Buying a trailer for a Dity?

[Ben_Dover]

I just found out that I'll be receiving close to $2,000 for my summer 06' dity move from the NW to Pensacola. This was a full dity with approximately 1100 pounds. Not too shabby.... This was the first time I'd ever done a dity and I had no idea I'd be getting an almost 2:1 ratio of money to pounds. If I would have known that, I definitely would have bought a weight set prior to my moving (seriously...).

With an upcoming move for Primary, I'm considering investing in a small trailer to load all my stuff in. This way I won't have to rent a U-haul trailer and I'll also be able to count the trailer's weight as part of my overall weight. Has anybody ever done this before and if so, how has it worked out for you? Was it worth the hassle? Once you get to your location, do most bases have an area where you can store trailers, boats, RVs, and the such?

One of my old instructors told me a story of how one of his squadron mates bought an old beater boat when he was first commissioned; wasn't even sure if the thing floated. Nonetheless, he hauled that thing with him wherever he moved and made a killing doing it. Sounds genius although I don't think my conscience would ever let me do that.

Any previous experiences with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[MasterBates]

It must be single axle. Then you can count it's weight as well. Cannot count tandem axle privatley owned trailers, don't know why.

I bought a 6x10 enclosed trailer in 1998 for $2000. As long as you can fit your crap in it, it will pay for itself in a move or two. and if you live in the BOQ at a base, you have some semi-secure storage for dirtbikes and tools.

Also, odds are you will make at least 3 moves in the next 2 years. Primay to advanced, Advanced to RAG, possibly RAG to fleet. Since you are going to drive anyways, you can always do a DITY or partial DITY with your stuff.

When I move next month, I am doing a partial DITY, but am moving the heavy, dense crap myself. Movers can get the bulky, light crap.

 

[Ben_Dover]

Thanks for the quick reply MB.

Were you able to store your trailer on base? Having a trailer parked permanently outside my house isn't exactly the look I'm going for.

 

[KimberlyD]

I'm not sure how you could count the weight of the trailer, even w/ it only being single axle. We've done this a lot recently & they're really cracking down on it to the point that the plate #'s & my husband SS have to be written on the weight ticket by the weighing station. Not sure how you could get away w/ getting an empty weight w/out the trailer & then getting a full weight w/ the trailer... Only tricks I know of that you can still do are getting your empty weight minus the spare tire & w/ an empty tank of gas so maybe what 10 pounds total?

As far as the possibility of doing the boat thing, they did away w/ reimbursement for pleasure craft a long time ago, happened for airplanes when my Grandfather was still active duty & for boats while my Dad was still active duty. We have a floating money pit & have tried figuring out how to get paid to move it many times, so far all we can do is turn in gas receipts which show that my husband is averaging 13 MPG so we get reimbursed what we spend but nothing more.

Last but not least, a friend bought a trailer, big rig, $3K, fully enclosed, etc & tried to claim it as a DITY expense, she got told where to stick it. She was out the $3K, had to worry ab where to store that monster & if she'd done it "right" she could have just rented a U-Haul everytime she moved & gotten reimbursed the cost.

 

[MasterBates]

The packet SMARTWEBMOVE sent me allows single axle trailers not to exceed some weight (packet is in FL, I am on leave). Boats under 13' can count as weight as well.

 

[Ben_Dover]

KimberlyD,
Sounds like you're getting hosed....

"HHG also include:

1. vehicles other than POVs (such as motorcycles, mopeds, hang gliders, golf carts, jet skis and snowmobiles and their associated trailers);
2. boats;
3. ultralight vehicles (defined in 14 C.F.R. Sec 103 as being single occupant; for recreation or sport purposes; weighing less than 155 pounds if unpowered or less than 254 pounds if powered; having a fuel capacity NTE 5 gallons; airspeed NTE 55 knots; and power-off stall speed NTE 24 knots)."

This was found on the SMARTWEBMOVE site that MB got his packet from.

 

[feddoc]

Ben,

On most bases MWR will handle the RV/trailer storage. At Lemoore it was, as I recall, $30/month. At China Lake, it was free.

Don't forget to keep all your receipts...fuses, wiring kit, license plate fees, it is, or can be, either a tax deduction or an expense of the DITY move....that way there is less $$$ for USN to delcare to IRS as taxable income.

 

[KimberlyD]

Brett, good to see you recognize the measurement problem women have, I know it's helpful to you regularly...

As far as boats, I don't know anyone who owns one under 13 feet, ours is 27. Also, if it was under 13 we would have to weigh the trailer empty than weigh it loaded. A real pain to do but definitely doable, again, I don't know anyone w/ anything under 13 feet except for jet skis which we are authorized to DITY.

 

[Schnugg]

Thanks for the quick reply MB.

Were you able to store your trailer on base? Having a trailer parked permanently outside my house isn't exactly the look I'm going for.

But remember where you're headed...The Unofficial Redneck Capital of the US. A trailer parked out front is a sign of prosperity and good fortune.

You'll be envied.

 

[MIDNJAC]

not entirely on subject, but how would you go about moving a 3rd car which you don't necissarily want to drive across the country in? If you put it on a Uhaul trailer (not one of those hitched things that drags the rear wheels) would you be reimbursed for the expense? How about if you got a Uhaul truck and double length trailer and towed 2 cars? You could do so securely and probably wrap both cars in speed tape to protect them.....but would they go for this? Especially if you already were getting all of your other stuff shipped for you? Apologize in advance for my lack of information.....

 

[Brett327]

not entirely on subject, but how would you go about moving a 3rd car which you don't necissarily want to drive across the country in? If you put it on a Uhaul trailer (not one of those hitched things that drags the rear wheels) would you be reimbursed for the expense? How about if you got a Uhaul truck and double length trailer and towed 2 cars? You could do so securely and probably wrap both cars in speed tape to protect them.....but would they go for this? Especially if you already were getting all of your other stuff shipped for you? Apologize in advance for my lack of information.....

I can't remember the actual rules, but I don't think the Navy will pay for you to move multiple automobiles. You could just hire a drifter to drive them for you.

Brett

 

[SteveG75]

I can't remember the actual rules, but I don't think the Navy will pay for you to move multiple automobiles. You could just hire a drifter to drive them for you.

Brett

Yeah, this rule burns me up. :icon_rage They will pay to move an RV, a boat, motorcycles, jet skis, all of which are argueably toys, but I have to suck up the cost of moving my own 'toy car" even though it doesn't exceed my weight limit. I can move wheels, heads, intakes, exhaust, blocks, but not the car. I can buy a trailer and that can be part of my weight but not the car.:icon_rage

The rule is one POV per a licensed driver in the household. I wonder how a race car would be defined. Toy or POV????