Trailer tow from Texas to California

[Jacques de Rham]

Hello all,

My name is Jac and I am new to this group.

I am purchasing a glider and I need to tow it to Williams in CA.

I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas on how best to go about this?

First option yes would of course be to go down myself, rent a pickup or a car with a tow hitch and drive it back over several days.

Second option may be to hire an auto transport truck that could put the trailer onto the truck and drive it back. This would cost more money but would save me the time away.

The trip is about 1792 miles.

Does anyone here have any other ideas?

Most grateful for your input!

Best,

Jac

[George Haeh]

Many of us have used Uship.

[Phoenix]

On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 6:43:23 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> Many of us have used Uship.

I just used Uship for a delivery of a glider from Washington State to Florida. The guy was professional and very, very cost effective.

[Doug Bailey]

On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 7:35:08 PM UTC-7, Phoenix wrote:
> On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 6:43:23 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> > Many of us have used Uship.
> I just used Uship for a delivery of a glider from Washington State to Florida. The guy was professional and very, very cost effective.

The "best" way depends on what you're trying to optimize. The implication is "minimum cost", but perhaps another way to look at it would be "maximum value" -
Fly to Texas, rent an RV with a trailer hitch from a national chain and drive back, hitting a few soaring spots on the way that you'll never have the opportunity to check out again. Take a couple of weeks. Drop the RV close to home.

[Nicholas Kennedy]

On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 7:21:24 AM UTC-6, wrote:
> On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 7:35:08 PM UTC-7, Phoenix wrote:
> > On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 6:43:23 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> > > Many of us have used Uship.
> > I just used Uship for a delivery of a glider from Washington State to Florida. The guy was professional and very, very cost effective.
> The "best" way depends on what you're trying to optimize. The implication is "minimum cost", but perhaps another way to look at it would be "maximum value" -
> Fly to Texas, rent an RV with a trailer hitch from a national chain and drive back, hitting a few soaring spots on the way that you'll never have the opportunity to check out again. Take a couple of weeks. Drop the RV close to home.

Doug
Your idea is a great one!
Nick
T

[Jacques de Rham]

On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 3:56:43 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 7:21:24 AM UTC-6, wrote:
> > On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 7:35:08 PM UTC-7, Phoenix wrote:
> > > On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 6:43:23 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> > > > Many of us have used Uship.
> > > I just used Uship for a delivery of a glider from Washington State to Florida. The guy was professional and very, very cost effective.
> > The "best" way depends on what you're trying to optimize. The implication is "minimum cost", but perhaps another way to look at it would be "maximum value" -
> > Fly to Texas, rent an RV with a trailer hitch from a national chain and drive back, hitting a few soaring spots on the way that you'll never have the opportunity to check out again. Take a couple of weeks. Drop the RV close to home.
> Doug
> Your idea is a great one!
> Nick
> T
Thanks for the replies everyone!
Hi Phoenix, how much did they charge for your trip across the whole country?
The lowest quote on Uship is for around $2500 from San Antonio to Williams CA. Does that feel about right? Do they need to have insurance for this? What if they drive too fast and flip the trailer or something?
Hi Doug, that is a great idea! I like it! :) But I don''t know if I can find the time to do that right now. But shoot that would be so fun!
Jac

[Frank Whiteley]

On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 8:12:38 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 3:56:43 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 7:21:24 AM UTC-6, wrote:
> > > On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 7:35:08 PM UTC-7, Phoenix wrote:
> > > > On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 6:43:23 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> > > > > Many of us have used Uship.
> > > > I just used Uship for a delivery of a glider from Washington State to Florida. The guy was professional and very, very cost effective.
> > > The "best" way depends on what you're trying to optimize. The implication is "minimum cost", but perhaps another way to look at it would be "maximum value" -
> > > Fly to Texas, rent an RV with a trailer hitch from a national chain and drive back, hitting a few soaring spots on the way that you'll never have the opportunity to check out again. Take a couple of weeks. Drop the RV close to home.
> > Doug
> > Your idea is a great one!
> > Nick
> > T
> Thanks for the replies everyone!
> Hi Phoenix, how much did they charge for your trip across the whole country?
> The lowest quote on Uship is for around $2500 from San Antonio to Williams CA. Does that feel about right? Do they need to have insurance for this? What if they drive too fast and flip the trailer or something?
> Hi Doug, that is a great idea! I like it! :) But I don''t know if I can find the time to do that right now. But shoot that would be so fun!
> Jac
As it's nominally 1800-1900 miles with possibly some mountain driving, seems like a good rate since the price of fuel is around $1.00 higher than a year ago. Their liability insurance is in effect, but your hull coverage protects you.

Frank

[Phoenix]

On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 10:42:40 PM UTC-4, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 8:12:38 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> > On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 3:56:43 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > > On Monday, March 29, 2021 at 7:21:24 AM UTC-6, wrote:
> > > > On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 7:35:08 PM UTC-7, Phoenix wrote:
> > > > > On Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 6:43:23 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> > > > > > Many of us have used Uship.
> > > > > I just used Uship for a delivery of a glider from Washington State to Florida. The guy was professional and very, very cost effective.
> > > > The "best" way depends on what you're trying to optimize. The implication is "minimum cost", but perhaps another way to look at it would be "maximum value" -
> > > > Fly to Texas, rent an RV with a trailer hitch from a national chain and drive back, hitting a few soaring spots on the way that you'll never have the opportunity to check out again. Take a couple of weeks. Drop the RV close to home.
> > > Doug
> > > Your idea is a great one!
> > > Nick
> > > T
> > Thanks for the replies everyone!
> > Hi Phoenix, how much did they charge for your trip across the whole country?
> > The lowest quote on Uship is for around $2500 from San Antonio to Williams CA. Does that feel about right? Do they need to have insurance for this? What if they drive too fast and flip the trailer or something?
> > Hi Doug, that is a great idea! I like it! :) But I don''t know if I can find the time to do that right now. But shoot that would be so fun!
> > Jac
> As it's nominally 1800-1900 miles with possibly some mountain driving, seems like a good rate since the price of fuel is around $1.00 higher than a year ago. Their liability insurance is in effect, but your hull coverage protects you.
>
> Frank

Frank is right regarding insurance. I paid $2,100 for dragging the cobra trailer. I had quotes as high as $5,700!

[Dan Marotta]

Don't let life slip away. Make the time! I wish I'd thought of that
when I picked up my LS-6a in Chicago back in around '92...

Dan
5J

On 3/29/21 8:12 PM, Jacques de Rham wrote:
> e lowest quote on Uship is for around $2500 from San Antonio to Williams CA. Does that feel about right? Do they need to have insurance for this? What if they drive too fast and flip the trailer or something?
> H

[Frank Whiteley]

I've transported several, which gave me the opportunity to check in with SSA Chapters and SSA State Governors across the country. Now that the better half has retired, might consider it again in a few months.

Frank

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 7:53:06 AM UTC-6, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Don't let life slip away. Make the time! I wish I'd thought of that
> when I picked up my LS-6a in Chicago back in around '92...
>
> Dan
> 5J
> On 3/29/21 8:12 PM, Jacques de Rham wrote:
> > e lowest quote on Uship is for around $2500 from San Antonio to Williams CA. Does that feel about right? Do they need to have insurance for this? What if they drive too fast and flip the trailer or something?
> > H

[Martin Gregorie[_6_]]

On Tue, 30 Mar 2021 07:52:58 -0600, Dan Marotta wrote:

> Don't let life slip away. Make the time! I wish I'd thought of that
> when I picked up my LS-6a in Chicago back in around '92...
>
Agreed.

If you have the time, money and opportunity to do something like a trip
to get your new glider, and there are no obvious downsides, DO IT.

Back in the late 70s, long before learning to fly crossed my horizon, I
had the funds and opportunity to take 10 months off to drive from the UK
to India, walk in the Himalayas, and drive back to the UK. So, I bought a
Landrover and did it. Best time I had in my life.

Just as well I did it when I had the chance in 1977/78, since a year
later, when the Shah was kicked out of Iran, that road closed and never
reopened due to Ayatollahs in Iran, religious wars in Afghanistan and
anarchy in Pakistan.

Making that trip didn't harm or prevent anything I did later, including
learning to fly gliders.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

[Semantics Michael]

Jac,
I may be able to put a bid in for less than those cited (live near San Antonio and planning a road trip with SUV to CA). Would only charge for the part of the cost to drive from the point of my intended destination to your site in CA). However, I don't see your name on the SSA membership list or FAA registry, so feel free to PM me.
Michael

[Jacques de Rham]

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 5:02:48 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> Jac,
> I may be able to put a bid in for less than those cited (live near San Antonio and planning a road trip with SUV to CA). Would only charge for the part of the cost to drive from the point of my intended destination to your site in CA). However, I don't see your name on the SSA membership list or FAA registry, so feel free to PM me.
> Michael
Hi - thanks to all for their responses. This a great community!
I am not sure if I can reply directly form my email or do I have to come back to the google groups page on my browser?
Anyways, Gregoire your trip sounds amaaaazing! Wow what an adventure! I drove my pickup from California to Costa Rica and had an incredible time - this was a lot later though, in 2004.
For Michael, I have not gotten an SSA membership yet. I am relatively new to sailplanes. Do you recommend it? I come from a long paragliding background but recently completed my glider training and got my license. Then I trained more at Williams Soaring Center and got into the ASW 24 there. So now I am purchasing an ASW 28 from Tom in Texas. I should be on the FAA registry as I have a private pilot glider rating. My full name is Jacques de Rham. I would be interested in talking with you more about the tow. I am noticing that the quotes on Uship are coming down every day. Quite a large difference now to the first quote given at the beginning. I am sorry - I am so new to this forum - when you say PM where can I find your email address? Oh wait - is that your full email address? Or is it hiding a portion of it? Or you can email me at or also you can text me at 808-495-5377. Thanks so much!

[Dan Marotta]

Hi Jacques,

If you have the computer savvy, you can create an account in your email
client to read this newsgroup. First open a free account with
https://www.eternal-september.org, then have your email client monitor
it in the same way as your email. There's a bit more to it than that,
but, if you're savvy...

Good luck!

Dan
5J

On 3/30/21 10:51 PM, Jacques de Rham wrote:
> registry as I have a private pilot glider rating. My full name is Jacques de Rham. I would be interested in talking with you more about the tow. I am noticing that the quotes on Uship are coming down every day. Quite a large diff