moving my herd east, looking for advice

[WR Moore]

OK, I think what you're describing is commonly known as a bed cap. What's a "lumper" rack? Roof top rack?

 

[gjgalligan]

I travel back and fourth every year

Are you saying you move your "herd" back & forth every year or are you making a permanent move of them?

 

[Smith & Hammer]

OK, I think what you're describing is commonly known as a bed cap. What's a "lumper" rack? Roof top rack?

Its what you would see on a contractors pickup or van, ladders, lumber, pipe.
Mine has both a rack and canopy

 

[Shotguncoach]

How many firearms are we talking about? There's a big difference between 20 and 200…..

If you're going to sleep in the back of the truck that would tell me that the truck won't be completely full. I beg you to consider getting a motel room instead of sleeping in the truck. That used to be my preferred method too, but "rest areas" aren't what they used to be. You will be completely vulnerable to the dirt bags mentioned above. A motel room lets you unload the 'not completely full' truck into the room and get a safe, secure, restful nights sleep. You also get a real bathroom and you can have a meal that doesn't come in a sack.

You're going to bring a lot of humidity with you in your gun cases. Either oil everything really well or better yet, give everything a good coat of wax. Also consider what changes in humidity will do to the wood…you may want to loosen the stock screws before you go.

 

[raljr1]

I have done this three times and I'm getting ready to do it at 4 th. What i have done in the past is take two 4x4s or 6x6s lay them in the back of the bed of the pickup truck. Lay a piece of plywood across them and put all of the guns underneath the plywood. Had all kinds of miscellaneous crap on top of the plywood. Drive carefully. Be smart about where you stop and don't worry too much..i I pack all my guns and ammo flat rate boxes from USPS

 

[M29since14]

If you stay away from the Chicago metro area you have nothing to worry about in Indiana, that I know of. You probably won't pass through because you'd be passing through IL in the process, which is something I would avoid. Checking with the state police of every state you travel through would be wise. I'd almost bet all but the loon states will say it's a non-issue if the weapons are properly stored and are ordinary sporting/self-defense type that are commonly in use.

I would not want my weapons in the bed of a pick-up regardless of how they are packed. Good luck with the relocation to TN. It's a great state and is one of the few I'd consider permanently relocating to, should that ever be necessary.

 

[taz666]

Desiccant packs.

 

[jaydoc]

Not sure exactly where your start and finish points are. Looks like your only real trouble state is potentially Illinois. If you cross Missouri from KC to St. Louis, you can go around St. Louis to the south and go south far enough to miss southern Illinois without too much of a detour. I've crossed Southern Illinois a few times with a vehicle full of guns. It's rural and I didn't stop for gas or anything. Can be done if you have to. That said, if an Illinois states trooper pulls you over, that could go a lot of different directions. Try to avoid that state.

 

[Smith & Hammer]

U still haven't described your "canopy". If your talking about a tonneau cover then your fine. Mine have all been weather tight. Don't over think. Just pack them so they don't bounce around. Don't make it a bigger deal than it is.

False floor in truck bed there are commercial drawer versions available & make sure u lock the tail gate
Nobody is the wiser

Your close. I going to have a lower and upper. The firearms will be below and forward with tools and spare tire blocking them. The upper will be all tools and maybe a place catnap.

 

[jaguargolf]

Can you have your local FFL/gunsmith/good friend ship them to you once you arrive?

 

[IAM Rand]

I should add, I hauled about 8 long guns from NY to Colorado Springs cased and under a tonneau cover. No problem

So what you are saying is you escaped from New York! Your first name wouldn't be Snake would it.

 

[Muley Gil]

The bed cover sounds like what I've always called a camper shell. Another name is a bed topper.

 

[john17427]

I just moved about 10 months ago. Like someone else said though, not as far as you're planning. I oiled each handgun, put each in a ziplock bag (Amazon), and then in a hard rifle case or pelican case. Long arms got oiled before they went in cases. Some older long arms got wrapped in old quilts. All of it went in the bed of a pickup with a hard cover as a single group. At destination, everything came out of the bags and cases, and got wiped again before going in the new safe. No casualties.

These are the ziplock bags I used. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2YCC2RN?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1
Everything from a 686 6" to a Walther PP fit with plenty of room to spare.

 

[bamashooter]

Vacuum sealing them is cheap and very effective. For great temp changes, place a cheap blanket on bottom and on top of pkgs.

 

[bullmack]

Canopy AKA "topper". Made by ARE, Leer, and many others. They typically having locking mechanisms but are probably pretty easily defeated.

 

[mtgianni]

In November in Montana I have encountered temperatures from -10 to 50. Snow some years can shut things down or you can be in short sleeves. I-80 is the furthest north route I would consider. You might run through Nevada N to S and cut across NM.

If your canopy is lockable I would feel better about it. I would also cram it full of empty boxes and put open boxes of used clothing from the second hand store or yard sales next to see through windows.

 

[ferider]

Is there a way you can add a roof carrier, like from Thule or similar ? They are water proof. Might be $3-400, but that might be peanuts compared to the overall moving costs and the costs of what you carry. And you can keep your handguns in soft, anti moisture pouches.

I did a similar trip in Nov, a bit shorter though (22h total, one shot), and we had a camping trailer which was carrying everything, including rifles and cats. Dogs were in the car. We did go over the continental divide though, across the warm Nevada desert to -20 and snowing.

 

[Smith & Hammer]

Vacuum sealing them is cheap and very effective. For great temp changes, place a cheap blanket on bottom and on top of pkgs.

I was thinking about this idea, I'm glad to hear someone had success with it, some questions for you, did you add any kind of gun oil or anything else in the bag before sealing? seems like a good way to keep firearms safe from moisture or anything else for that matter.

 

[H Richard]

In the back of the truck. Two cautions. 1. Open to theft any time you are not in the vehicle. 2. Quite a few states require unattended vehicles with firearms to be locked up. If you can't "lock up" your truck bed I would recommend you find a way to do so.

 

[Jim R]

Buy some firearm insurance. I use Gun & Trophy. Very reasonable and well worth the money.