missroserose: (Default)
Ambrosia ([personal profile] missroserose) wrote2010-10-03 10:46 am
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Audience Participation: Moving logistics

Given our upcoming move to a town 30 miles away, I'm in the process of looking up options for actually getting all of our stuff from here to there. And for the first time in my life, a rental truck is actually the best option. Woo for an entire life of cross-Alaska moves.

(ETA: I just realized that while I mentioned it on Facebook a couple times, I don't think our moving plans have come up here yet. So, yes - Brian got the job in Bisbee, which he's liking (and fitting in to) very well, and we're moving there at the end of October when our lease is up, which makes us happy because we've wanted to move there pretty much since first visiting the place. Also, while we haven't been able to buy our dream home, we found a great little rental place that has a lot of the same features (gorgeous view with deck over it, great setup for entertaining, nice location in Old Bisbee, etc.) that's right in our price range. So we're pretty excited.)

Anyway, it looks like there are two major options for truck rental:

• The old standby, U-Haul. I've only dealt with them once, when I rented a pickup to haul our mattress home, but they seemed like pleasant enough folks, and while the truck wasn't exactly comfortable it was new-ish and got the job done well. Another advantage is that they have a location in Bisbee itself, so we'd only have to go one-way. They're also about 20% more expensive, but it's a short trip, so the difference isn't anything that'd break the bank.

• Penske, whom I've never dealt with. I've heard from a couple places that their trucks are nicer and that they're cheaper (and the quotes bear the latter out, even with the extra miles from going round-trip). It'd take a bit more time to go there and back, but assuming it's just the two of us we'd have to do so anyway to come back and get one of the cars.

So I guess my question is, for those of you who have experience with one or both companies - is it six of one, half-dozen of the other? Or is there a significant difference between the two in terms of service, truck quality, etc.? Also, the place we're moving to has a rather narrow/steep/twisty drive, so if there's a significant difference in the nimbleness of a given truck, that'd be a consideration.

[identity profile] gracewanderer.livejournal.com 2010-10-03 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
One thing to consider is their policy regarding moving blankets. You're going to want two or more of them for every piece of furniture you have (secured onto the furniture with masking tape) so if they charge extra for them it can make a significant difference. They make a huge difference in keeping your things from getting dinged and scuffed up during the move.

[identity profile] roseneko.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
As I recall, they both charge extra but it's roughly the same amount, so, meh. Thanks for the tip, though - I was wondering how important those were.

[identity profile] gracewanderer.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 12:48 pm (UTC)(link)
They're vital =)

[identity profile] amanda_lodden.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
I've used both at various times in my life-- UHaul when we moved my grandparents a decade ago, Penske when CJ moved in. For short haul, I'd say they were about the same. For long-haul, I'm glad that a friend of mine suggested the Penske truck, because it's infinitely more comfortable.

I didn't drive the UHaul very much (and it was a loooong time ago), but the Penske truck was not as hard to handle as I expected.

[identity profile] roseneko.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
Good to know on both counts. Thanks!

[identity profile] errant-variable.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sh/jetpack1.jpg

Couple of more-practical thoughts:
-I've only used u-Haul, and rarely, but don't remember someone getting burned on a short trip. Long hauls might be another thing due to breakdowns and cheap parts, but that's something I've only heard of once.
-YOW. At those prices it might be more practical to rent one in Bisbee and drop it off in Bisbee (provided you only make one RT it's about $50 cheaper give or take gas). Would also give you a chance to get used to the size before you totally bog it down with weight.
-How narrow/twisty are we talking about, and is there a place to turn around at the top? If it's doable, a 17' has much more usable volume than a 10' but is much more awkward to drive. If you've got space at the bottom and a smaller vehicle to shuttle things up in, that might be a (convoluted) option.

[identity profile] roseneko.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
Fairly narrow/twisty, although I think it'd accommodate the truck just fine so long as no one was coming down the opposite direction. Also, I'm pretty sure we could pull into the landlord's driveway (landlord lives in a house just up the hill from ours, the drive splits in two) and back the truck into our driveway. Although I might have to recruit Brian or somebody to flag us in, jet-style. We'd probably need the 17' truck to fit all of our crap.

Sure you don't want to come down here and help us move? :P

[identity profile] errant-variable.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
You're probably set, then. Although your "flag us in, jet style" made me wonder if you could talk one of the regional military quartermasters into dropping your stuff in via helicopter as a training exercise. :)

I'd love to come down there and help and if I'm Not Up Here at the end of the month I'll be sure to do so. After all, what's the point of being a big lug if you don't do something with it?

[identity profile] roseneko.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
*snrk* Next time you see Brian, ask him about his plan to get a J&W-style communications tower up on top of a mountain without a road.

Are you still in Fbx? What are your plans these days? I think you'd dig Bisbee, and the help would be Much Appreciated - we only have one real large/athletic friend right now, and she's probably going to be busy with her college courses.

[identity profile] tygenco-x.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Budget.
Seriously.
Go with Budget. Avoid UHaul like they have a plague. Budget charges a reasonable amount (with actual consideration to how much you really have) and they have a wide range of vehicles for in-state moves.
I've never dealt with Penske, nor have I seen their vehicles. But I despise UHaul greatly, as their trucks always seem to be broken and they overcharge on everything. Plus, they guzzle gas like a thirsty man drinking water for the first time in a week.

[identity profile] roseneko.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, any moving truck probably isn't going to get great mileage; it's simply not in the nature of the beast. But I'm thinking I'll go with Penske; their prices are on par with Budget's, and I've heard several good things about them.

Also, I was serious about you coming and having a retreat in Bisbee. I know it's a four-hour drive, but I think you'd really like it there, and the time to yourself might do you some good.

[identity profile] amanda_lodden.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
You know, we got surprisingly good mileage with the Penske truck. Granted, it wasn't full to the gills (we had to get the larger truck so we could pull the car trailer), but even when we were hauling the trailer it wasn't horrific. I think we paid about $800 total in gas, for the entire CA->MI trip (including some backtracking in AZ to see family; we went back to Phoenix after staying with you guys because the timing was off for stopping on the way in.)

[identity profile] roseneko.livejournal.com 2010-10-04 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh, good to know. (And you're welcome to come have a retreat in Bisbee with us too!)