Rental Truck vs. Pod

[Roaddog53]

I am doing research on truck rentals vs. a pod type move. We our selling/emptying our second home and moving it here. The first home was moved by a moving company and they obviously did everything. The second home has maybe half the items, or about a 16 ft truck. Yes, we have downsized lots of things too. What I have found is the pod move costs nearly as much as a moving company! I know pods are more convenient than driving a rental truck on an interstate move.... But $1000-1500 more? Even with gas for the truck. Does anyone know or recommend a reasonable pod company? I checked..PODS, U-pack, Mayflower, and U-Haul versus Penski and Budget rental trucks.

[Biker Dog]

We found a Penske truck with a dolly to tow the car to cost $800.00 less than a Pod.

[l2ridehd]

I found U-Haul to be the lowest cost option. One strange thing in checking rental cost is to keep checking. Even after you have reserved your truck. I reserved and canceled 3 times as the cost keeps dropping. If you can make your move dates flexible, keep changing the dates as well. I went from about $1700 for a 17 foot truck to just over $800. Same truck, same mileage, same total time.

[Patty55]

I saved a few hundred dollars by returning the Uhaul to Orlando instead of locally.

[2 Oldcrabs]

Priced Pods and rental trucks. Every rental company was $800-1,000 cheaper using $3.89/gal for gas. We needed to put our stuff in storage for about 3 months and wanted access to it. If we used a Pod we would have to go to Ocala and get them to get the Pod out of the warehouse for access. We used a local "self store" and had access 7 days/week. We used U-Haul after getting prices from the others and asking the U-Haul dealer to beat it. The cost for a 17' truck, a car carrier(all 4 wheels on trailer), gas and 1200 miles was $1,690 in Sept. 2011. If you subtract the $100 in gas it would have cost me to drive my pickup that was on the trailer it brings the cost down more.:crap2:

[Roaddog53]

Thank you for confirming the move scenarios. It appears we will have to go with a rental. The move would be about 1,400 miles in total. Budget was the lowest in rentals at $1283. I used $3.79 per gallon. I also saw where the rental companies even tell you if flexible the costs can be substantially reduced. Days of week makes a big difference. The "POD" costs ranged between $2,498 and $2,755. I have no storage fees or towing, but my wife has to follow me in our car. Convenience at $1,200 minimum? About a $1 per mile! :loco:

[gomoho]

We did the truck (penske gave us the best rate and their trucks are newer) vs a POD. Not only did cost play a part in the decision, but the delivery of the POD would have been 10 days after our arrival.

[LAshby50]

We went the POD route. More based on flexibility. We closed on August 7 but our house will not be ready in TV until December 10. The PODS are already in Florida. We are staying in Minnesota for the rest of August before driving our 2 vehicles down to our TV rental. I priced out ABF for this scenario and it was a little more than the POD route.

[starflyte1]

For one of our moves, we had a professional moving company pack our truck and then unpack it. They can get so much in a small space. And you just pay for labor.

[collie1228]

I priced PODS vs. ABF Relocubes and Budget vs U-Haul trucks. ABF was cheaper than PODS for equivalent units, but the U-Haul Truck was the best economic deal. And that included a dolly to tow the car. My problem is that we arrived last night after driving the 1,200 miles down from Upstate NY in two days, and I'm not sure I really want to drive that U-Haul Truck that far. Maybe convenience of the PODS type move might be worth the extra cost. Still keeping an open mind though.

[Roaddog53]

kind of the way I was thinking. Driving straight through I am used to it and don't mind driving. But my best half has trouble driving by herself for long distances and I get concerned without being with her in the car. talking on the phone to her the whole time is not feasible either. but still, there has got to be a cheaper avenue to go than $1000 plus.

[ydnar9]

I checked UHaul and other trucking companies but Budget was less expensive. Using your AARP discount which is 20% and also damage waiver for AARP members only $10 a day.

[jimmy D]

We used a Freight co from Kansas for 1/2 of the pod. I can not remember the freight co but they have a terminal in Ocala and ship everywhere. You will need Little Johns movers or yourself to unload. This worked out terrific for us hope this helps

[asianthree]

aarp discount was the best for us too