When moving, one of your biggest concerns will be your budget. You’ll want to find out the most affordable and strategic options for your move. Both mobile storage units and moving truck rentals are great and affordable options when moving.
Choosing between mobile storage units and moving truck rentals will depend on your specific needs. You’ll need to figure out what you’re bringing, what you’re leaving, how long your moving time frame will be, the space of your new home, and other factors specific to you! In this guide, we will go over the most affordable options for mobile storage units and moving truck rentals to fit both your budget and your needs!
Table of Contents
Factors To Help You Choose
Ultimately, the decision between mobile storage units and moving truck rentals will depend on many factors. Some of these deciding factors will be general but others will be more specific to you! Evaluating these factors will not only help you find the best option for your move, but it will also help you stay more organized and prepared.
1. Amount of Belongings
The first and one of the most important factors to consider is the amount of belongings you have and how much you’ll be bringing with you. If you have a large number of items then a moving truck rental may be more suitable for you. Moving trucks often offer more space and can accommodate furniture, appliances, and other bulky items. Mobile storage units, on the other hand, are better for smaller loads or for storing items temporarily during a move.
2. Distance of the Move
If you’re moving locally or within a short distance, a moving truck rental can be a cost-effective option. However, if you’re moving long-distance, mobile storage can provide more convenience. With mobile storage, you can have the unit delivered to your current location, pack it at your own pace, and have it transported to your new destination.
3. Flexibility and Convenience
Mobile storage units offer flexibility as they can be delivered to your doorstep with all of your belongings inside. This allows you the convenience of being able to load and unload at your own pace. This will be very beneficial if you require more time for packing or if you have limited availability for moving.
Moving truck rentals require you to pick up and drop off the truck at specific locations within a designated timeframe. This can be a burden if you aren’t close to the drop-off location or are unable to drop the truck off within the designated time frame.
4. Budget Considerations
Cost is a very important factor to consider, if not the most important. Moving truck rentals generally have upfront costs, including rental fees, mileage charges, and fuel expenses. On the other hand, mobile storage units may have monthly rental fees, delivery charges, and transportation costs. Comparing the prices of both options and assessing your budget will help you determine which one is more economical for your specific situation.
5. Access to Belongings
If you need access to your belongings during your move then a mobile storage unit may be more convenient for you. You can access the unit whenever you need and retrieve or add any items necessary. With a moving truck rental, you won’t be able to access your belongings until you unload them at your new location. This means that you might have to bring extra, smaller bags with you on the car ride for necessities. It also creates a little less organization when unloading the truck at your new location.
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Mobile Storage Units Options
Mobile storage units, also known as portable storage units or containers, are a convenient solution for storing belongings for moving. Here we will discuss some of the standard options available for mobile storage units.
Types of Mobile Storage Units
There are many different types of mobile storage units, all with different aspects to fit your needs. The first and most basic type of mobile storage unit is a portable storage container. These are typically large, weather-resistant containers made of steel or wood. They come in various sizes ranging from eight to 40 feet long and are wide enough to accommodate a large volume of belongings.
The next, and perhaps most popular style of mobile storage unit, is what’s known as pod-style storage units. PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) is one of the most well-known providers of pod-style storage units. These units are available in different sizes and are brought to you by specialized delivery trucks. One of the many benefits of this option is that once they’re delivered, you can load the pod at your own pace!
Another type of mobile storage option that you may come across is On-Demand Storage Units. PODS can fall under this category, but it also includes storage facilities and units that are portable like PODS. Some companies offer customers on-demand storage containers that will be shipped to them. Once you’ve packed up the container the company will pick it up from your home and store it with your belongings in a secure storage facility until you need your items again. These units can come in a variety of sizes to accommodate your belongings and companies like U-Haul give you a head start with their online storage unit size guide.
Affordability
The affordability of mobile storage units can vary based on several different factors. It is important to compare prices with several different companies to ensure you are getting the most quality for your quantity! When reading over guides such as this one and doing your own research be sure to keep your budget in mind. Although we briefly discussed these price factors above, here we will take a deeper look at what things factor into the end cost for mobile storage units.
1. Rental Fees
Mobile storage units typically have monthly rental fees. The cost can vary depending on both the size of the unit you have chosen and the duration of the rental. Larger units and longer rental periods tend to add up. This is one of the reasons that mobile storage units are mostly recommended for long-distance movers. If you are moving a short distance, you are more likely to save money renting a moving truck instead of a storage unit.
2. Delivery and Pickup Charges
Some mobile storage providers may charge delivery and pickup fees. The cost of these fees can depend on many different things. One major factor includes the distance between your location and the facility’s location. Some companies, like UNITS Moving and Portable Storage, will offer you free delivery if you purchase additional services or sign up for their website.
3. Additional Services, Promotions, and Discounts
If you require additional services, such as packing assistance or even climate control, you most likely will have to pay additional fees on top of rental, delivery, and pickup charges. When doing your research it is important to get in contact with these companies about their pricing because you never know what additional fees you might not notice.
On the bright side, some mobile storage companies offer many promotions and discounts, like the one discussed above. These deals usually include special pricing for new customers or discounts if you rent within a specific time frame.
UniMovers also offers help with loading and unloading your PODS. With the help of UniMovers and the mobile storage company you choose to rent from you may have an easy hand-off move!
Moving Truck Rental Options
If mobile storage units aren’t for you, you still have the option of renting a moving truck. This is perhaps a more common method of moving than mobile storage units. Rental trucks allow you to load all of your items in and drive to your new home all by yourself! Many customers enjoy the independence and control over their belongings that renting a truck allows you to have. Although rental trucks may be more common, just like with mobile storage units, they have their pros and cons.
Affordability
The factors that go into the affordability of renting a moving truck are similar to mobile storage units, with a few differences. Rental trucks tend to be cheaper overall, but they don’t offer as long of a time frame as you get with mobile storage units. This is one factor that contributes to their affordability. This is also what makes them the better option for short-distance moves.
1. Rental Fees
Moving truck rental companies usually charge a base rental price that changes based on a few different factors. The size of the truck that you choose will make your rental fee go up or down. The size of the truck you can get may depend on what company you are renting from.
With U-Haul Moving Trucks, you have the option of renting anything from a pickup truck to a 26-foot-long moving truck. The duration of the rental will also affect your rental price. As we’ve discussed before, trucks are usually not rented for longer than a few days, making them a much cheaper option than mobile storage units.
2. Mileage Charges
One of the fees that you might find with moving trucks that differs from mobile storage units is mileage charges. Since the moving truck is a vehicle, you will have to stop for gas.
Of course, this will depend on the distance of your move, but if you rented a moving truck you are most likely driving far enough to have to stop for gas. Because of ever-changing gas prices and the distance of your move, it is important to estimate the price of gas for your trip and add that to your rental fee when comparing prices.
3. Additional Services, Promotions, and Discounts
Moving truck rental companies may offer additional equipment and services for an extra cost. These can include equipment and services like dollies, moving blankets, and even insurance coverage.
You can even reach out to other companies for additional services with your moving truck. UniMovers offers movers to help you load and unload your Uhaul trucks. All you have to do is drive and the movers will do the rest of the work!
Conclusion
Choosing between mobile storage units and moving truck rentals depends on various factors, whether they be general or specific to you. These factors can range anywhere from the amount of belongings to budget considerations. To keep things more organized, let’s go over a summary of what you should keep in mind moving forward.
Firstly what can mobile storage units offer you? Mobile storage units offer a wide variety of benefits and are most suitable for long-distance moves. They are suitable for small to large loads of belongings and provide easy access to belongings throughout the moving process. Mobile storage units offer flexibility and convenience with the ability to load and unload at your own pace. With all of these benefits, they can be very cost-effective depending on certain circumstances.
Moving truck rentals also offer a variety of benefits and cost-effective options. A moving truck can be very beneficial for both short-distance moves and local moves. If you have a larger load of belongings renting a truck would be more beneficial for you. Some considerations to keep in mind about trucks are that they require very specific time frames and pickup/drop-off locations. You also have limited access to your belongings during the moving process. With a truck, you will have a direct method of transportation for your belongings. This is very beneficial if you worry about another company losing your belongings in the moving process.
Ultimately you need to make the decision that will suit your needs the best. Keep all these factors in mind with your budget when moving. Be sure to choose companies that have good reviews, the best pricing, and that you know you can trust. Moving is a significant lifetime experience and with the proper planning and help you can look forward to this exciting new chapter in your life!
Reese Ledford comes from Fort Mill, South Carolina, right outside Charlotte, North Carolina. She is currently studying English and Political Science at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. In her free time, she loves to travel, draw, write, exercise, and spend time with friends and family.
