Where to Find a Moving Truck, Trailer and Towing Equipment

Whether you’re in need of a moving truck, trailer, towing equipment or all three, you’re in luck. With several truck rental companies offering everything from moving trucks and car carriers to tow dollies and cargo trailers, you should be able to find exactly what you need for the upcoming DIY move without having to look far. For reference – if you’re in need of a trailer or towing equipment, many truck rental companies will require you to also rent a truck from their company in order to properly attach and transport your belongings. If using your own car to tow belongings, make sure that the vehicle is heavy and large enough to properly handle the load.

Keep reading to find advice on where to find a moving truck, trailer and towing equipment – as well as renting vs. buying and important safety precautions.

Budget Truck Rental

Truck rental details: When it comes to truck rentals, Budget offers three sizes including: a 12 ft. truck (recommended for studio apartment moves), a 16 ft. truck (recommended for apartment moving) and a 26 ft. truck (recommended for two to three bedroom home moves).

Towing details: Although Budget doesn’t offer cargo trailers, the truck rental company does have towing equipment for rent, including car carriers and car tow dollies. Budget’s car carriers have a max weight capacity of 4,055 lbs. and can handle four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles. The car tow dollies can carry AWD, 4WD, or RWD vehicles of up to 3,600 lbs. and front wheel drive vehicles of up to 3,300 lbs., according to Budget.

Extras: When renting from B udget, the truck rental company offers customers roadside assistance, personal accident and cargo insurance, supplemental liability insurance, and damage waivers. In addition, Budget provides those renting towing equipment with coverage for damage to their personal automobile while it’s being towed. Those that need additional days to complete their move can purchase them for $70 a day and $0.70 per mile.

Enterprise Truck Rental

Truck rental details: In addition to pickup trucks, Enterprise offers several vans and moving trucks for rent. These include: a 24 ft. straight truck (recommended for moves of up to 10,000 lbs.), a 26 ft. straight truck (recommended for five-plus room moves), a 16 ft. cabover truck (recommended for moves of up to 7,500 lbs.), a 15 ft. parcel van (recommended for moves of up to 5,000 lbs.), as well as several cargo vans.

Towing details: According to the website, Enterprise Truck Rental offers towing packages to those who also rent their ¾ ton and one ton pickup truck rentals.

Extras: Enterprise’s customer service includes free pick-up and 24-hour roadside assistance to customers. The truck rental company also offers customers the option to purchase personal accident insurance and supplemental liability protection.

Penske Truck Rental

Truck rental details: Penske offers four different moving trucks for rent including: a 12 ft. truck (recommended for moves of one to two rooms), a 16 ft. truck (recommended for moves of two to three rooms), a 22 ft. truck (recommended for moves of three to five rooms) and a 26 ft. truck (recommended for moves of five to seven rooms).

Towing details: Need to tow your car? Penske can help with that. The truck rental company offers customers tow dollies and car carriers for rent. According to Penske, the company’s tow dolly can hold up to 4,300 lbs., while the car carrier is capable of holding up to 4,050 lbs.

Extras: Penske offers its customers 24-hour roadside assistance, flexible reservation and cancellation policies, convenient rental locations, half-day rentals, and free, unlimited miles on one-way truck rentals.

U-Haul

Truck rental details: If you’re looking for a wide range of truck rentals and trailers, you’ll find it at U-Haul. The truck rental company offers many trucks and trailers capable of handling many different moves. Truck rentals include: small pickup trucks, cargo vans, 10 ft. trucks (recommended for studio moves), 15 ft. trucks (recommended for one-bedroom home moves), 17 ft. trucks (recommended for two-bedroom home moves), 20 ft. trucks (recommended for three-bedroom apartment moves), and 26 ft. trucks (recommended for a three to four bedroom home move).

Towing details: U-Haul offers tow dollies, auto transport, and motorcycle trailers. The company also offers utility trailers for rent in five different sizes – all capable of towing oversized cargo and landscaping materials. For those who wish to attach a trailer to their moving truck, U-Haul has four cargo trailers to choose from – including 4’x8’, 5’x8’, 5’x10’, and 6’x12’ trailers. Read more about how to choose the right size U-Haul trailer for your move, here .

Extras: U-Haul offers a good number of towing accessories and trailer accessories for purchase as well. Examples include trailer jacks, towing mirrors, hitch mount accessories, hitch steps and front mounted accessories. U-Haul also gives customers who are renting a trailer and towing equipment the option to purchase Safetow damage coverage.

Why you should rent (not buy) moving equipment

Why buy when you can rent? When attempting a DIY move, I highly recommend renting the moving equipment needed – especially if using a moving truck. If you decide to use a trailer to tow belongings during the move, you’ll find there are several advantages to renting a cargo or utility trailer. For one – you have multiple types of trailers to choose from when renting, so you don’t have to settle for just one type of trailer. Renting a trailer also means you don’t have to store it or be responsible for its upkeep. The same goes for trailer accessories and towing equipment (such as car carriers, tow dollies, hitch accessories, etc), many of which can be pricey to purchase. When renting towing equipment, some of the add-ons may include:

  • Trailer hitch
  • Axle forks
  • Axle caps
  • Hitch balls
  • Ball mount
  • Trailer jack
  • Bike racks
  • Cargo carrier
  • front mount accessories
  • Safety equipment
  • Wiring harness

Safety advice when pulling a trailer

Before hitting the road with your moving truck and trailer, be sure to follow certain safety precautions. While driving a moving truck is fairly straight-forward, towing a trailer can be a bit trickier. The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) has outlined several of the most important safety and clearance precautions. These include:

  • Checking your state’s Driver Handbook for rules about driving with a trailer. For instance, according to the DMV, some states require those towing a trailer to drive in the right-hand lane.
  • Conducting a pre-trip check – Before towing a trailer on the road, check to make sure your trailer is connected to the hitch. Also, check to make sure the brake lights and signals are all working properly.
  • Practice driving and backing up in an open parking lot before hitting the road. When backing the trailer up, the DMV recommends turning the wheel in the opposite direction that you want to go.
  • The DMV also recommends making sure that “you are within your vehicle’s towing capacity” before getting on the road.
  • When turning a car while towing a trailer, make sure to take wide enough turns to successfully turn your vehicle without colliding with other drivers, obstacles or pedestrians.
  • Before towing a trailer, make sure you’re aware of the trailer’s clearance. For instance, when approaching a tunnel or bridge, you’ll need to know whether or not your trailer and/or truck rental can make it underneath successfully (read: without hitting an underpass or getting stuck!).
  • When driving, be sure to maintain a proper distance away from other cars.
  • Avoid jackknifing when pulling a trailer, which could damage the trailer and hitch. According to the DMV, Jackknifing is when the angle between your car and your attached trailer is less than 90 degrees (think: a sharp turn). The DMV states that this can be avoided by reversing the car slowly and keeping the turning of the steering wheel to a minimum.

Ready to move?

To find a truck rental and moving equipment that best fits your budget and needs, check out Moving.com’s truck rental center. Our truck rental center provides discounts on various truck rental companies in your area, as well as more information on the process of renting a moving truck.

If you’re in need of moving day help with packing, loading, or unloading the truck or trailer, I suggest hiring a professional moving company to assist with the labor. To find the best moving company to move your belongings, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers . All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!