Pulling trailers & Campers

BretStep · Dec 2, 2005

I used to expedite in the late 90's with a tractor trailer, signed with Panther II, and have been self employed in the construction field since spring of 2000. I have been considering buying a new Ford Super-Duty F-350 with dual wheels for the purposes of hauling campers and trailers. I guess some people refer to this as hot-shoting? My question is, could someone point me in the right directing or website so I can find more information about this field? Or does anyone here have any experience with this. I'm hearing some people are making pretty good money hauling new trailers and campers, especially down south?

Thanks, Bret

[email protected]

phatTweaker · Dec 2, 2005

I know nothing about this type of work, but after doing a quick google it seems Elkart, IN is the hotbed for RV delivery.
Here's a link ya might wanna check out http://www.rvamerica.com/data/delivery.html

Crazynuff · Dec 3, 2005

There was another topic regarding this in the general forum . Some good forums for info are hotshothauling.com and dieseltruckresource.com . Generally it is not a good investment to buy a new truck for this type hauling and the large percentage of haulers prefer Dodges . Most RV haulers have a supplementary income - farms , real estate , retirement pension , rich wife , etc . Very few use it as a sole source of income .

BigBusBob · Dec 5, 2005

Check out Horizon and Bennett, also look into Quality. However, Diesel dually pick-ups of various set-ups with Horizon and Bennett stickers stuck to their doors were crawling all over the gulf area's after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck.
I know it's wrong to some degree, but that's when you make your money in drive-away and tow-away <that's what it's called, not really called hotshot work. HotShot work is more prominant with diesel dually pick-ups pullin' flatbed trailers with various kinds of freight, it's popular with the oil business - in/out of oil fields.
Why are dually's makin' money after storms you might ask, because temporary housing is needed - and motor homes and travel trailers of all shapes and sizes need to be moved in from all over for that. I've heard it can be very good money, however it's one of those deals where you have a short time window to get in on a bunch of money. Where ever hurricanes and tornadoes strike, floods, forest fires that ravage homes, and during the summer months - that's your key times to make money with that dually. Hope that info helped.

dukesadog · Dec 7, 2005

Horizon seems quite a bit strict in their hiring rules and regs,you are totally responsible for the trailer you are pulling..so if you go pick it up in the snow somewhere you better wipe off all the snow..cause if you miss a ding or a dent on your pre delivery inspection you get to pay to have it repaired.

They have a regular haul from Sarasota Fl to somewhere in NC hauling horse trailers..that might be good for someone wanting to stay south but I really dont think they are making that much $$

Elkhart In is the way to go if you are goind to haul RVs.

Dukesadog

Crazynuff · Dec 9, 2005

Horse trailers pay less than $.70 a mile which is why you see quite a few pickups pulling doubles . See the posts under general topics regarding RV hauling . This is a bad time of year to get started in that business . Bad weather will cause a lot of delays and risk . FEMA is slowing down and there will be longer waits for loads . I've seen 50 or more drivers wait a day or longer for loads and what some got were just short hauls which they paid the carrier a $27 service fee to hook up to .

Broompilot · Dec 10, 2005

Does one not think that the Golden Goose flew its route? If you were gona do this it should have been back in September the rush should be about done just back to regular business now.

Crazynuff · Dec 11, 2005

FEMA ordered over 100,000 trailers from manufacturers. The largest percentage of them went to staging areas because there are few locations with hookup facilities .( How's that for fuel conservation - running thousands of diesel pickups into the gulf area using fuel to deliver trailers that couldn't be used ? )Last year FEMA ran thousands of trailers into storage areas right up until February . Now sites for trailer placement are ready . I saw one post Friday where a contractor needed 24 trucks right away . That doesn't make it any more profitable . The goose is still laying but it was never really golden ( except for the transport companies holding 35% or more of the rate . )