DITY Move

[H202]

i will soon be leaving charleston to san diego and i want to know, it is worth doing a dity move for the extra money?  i have trouble finding the pay scales for poundage online.  any help would be great.  also any info on where to live, area, traffic, etc.. i'll be stationed at point loma.

[Already Gone]

If you can fit it into a pickup truck, it's worth it.  Any more than that and you're bustin' yer butt fer nuthin'.  Besides, it isn't that much money.  If movers break something, you can put in a claim for it with a regular move (ask the Travel Claims Office how to do that).  If you move yourself, you can't.  The poundage also depends on your paygrade.  If you're just an E-4, I think they only pay for 550 pounds.  This is just about enough to cover a U-Haul tow-behind trailer, with very little left over.

Think about it.  There is a REASON that the Navy wants you to think that this is a good deal.  It is cheaper for them, and you get what you pay for.

[shayne]

I did one DITY move, what a pain.  I would rather have the movers break their back while I travel light and enjoy my time away from the Navy.  They are so much more efficient at packing.  One individual packed my entire house in one day where it would have taken me a week easy.  They have all the necessary boxes, paper wrap, and tape saving me the hassle of looking or purchasing that stuff.

If you only have a couple weeks off, take the time to enjoy yourself and let the Navy do the moving for you.

[ODiesel]

Another option you have is to do a split move. You can have the movers move all of the heavy stuff in your house (Bed, couches, washer/dryer, etc.) while you move anything you can fit in your truck or SUV. One thing you also have to consider is gas. If you are going to drive 3000 miles, you are going to spend a LOT of money in gas. Probably more than you will "make" during your dity move.

[kerowhack]

If you have a lot of stuff, split move is the way to go.  If not, and if you can fit all your stuff in your vehicle, go for the DITY. I rented a trailer and all that to move from NPTU Ballston Spa, and ended up stranded in New Mexico for two days because my advance from PSD got messed up. Like all dealings with the Navy, be sure to have a backup plan, and the funds to do it. That all being said, a DITY move is actually a pretty good time to make that road trip across the country and see some cool stuff, as long as you don't have to worry about U-Haul fees and stuff like that. Even with my U-Haul crap and the slight snag in NM, I saw alot of friends and family all over the country that I hadn't seen in a while, and ended up eating a home cooked meal every night xcept for one or two. I ended up catching a hockey game in St. Louis too (go Blues), so there are a lot of things you can stop and do along the way as long as you plan ahead. And for the dig-its, Los Alamos, NM has a decent muesuem and depending on the time of year, you can actually see Test Site Trinity. There are security issues and stuff to work out though, so contact them a few months in advance.  Also, if you can find someone else headed your way, it can be pretty cool to plan out a convoy type move. When we went from Charleston to New York, we had a 4 car train over 3 days, and we bought some radios to keep in touch. We were averaging about 75 miph all the way up the coast, and we saved a lot on hotel rooms and whatnot.

[Roll Tide]

I did DITY nearly every time, because I am a control freak when it comes to MY STUFF! It paid me more per day than my regular Navy pay.

[bigjer25]

Wow lots of not so good advice here.  I did a dity from Charleston to SD(~12,000 lbs), and pocketed, yes profited 15K.  Yes 15,000!  There are a lot of naysayers, or those who do not know, so check the numbers before making a decision.  You can pack yourselves, spend about 500 for loaders/unloaders total, and transportation.  The more weight you have and the longer distance the better.  I am going to Norfolk now, and will do it again.  Just ask yourself, is it worth over $10,000 to pack and unpack?

Hope this helps.

[JustinHEMI05]

[bigjer25]

Ok now for the next dity.  I am now going from Monterey, CA to Norfolk, VA.  I estimate about 12K pounds, just like last time.  The navy is giveing me $24,000 to do this dity, but the money gets trimmed down to 18K after taxes.  Factor in 6K, for moving company and loaders, just like last time.  I now stand to pocket $12,000 after taxes and expenses.  Now for all of the nay-sayers, is it worth 12K to pack your stuff, let the company load and move, and then unload?  I would imagine most would say yes.
I hope this helps.  Dont be afraid to go against the "herd mentality."  Just do your HW first.  There is an online Navy PPM caclculator, and numerous resources for moving companies.  I wll go coast to coast as often as they let me.

To respond to the prior post, I hope to God that officers to not get a higher rate than the enlisted folks.  I was enlisted 8 years, and usually was limited by my weight, not the distance of the move.

Hope this helps.

[Gamecock]

Ok now for the next dity.  I am now going from Monterey, CA to Norfolk, VA.  I estimate about 12K pounds, just like last time.  The navy is giveing me $24,000 to do this dity, but the money gets trimmed down to 18K after taxes.  Factor in 6K, for moving company and loaders, just like last time.  I now stand to pocket $12,000 after taxes and expenses.  Now for all of the nay-sayers, is it worth 12K to pack your stuff, let the company load and move, and then unload?  I would imagine most would say yes.
I hope this helps.  Dont be afraid to go against the "herd mentality."  Just do your HW first.  There is an online Navy PPM caclculator, and numerous resources for moving companies.  I wll go coast to coast as often as they let me.

To respond to the prior post, I hope to God that officers to not get a higher rate than the enlisted folks.  I was enlisted 8 years, and usually was limited by my weight, not the distance of the move.

Hope this helps.

Officers do not get a higher rate.  The rate is based on weight...but the amount of weight you are authorized is based on rank.

Cheers,
GC

Break......

Never have done a DITY....just completed a PCS where the moving company lost ten of my boxes....not sure what I'm missing just yet....Maybe my next move will be a DITY so those clowns don't touch my stuff.

[Cycoticpenguin]

I hope this helps.  Dont be afraid to go against the "herd mentality."  Just do your HW first. 

sorry boss, you are wrong if you dont go with the "herd mentality" on this site... even if they are dead wrong...

H202-> how about more direct questions to help you get your answer.

1) What do you drive?
2) How much crap do you have?
3) Are you married? Do you have a place lined up?

If you have a big suv or truck, and not too much stuff, Id say go for the DITY move... You are driving that way anyway.... Even if it is cheaper on the navy, YOU still get more money. However, if you are driving a 2 seater sports car and have a bed and furniture to move... I'd suggest doing the other move.

[stormgoalie]

H202-> how about more direct questions to help you get your answer.

I have a question...... Do you actually read the threads and understand them or just start typing? 

HINT: Check out the date of the first post

[HydroDave63]

sorry boss, you are wrong if you dont go with the "herd mentality" on this site...

Responding to a poster that needed a quick answer....4 1/2 years ago!!  " here's your sign! "

[stormgoalie]

Responding to a poster that needed a quick answer....4 1/2 years ago!!  " here's your sign! "

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cycoticpenguin]

I have a question...... Do you actually read the threads and understand them or just start typing? 

HINT: Check out the date of the first post

, I did not read the post date. I just peruse the topics that are at the top of the list O.o

[EasyLivin]

I lost money on two DITY moves in the navy. However, during my EAOS move I did a "combo move". I'm not sure of the official term, but the Navy paid for my house hold goods move, and I loaded up my pickup with necessities.