Moving vans/Box Trucks.... Moving from a Rental & now more about self-storage units

[Meractik]

Which company do you use? I am looking to save money and doing it all myself, I don't have much but Uhaul's smallest box truck seems to be pretty high at $500. I would be needing to move by traveling 320miles... Ive never moved so far away before, its not a local move its between states. Is it all based off the mileage? Anyone recommend someone else who might be cheaper?

I already plan on raiding the local grocery store in the coming weeks to get all kinds of free moving boxes....

Also just a quick kind of stupid question, when you move out of a rented apartment and the landlord does the walk-through/return of deposit should you get any other paperwork? is it customary to get a vacate note that mentions something about the tenant leaving the property in good standing order (clean, undamaged, etc..) ?

So far Uhaul comes in at $500 for a 10ft box truck

Penske is $380 for a 16ft box truck

Budget is $510 for a 10ft box truck

 

[Llwellyn]

Depending on what you need to move, you may be stuck paying those kinds of rates. If you need a box truck, everyone charges a daily rate plus mileage. When we were looking at them recently, the cheapest quote I was able to get for a 10-footer was $500 plus the mileage, and no one would do a one-way rental, so I was looking at 1000 miles in mileage fees with 500 of it deadheading an empty truck back, and that doesn't even account for the fuel.

That was from Budget, Hertz, U-Haul, and two independent contractors.

We ended up renting a Chevy cargo van from Enterprise Commercial rentals. It was big enough for what we needed to do, and it included unlimited mileage with the daily rate. The total for the entire trip was less than $300 not counting the fuel. It was surprisingly fuel efficient and got almost 18 miles to the gallon. I think we ended up using less than $120 worth of gas for 960 miles.

 

[CA19100]

I've used Penske for one-ways several times now, and would use them again in a heartbeat. The trucks are in excellent condition, the larger trucks are Diesel, and they're way less money than U-haul. What's not to like?

 

[BoomerD]

I rented from U-haul when I moved out of California. About $750 for a 26 foot truck...and about 900 miles. Extra days were at $40 each.

They (corporate) figure the rate based on mileage, number of days...and both starting and ending locations. (some places have surplus trucks...others are short of trucks)

There's no fucking way I'd want to pay daily rates plus mileage for anything more than just around town.

 

[pyonir]

My last one was from Budget a few years ago. Just looked up the email. 16 foot, 1980 miles (one way), 7 days. Total for truck was $719. I guess prices have really changed.

 

[Eos]

I like Penske, mainly because their trucks almost always have cruise control.

Also, you might consider hiring a company to "load, drive, and unload" for probably just a few bucks more than just renting the truck.

 

[Meractik]

Thanks for the inputs everyone. Looks like Penske is going to be a good option price wise. I looked into possibly hiring a company to do the full service but I am sure they will want tons of money for that since it would be moving across state lines so im sure they'd try to pad their pockets where they can... its already expensive for the "do-it-yourself" option... I can't imagine the "load, drive, and unload" option would be cheaper since they charge not only for the truck rental but hourly wage to pack/unpack

 

[BoomerD]

In my experience, if you can get a Penske truck cheaper than a Uhaul truck...go for it.

Over the years, I've rented from all three companies. Uhaul trucks are USUALLY a bit cheaper and more "user friendly" for the average joe, but Penske trucks are USUALLY better maintained. Budget is just a truck...not great, not bad.

 

[eersnherd]

Actually just got a Budget truck 16' for a one way trip and unlimited miles for $133 by booking it online. Supplemental insurance was in the range of $60 and additional driver $20-25. Uhaul was over twice that amount. Not bad for the first experience.

 

[Meractik]

Actually just got a Budget truck 16' for a one way trip and unlimited miles for $133 by booking it online. Supplemental insurance was in the range of $60 and additional driver $20-25. Uhaul was over twice that amount. Not bad for the first experience.

I just looked it up for differences yesterday for my voyage and it was more expensive than the uhaul rental to go budget must be due to the area's of moving from/to and availability...

 

[RedCOMET]

I moved from Louisiana to pa using a Penske truck. Rental was cheaper than uhaul, and I was able to get a discount by being a triple a member. I also moved from pa to la using a uhaul truck.. Penske was way better, and cheaper, and better quality truck.

 

[lxskllr]

Look into a pod type service also. You might be too close for that to make sense, but I know a guy who just moved across the country, and that was the best price for him. He used Uhaul, and the units were loaded, and shipped. I helped him unload them, and he kept one for storage. He loaded the stuff he didn't immediately need, and they keep the pod for him until he needs it. I think the storage cost is about $30 a month if I remember right.

 

[Pardus]

comment removed

 

[Meractik]

Look into a pod type service also. You might be too close for that to make sense, but I know a guy who just moved across the country, and that was the best price for him. He used Uhaul, and the units were loaded, and shipped. I helped him unload them, and he kept one for storage. He loaded the stuff he didn't immediately need, and they keep the pod for him until he needs it. I think the storage cost is about $30 a month if I remember right.

That might be a more viable option once I move the items myself instead of renting a local storage unit for the overflow.... I really do not have much at all, so it wouldn't take much space. Im loooking to store it on the cheap and without breaking the bank every month on storage fee's....

 

[Meractik]

nm

 

[Meractik]

If you don't have much stuff to move, look into renting a cargo van from Enterprise. $70/day, no charge for miles, you can drop off to another location. Apply coupons for truck rentals if you book online. Check craigslist for movers, sometimes you can find a guy with a truck who will move you for less then the cost of a truck rental.

Whatever truck size you think you need, always go one size bigger


best place for clean boxes is from lowes, medium is $.98 cents and large is $1.36.


depends if your lease is expired. a good landlord will return the deposit before you move out, some insist waiting until you leave than knit picking over every item to give you less of your deposit back. i had a landlord once deduct cost of a cleaning/painting, new toilet seat, shower head and keys from my deposit when i moved out cause he was a dooche. let's just say small clams court fixed that issue.

oops, just saw your reply, lol! I have a month to month lease, so its not something I'd have to worry about expiring... I plan on giving the land-lord a months notice.

Cargo van might not be big enough, infact it might be a little to small just b/c I have a bed and mattress and stuff, would be hard to fit it all into that small a space. Thanks for the input though!

My landlord seems pretty reasonable but I haven't moved out yet so who knows what he might say.... I haven't put holes in the walls or anything but where I am living isn't exactly the Ritz Carlton either.... so I do not know if he'll nit-pick me for money... I was thinking about maybe telling him keep the deposit for last months rent so I won't have to pay it - since id be moving out near the end of a month anyways...

 

[Brainonska511]

. I was thinking about maybe telling him keep the deposit for last months rent so I won't have to pay it - since id be moving out near the end of a month anyways...

At least in NY, you aren't allowed to use your deposit as last month's rent. Partly because it is never supposed to be in the Landlord's own funds and partly because it is there to provide insurance for the landlord in case you leave the place damaged.

 

[Codewiz]

Penske has always been the cheapest for me and their trucks the newest......

 

[Meractik]

At least in NY, you aren't allowed to use your deposit as last month's rent. Partly because it is never supposed to be in the Landlord's own funds and partly because it is there to provide insurance for the landlord in case you leave the place damaged.

Uh oh... thats good to know. Is there a website relative to this information for other states? It would be in CA that I am looking to possibly do this if I can....

 

[JEDIYoda]

Also, you might consider hiring a company to "load, drive, and unload" for probably just a few bucks more than just renting the truck.

super expensive.....way more than DIY

 

[Meractik]

super expensive.....way more than DIY

That is what I discovered in my research... the people helping to move charge a premium and I guess if your time is that valuable that you can't do-it-yourself than its a good option. for me though... im trying to pinch pennies. :awe:

 

[CA19100]

What I've done for the past three moves: A truck from Penske, and hiring a few movers off the U-Haul web site: http://www.uhaul.com/MovingHelp/

They're basically just independents advertising on U-haul's site (and U-haul takes a cut of the money), but it was a huge help having somebody do the heavy lifting. I did the cardboard boxes for a couple of days, then had them show up on the third day to load the rest and the heavy stuff. Did just the opposite on the other end of the move. It'll cost a few hundred, but nowhere near what a professional move would cost.

They're generally not "professional movers," but I don't have anything so delicate I can't deal with a scratch/ding on it, so it works great for me. If I had a $50,000 piano or something, I'd get an insured moving company to take the risk. But I don't. All my money goes into electronic gizmos, and I pack those myself.

 

[MaxPayne63]

Also just a quick kind of stupid question, when you move out of a rented apartment and the landlord does the walk-through/return of deposit should you get any other paperwork? is it customary to get a vacate note that mentions something about the tenant leaving the property in good standing order (clean, undamaged, etc..) ?

I've never done anything extra other than taking pictures of the place after I've got all my stuff out.