Archive for the ‘Moving Truck Rentals’ Category
August 12th, 2010 | 
Author: You’re moving to a new city because of a new job, but you don’t know where you will live yet. You book the first moving company you see in the phonebook. They come to your house to get your stuff and pack it into there truck. When you get to your new city you find out that finding a place to live is going to take longer than you thought. The moving company says “no problem we can store your things in our where house for an extra fee. One month later you have finally found a decent place to move into and you are ready for your furniture and clothing to be delivered.
How much was that storage bill?
To avoid the extremely expensive storage fees that moving companies like to charge try these.
1. Find a temporary home to rent that can hold your things ahead of time. You can use it as a base to explore the area and take the time to find the perfect place to live permanently.
2. Get the moving company to deliver to a storage facility of your choice. Any other storage is going to be cheaper than what the moving company is going to charge you for using their where house. Keep in mind that you will need to spend a little more money when you are ready to move your stuff into your new home.
3. Use a container moving company with storage facilities. This can be expensive and you will need to do your own loading and unloading, but it is still going to be cheaper than the above scenario.
I am as cheap as they come, even when it comes to moving house. So, anytime someone tries to get me to pay extra on anything, I can’t help questioning the expense. Every time you move you are taking the chance that your belongings could be damaged or the moving equipment you are using could be damaged and you would be liable. The question is if you are moving cheap, should you get moving insurance.
Check the insurance that you already have
If you are renting a moving truck then check with your car insurance to see if it might cover your rental truck as well. Most cat insurances don’t, but a few do. If you are concerned about an expensive piece of furniture or electronics than check your home owners or renters insurance.
Are your things worth insuring?
How hard would it be to replace your most breakables? If you are using movers for your cheap move then it is almost a given that something is going to get damaged. If you don’t care if one or two of the items being moved are destroyed then don’t bother insuring your stuff.
You have to think of everything when you are moving cheap
How much of the stuff that you have do you use all the time? Generally the biggest expense when moving is getting your stuff from the old place to the new one. It doesn’t matter if you hire a professional moving company, get a moving truck rental, use moving pods, or transport everything in your own van or truck the less stuff you have to move the cheaper it is going to be. Even that last option is cheaper in gas if you can make fewer trips. Here are a few things to keep in mind while deciding what is worth keeping and what can go.
Start with the things you have permanently stored. Separate the seasonal things like Christmas decorations and lawn furniture that you use every year out from the rest. Then pull out the keepsakes you have to keep. The rest is just a waste of space and moving costs, just let it go.
Thin out everything behind doors and in drawers. Chances are you only use what is in front and on top. Go though coat closets and junk drawers. These tend to be dumping places. If you don’t know what to do with it or where is should go then you probably don’t need it.
Go though your clothes. Most people only wear 20% of there clothing. Figure out what you haven’t worn in the last year and then try to get rid of the rest.
Books, magazines, movies, and music are heavy and take up a lot of room. Try to get rid of as much of them as you can. You can sell some books, movies, and music to earn a little extra moving money.
Good luck moving cheap, I know you can do it.
Moving trailers usually refer to a trailer that is dragged behind a car, van, truck, or even a big moving truck. These are good for moving anything from household goods to camping necessities for a big camping trip. For most of us buying and storing a trailer is not the best idea. You would need to use one often and have a good place to park it to even consider owning a moving trailer. There are many different types of moving trailers. Here are the main five types of moving trailers that you can rent.
Cargo trailer Rental
A cargo trailer is like a box on wheels. This type is available in a variety of sizes. Cargo trailers are good for when you are moving household items a long distance. They are not too hard to pull behind your car or truck because of the smaller size. You could even pull one behind a large moving rental truck for extra space. If you do not have a lot to move because you are moving into your first place or going off to collage then a rental cargo trailer is just perfect for you.
Utility Trailer Rental
A utility trailer is a platform on wheels. Some have walls or rails, and some do not. This type of trailer does not have a roof. A rental utility trailer can be used to move household items, but is best suited for building material, motorcycles, three wheelers, and skidoos.
Vehicle Trailer Rental
A vehicle trailer is much like a utility trailer because it is a platform on wheels. In a way they are the same thing, just deferent sizes. You can get a vehicle trailer that holds the entire car on it, or you can get one that only holds the front end with the back end draging on the ground. Be careful with the type that drags your back tires on the ground because if you travel very far then you can almost always count on damage to your car, and the cost associated with fixing it.
Sport Trailer Rental
Are you going camping or on a long vacation and you do not have enough room in the vehicle that you are taking for everything that you need? Rent a sport trailer to get it all there. A sport trailer is fully contained, aerodynamic, and strong enough for a fun trip. You can also use a sport trailer for household items. This is smaller then a cargo trailer, but is also easier to pull behind you car or truck.
Animal Trailer Rental
I have no experience with this type of trailer because my interest is moving things and relocation, but thought it needed a mention.
You know what you need to move so figuring out which type of moving trailer rental that is right for you should be simple once you understand what your options are.
You finally landed that great job three thousand miles away. With life going at the speed of light the thought of now packing up and moving is not a good one. You might need to also decide how to go about selling your house to make the situation more stressful. So to hopefully not add more to your busy schedule you will also need to decide how you will get your car or cars to your new home. Now is the time to decide if your cars are even worth the cost of moving with you. Fortunately cars are sold in most communities in many countries, so finding something to buy should not be too big of a problem. The cost may not be the best idea though.
Another option to get your car there is simply to drive it. If you are just taking one car with you and will be using a full service moving company or pod moving company then this might be the way to go. If you are going to use a you-drive moving truck then you could use a car trolley to drag the car behind. Beware that if you use a trolley that drags your back wheals on the road than expect at least a little damage when you arrive. There is also the option of one person driving the truck and one driving the car. If you choose to does this then make sure you can stop often because trading places to drive will not be an option. Driving your car yourself will take time, so if you are in a real hurry you might want to fly to your new home instead.
Car moving companies are truly the most convenient way to get your car there. Using a car moving service may cost more then driving yourself, but you would not have to drive it or drag it yourself. Car trouble will not keep you from your scheduled first day of that now job, and flying there is definitely possible. Make sure you call a few car moving companies for a quote and then calculate what your cost would be to get it there yourself. Only you know what the best decision is for your move.
Moving can be a lot of work, and be really expensive. Unfortunately a necessary move can come up at the most inconvenient times. What am I kidding moving house is never convenient. When it is time to move be sure to check a few of the moving van companies. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Convenience
You will need to use a moving van company that has the kind of truck or van that you want, so make sure it is available on your dates. Also unless you are just moving across town, you will need to find out how close they have locations to where you are moving from and to. You will probably be charged by the mile and you will be buying the gas so the closer the better.
Here is a trick to use. Ask for prices at different locations. The price difference could be worth paying for the extra miles and the gas. My mom used this trick to save several hundred dollars by dropping the truck off in a different town. So the above is not always the rule.
Reliability
Not all moving van companies are created equal. Check out the one you choose with the better business bureau and in online forums for complaints. Always take the complaints with a grain of salt. Some people will complain about anything. After reading the complaints you will have a feeling if the company is probably going to be ok or not. Word of mouth is truly the best way of finding a reliable moving van company, so always take note of what you hear from friends and family.
Cost
If you are looking for a moving van company and not a full service moving company, then the cost is probably a big factor. Call several companies to compare. If you are moving in the summer months then be prepared to pay more. Here are a few things to ask when you call regarding cost; Is the mileage included, what is the gas mileage of the vehicle, how much gas does it hold, Does the price include pick up and drop off, and don’t forget insurance. Check your insurance policy; it might include coverage on a rental. When you are adding up your grand total don’t forget to include what the gas should cost.
Moving in This Economy
It seems that just when you think the price of gas is about as high as it could possibly get, a few more pennies are added to the price. When you are moving whether across town or across the country gas directly affects the price of your move. With the gas prices predicted to hit five dollars this summer, now is the time to economize. Self pack moving companies is the best choice.
Full Service Movers
If you are in a big hurry and have the money to spend then you might be considering hiring full service movers. Depending on how much you are willing to spend, they will come to your house, pack your stuff into boxes they provide, load all of your furniture and boxes onto a truck, drive it to your new home, unload everything, and even put your furniture back together.
I would love to move this way, the cost would be prohibitive for many people. People that have used these full service movers have had items damaged or missing, and have even found that there mirror has been mixed up with someone else’s. Just because you have paid the big bucks doesn’t mean that these moving companies will be willing to talk to you about your grievances after you are done with your move. I have also heard of situations where the movers increase the price on you after they have your belongings, but before they have delivered them to you. People have had there things held hostage until the new inflated price is paid. Thank goodness there is another alternative.
Types of Self Pack Moving Companies
There are several types of self pack moving companies. Amenities and prices vary, so if you are really watching your wallet, call a few from each type to compare. Don’t forget that if you are moving during peek months the price will be higher and you will need to have your move scheduled ahead of time.
You Pack and Drive Moving Truck
A you-pack and drive truck is a good option if you don’t mind driving a large vehicle. If you are moving a long distance and need to take your car, then you will need to rent a car trailer or dolly. This will make driving the moving truck more complicated and if you rent a car dolly that makes the cars back tires drag on the grownd then you can count on damage and extra wear and tear on your car after you arrive. The you drive moving truck is the best option for a move across town. You will get the whole truck to yourself.
You Pack They Drive Moving Truck
The you pack they drive their moving truck isn’t as common, but is a less expensive alternative if you are moving a long distance. The idea with this type of moving is you rent a block of space on a semi truck. These trucks have special separators that the driver will put into place after you finish stuffing as much as you can into the pre-allotted space. Don’t try this one if you are not flexible with when they pick up and drop off. You will need to pack your things into the truck in a short time frame that you will get notice of the day before and then the same on the other end. You will know the days this might happen beforehand. Your belongings will be on a truck with other peoples, but the separater should keep things from being mixed up.
Moving Container or Pod
Moving pods are really gaining in popularity lately for good reason. You can have the pod on your property for a while so that you can pack it when you have the time, and then get them to pick it up when you are done. You can also use these containers as storage either at your place of there’s for an additional cost. In general the price to use moving containers will fall in-between the other two self pack options, so check them out. You will get the pod or pods all to your self and packed by yourself, so no need to worry about loosing anything.
When it comes time to move you have a lot of things you need to get done before you can head out on the road. One of the major considerations is whether to use a rental truck, like U-Haul, Ryder or Budget; or to rent a moving container, like Pods. Here are some things you might want to think about when making that decision.
Pros of using a rental truck
One advantage of using a rental truck is that you have control of what you are moving, and how it is moved. You can pack it like you want, which is great to be able to do. Another advantage is, compared to using a moving company that packs everything for you, it is fairly cheap. You can take your time moving if you need to as you drive across town or across country. You also know exactly where your stuff is all the time. That can give some peace of mind compared to putting it in a container and saying so long.
Cons of using a rental truck
You usually have a shorter time frame to pack a truck than you would a self-service container. Loading a tuck is harder because you usually have to take your stuff up a ramp to get it into the truck. As fun as it may sound, driving a big truck across the country can be difficult, and unless you have someone following in another vehicle, you are limited on space for passengers. Having a second vehicle can free you somewhat as you travel to a point on your trip, but paying for gas on two vehicles can be pretty spendy. Usually the truck needs to be filled far more often than the follow vehicle. Towing a vehicle sucks even more gas, and in our experience can mess up the alignment on your car.
You also will need to decide who is going to drive the truck, and how the driving will be split, if it will be. Finding a place to park a truck is also a pain, and you run the risk of annoying the other patrons at the local McDonald’s when you take up three or more spaces with your U-Haul and a possibly a car in tow.
Pros of a self-service storage container
One major advantage of a self-service storage container, like moving PODS, is that they sit on the ground and are pretty easy to load. You usually have up to a month to pack the thing, and once you are done, you just have it picked up and you don’t have to deal with it until you reach your destination. You also can have the container stored indefinitely so you can take more time traveling and even sight see more easily. You don’t have to worry that something will happen to your stuff while you are driving. You don’t have to unpack a truck and then repack your stuff into storage if you don’t need it immediately. You save money on fuel because trucks are gas guzzlers. If you are moving with more than about three people, such as a family of five, a regular car or truck or whatever is much more comfortable than a big 20 foot tuck.
Cons of a self-service storage container
You may not be able to have a container sitting in your apartment parking lot or, for business use, outside your business for a month as you pack. You can’t just move the container if the landlord or another tenant doesn’t like it or needs to access the parking spaces. If you own your own home, there may be a Home Owner’s Association and they may not allow a container to sit on your lot, even if it is your own driveway. For short distance moves, a truck may be a better bet since you may end up paying less than you would for a container rental. Once the container is picked up, you have a harder time getting to your possessions.
Conclusion
Basically, to decide whether to get a U-Haul or a moving PODS container, do your homework. Check prices for the size of the truck or container you need, the distance of your move, and the cost of other things, like gas, and how fast you need to move, vs. how much freedom you need if you want to explore as you move to your new home.
Posted in Moving Pods, Moving Truck Rentals | 
Tags: moving pod, moving truck rental | 
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