Moving...ship, sell or haul?

[troutntractor]

Hello,

I am moving from Spokane WA, to Knoxville TN. I have a Bobcat CT235 with FEL that I love and want to take with me. We are temporarily moving into a condo so I have no need for the tractor until we find/build our more permanent situation. I have been quoted $3000-$3500 to ship it.

My dilemma:
Should I sell the tractor in WA and buy another one when I need it in TN?
Since it is paid for should I bite the bullet and ship it?
For $3500 seems like I could buy a trailer and haul it out there myself, but then I have to store it for who knows how long.

I really don't want to part with my tractor. However I think with only 150 hours on it the lost value from new tractor is almost equal to the cost of shipping or buying a trailer. I think I am leaning toward selling. Any options I am not thinking about? Anyone in the NW looking for a great little tractor that is loaded? (FEL, mid and rear PTO, rear hydraulics)?

Thanks for letting me contemplate (virtually out loud) in this forum. Cheers, dk

 

[k0ua]

I sold my NH TC33DA which I also loved when I moved..It was a mistake. I should have kept it.

James K0UA

 

[Johndeere3720]

If it were me I grow a lot of attachment to my tractors so i would be very challenged to sell it. Buying a trailer would still cost more because you still have to add in fuel to get it there so putting it on a truck would be the less expensive option. Then you would likely have to store it in a storage unit unless you had a buddy down there that would be willing to store it on some property so you can come out and play with it, i mean help him work on his property on the weekends.

 

[pjbci]

Haul it. You will regret it if you sell it.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

How many implements do you have? Your shipping quote sounds like a single load quote. If you get a partial load quote, it should be about half of what you have been quoted. Will all your tractor stuff fit in a 17' x 8' area? You should be able to get by with either a 1/3 or 1/2 load cost. Either that and or do some checking about were to store it and renting a U Haul truck or trailer if you have a truck to pull it with. Selling it would be my last resort though.

 

[Sterff]

Sell it. How long would it be sitting in storage? I wouldn't want to have it sit for a year or two without running/using it.

 

[scoutcub]

First of all, :welcome: to TBN!
If you're moving into a condo for a good period of time.....and nowhere to store the tractor unless you pay for storage.....and obviously won't be using the tractor for awhile......I would sell it.
I say that easily cause it's not mine, and I get attached to my gear as much as the next guy.....but from a financial standpoint, I would sell. Take the $$$, and save it for a new Bobcat when your ready for it. Maybe you'll want a bigger/different model depending on where you settle.....

Good luck with your decision and move!

 

[rockshaft]

I was in a similar situation once with a JD4310 TLB w/heated cab- I've always regretted selling it. That said, I moved from Maine to AK, and it just wasn't practical to move it from a cost perspective. I considered leaving it with other family until I could possibly figure something out, but I hated the idea of it sitting idle for too long- and I didn't have covered long term-storage options.
If you decide to move it- you might contact Dreamtime Transportation on uShip, they've given me some outstanding haul rates in the past.

 

[jeffsw6]

It sounds like you have a truck shipping quote for a whole load. I would check with a rail company about having it shipped from dock to dock because it should be much cheaper. Even ocean container shipping should be cheaper than the price you have.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

No, no, no - all of the above advice is wrong. Drive it.:laughing:

 

[sandman2234]

No, no, no - all of the above advice is wrong. Drive it.:laughing:

Adding to that, use it to pull a trailer with all the attachments on board....
(finding a way to keep it would be my suggestion, but if you drive it to Tn, sell it as you will be tired of it by that time!
David from jax

 

[radioman]

It's a tractor- I dont think its a problem for it to sit for awhile. If I wass in your shoes, since I already have a trailer- I'd be driving it to my folks and drop it off there. Once its there- I wouldnt care more or less if they use it or not till I get settled in and THEN decide if I want to trailer it to my new place or sell.

 

[Dmace]

Sell it, put the money in a high interest CD or savings account and purchase a new one when your ready.

 

[JimRB]

Can you fit it in a 20 foot shipping container?

 

[varmint]

Sell it, put the money in a high interest CD or savings account and purchase a new one when your ready.

Wait! Don't just tease us with statements like the above, tell us where we can find those high interest CD's!! Savings account where I live pay maybe .5%, which is less than inflation. Got a good tractor? Keep a good tractor.

 

[Dmace]

Wait! Don't just tease us with statements like the above, tell us where we can find those high interest CD's!! Savings account where I live pay maybe .5%, which is less than inflation. Got a good tractor? Keep a good tractor.

CD's at my credit union are 2%-2.5% for 4-5 years. Granted it's not a huge gain but at least the money is apprecitating.
A $15k tractor will be worth 10-12k in 5 years, a $15k CD will be worth much more...

Even if you buy the same exact tractor used, it will be much less than what you sold yours for 3-5 years prior. Cash in the CD, buy a used tractor and put a couple grand in your pocket.

 

[lilranch2001]

No, no, no - all of the above advice is wrong. Drive it.:laughing:

:drink:
:thumbsup:

 

[creekbend]

You didn't mentioned what method you were using to move your other household furnishings and belongings. If using a rental truck, have you considered hooking up a trailer behind to haul your Tractor? On the other hand, you mentioned that you were moving into a condo. You probably had to sign a minimum 6 month to a year lease. This would, in all probability , suggest that you would need to find a place to store your tractor for at least this amount of time. The final decision is yours, and considering your dilemma, it will certainly not be an easy one. I was raised in Hawkins County, around 70 miles from Knoxville. There are many rural areas within a decent radius of Knoxville that are appropriate in locating another homestead in the future. Just a thought. Best wishes.

 

[Deere Dude]

I don't know how big your tractor is, but I got a quote for a move using PODS. They are 8x8x16 with 10,000# weight restriction. If I remember correctly it was $1700 from Wisconsin to Nashville. Maybe a couple hundred more form Your area. For $2000 I would keep it unless you can sell it for a very good price.

 

[raptor749]

Just a ?? Can you rent a u-haul or other car trailer one way to carry it with you ????