Just recently, we completed the delivery of a 1998 Jeep Wrangler from Pensacola, FL to San Diego, CA. This delivery traveled a distance of 1,998 miles and cost us $1,575.00, which amounts to $0.79 per mile.
The Wrangler was operational when picked up. Every other vehicle that we have shipped always gets the same statement about soft straps on the tires and no chains on the suspension. It is appropriate to clarify this issue on a twenty-seven-year-old Jeep.
The route
This drive from Pensacola to San Diego, which spans 1,998 miles, goes through the Gulf South and the desert Southwest along one major interstate.
Pensacola lies at the coast of the Florida panhandle. After leaving Pensacola, the driver gets right on to the I-10 and follows it all the way from Pensacola to Orange, which is in Texas.
From Orange, I-10 serves the majority of the drive all the way to Phoenix, including Houston, San Antonio, Fort Stockton, and El Paso, after passing through Las Cruces in New Mexico.
After reaching Phoenix on I-10, the driver leaves I-10 and takes I-8 south to San Diego via Yuma and the Imperial Valley. San Diego lies at the western end, and 92109 lies at the coast of the city at Pacific Beach.
How a vehicle is actually held down
There are two methods of securing a vehicle on a deck, and the choice between them makes a difference which many customers do not appreciate fully.
Wheel straps are attached to the wheels of the car. Soft straps are placed around the wheel, and the attachment point is on the deck, thus pinning the car at the contact point between the wheel and the road surface. Suspension will be able to work in the intended way, and nothing will touch any painted surfaces.
Chains are attached to the chassis. Hooks are fixed to the frame rails, control arms, axles or tow points, and the whole suspension is pressed and remains compressed until the end of the journey. It works; it is how many devices are working now.
However, there is one thing about the chains which makes them less suitable for securing the car. Bushings, control arms and all other points of attachment were meant to bear the weight of the car in motion rather than be pulled down toward the deck for thousands of miles.
In the case of an older vehicle, the issue becomes even more pronounced. Corroded frames and suspensions, and a Jeep that has lived its life on the Gulf coast for twenty-seven years should have been afforded every chance to do so. Chain point that looks good but isn’t can be a big surprise, so wheel straps take a pass on the matter by not ever touching the frame.
In the case of a modified vehicle, it’s even worse than that. Aftermarket suspensions, lift kits and armor change the place where the driver would typically grab his chains. Wranglers are some of the most modified vehicles on the road, hence another good reason why wheel straps should be the right method of choice.
Lastly, inquire about the method employed by the carrier. It’s a reasonable question, it’s got a quick answer, and there’s something to learn from it anyway.
What $0.79 per mile reflects
There are two reasons behind this cost.
Firstly, distance. The cost per mile to pickup, load, secure, and deliver at 1,998 miles is a great many costs that need to be allocated. But for short distances, the same cost will come up at more than twice the price per mile.
Secondly, there is open transport. Open trailers have more capacity to carry vehicles and operate much more frequently than enclosed trailers.
The route is ideal. The Interstate 10 in southern states is one of the busiest freights corridors of the US, and also the southern coast and Southern California supply a great deal of vehicle movements.
Vehicle design will be of very little consideration for us, as it was on a 2017 Wrangler. It has a tall profile for its wheelbase and restricts it from being transported in two levels.
Open transport
The Wrangler travelled on an open trailer since it is a vehicle made to handle any weather conditions.
However, the top and doors configuration were not determined at booking time for the reasons outlined above for the 2017 car. The soft top has to be properly latched and the doors have to be loaded within the vehicle.
The ground clearance was not a problem since the Wrangler is quite high and therefore ramp angle was irrelevant.
Transport summary
- Origin: Pensacola, FL 32501
- Destination: San Diego, CA 92109
- Distance: 1,998 miles
- Service cost: $1,575.00
- Cost per mile: $0.79
- Vehicle: 1998 Jeep Wrangler
- Condition: Operable
- Trailer type: Open
- Securement: Soft straps over the tires
- Route: Pensacola, FL → I-10 west through Mobile, AL → New Orleans and Baton Rouge, LA → Houston and San Antonio, TX → Fort Stockton and El Paso → Las Cruces, NM → Tucson and Phoenix, AZ → I-8 west through Yuma → San Diego, CA
