Truck rentals can be used to move household items like furniture, accessories, clothes, and other items when you travel from one place to another. When you move houses, whether it is within a city or from one city to another, you need to move your belongings. A cost-effective way of doing this is to book rental trucks that you can drive yourself. The following is a guide to the things you need to keep in mind while getting a rental truck:
Selecting the truck type
There are different types of trucks that you can consider while using truck rentals for moving houses. You can decide the truck you want based on the size of your house and the items you need to move. The types of trucks include the following:
- Large moving trucks: These are huge trucks that would be ideal for moving a large home that has more than three bedrooms. They have a load capacity between 5,000 and 10,000 pounds. You need to be careful while driving these as they are about 20 to 26 feet long.
- Medium moving trucks: These trucks are 14 to 17 feet long and are good for moving houses with two or three bedrooms and have a load capacity of 3,000 to 6,000 pounds.
- Small moving trucks: These 10 to 12 feet long trucks can hold a maximum weight load of around 3,500 pounds. They are suitable for shifting one-bedroom houses or a studio apartment.
- Cargo vans: These are vans best-suited for shifting small houses or just a few rooms with very less furniture and belongings. They are preferred by students moving to college dorms.
Depending on the weight of your belongings and the type of home you have, you can select the type of rental truck most suitable.
Driving the rental truck
You can hire a professional agency to do your moving, but that can turn out to be an expensive option. Alternatively, you can opt for a rental truck and drive it yourself. Driving a truck is not very difficult if you give yourself time to get adjusted to it. There might be some apprehension for the initial few miles of driving, but it will be easy once you get the hang of it.
Anyone who is eighteen years or older can drive a truck as long as they have a valid license. If you are not up to it, you can find someone else, like a family member or friend, to drive it for you. You can even hire a driver, and this option is also cheaper than opting for a moving agency.
Make a plan
Before you book a rental truck, you need to make a plan for moving and decide the dates when the new home would be ready for you to move into. Before booking the truck, you also need to decide how many days you would need the truck for.
Work out the total distance and plan the route with the help of Google Maps. Remember that you can’t drive the truck very fast as you’re a new driver. Create an easy schedule and stick to it instead. If you are driving long distances, you need to decide where you will take breaks. You can look for parking lots where you can park the truck and rest for some time. Accordingly, add a buffer of five to ten percent to the overall time.
Once you plan the time, you can make a budget. Apart from rental fees, you need to pay for the fuel. You are unlikely to get a truck that gives you more than 10 miles per gallon. Decide on the budget for meals, motel (in case you want to stay in comfort), and snacks in advance.
Loading the truck
Once you make your plan, decide from where you would hire the truck. Always compare the prices of different truck rental services before making a choice. When the truck arrives, ensure that you have everything packed and ready. You can use padding, blankets, and other materials to protect your fragile belongings.
Keep equipment like a forklift and loading ramp ready to help you move your belongings. Try to disassemble furniture and other items, if possible, to make it easier to load the truck. While loading, keep the heaviest items at the back and on the sides, distributing the load evenly. Also, avoid stacking items high to prevent toppling. Ensure that fragile items are securely packed and kept to avoid damage.
Some tips to keep in mind
- Ensure that your driving license, insurance, and rental agreement is with you when you drive.
- Check the truck before taking driving to ensure that everything is right. Ensure that the mirrors are properly placed for driving.
- Drive slowly and carefully, and carry out the moving as per the plan.
Once you finish moving, clean the rental truck before handing it over.