Posts Tagged ‘ moving van ’

Moving trucks—does size matter?

Moving trucks

Moving trucks provided by various moving companies come in different sizes and models. Here are tips on how to get the right size truck for your move.

If you are moving and you think about a moving truck, the first thing that comes to your mind is the size of the truck. You don’t care whether the truck is red or white! The size of the moving truck means a lot for your move. Whether you are getting moving services from a long distance moving company or from local movers, the size of the moving truck that you ask will in the end contribute to the overall cost of your move.

Various moving companies have come up with various standard sizes of the moving trucks. When you describe your move, the moving companies will suggest a truck that you should hire and they will charge you accordingly. A large moving truck is more expensive than a small moving van. Here are some tips that will shed more light on what to consider before determining what moving truck to go for.

• First, many moving companies have three main sized of moving trucks, which include: 15 foot, 20 foot and 24 foot moving truck. Other common sizes of the moving trucks include 26 foot, 17 foot and 14 foot.
• If you have a four bedroom house, then a 26 foot moving truck will be sufficient for you. If you have a three bedroom house, then a 24 foot will do. If you have 2 to 3 bedroom house, then a 17 foot moving truck will and if you a 1 to 2 bedroom house a 14 foot moving truck will be enough for your move.
• There are smaller moving trucks or moving vans which are 10 foot and they are ideal for a studio of a small 1 bedroom apartment.
• Always rent a moving truck that is slightly more than what may be ideal for your move. It’s better to have some space left in the moving truck than to have your stuff left for lack of space!
• You should also consider the maneuverability of the truck in your area and also in the new area. If a big truck can’t maneuver the areas, you should go for smaller moving vans.

Moving truck rental—tips on renting moving truck

Moving truck rental

Moving truck rental could be a great way to save your money while moving. Here are tips on how to go about renting a truck for your move.

One way you can save your money while moving is by renting a truck and driving it yourself. But all said and done, moving truck rental need to be done carefully to avoid unplanned expenses and misfortunes. Here are tips on all that is involved in moving truck rental.

1. When choosing a moving truck or a moving van, it’s recommended that you avoid peak seasons like summers and weekends. Asking for free moving quotes from the moving truck rental company may help you to compare the timings and the corresponding charges so you can plan accordingly.

2. Never rent a truck unless you understand the terms and conditions stipulated in the contract. Some terminologies used may be hard to understand but may negatively bind you if you don’t adhere to them. It’s not foolishness to ask over and over until you understand. Take time to understand their moving insurance policy as well.

3. Always test drive your moving truck before taking it for the trip especially if you are embarking on a long distance move.

4. Understand the pricing. Local movers often charge per day. State to state movers often charge on one-way basis whereby you pick the moving truck from one location and drop it to another. You will be required to pay deposit before taking the moving truck or moving van.

5. Make sure you have a valid driver’s license and that you check with the age requirement from the moving company you are renting the moving truck from. Some moving companies allow an age limit of 18 while others may allow those with 25 years and over to rent their trucks.

6. Other tips that may help you include cleaning the truck after use to avoid penalties, taking time to understand how driving the truck may be different from driving your car and getting the right insurance cover.

Moving vans—tips for driving rented moving van

moving van

Moving vans may prove hard to drive considering the size and the weight you’re moving. Here are tips on how to drive the moving van from the movers.

1. Being a self mover and renting a moving van can save you a lot of money at the end of the day. However, if the move is not well planned to you drive the moving van without adhering to a few rules, you might get entangled in a financial mess and legal handles costlier than opting for a full service mover.
2. Moving trucks are not like your personal cars. They are larger and their operations may be different. By operations I mean gear systems and placement of various switches on the ‘switch board’.
3. So, the first thing you do when you get your moving van from the moving company is to familiarize yourself with the van. Adjust the seat to fit your comfort, adjust the mirrors and know where the location of vital controls like turning indicators switches, wipers, horns etc are. After this, you should take your van for a test drive to have a general feel of it.
4. When you hit the road, you should remember that moving vans are bigger than cars and so while turning, you should take wider turns. And should I remind you that you need to obey ALL traffic rules? Common sense.
5. Parkways can save you some distance but you should avoid them. Moving trucks and moving vans are not allowed on parkways and you might be fined heavily or get stuck on low height parkways. Care should be taken when passing under bridges to avoid hitting low height bridges.
6. Don’t over speed. This can cause accidents or may be problematic while stopping the moving van. Don’t back up unless there is enough space for that.
7. Always have some refreshments in the van especially if you are a state to state mover. If you must rest for the night, book hotels in advance. In fact, you should include this in your moving checklist.
8. Lastly, and not the least, keep checking the gas level to avoid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with a gasless powerful moving van!