i am planning to drive it back to SoCal. Hell, if I have to shell out $1500 to get it shipped back to SoCal I might as well spend that $1500 flying out and driving it back for 3 reasons:
1. gas price is at least a dollar under compared to california gas.
2. i get employee rates at best western branded hotels and motels anyways.
3. I've never been to NM, TX, and LA. So I might as well just drive through those states. Plan is to spend a night in Lake Charles, 1 or 2 nights in TX, and 1 night in AZ. Im gonna be driving through NM and avoid stopping there from all the horror stories of people getting robbed and stuff getting stolen. And I'll be traveling without my guns since I won't have any checked luggage for the flight.
BUT if they can ship it to me for less than $1k (lowest offer I got this week was low $1300) then I'll just have it shipped here since cost will be about the same with flights and board.
Regardless of which method i do, I'll have to PPF it since it will see a lot of trails. Probably will install the bed rack and suspension first and then see if I can do the PPF myself.