My target date is August-ish. I think I can do it with a 5x8 UHaul trailer. I'm hoping so, anyway - main problems are going to be my HT setup (particularly the BIC F12 sub and the Polk Monitor70 mains), queen mattress/box spring, and tools...33 gallon compressor and rollaround tool chest. Hopefully that will all fit. I might take some measurements this weekend and start planning the trailer-packaging. I want guns to go in the trailer too...don't want to leave them remotely visible in the car.

Computer, clothes, and some ammo can go in the car, as well as the little last-minute stuff.

Expense list:
Trailer: $308
Fuel: $650 (estimating 2600 miles, 15mpg, at $3.50/gal with ~$40ish extra)
Hotels: $219 (yes, they're cheap)

Planned stops in Cleveland OH, Belleville IL, Sapulpa OK, and Santa Rosa NM. Providing extra for incidentals and food, I think I can do it for $1500-ish ($2k to be safe). Considering I was budgeting $4000 for a truck and car trailer with fuel, hotels, etc, I think that's pretty good - and with the money I save here, I can put a nice head unit in the Subaru for the drive out.

I'm not sure what to do with my MR2....bring that out first, or do it after I have everything else moved. If I did it first, I could bring it out a few weeks or a couple months before the move to avoid driving cross country back to back. I have over a month's worth of vacation time, so it is tempting to take a week off a month or two before I quit my job, and take my MR2 out via the scenic route. I've wanted to drive the USA corner to corner, so I might take eight or nine days and drive from Portland ME to San Diego CA. Head back to AZ, put the car in storage, fly back home and go back to work for a month or two...then quit and drive the Forester and trailer back to AZ.

Thoughts, suggestions, comments? I haven't ever moved this far (or done any long distance move solo), so if I have missed anything, let me know.

Birth certificate

Sapulpa, OK is an hour away from me. I drive through it every few weekends when I visit Tulsa or go back home from school.

I don't know if you've ever driven down there much, but I have done the drive from Tulsa to Phoenix several times (and further on in to CA some of those times) and I can tell you that the area between OKC and Tucumcari is going to be boring, and Amarillo is not going to be much of a respite from that. Be prepared...don't be sleepy at all for that area. Also, again I have forgotten where exactly in AZ you're going but wasn't it Tempe you were looking at? If so, be careful coming down into Phoenix, I have done that in both directions in the middle of the night, and in a few spots I'd really wished I was fully alert and it wasn't dark (and I didn't have a trailer on at the time, either).

That's all I've got.

Yeah, I will be going to Mesa. I am planning on buying a new head unit for the car so I will have many music options to help keep me awake...my factory 6 disc changer will be annoying after about six hours.

I've never driven this far before - I have done FL/NH and back many times and I've flown to AZ, but driving will be new. I'll be driving through many states that I've never been in...maybe it'd be worth an extra day then, so I'm not pushing too long and getting sleepy.

Jlee what are you doing for work in AZ? Still sticking to law enforcement?

Yeah...Mesa PD is picking up a bunch of guys in the next few months (they're at critical minimum staffing, down 40 officers right now with more retiring every month). If I don't get hired by Mesa, I'll go back to retail banking and sign up for a reserve program until I get hired full time.

Very cool! Mesa is nice, but 'm sure you already found that out.

As far as getting tired while driving, I don't think you need to go any slower than what you've got planned there if you don't want to. I drove from my house (an hour north of Tulsa) to Phoenix in one go without stopping except to eat. It took about 21 hours. I never drifted off or anything like that...but I had someone with me, and I was fully rested and prepared before I went (I hadn't just driven a full day right before that, like you will have). I think you've got it divided up about right. I think you'll enjoy the drive, if you're anything like me, which you seem to be! New Mexico and Arizona along these roads are really cool. I wish I could say the same for OK, but apart from maybe when you go through the cities, it'll be almost as boring as the Texas panhandle is.

After some thought, I highly doubt I will be able to pull this off with a 5x8 trailer, so I'm back to a truck / trailer. Ahwell...it'll cost a lot more, but on the bright side I will be able to bring my utility trailer, motorcycle, etc, and not have to worry about space.

If you stop and stay in Santa Rosa, don't drink the water!

lol thanks.

Anyone in between here and there that wants to have lunch or something when I'm passing through?

Too far away for you to come be a part of Wookie and Wolfy and saberopus's KS/MO adventures.

Depends what day of the week you'll be coming through cleveland...