Moving...ship, sell or haul?

troutntractor · Mar 18, 2012

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 · Mar 18, 2012

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

James K0UA

Johndeere3720 · Mar 18, 2012

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 · Mar 18, 2012

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

MtnViewRanch · Mar 18, 2012

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 · Mar 18, 2012

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 · Mar 18, 2012

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 · Mar 18, 2012

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 · Mar 18, 2012

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.