Cross Country Move -- Figuring Out Truck Size (mover, job, rent a truck)

[Rhaethe]

Hello all!

We will be making a cross country move in late January. I'm eyeing costs now, and we will likely rent a truck with Penske. It is possible I might opt for full service mover, however. Really all depends on the cost.

I am a little puzzled by trying to figure out how large of a truck I will need (if we rent) or if full service is even feasible.

We will end up with the following to move, and that is it:

60 large boxes
30 medium boxes
2 queen bed frames (but only one mattress/boxsprings)
1 55 inch plasma TV
2 tall dressers
2 nightstands
2 computer desks
1 loveseat
1 recliner

All of the online estimators say only a 16" truck is needed, but I am very dubious. We will likely be loading the rental truck ourselves, so probably will not be as efficient at loading as pros.

That being said, is the above load even worth looking at full service movers?

~C

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Rhaethe

I am a little puzzled by trying to figure out how large of a truck I will need ...

You aren't alone. This is why the truck rental companies have their tables.

...is the above load even worth looking at full service movers?

That Q is about YOU not your stuff. Your time and strength and so forth to do the work.

[JonathanLB]

16 foot truck?! Hahahaha oh my god! I moved from a 1,700 square foot condo and I guarantee we had nowhere near that many boxes, we have a minimalist aesthetic and a 26 foot truck wasn’t even close to big enough! Fortunately it was in city but that meant I drove back and forth 26 miles round trip FIVE times, all night long, bringing more stuff in my SUV because “26 foot is the biggest truck we have” from the full service movers. I’m convinced they must be used to moving people only from apartment to apartment because nobody with a house could possibly even come close to fitting their stuff in a 26 foot truck. Impossible. When we left the condo we even sold some stuff before the move and took all clutter to Goodwill, still didn’t come close to being able to fit in the truck.

[Rhaethe]

Originally Posted by MrRational

You aren't alone. This is why the truck rental companies have their tables.

That Q is about YOU not your stuff. Your time and strength and so forth to do the work.

I typo'd on the number of boxes in my post. 30 large boxes instead of 60.

That being said, you have made a good point. I spoke with a longtime friend who has made a cross-country move more than once. He said he never used more than a 17 foot truck, but he did not pack it himself, either. He said he used a professional company to pack the truck and wrap things. I compared the amount of stuff he had at the time of moving to the amount of stuff we have, and its about the same.

I think that is what we'll do. Rent a a truck and drive it ourselves, but have pros pack and stack. We are pretty good at tetris, but not as good as the pros would be. Depending on cost difference, I might choose the 20 foot truck just for that extra comfort level.

~C

[Surfertx]

Originally Posted by Rhaethe

I typo'd on the number of boxes in my post. 30 large boxes instead of 60.

That being said, you have made a good point. I spoke with a longtime friend who has made a cross-country move more than once. He said he never used more than a 17 foot truck, but he did not pack it himself, either. He said he used a professional company to pack the truck and wrap things. I compared the amount of stuff he had at the time of moving to the amount of stuff we have, and its about the same.

I think that is what we'll do. Rent a a truck and drive it ourselves, but have pros pack and stack. We are pretty good at tetris, but not as good as the pros would be. Depending on cost difference, I might choose the 20 foot truck just for that extra comfort level.

~C

Curious how was your move? I'm planning my move from Tx to S. Cali in about 6 months.

[JonathanLB]

I’m also curious how this went. I have no clue how anyone moves in a small truck unless it’s frlm a tiny apartment. I think our stuff would use the majority of a 55 foot semi truck and that’s after purging a large amount of stuff and taking into account we would only be moving one set of couches (3 pieces) rather than both. Any decent size house is a pro mover job only.