Load Only
We pack your truck with precision — furniture padded, items secured, every inch used. You drive, we load.
Labor-only moving — arrange your own truck or we’ll handle the rental. Either way, we do all the loading and unloading. Licensed & insured in Colorado.
Serving Salida, CO
Ballard’s is a labor-only moving company. You arrange the truck — U-Haul, Penske, or Budget — or we handle the rental. Either way, our crew shows up and does the work: loading, carrying, unloading, placement. No full-service overhead. No inflated quotes. A straightforward hourly rate with nothing added on top.
Salida sits in the Arkansas River valley in Chaffee County, about 100 miles southwest of Colorado Springs. It’s the whitewater kayaking capital of Colorado, with serious trail access, strong mountain biking, and a walkable historic downtown of older bungalows and brick storefronts. Remote workers and retirees have been arriving steadily, drawn by the pace and the landscape. Prices are climbing, but it’s still a different calculation than the Front Range. Most people moving in know exactly why they’re coming.
Getting here means a two-hour drive via US-50 through Cañon City — and the work doesn’t get easier when you arrive. Downtown blocks have compact lots and tight street access. Homes north of downtown on CR 140 are larger with easier approach. Acreage outside city limits brings its own terrain. We plan the truck position and the carry route before a single piece of furniture moves, not after we’re already on site.
Truck rentals run $19.95–$49.95 depending on size — rent it yourself or let us arrange it. At $240/hr with a 2-hour minimum, most Salida moves land well below what a full-service mountain company would charge. No markup invented after the job wraps.
We make the drive from Colorado Springs. No drive-time charges, no travel fees buried in the bill. Licensed and insured in Colorado. The rate we quote is what you pay.
Local Knowledge
Compact historic downtown at 7,000 ft with tight streets and older buildings. We plan truck placement carefully to keep the job moving.
Historic Downtown · Tight StreetsSmall community just west of Salida with open access along the highway corridor. Easy moves with minimal access variables.
Open Access · Highway CorridorEstablished residential near the aquatic center with well-maintained streets and manageable truck access throughout.
Residential · Good AccessRural community east of town with good highway access and straightforward open-area moves. Low traffic, easy positioning.
Rural · Easy PositioningWhat We Do in Salida
Arrange for a U-Haul or leave it to us — either way, we handle all the heavy lifting. Straightforward labor, no add-ons, no surprises.
We pack your truck with precision — furniture padded, items secured, every inch used. You drive, we load.
Already at the new place? We unload, carry everything in, and place furniture exactly where you want it.
The complete move from A to B. We load the truck, you drive it, we unload at the destination. Done.
We bring the truck and a driver at a flat day rate. Same great crew, we handle the wheels too.
Preparing for a showing or rearranging after a remodel — we move furniture within the home too.
We load your storage unit efficiently so everything fits, stays protected, and stays accessible.
The Smarter Way to Move
Full-service moving companies that serve mountain communities charge accordingly — for the truck, the fuel, the mountain markup, and the hours spent driving to your location. Labor-only moving removes all of that. Arrange for a U-Haul, Penske, or Budget truck — typically $19.95–$49.95 depending on size — or let Ballard’s handle the rental. Either way, you pay only for the professional crew doing the actual loading and unloading.
Salida attracts people who have made a deliberate choice about how they want to live — close to the river, close to the mountains, away from the sprawl. That same intentionality often shows up in how they approach moving: they want it done right, they want a fair price, and they don’t want to babysit a crew all day. That’s exactly what Ballard’s delivers.
We do a significant number of moves for people relocating to Salida from the Front Range — Colorado Springs, Denver, and Pueblo residents who’ve decided to trade the city for the mountains. We know that drive, we know the destination, and we handle the transition without drama.
Small cabin or multi-bedroom home, downtown or acreage outside town — the model is the same: our experienced crew, your truck, no hidden fees, and no surprises when the job wraps up.
What Customers Say
“Ballard’s came all the way out to Salida for our move and it was completely worth it. Great crew, worked hard the entire time, and treated our furniture with real care. Saved a ton going labor-only. Would absolutely hire again.”
“Moving in the Arkansas River Valley isn’t easy but these guys made it look simple. On time, efficient, and no nonsense. Our Downtown Salida house was loaded and done faster than we expected. Highly recommend.”
Common Questions
Yes. We cover all of Salida and the surrounding Chaffee County area — Downtown Salida, Poncha Springs, the Hot Springs area, and Centerville. If you’re in the Salida area, we can help.
Labor-only moving is significantly cheaper than full-service. You arrange your own U-Haul, Penske, or Budget truck — or we handle the rental. Either way, our crew shows up and does all the loading and unloading. Most Salida moves cost a fraction of what a full-service company charges. Get a free quote and we’ll give you an exact number.
No. Our price covers the labor, period. No stair fees, no long-carry surcharges, no fuel charges. The number we quote is what you pay.
We recommend 1–2 weeks, especially for weekend and end-of-month dates. Those fill fastest. Contact us for last-minute availability — we do our best to accommodate.
Get a free quote today. We respond within one business day — or call and we’ll answer directly.
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