Choosing The Right Rental Truck Size

Choosing your truck size:

The size of the vehicle depends on the amount of items that you have in your home. And while there are some companies that would assist you in choosing the right size truck, other won't do it. So what do you do? You want to be careful not to pick a truck size that is too small so that you items don't fit. You also don't want to pick a truck that is too big as you items will be sliding around and may become damaged. We have devised a way for you to get the truck size you need based on the items you have in your home.

Remember the golden rule, if you're ever unsure you should always defer to a larger truck size. This is especially true if you are relocating long distance and multiple trips is not an option. 

Rental Trucks for Small Moves 

• Small rental trucks should be used primarily for local moves. Only consider renting a 10'-12' truck if you have a studio or small one bedroom apartment with minimal furniture.
• Most small moving trucks have rear wheel wells that stick out and reduce the amount of flat cargo space.
• You will likely find that a larger truck (see medium sizes below) costs the same or sometimes less than a small truck. This is because most companies don't have an extensive inventory of small trucks whereas they usually have a large inventory of medium trucks.
• Fuel economy for small rental trucks tends to be 9-14 MPG.

RENTAL COMPANY	TRUCK SIZE	SIZE of home
U-Haul	10'	Studio (Very Small)
Budget Truck	10'	Studio(Very Small)
Penske Truck	12'	Studio (Small)

Rental Trucks for Apartments and Small Homes

• Moving trucks between 14'-17' are the most common sizes rented. They tend to be the most inexpensive trucks because of the quantity available.
• Medium truck sizes are best used for 1-2 bedroom apartments as well as small homes. We typically don't recommend this size to anyone with more than 1200sqft of living space.
• Fuel economy for medium rental trucks tends to be 8-11 MPG.

RENTAL COMPANY	TRUCK SIZE	SIZE of home
U-Haul	14'	1 Bedroom (Small)
Budget Truck	16'	2 Bedrooms (Medium)
Penske Truck	16'	2 Bedrooms (Medium)
U-Haul	17'	2 Bedrooms (Medium)

Rental Trucks for Single Family and Town Homes

• With the exception of the 20' U-Haul, all of the trucks in this size range require diesel fuel. Remember to factor the cost difference of diesel fuel into your overall moving budget.
• Larger rental trucks are best utilized for single family and town homes. If you have any doubt about whether or not your household goods can fit into a medium truck size you should always defer to this range.
• Fuel economy for large rental trucks tends to be 4.5-6.5 MPG.

RENTAL COMPANY	TRUCK SIZE	SIZE of Home
U-Haul	20'	1 to 3 Bedrooms (Large)
Penske Truck	22'	1 to 3 Bedrooms (Large)
Budget Truck	24'	3 to 4 Bedrooms (Large)
U-Haul	26'	4+ Bedrooms (Large)
Penske Truck	26'	4 + Bedrooms (Large)

Still Not Sure? 

We know choosing your rental truck size can be difficult, especially if your moving long distance. We leave you with some final tips and advice not otherwise covered in this blog:

• If your moving locally this should be a no-brainer. Truck rentals used for local moves are billable at a per day and mileage rate, the daily price may vary by $10-$20 depending on the size. In other words, spend the extra few bucks and get the larger truck just to be sure.
• If you plan to pack and load your moving truck by yourself or with help from your friends you should defer to a larger truck size. Professional movers are trained to maximize the overall space, whereas those not professionally trained may not be able to achieve the same level of efficiency. If you are concerned about space consumption consider hiring moving labor to properly load your truck.

Need assistance with Loading or Unloading your rental truck?

We offer labor only services and would be more than happy to professional pack or unpack your rental truck. 

Visit us at www.sunshinemovingcompany.com or call our office at 407-862-2217

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