Moving Pod Versus Moving Truck Rental

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.

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