The Ins and Outs of Moving Truck Rentals

When it comes to self-storage, the storage units themselves are not the only piece to the moving puzzle. After all, all those belongings you are putting into storage need to get there somehow. That’s where moving truck rentals come in. When you don’t have the vehicle to move everything, when you don’t have the time to make multiple trips, or maybe you don’t need a storage unit at all.

Renting a moving truck can be the solution to your conundrum. But there are things to take into account before you roll up to U-Haul or wherever. Follow this blog to know everything you need to know before making your moving truck rental.

Assess Your Space Requirement

Before you head down to the moving truck rental place, have an idea about what size truck or trailer you are going to need. Keeping in mind that a truck will be using space as efficiently as possible, as well as stacking vertical at times. It’s not just square footage you will be using, it’s cubic! Now give yourself a little wiggle room as nothing will fit perfectly, you don’t want to have to make even just one more trip than you anticipated.

Gas or Diesel

Moving trucks can be gas or diesel fueled so you will want to have an idea of which of these you would prefer. Diesel trucks do get better miles per gallon making them a sound option for a long-distance move. However, diesels also are a bit at the whims of weather as anything colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit can give them trouble starting up.

Know Your Questions

Not all rental places are the same, there is no set standard. Their prices per miles may be different, insurance rates vary, what moving equipment are included etc. Know what you are interested in and what features you need for your move.

Driving Your Moving Truck Rental

You have gotten the truck you decided on as the best bet for you. Chances are, you have never driven as large and seemingly unwieldy vehicle before. Here are some tips to get you on the road safely.

• Look for road signs that relate to trucks. You’re driving a new vehicle and need to be vigilant for these things. Weigh station stops, lane restrictions and overhead clearances all apply to you now.
• Be extra cautious in intersections. You are operating a much larger vehicle than you are no doubt used to.
• Never tailgate and avoid making any sudden stops. Trucks need more time to stop, never mind the space needed.
• Don’t try and pass any vehicle going faster than 40 mph, and never pass over hills or around curves.
• On long trips, make sure you are taking adequate breaks. Stopping every 2 to 3 hours is the best to ensure you are fresh and alert.

This has been only a handful of tips for renting and driving a moving truck rental. Obviously, you will know best what works for your individual needs. But hopefully with this primer in mind, you will have a better idea of what you will need. If, meanwhile, you need a storage unit contact us and we will get you squared away.