I need to move to my new home approx 165 miles away. I had a bad experience with Uhaul, but that was 25 years ago. Does anyone have any recent experience with either company? Budget and Uhaul are about my only choices in this area.
Budget or Uhaul?
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UHaul is awful. I would use anyone over them. I've had brakes go out more than once. Reservations are not even close to guaranteed, even when you pay up front.
robert
robert
UHaul totally sux!!
All the UHaul trucks I've used were junk and could barely make it across town. Last time I had to rent a truck I used Penske and the truck, while severely underpowered, worked great for moving stuff around and getting there without breaking down.
"UHaul totally sux!!"
+1
+1
Never had problem one with either company. Last week we rented a Penske with a very powerful International DT466 diesel inline 6 with a 26 foot box. We moved a friend about 20 miles away. Fuel economy was actually very good and saved a few bucks over U-haul. If you are paying per mile, I would get the one that is closest to you. Compare prices for sure. One could be considerably lower, if you compare ALL costs including insurance.
I like to check the main fluids myself before any long trip, and look underneath for any evidence of leaks. Any vehicle is subject to breakdown, no matter which company you get it from. Stuff happens when you least expect it to, even to the best maintained vehicles.
I like to check the main fluids myself before any long trip, and look underneath for any evidence of leaks. Any vehicle is subject to breakdown, no matter which company you get it from. Stuff happens when you least expect it to, even to the best maintained vehicles.
I've had good luck with the local, smaller u-haul trucks. The cross country move your whole house stuff seems well beat up when I see it on the road.
Can you just stop by and look at the trucks you might get and make your choice that way?
Can you just stop by and look at the trucks you might get and make your choice that way?
Have done 3 moves in the last 5 years. Equipment from Budget seemed ok, Penske was just slightly better. In the last move, the two companies were matching each other's offers. I towed a car trailer each time and the condition of its tires were unsatisfactory with both companies' equipment.
Stories I've read about uhaul equipment/maintenance and memories of their excuse for a reservation system (has that changed?) keep me away from them for anything that's not local.
Stories I've read about uhaul equipment/maintenance and memories of their excuse for a reservation system (has that changed?) keep me away from them for anything that's not local.
Budget.
+1 on Uhaul not keeping their reservations. Our truck was given away to a guy who paid cash. I presume the franchisee kept the money and didn't ring it through with Uhaul to save the commission. Also UHaul called his operation "Bob's texaco" when he was out of the gas business for ten years; found it by the street address.
Another truck I rented had about 45 degrees of slop in the steering box; it was registered "Arizona- Fleet" so, among other things, it didn't have to endure any state inspections. A low dash volts gauge, that clicked down with every turn signal blink, had me worried. A brand new Uhaul brand (seriously!) alternator sat under the hood, field wires crimped on with those awful plastic thingies. CEL was on and it was OBDI so it was something serious.
You have to give these truck operations some credit though: when do people move? End of the month. Try keeping that much equipment idle for most of the time.
Another truck I rented had about 45 degrees of slop in the steering box; it was registered "Arizona- Fleet" so, among other things, it didn't have to endure any state inspections. A low dash volts gauge, that clicked down with every turn signal blink, had me worried. A brand new Uhaul brand (seriously!) alternator sat under the hood, field wires crimped on with those awful plastic thingies. CEL was on and it was OBDI so it was something serious.
You have to give these truck operations some credit though: when do people move? End of the month. Try keeping that much equipment idle for most of the time.
I moved last year, 50 miles away. Budget was a lot cheaper than Uhaul and the truck was nearly brand new. I had a 16 footer though, I didn't have that much stuff and plus I had moved some of my things with my own pickup truck anyway. I got the Budget truck for large furniture and moving my toolbox, and whatever else I had left to move. There were no complications with my reservation either.
Any major brand out there is better than UHaul...
I'll use UHaul, as long as I'm not leaving town. That's how little I trust their equipment. (However, I'd take a UHaul trailer out on the open road, if the tires look good).
If I'm leaving town, then it will be Budget, as I do a lot of renting of Budget rental cars.
One Uhaul rental was one of the International 26" Jumbo Haulers, with the rear suspension that the air could be let out of for loading. It would run out of fuel at 1/4 tank. My best guess was that someone moved the pickup WAY off of the bottom of the tank to keep junk from getting sucked in.
She'd start sputtering, and weaving it back and forth would be enough to slosh enough fuel over the pickup to keep it running long enough to roll into the next station that had diesel.
I'll use UHaul, as long as I'm not leaving town. That's how little I trust their equipment. (However, I'd take a UHaul trailer out on the open road, if the tires look good).
If I'm leaving town, then it will be Budget, as I do a lot of renting of Budget rental cars.
One Uhaul rental was one of the International 26" Jumbo Haulers, with the rear suspension that the air could be let out of for loading. It would run out of fuel at 1/4 tank. My best guess was that someone moved the pickup WAY off of the bottom of the tank to keep junk from getting sucked in.
She'd start sputtering, and weaving it back and forth would be enough to slosh enough fuel over the pickup to keep it running long enough to roll into the next station that had diesel.
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