The Incredible Moving Pod

Who in the United States has not driven down the street and seen a U-Haul truck? In the summer they are everywhere. When it comes to moving truck rentals this company is the one most people think of first. I have used them for in city moves several times, but how about an out of state move?

Why use U-haul instead of the competition?

The biggest thing to consider is that U-haul is everywhere in the US and Canada, in fact there are over 15,000 locations. The company claims to have lower truck beds to make loading easier and I can attest to that as we have used a few other companies as well. According to the website “U-Haul has the newest and safest fleet in the industry.” 

This company also offers storage facilities and packing supplies. And if you don’t already know, the range of sizes of trucks you could rent is amazing. You could get a pickup truck or a 26 foot Super Mover and many sizes in between.

What I found extra interesting is that you can get one month free storage with a One-way truck or trailer rental, with paid reservations either before or after your move.

So, what’s the quote?

I will use the same destination and origin as the other quotes so that the numbers can be compared more accurately. Although these prices are also dependent on other factors, and as I have stated before they are not guaranteed. Your quote will be different. I am just giving numbers to help you get an Idea of what you are looking at.

My date of move will be one month from today, February 27^th, 2008. From Mesa, AZ to Port Angeles, WA.

The basic estimate is very easy to get right there on the website. For a 17 foot truck that should hold 2 to 3 bedrooms or an 849 cubic foot capacity would cost $1,294.00 for 6 days of use with 1638 miles included. Amazingly for this distance the miles included might just be enough, but if it isn’t then expect an additional cost per mile. I also know from the past that you will be offered insurance and other extras that will make the cost go up.

And don’t forget that gas is not included. This truck should get 10 miles to the gallon. Just for the fun of it, let’s do the math on that also. So let’s assume that you can get an average of $3.01 a gallon of gas throe out your trip. With the fluctuation of gas prices this might be high or low, it’s hard to tell. For 1640 miles gas would cost around $493.64.

What is the conclusion to all this?

You can reserve your truck right there on the website easily, with options of adding extra moving supplies, equipment, and even movers to help you either pack or unpack. You would need to drive the truck yourself and with gas my estimate would be around $1787.64.

You are the only one to decide if a moving truck rental is right for you.

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This is a do it yourself moving company, so the packing is up to you. Don’t forget that you could hire a crew for that part too if you need to. You can either use an ABF truck that can hold a house worth of stuff or you can use a Relocube that is ideal for an apartment or dorm move. Storage is also available for a Relocube for an additional cost. There is a coverage map on the website to give you an idea whether or not this company is for you. This company also offers shipment that could fit on a pallet.

My quote is for February 21 which is one month from today. From Mesa, AZ to Port Angeles, WA. For three bedrooms plus.

To get a quote online you will need to not only enter your moving information, but also your name and e-mail address. You could also call the number right there on the home page instead. I opted to try to get the quote from the website and was given an option of receiving an instructional DVD. You just have to give a mailing address.

The quote came very fast right there on the U-pack homepage. I expected to have a problem because my destination is somewhat isolated. The quote is $3650.00 for 19 feet of space. There is an adjustment price per foot of plus or minus $131.00. It is stated that all estimates include gas and taxes. The estimated transit time is 6 days. This is the extent of what is given in an online quote. You can’t ask someone questions for more information, but at least it gives a basic idea of cost.

To further explain adjustment price per foot, the company states “You only pay for the space you use in our 28′ x 8′ x 9′ commercial trailer. Need less space? No problem. Just subtract $131 per foot from your 19′ quote, subject to a 5′ minimum. Need more? Just add $131 per foot…”

If I want to store my belongings because I am not ready to move them in yet it will cost $395 per trailer for each 30-day period.

What I liked about this estimate is the fact that I could get the most important details right away on their site. No waiting, and no talking to someone in a call center that is mostly concerned about getting a reservation or getting me off the phone quickly. This company also seems to be able to serve many places on the map.

The only thing that I don’t like about the quote is it is a bit pricey compared to PODS, but it could be worth it.

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