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] 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!)