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Transporting a Comanche

Gene
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Gene Comanche Aficionado

Gene

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Posted
Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for your patience reading and responding to my multiple threads over the last few days.

 

Latest concern:

 

Let's say I were to purchase a Comanche, let's say 400 miles and several states away. How do I get it home?

 

The obvious concern would be reliability, I think it would be pushing my luck to drive a new-to-me 29ish year old vehicle a significant distance.

 

Second problem is the legality of this. At least in Maryland, there is no provision for a temporary tag, you pretty much have to go through full registration, which would require having the title, before hand.

 

I would have access to a Ford F150. U-Haul offers a dolly, front wheels off the ground, or a trailer, all four wheels off the ground. It looks like, weight wise, these would be within specs for a F150.

 

Anyone have experience with these? Okay idea/bad idea/horrible idea? Any other thoughts?

 

Again, thanks for all the responses over the last few days.

 

Gene

 

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Tex06 Comanche Addict

Tex06

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A half ton pickup with the trailer should be fine. I prefer the full trailer over the dolly as you don't have to worry about tires on the towed vehicle or the automatic transmission locking up.

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

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IronManche87 Comanche Aficionado

IronManche87

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Ironically, I towed mine with an f150 and a dolly 3-4 hrs home but it's only 2wd. Although the tires were so bad and dry rotted and one actually almost fell off.. Made it home on the dolly no problem. Truck towed just fine was a 97 v8

 

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Pete M down with the MJ sickness

Pete M

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from what I remember being told, tires of an unregistered, uninsured vehicle touching the street can be a big no-no in the legal world.  

 

we used uship.com to get my dad's z28 700 miles to his new home in GA.  cost about the same money (600 if I remember right) as the whole debacle of towing my MJ on a uhaul trailer the same distance and I didn't have to risk my life to do it.  

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HOrnbrod ComancheClub Legend

HOrnbrod

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Agree with Uship. Have not used them for shipping a car or truck but have shipped and received several motorcycles with them in the past. Look for a longtime Uship shipper with good feedback over time, the vehicles and equipment they use and you should be fine. I've never had a bad experience using Uship. Plus it'll save you some $$ and time, and will be done professionally.

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johnj92131 Comanche Fanatic

johnj92131

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You will be fine with an F150 and a Uhaul dolly.

 

I used my 91 Comanche and a Uhaul dolly to tow my 86 diesel Comanche over 2000 miles from Victoria, B.C. to northern Michigan last August. That was my second coast to coast round trip with the Comanche that year.  

 

So assuming your F150 is in good shape, I would not worry about using it to tow a Comanche 400 miles with a Uhaul dolly or with a car trailer.  But if you are not comfortable towing the truck - pay a transport company and sleep better at night.

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FrankTheDog MJ Junkie

FrankTheDog

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I flat towed an 89 MJ from Woodbridge VA to Winsted CT

with a 1998 XJ 404 miles. The MJ didn't have an engine or transmission in it so the front end was light and high so it had no caster. It death wobbled at any speed over 40 mph.

I dragged it right up I-95 to I-87 to I-84 to RT-8. 7.5 hours down 14 hrs back.

I didn't have a plate on it but I did have magnetic lights on the truck. All it cost me was food and fuel.

Also, I did it on Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

It was nerve wracking but no kittens or nuns were killed.

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Jeep Driver Obsessive Comanche Disorder

Jeep Driver

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http://www.mva.maryland.gov/vehicles/registration/temporary-registration.htm

 

 

Every state I'm aware of allows you to drive the vehicle home after purchase, you need a bill of sale, title, and an active insurance card. 

 

 

I drove an XJ from Tampa FL to E TN, no tag or registration. I got stopped in Waynesville NC, not a damn thing they could do about it. 

 

 

Roadkill does it all the time and this is one of the FAQs...............you have 10 days to get it home. 

 

 

 

For that matter, I drove my MJ from Atlanta GA through NC to TN.............same thing, no tag or registration. People do it all the time. 

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Eagle Obsessive Comanche Disorder

Eagle

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Posted

from what I remember being told, tires of an unregistered, uninsured vehicle touching the street can be a big no-no in the legal world.  

 

we used uship.com to get my dad's z28 700 miles to his new home in GA.  cost about the same money (600 if I remember right) as the whole debacle of towing my MJ on a uhaul trailer the same distance and I didn't have to risk my life to do it.  

 

Correct. You can only use a dolly to tow a vehicle that's registered. For an unregistered vehicle, you have to use a trailer that carries all four tires off the ground.

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Eagle Obsessive Comanche Disorder

Eagle

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For that matter, I drove my MJ from Atlanta GA through NC to TN.............same thing, no tag or registration. People do it all the time. 

 

If you read the link you provided, it says you need a temporary registration. Connecticut is the same way. People may drive without tags all the time, but I've never heard of any state in which it's legal. I've driven used cars home from several states, and I always had temporary tags to do it.

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Jeep Driver Obsessive Comanche Disorder

Jeep Driver

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For that matter, I drove my MJ from Atlanta GA through NC to TN.............same thing, no tag or registration. People do it all the time. 

 

If you read the link you provided, it says you need a temporary registration. Connecticut is the same weay. People may drive without tags all the time, but I've never heard of any state in which it's legal. I've driven used cars home from several states, and I always had temporary tags to do it.

 

I read the link I provided, I read everything. 

 

The temp tag that is available in MD is wrapped around inspection and repair to get inspection, so it appears. 

 I have no personal experience in CT or MD. That said, here is a perfect example, from MI, no less- http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127--191765--,00.html

 

He cannot get a temp tag for a vehicle he does not own, has not seen, has not bought, is in another state, for which he has no BoS or title to. 

 

 

I know that some states offer a 'transportation tag', he may want to look into that. 

 

I know for a fact that every state must make provision to a buyer of a used vehicle to get the vehicle home. I know for a fact that no state will tell you what you do not know to ask for, I ask questions until I get a satisfactory answer. 

 

 

 

Tell you what, OP, you buy a rust-free running MJ here in the South, you can pay me $500 and I'll deliver it to you myself. 

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WyoCherokee Comanche Addict

WyoCherokee

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Check with what your state requires and the states you are passing through. that's the easiest. that being said,buying a new vehicle unknown to me, i always feel safer trailering it home, regardless if it can drive or not. that way i can get it in my garage and give it a once over before taking it on a road. Here in wyoming, as long as you have the bill of sale notorized, you are legal to drive it without plates for 45 days. Here you have to get new plates with every ownership change(it stupid) so most folks keep their old plates, and just have the bill of sale and title notorized. I drove a bronco from Jackson to Gillette(450 miles) with no plates or insurance, with just a bill of sale.  completely legal here.

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R1. Comanche Fan

R1.

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My best road trip ever was flying down to Phoenix, picking up my 89 Comanche and driving it back with my wife and daughter in the cab.  It was an adventure.  I did have a mechanic check it out before I bought it.  The picture in my signature is as we were leaving Death Valley.  We put over 1300 miles on it.

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Dzimm MJ Maniac

Dzimm

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Geez. I'm glad I live in a free state.....

Yeah same. All ya need in Iowa is a BoS or the title to move it around with no tags. You can drive it around for 30 days with no tags as long as you have insurance.

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shelbyluvv MJ Maniac

shelbyluvv

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I've towed my Shelby Charger from coast to coast 6 times on a dolly. It was unregistered every time. I've never had a problem and will be doing it again next year.

On your way here?
I think we may be headed back to Georgia. I need to be closer to my mom and sister.

 

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

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cruiser54 ComancheClub Legend

cruiser54

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I've towed my Shelby Charger from coast to coast 6 times on a dolly. It was unregistered every time. I've never had a problem and will be doing it again next year.

On your way here?
I think we may be headed back to Georgia. I need to be closer to my mom and sister.

 

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

Gotcha. Family first.

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