Conclusion
As you can see getting a moving truck isn’t as simple as you first thought. I am sure you were thinking, “I need a truck, so I’ll just go get one”. But unfortunately it isn’t that easy. Because not only do you need to pay all those extra cost, you have other requirements too! Such as- you might ask?
Determining the actual size of the truck you will need. You don’t want to get a truck that is either too small or too large to handle your needs. It is very important that you get the right size of a truck. Sometimes you can combine your loads into one by getting the larger truck. That can help to reduce cost.
But still, what is the best way to figure the size of moving truck rental you will need? Well the following is a general rule of thumb, but by no means is it perfect. It still comes down to the size and amount of things needing to be moved.
- 10′ to 12′ moving truck rental: This size is considered to be perfect for a space equal to an efficiency/studio-sized apartment. If you have a small amount of things, sometimes a one bedroom apartment (some say two bedrooms but that is really squeezing it in). However, this is the most economical of any moving truck rental. This is the most common of the available moving trucks, regardless which carrier you choose to use. Not every moving truck rental retailer will have the exact same size and model trucks. The overall length and height will vary.
- 15′ to 16′ moving truck rental: 16 is the more common in this category but U-Hal’s only 15 feet. Now this size truck is geared towards small homes or two bedroom apartments. Also check with the moving truck rental vender to see how many passengers can actually fit in the cab. Some have bench seats and can accommodate three people, while others can only fit two. Typically Penske’s trucks only hold the two occupants in the truck cabin.
- 17′ to 22′ moving truck rental: This size range really depends on the rental company. U-Hal actually offers a 17-foot truck, then a 20-foot one as well. Penske has a 22-foot truck as their next size. These are perfect for a two-bedroom house or perhaps a three-bedroom apartment. Actually the 22-foot is said to accommodate as much as a five-bedroom house (but check first).
- 24′ to 26′ moving truck rental: These are by far the largest of the available rentals, without getting into CDL requirements, and such (With these you don’t need any special licenses, but still check with your state). U-Hall actually offers both sizes, available for long one-way trips. Budget has a 24-foot truck is for local moves. Penske offers the 26-foot as their largest truck. These are designed for very large homes.
There are a few other things to check on when looking into a moving truck rental company. Do they allow for one-way trips? Sometimes the truck needs to be dropped-off at the same location that it was pick-up from. This can be a hassle if you are travelling hundreds, or even thousands of miles away. Unfortunately they might charge extra for one-way drops.
Most rental places also offer other services as well. They might have boxes, tape, and other packing material. Most offer blankets, dollies/carts, and even cargo straps. Additionally, they offer trailers, car carriers to tow your vehicle behind the truck. All this is usually at an added fee.
Have you used a moving truck rental company? Was it for private use, company, or both? Which truck rental service did you use? Who would you recommend? Who would you not recommend? Please share your experiences with moving truck rentals.
