moving my herd east, looking for advice

[Smith & Hammer]

this November I'll be relocating my collection of handguns east to Tennessee from the PNW. I was planning on putting them in those black with yellow lid containers you see at the big box stores. each gun will have its own plastic case ( Plano or similar ) or original box. My main concern is moisture. they will be riding in the back of my pick-up w/a canopy and should be OK ( I'm guessing ) there are no leaks.

I want to do this with as little risk as possible even if I have to move them in a better way. I travel back and fourth every year. I don't own a van and my other car is a Honda Accord 2008.

any suggestions as to packing, security, etc will be greatly appreciated.

Bryce

 

[Rule3]

Plan on driving straight through? How many crates/boxes will you have? What is a "canopy? A tarp. hard cover??
I would wrap the gun boxes in plastic bags as well.
Keep ammo separated from the guns

 

[Rudi]

I would check with State Police in each state you will cross.

 

[Shotguncoach]

Happy that you're leaving the left coast and heading to a better area.

Without giving details that would make the truck easy to spot or make you a target, please share a bit more about the cab configuration, your overnight plans, and if you're doing this alone.

Don't talk about your route or travel dates.

When I helped my son move his collection, we used a zip up weatherproof bag from Amazon that was the size of my truck bed (no canopy) to hide/waterproof the ammo. The firearms themselves traveled in soft cases in the back seat of the 4 door full size truck. Handgun cases were in duffle bags. It was stacked to the roof but everything was inside the cab.

We made one overnight stop and chose a hotel that was layed out in a way that allowed backing the truck up directly in front of the door. EVERYTHING was unloaded and moved into the room with us.

We were both discreetly armed for the entire trip. Fuel and food stops were done in relays…the loaded truck was NEVER left without an armed guard.

My fuel tank (and bladder, thankfully) are big enough that we didn't even pull off the highway in the two blue states we had to pass through.

 

[Rule3]

May a person who is relocating out-of-state move firearms with other household goods? | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Yes. A person who lawfully possesses a firearm may transport or ship the firearm interstate when changing their state of residence. If using a moving company, you must notify the mover that firearms are being transported. Certain NFA firearms must have prior approval from ATF before such...

www.atf.gov

Yes. A person who lawfully possesses a firearm may transport or ship the firearm interstate when changing their state of residence. If using a moving company, you must notify the mover that firearms are being transported.

Certain NFA firearms must have prior approval from ATF before such firearms may be moved interstate. You should also check state and local laws where relocating to ensure that movement of firearms into the new state does not violate any state law or local ordinance.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(4) and 922(e); 27 CFR 478.28 and 478.31]

Last Reviewed January 30, 2020

But of course every State has their own convoluted laws

 

[ameridaddy]

Some good advice above. I'll add - watch out for temperature changes; e.g., if you go over the Continental Divide at ~10,000 feet, it might get very cold in the truck bed. If you then shortly get down to low altitude and 80-90-100 temperature, moisture will condense on the cold metal guns and rust them pretty quick. Oil the heck out of them, let them breathe, or if airtight containers, insulate the heck out of them (heavy blankets or moving pads under and over all) and maybe put fresh silica gel packs in each case.
However you do it, protect them from cold to hot temperature changes.

 

[Doug M.]

Place the boxes you describe in nondescript cardboard boxes and those are significantly bigger, use old newspapers or some other material to make the interior boxes less likely to move and rattle. Since these firearms are not accessible to use, I would not acknowledge them to ANYONE.

Pick your stops (fuel, hotel, etc.) in places that are not in or close to a major urban area. Under no condition go through Chicago or N. Indiana. I usually take I90, but have gone on I94 (shorter due to curve of earth, but somewhat devoid of services). I have also used parts of I80, but remember that there are some very windy spots in Wyoming that can be more a pain in the neck or dangerous than is prudent, even though it is a pretty drive. At some point, cut south well before Minnesota/Wisconsin/IL/IN on a decent interstate. If you find a US highway that seems to so what you need, consider it, understanding that 2 lane roads are not your friend generally and the level of services may be less.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Probably stating the obvious, but if your "canopy" has some kind of windows, you should consider blacking/blocking them out in some way. And/or cover everything in the bed with a dark tarp or similar cover. Last, secure the canopy in some way.

If you make it so you can't tell what is inside, then make it hard to get inside, you eliminate a lot of risk.

As far as passing through various states, watch your speed and other basic traffic laws. No reason to invite trouble from any local constabulary…

 

[tlawler]

We are moving in the next couple of months, though not nearly as far as you. When I get to the safe moving weekend sometime in September, I plan on clearing everything out of it and putting them all in zippered pistol rugs, then putting the rugs in the same Lowe's black and yellow containers you are talking about. I have about 20 pistol rugs and I've been figuring the sizes I need and I'll need to order several more. Best prices I've found are around $10 each. Optics Planet has Bulldog cases that are pretty nice and I've been looking at Allen cases on Amazon. I plan on layering silica gel packs between the layers of rugs, hoping to prevent any moisture if the guns are in the rugs longer than I plan. I'm hoping to get it all done over a weekend. Once the safe is in place in the new house, I'll just shovel all the rugs into it and sort them out later.

My idea of using the pistol rugs saves a lot of space, and though the storage containers are a bit heavier, I think it's worth it. If I did it all in Plano cases, it would be a LOT of containers!

 

[madmikeb]

When I moved from Maine to Arizona last year it took me through several anti-2A states, especially in New England. I had a collection plus 6 cats to move across. I planned my route to avoid as many anti states as I could.

My solution was, I rented an RV. Put my handguns in silicone gun socks and stacked them in coolers like cordwood, when I ran out of cooler space I filled the drawers in the RV. Rifles went into socks then into carboard boxes then into the sleeping space over the cab of the RV. I also had somewhere in the neighborhood of 10k rounds of ammo on board. An RV with coolers wouldn't attract attention and I didn't have to move them to hotel rooms at night.

If I had been pulled over I don't think they would have searched the RV, every square inch was packed with possessions and we could barely move around in there ourselves!

When I left NH my carry piece came off my belt and went into a drawer, when I hit WV it went back on belt and stayed there the rest of the way across the country. It was really only one day and a couple hours the next that I had any concerns. I drove sensibly, didn't stop for anything but gas and bathroom breaks, stayed at KOA campgrounds at night.

In short I just did it and didn't worry about it and all was fine.

 

[IAM Rand]

You say canopy. Not very descriptive of what that is or how secure. I would get some kind of heavy metal storage container that you can sell on the other end to lock them up. Most truck bed covers can be defeated fairly easily. If the container is fairly airtight you can add a little by putting a plastic sheet over the opening then closing the lid.

Unless you are driving straight through, I would not chance it just leaving the items in the back and relying on the shell to protect them. Unsavory individuals look for those things. What they can't see intrigues them. You are already coming from a fairly humid area so whatever you have done there, just keep on doing.

 

[Smith & Hammer]

some really great ideas that I had not thought about. with that said my usual road trips ( if I'm not camping or with family ) is just drive and get there. I can usually do it in 3-4 days and just get a cat nap for a couple of hours at a rest stop or truck stop and then hit the road. on this trip I'm also packing my woodworking tools as well so it will look more like I'm a traveling carpenter lol. I plan to sleep in the back of the truck at rest stops ( 2-3 hours ) like I usually do, armed of course. I'll gas up with fuel and coffee at truck stops so in other words to limit my stops. I also was going to go a bit more of a southern route this time for milder temps. there's an app you can download for free called "travel weather" I think its called that will give a 10 day forecast on the route your planning to go.
my truck is an older model and is just a single cab. I mean it looks more like a contractors rig and that I'm just going to work.

If any one has any other thoughts on this I would greatly appreciate that too. also I won't be carrying any ammo this trip except for what I need for the trip.

 

[dashaus]

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

 

[cololab]

If your vehicle isn't so equipped, I would install an anti-theft device that would negate any successful "hotwiring" type of theft. Short of towing the vehicle, this would guard against the vehicle being removed to some location where it could be looted at the convenience of the thief.

 

[tlawler]

If your vehicle isn't so equipped, I would install an anti-theft device that would negate any successful "hotwiring" type of theft. Short of towing the vehicle, this would guard against the vehicle being removed to some location where it could be looted at the convenience of the thief.

Claymores

I hate thieves!

 

[venomballistics]

the "in the back of a pickemup truck" part makes me nervous for security reasons.
I've often headed out upon the open road seeking the great adventure that is the American landscape. Point A is where you stand, and point b is where you think you'll end up.
All that distance in between is ripe for discovery. Most good, some not so much.
You cannot avoid all those points in between, and many of them are pretty seedy.
I'll never have a pickup. The bed is pretty much public domain to those who could care less about your claim of ownership.
You have what you have to work with, and you have to do what you have to do.
Just be extra aware when your tired and hungry out there. try not to let it influence your judgement. "It'll be fine" are famous last words in a nest of tweakers

 

[IAM Rand]

Problem is, you have to use the facilities. Dirt bags (I know, not politically correct) look for opportunities everywhere. You pull up to a pump, get some gas and then nature calls. Do you leave it at the pump or try to park in front. Either way is not good if someone wants to see what you have. All parking in front where they may have a working camera will do is let you see who took your stuff. If you can, back into a space in front of the business. Go to the busiest stores. Too many choices and the bad guy might by-pass your truck for something easier.

 

[Bald1]

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.

 

[Bald1]

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

 

[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.

I appreciate the advice it's an older uninsulated plastic canopy with darkened windows and a lumper rack to boot. My plans is to drive right through the big cities and avoid large crowds.