Boat moving question

[GreenvilleSC_fishing]

I’ve been hunting for a year, and I finally pulled the trigger on a boat. It’s a used Vexus 1980 on a single axle trailer 800 miles from my home in Missouri.

 

Curious if anyone can offer advice on how to get this thing to me in South Carolina. If I don’t find a shipping option I plan to just drive out there in my F-150. Single axle trailer is sketchy for this journey, but for the deal I think I got it was worth figuring out.

 

Thanks in advance! 

[Jig Man]

There are several MO based boat transporters.  My guess is it will cost you 2-3 gs.  Google MO boat transporters.
 

If you decide to come get it check the weather forecast before you head out.  We are snow covered right now.

[TOXIC]

Have it towed to a trailer shop and completely gone over, tires, bearings, wiring, etc.  It’s something you are going to have to do anyway.  Flatbed or shipping is going to be somewhat expensive.  What year is the trailer? 

[GreenvilleSC_fishing]

Trailer is 2021. Great feedback on getting it over to a trailer shop - I got some quotes today and as expected it’s about half the price for towaway than putting on a flatbed. It’s appealing to try to get it out here towaway with the rate, I just don’t want to make a bad decision.

[TOXIC]

Miles on trailers are all based on maintenance.  As long as you keep them maintained, miles don’t really matter.  If it gets a clean bill of health, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull it cross country.  Keep a spare hub assembly in the truck and a good set of tires with a good spare and you’re good to go.  I tow a lot.  From Virginia to Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, and an average of a minimum 50 miles one way to every area I fish locally, I trust my trailer but I also maintain my trailer.  Annual hub maintenance, tires every 5 years and more.  

[Way2slow]

Not sure of the logic behind buying that old of a boat that far away, unless they are paying you to haul if off.  The old saying goes, live and learn, and pretty sure you will be learning big time on this one.  Your main concern, provided the trailer it not rusted out, is going to be tires, bearings and lights.  You want to make sure the tires are fairly new, even if they still have good thread on them, dry rot is a major concern if they are more than a couple of years old.  If I was going that far to get one, I would either take new ones with me or plan on having those replaced when I got there.  Since you probably have no way of knowing what axle is under it, you won't have the option of taking new bearings also, so plan on buying and installing a new set when you get there.  DO NOT trust the ones on the trailer to be good, you will be running an extreme risk of one failing on the trip home.  

Make sure you plan properly.  The trip up there is going to be one long, hard day and (that's if you are young) and two days if you don't want to torture yourself.  That's only if the weather is good to you, heading North, this time of the year is playing roulette with it.  Plan on one day dealing with the tires, wheel bearings and lights.  Plan on a minimum of two days for the trip back home.  Even if you average 50 mph, and that's not very likely pulling a trailer, that's 16 hours travel time.  Then you need to add one more day just for "When S**T happens" if you have to be back for work.

On your trip home, stop after the first hour and feel the bearing hubs, make sure they are no more than just a mild warm and both are about the same.  Stop one more time after about another hour and feel them again.  After that it's a good idea to make a quick feel of them on your normal stops.

The only other thing I can think of saying is "Good luck" with your trip, it's going to be long and hard. 

[A-Jay]

25 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

Not sure of the logic behind buying that old of a boat that far away, unless they are paying you to haul if off. 

I think the 1980 is the model number not the year.

https://vexusboats.com/model/avx1980/overview/

 

A-Jay

[GaryH]

40 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I think the 1980 is the model number not the year.

https://vexusboats.com/model/avx1980/overview/

 

A-Jay

I see the trailer is a 2021. 

[Deephaven]

I used UShip and had a 6500lb boat towed from AZ to MN for $600....that being said it was 12 years ago.  A service like that should be the cheapest.  Not sure if they still exist.

[Kirtley Howe]

1980 is the model. Vexes did not even exist in 1980.

 

[GreenvilleSC_fishing]

It is indeed a 4 year-old Vexus, not a 45 year-old. 😅

 

I found an insured company who can take it, but I’m going to have the trailer checked out to make sure I feel good about putting 800 miles on it rather than paying double for the flatbed.

[Way2slow]

I guess that explains the logic, at least it makes a lot more sense.   Tires should be good on a 2021 trailer, but I would still be replacing the bearings.  Four years not knowing how they've been serviced or how the looked the last time they were serviced.

It's still going to be one miserable, tiring trip though.

 

Yea, when you have to pay a double with that extra length it bites.  I shipped a Chevy 2500HD from south Texas to middle GA and got hit with that but had no choice because it had a bad differential.  

[WRB]

800 miles sounds like a trip from home to lake Shasta in NorCal no big deal. 
Check all your towing lights, wheel lube and put everything away that can be stolen during gas’s or lunch stops.

Take out the drain plug and out it on the boat key bob.

We can only travel at 55 - 60 mph but the 18 wheelers trucks travel 72 mph so keep your eye out for them and cars passing at light speed.

When you stop walk around your rig and check everything and wheel heat.

Be safe 800 miles isn’t a long distance, about 15 hrs.

Tom

PS, check you spare tire and know how to change it.

[Tennessee Boy]

I can’t tell you how much your time is worth.  That’s important to consider.   I’m retired so my time is not worth much.   If it was me,  I’d get in the truck and go get the boat.  
 

What’s the worst thing that could happen?  Well you could have a wreck,  total the truck,  total the boat,  and you could die.  Life is risky.  The chances of something major happening on a 800 mile trip are low but they are not zero.  If something happens you deal with it the best you can.  It would be a major pain if you lost a bearing on the way home.  If it happens you get it fixed somewhere or hire a flatbed to haul it home and be glad you survived the trip.  🙂