Move from Seattle to Mobile, AL the first part of December

[noFanofCB]

Winter weather can seem insurmountable to Seattle-ites and southerners but millions of people survive winter in the middle of the country every year. And tens of thousands more survive travelling in mid-winter too. (though most of those wear snow boots rather than Tevas and wool socks......)

If you haven't driven on snow that's a skill that needs to be picked up. Taking some time to slide around a snowy parking lot along the way on the trip would be helpful. I'd do that with my UHaul truck if it were me as every vehicle handles differently and you need to know what to expect. (I'd also demand that it have good deep tire tread before accepting it.)

You're a mom - it's your job to worry. But I wouldn't expect to talk a manly shipyard welder out of the manly adventure of moving cross-country in the winter. It's not a suicide mission - it's just a challenge and maybe only an inconvenience.

[jm98]

I done Seattle-Dallas-Seattle-Dallas just last year in December14/Jan15 via WA/OR/CA/NV/AZ/NM/TX, TX/NM/AZ/NV/ID/OR/WA and WA/OR/ID/UT/NM/TX.

Overall:
I found I84 to be little-bit challenging both ways. Snow and Ice near Boise, ID and eastern Oregon part of I84. However it was only for few miles of I84 on each direction. Most of all other part of trip clear roads.

Snow:
Wet snow on I40 near Albuquerque, Part of Utah were snowed out, NM and I84 in Eastern OR/ID. Snow can be anywhere at anytime in winter.

Mountains:
Yes, mountains are all over. I84 eastern Oregon, Near Yakima WA (I82), Snoqualmie Pass, WA, Part, route between Green River UT and Price UT roads are mountainous (may need low gear for some vehicles). When you see snow plows ready waiting on mountain roads, kind of gives you little chill of rough weather ahead.

Rain/Flood in Winter?
Yes, small part of I90 left lanes between North Band, WA and Snoqualmie pass flooded due to continues rain.

I anticipated snow most of trip however great job by DOT keeping roads clear.

[Midwest Michael]

There will be a minimum of 4 adults. And the more I think about it the more I think it might be easier to have the vehicles shipped and have mama and baby fly to my house in Birmingham!

I guess I'm still a bit confused about the need to move 3 vehicles for a family of 2 adults. Certainly there are items that you're always going to want to bring with you on a move - and a guys tools would certainly fall into that category - but it seems like at least 1, if not more of the cars could be sold instead of moved or shipped. That would likely be much cheaper than shipping the cars, and quite a bit easier than driving/towing all of those vehicles, especially since driving means most of the drivers will have to be solo for the entire trip.

[noFanofCB]

I guess I'm still a bit confused about the need to move 3 vehicles for a family of 2 adults.

The paragraph you quoted stated 4 adults. So the count has changed or we're confused. But I agree that even with 4 people moving 4 vehicles means a lot of solo time for everyone. 4 people to move 2 vehicles would be much nicer. The trip-long game would be to vote who is "IT" at each stop. And "IT" has to drive the UHaul :-)

[Midwest Michael]

The original post said it was the son/daughter and their baby who was moving, with 3 vehicles, so I'm assuming the parents (the poster) are helping with the driving to bring the total of drivers up to 4.

But that's just my best guess....

[Janice Burt]

LOL....true.....he did drive out there in a UHaul...but not in the winter. My mother-n-law used to always tell me 'you never stop worrying'. I thought that couldn't be true, but was she ever right!

[Janice Burt]

I know I can be confusing at times :). ...my son, his wife, me and my husband. Still thinking shipping the vehicles and my husband and son coming back in the UHaul. If it were me....I'd sell the vehicles and everything else, but it isn't me....
This site has been very helpful for me to 'air' my concerns and ask questions. I appreciate all the feed back I have gotten!

[noFanofCB]

and my husband and son coming back in the UHaul.

I'm getting lost in the logistics of back and forth but ---- father and son team driving, if they get along well, would make for a memorable manly adventure for both. I cherish the memories of trips I've done with my father and the various adventures we've had.

Even though I'm closing in on 60 years of age, my mother still worries. If it were up to mothers, we'd all still be walking because any other form of transportation is just too risky! :-)

[jm98]

I had coworkers shipped a year old vehicles and furniture from Seattle to Texas on company dime. They liked their vehicles so much that they consider keeping it. It all depends on a vehicle age and something special about it.

[Lifemagician]

Even though I'm closing in on 60 years of age, my mother still worries.

It's in the nature of mothers. Whereas all my children are grown and have their own families, of course I still worry about them. Even though the only tradedy with my immediate family was not his fault, more than 20 years later he still has the mental scars.

And to whom do these five wonderful children turn when in need?

Lifey