere you haven't gone far enough.

 

[Clubbs]

Well there is an airport relatively close to the dealership. I as much as I would like to do a first hand inspection I just really can't take two days to go get it. I am concerned about rust and several other surprises that might be way more apparent than what I can tell from pics and talking with the dealer. But so far he's been up front with me best I can tell. He even went out to the lot crawled around underneath the truck while I was talking with him on his cell phone going through everything I had questions about. It was one of those scenarios where I asked questions as fast as possible and he was answering so quickly that if he was making it up then hes really good at it because I think I would have caught him if his story wasn't straight. He said they don't salt much up there because the percipitation isn't as heavy as it is further east...

Either way is an 05 slt quad cab long bed 6sp 4x4 cummins with 73k on it for $17000 worst case I'll pay $18500 by time I ship it and ttl, and based on what I've seen the last month or so I could easily get that back out of it locally if I wasn't happy with it. Still greatly concerned about it, but its a deal and no deal comes without some risk I suppose.

Dave

 

[CasterTroy]

Raleigh to Sioux Falls is only $274 (orbitz)

Get a 4pm or 5pm departure on a friday...crash overnight and have the dealership come GET you early AM (I've done this before....made it part of the the deal. If they want your business they'll do it)

If I can do 900 miles on a motorcycle in 12 hrs you SHOULD be able to do 1000 in 13 on saturday, and then 600 on sunday



If you crashed in motels ($45-$50 a night) that no WOMAN in her right mind would stay in....and ate on the cheap...you'd STILL save a few hundred bucks bringing it back yourself

 

[Clubbs]

very true, but the hassle of doing it and loosing a weekend to save $300 bucks was overruled by my kids and my financial advisor (aka my bride) I'm going with "Above the rest" to transport it for $1095. My first intent was to fly out and drive it back for around $800-$900 total, but family first... and I don't think taking a quick family vacation to South Dakota would go over very well either so on the trailer it goes...

Dave

 

[CasterTroy]

Good man!

Be sure to update this thread so we'll know if the truck came in as expected/better than expected

 

[BRUISER]

so what transporter you using?

 

[Clubbs]

I'll update with pics when it shows up The passenger side has some damage to the bed side and the front door / fender

I'm using "Above the Rest" ... I filled out one of those only quote gizmos and was unindated with about 25 e-mail / phone quotes. Anywhere from $650 to $1500. Most averaged near the $1200 mark. The folks at Above the Rest admitted that they where a broker and would be taking a $100 broker fee and that they simply list the truck at $995 for bid on some online list. Sounded strange to me but after talking with all the rest of them thats what they all do, but none of them wanted to tell me except for Above the Rest. I appreciated his honesty and he said I could ask him to place the bid at whatever I wanted and he would and if it went through great if not I didn't pay, but he recomended close to a grand since its not a very common route...

Dave

 

[Yay!Gurrr]

SD = Rust ! You couldn't find anything you liked in a southern state? Someone just went through this on a trip to PA where the vehicle was a POS... Hope it works out for you..

 

[Clubbs]

SD = Rust ! You couldn't find anything you liked in a southern state? Someone just went through this on a trip to PA where the vehicle was a POS... Hope it works out for you..

I hope your wrong... I think PA and SD are different scenarios with regard to road salt and rust just based on anual precipitation fall.

I have pics of the truck that look good and rust free. I asked around about rust and road salt in SD and most of the answers came back along the lines of "thats a north east habit, not so much in the mid west" I did call a frame and body shop today that I randomly selected off a goodle search in the same town as the dealership and asked about rust. He told me that he doesn't start to see rust on cars until there about 9-10 years old and that all the 05 era trucks are pretty much rust free... But your right I would most definately wanted to find a southern truck but couldn't find one with what I was looking for at this price and mileage...

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Shoot Dave! If you woulda give me a holler, I coulda flew out yonder and drove it back! I have Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays off!

Although, when I got back you might need to find yourself another truck

 

[Clubbs]

I know... I may be flying up there in June to drive it home if it doesn't get shipped before then. I just had to have a cummins like your rig.

My green Ram is for sale if you know anybody looking... comes with those ridiculously expensive BFG AT's that I just bought. I wish they where 17's so they would fit my new truck, because its going to need tires before the end of the year or so it seems based on the pics I've seen... that will be another grand dropped into this thing and I haven't even driven it yet.

Dave

 

[Clubbs]

Pics from the dealer...

A few character marks on the starboard side:

 

[Rich]

First of all, they're a dealer. They lie.

Did he tell you it has or had a 5th wheel / goose in it? undercarriage looks kinda rusty already, typical for a northern truck, but I'm not sure I'd buy one from there if I could avoid it.

 

[RHSCTJ]

looks rusty to me